Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival

Making Moves, Creating Futures for Craft


Residency:

Salvation Army
Longton, Stoke
Maker: Ruth Spaak
Graduate Placement: Denise Moloney

Ruth Spaak, glass and mixed media artist, worked with
the members of LASS (Ladies Self Support) women’s
group, based at the Salvation Army. The group responded
enthusiastically to Ruth’s unusual collection of materials to
make mixed-media wall hangings and rag rugs. The
residency was supported by the British Ceramics Biennial
(BCB) and Ruth had access to ceramic materials and
resources from BCB and the former Spode factory site,
which informed the piece she has created for this
exhibition. Denise Moloney worked with Ruth, learning
new skills in delivering workshops in community settings.

Making Moves, Creating Futures for Craft

Making Moves is a West Midlands craft development initiative
involving four regional partnerships, led by Staffordshire County
Council and Craftspace, a Birmingham based craft development
organisation. The project consisted of nine craft residencies
which took place in community settings between September
2011 and July 2012, culminating in a touring exhibition.

The nine makers were challenged by residencies in unusual
workspaces – including a hospital, a pub and a park visitor
centre – which acted as sources of inspiration to develop ideas
for new work. They worked with local communities, offering
making workshops that were high quality, inspirational and in
some cases, life-changing. The exhibition showcases new work
by the makers in response to their residency setting, as well
examples of tools, materials and work created in the community
sessions.

The project also provided opportunities for nine crafts graduates
who supported the community making sessions as well as
receiving mentoring from the resident maker. They were given a
small bursary towards the development of their practice and
have also created new work for the exhibition.

Making Moves aimed to provide valuable opportunities for
learning. Makers gave masterclasses and lectures to Higher
and Further education institutions as well as talks to the wider
community. They wrote about the residency experiences on a
project blog, as well as coming together for regular networking
sessions.

To find out more about the project visit www.makingmoves.org and the
Makers’ Residency Blog www.makingmoves.posterous.com

Photos by Becky Matthews

FESTIVAL BIOGRAPHIES

Public Service Announcement:

Brian Stockton – Filmmaker:

Brian Stockton was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1964. He grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan and began his career in the media as a broadcaster with illustrious prairie radio station CKCK. In 1984 he was hired by Canadian broadcasting legend Ron MacLean, who was then the program director at CKRD Radio in Red Deer.

After working under MacLean in Red Deer, Brian returned to Regina and obtained a BFA in film production from the University of Regina. At the U of R he studied under cinema pioneer Jean (Hans) Oser, a key figure in the early sound cinema of Europe.

Stockton’s career as a filmmaker began at the Saskatchewan Filmpool in Regina where he created numerous inventive short films like the animated The Blob Thing, which spawned numerous short sequels that have played to television and festival audiences around the world. He is also the co-creator of the cult hit Wheat Soup, which is generally regarded as the first Saskatchewan-based feature film. Wheat Soup is in the motion picture negative collection of the National Archives of Canada.

Another notable short created at the Filmpool is The Final Gift, a collaboration with the filmmaker’s grandmother which was named one of the ten best shorts of the Ann Arbor Film Festival by Los Angeles Film Forum.

Brian also has an MFA in film production from York University in Toronto, and was a director resident at Norman Jewison’s prestigious Canadian Film Centre. While attending the CFC Brian wrote and directed the multi-award winning short film, The Weight of the World, which screened at numerous international festivals and on the Sci-Fi Channel in the United States.

Television has also played a part in Stockton’s career, most notably as a writer/director for the critically acclaimed comedy series Internet Slutts, which aired on The Comedy Network.

Brian has taught extensively on the subject of filmmaking at workshops across Canada, and at his alma mater in Regina. He was recently invited to screen a program of his short films at the Idaho International Film Festival, where he created the Instant Animation Workshop. In this innovative program participants wrote, prepared and shot a stop-motion animated film in one afternoon.

Stockton is currently working on a series of autobiographical short films which have premiered to widespread critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival. This includes Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Part 2 (That’s My Wonderful Town), which won the grand jury prize for best documentary at the Temecula Valley Film Festival in California, and was declared by Take One Magazine to be “a wry, observant, miniature masterpiece.”

After nine years living and working in Toronto, Stockton recently relocated back to his home town of Regina, Saskatchewan.

