Photo Marc-André Verpaelst
(This was first posted in french, thanks to Jeannette Pope for the translation.)
Wednesday evening we began Filming State of Emergency 2007, ( État d’Urgence 2007) an artistic and social ‘happening” which takes place in Émilie Gamelin square in Montreal until Sunday the 25 Nov. Organized by the artists Annie Roy and Pierre Allard, founders of ATSA (Socially Acceptable Terrorist Action), the event is in it’s 8th year. This is the occasion for marginalized people from all areas of life to meet, to get a bit of warmth and very good food, as well as to take part in the varios activities and to attend shows. If you live in the Montreal area, come and take a look. It is well worth it.
I have worked for two years on a film project called Urgence Création, with my collaborator and close friend Simon Bujold. Up till now we have only received some reserach money from SODEC, our provincial funding agency, but when there are things going on which we just can’t miss out on, then obviously we are there and whip out our cameras…
We approached an excellent producer, Jeannine Gagné of Amazone film, who is very interested in producing this film. After two years working on this project, Annie and Pierre have became good friends of ours. Their work is admirable. The true subject and backbone of this film is the intensity of their engagement with their art, with society, and with life.
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Here a small video made by our trainee Alex Hamel.
The two merry technicians you will see who are dancing away are Simon and I.
Here we are doing an interview with my friend and neighbor the Montreal sculptor Armand Vaillancourt. He installed a covered steel wall of barbed wire a symbol of exclusion for Etat D’urgence;
(Translator’s PS: I have been doing some work here with Magnus and Simon. I am really appreciative for this chance to see documentary filmmaking done with such simplicity, love, care and humanity. I am learning alot, as well as making lots of new friends. Jeannette Pope. )
