"Life is but a dream"

Flash Frame Team Enters Doc Challenge
by Richard Hiner

In mid February, Kelly and Ron suggested Flash Frame field a team and take the challenge. (One 4-7 min. doc made in 5 days with genre and theme assigned at the start). Our goal was to be one of the twelve winners shown at “Hot Docs” at the end of April.

We realized not all volunteers would be able to be present for every minute of shooting or preparation. We felt we could work around this.

The volunteers discussed approaches, locations and possible genres. There were 10 possible genres that would be assigned to all teams: 1st Person, Historical, Music, Social issue/political, Experimental, Sports, Nature/environmental, Biography/character study or Art. In addition, a theme would be assigned. Past themes included: Hope and/or Fear, Change, Faith, Freedom, etc.

Charlie Wilkins and his impending attempt to row across the Atlantic seemed a ‘frame’ we could hang almost any genre on except music. Charlie was willing and available. We also investigated some “back-up” plans.

Ron started the “publicity” and “promotion” part of our efforts by arranging radio interviews.

The day before the challenge began, we met at Kelly and Ron’s to pack gear, sign releases, and review the shoot locations and our rolls as crew.

On Thursday, March the 4th, we met at Kelly and Ron’s to be assigned our genre and theme. At 8 AM we were assigned “Sports” as a genre and “dreams and/or nightmares” as a theme. We felt extremely grateful for our very good luck. Members of the team not able to be present were notified by phone and email and we were off!

The first stop was the studio at Cinevate and we spent a productive morning with the loan of one of their camera's and other gear. After a great interview with Charlie and some rowing sequences, we shot the contest mandatory shot with Charlie holding today’s newspaper with the date predominate. After lunch, we continued the shoot at the Finlandia Hall.

March 5th, a beautiful moon and a sunrise were captured for use on green screen.

After breakfast, we did “pickup” shots of Charlie walking on the waterfront, near a lake freighter, on the “fish” bridge near the East end, and on the highway in front of the Terry Fox monument.

We set up on the ice on Lake Superior at Silver Bay Conservation Area. Few on the crew were experienced on the ice and the crack! boom! and echoing grumblings seemed disconcerting. I did my best to reassure everyone and felt I was making some headway until there was a very loud crack and the ice shifted like a small earthquake and water shot out and made a small flood.

After lunch, a few pickup shots of Charlie sitting at a laptop and we felt we had enough to start editing.

Kelly had a good deal of editing done by Saturday evening. Sunday, Gab and Kelly polished the editing while Danny composed and performed the music.

The first screening was late Sunday afternoon and everyone was pleased with their work. We discussed how well a rotating crew worked when they pitched in when they were available. We even thought it would be possible to enter two teams from Flash Frame next year.

On Monday, the last day before having to have our documentary postmarked, all the nerve wracking last minute gremlins, glitches and doubts reared their heads. These were slain and laid to rest in a timely fashion with only middling amounts of panic.

The first screening of our final entry was an uproarious success. We are proud of our finished work and eager to participate in more films.

Following are the people who made entering this contest possible:


Charlie Wilkins -featuring
Kelly Saxberg -Director/Editor
Ron Harpelle - Sound
Danny Johnson - original Music
Damien Gilbert -Camera/Lighting
Julie Ktytor -Production Assistant/Photos
Richard Hiner- Production Assistant/Photos

Gabriel Harpelle - Sound Editor
Ryan La Via - grip
Michel Beaulieu - assistant editor
Jacomyn Gerbrandy - Production assistant

Dennis Wood
Hubert Den Draak
David Frost (Sailor)
Aarno Peuras

Production support from Cinevate, Shebandowan Films, Danalog Studios, Finlandia Club