Pitch & Munch Participants:

Robert Hardy – Development Manager, Western Independent Production – CTV:

Robert Hardy is the Development Manager, Western Independent Production for CTV Television. In this role he develops documentaries, dramatic series and television movies with producers across Western Canada, and commissions the “CTV Manitoba Moments” documentary strand.

Based in Winnipeg, Robert has been a production executive on over 30 documentaries for CTV that have aired or are in production.

Over the past 15 years Robert has moved between film, television and radio; advertising & public relations; and live event management.

Robert served as the Director of Corporate Development and Director of Communications and Marketing for the National Screen Institute of Canada for 5 years, then spent some time in independent production, where he produced the CBC Television specials “Royal Liechtenstein Comedy Theatre” and “More Royal Liechtenstein Comedy Theatre” and developed several other reality and comedy series concepts. He then returned to publicity as a Senior Communications Officer with CBC Radio-Canada, before joining CTV in 2004.

Robert began his career as a government relations consultant, speech writer and live event producer in Toronto. He is an award-winning advertising copywriter, publicist and agency producer and former association executive.

Robert has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Winnipeg, was a recipient of the CTV Fellowship, and is a graduate of the NSI Totally Television program.

Joe MacDonald – Documentary Producer, Prairie Centre – NFB:

Joe MacDonald is an award-winning producer with more than 50 documentary and dramatic productions to his credit, including Cosmic Current, winner of the Canada Award at the 2004 Geminis; For Angela, winner of the 1995 Canada Award; and Fat Chance, recipient of a 1994 Peabody Award. Based in the NFB’s Prairie Centre, his recent films include The Gift of Diabetes, Me and The Mosque, Letters from Karelia and Crapshoot: The Gamble with Our Wastes.

Joanne McDonald – Development Manager, Western Independent Production – CTV:

Joanne McDonald is a program manager with SCN (Saskatchewan Communications Network), the province’s public educational broadcaster. She joined SCN in 2001 and in her role, works closely with independent producers, distributors, Canadian funding and regulatory agencies, as well as other broadcasters and partners.

Born and raised in Regina, she holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Regina (1992). In addition to her work with SCN, Joanne is a visual artist, working primarily in clay and mixed media.

Monique Rajotte – Programmer, Independent Productions and Acquisitions – APTN:

Ms. Rajotte has a wealth of experience in film, television, theatre and festivals, including working with the National Screen Institute, Winnipeg International Writers Festival, the Winnipeg Film Group and on various independent film and video projects.

Ms. Rajotte has diverse experiences and knowledge of training programs, international markets, festivals and other opportunities for writers, directors and producers working in the film and television industry.

Making Moves, Creating Futures for Craft – Boars Head Pub, Kidderminster


Residency:

Boars Head Pub
Kidderminster

Maker: Jim Bond
Graduate Placement: Michelle Taylor

The Kidderminster residency was at the Boars Head
Pub, which actively supports the local arts scene. Jim
Bond is a kinetic sculptor and used the residency to work
with two different groups; KAF Creatives, a group of
visual artists and the Phoenix women’s group. Jim
developed a range of activities to build their skills using
life drawing, clay modelling and plaster moulds. Michelle
Taylor also brought lots of useful knowledge of ceramics
and mould-making to the community sessions.

Making Moves, Creating Futures for Craft

Making Moves is a West Midlands craft development initiative
involving four regional partnerships, led by Staffordshire County
Council and Craftspace, a Birmingham based craft development
organisation. The project consisted of nine craft residencies
which took place in community settings between September
2011 and July 2012, culminating in a touring exhibition.

The nine makers were challenged by residencies in unusual
workspaces – including a hospital, a pub and a park visitor
centre – which acted as sources of inspiration to develop ideas
for new work. They worked with local communities, offering
making workshops that were high quality, inspirational and in
some cases, life-changing. The exhibition showcases new work
by the makers in response to their residency setting, as well
examples of tools, materials and work created in the community
sessions.

The project also provided opportunities for nine crafts graduates
who supported the community making sessions as well as
receiving mentoring from the resident maker. They were given a
small bursary towards the development of their practice and
have also created new work for the exhibition.

Making Moves aimed to provide valuable opportunities for
learning. Makers gave masterclasses and lectures to Higher
and Further education institutions as well as talks to the wider
community. They wrote about the residency experiences on a
project blog, as well as coming together for regular networking
sessions.

To find out more about the project visit www.makingmoves.org and the
Makers’ Residency Blog www.makingmoves.posterous.com

Photos by Becky Matthews