Adventures in Powell River: Feeding love of film through volunteering at festival
When I was little I wanted to be a movie star. I wanted to see my name in lights and be rich and famous. I wanted to forever play make-believe, travelling the world making films.
In grade 5, I played a city counsellor in a production of “The Swinging Piper,” a jazzed up version of “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.”
Hmmm, so maybe things didn’t quite work out that way — besides doing some acting in school, the closest I got was a little work as an extra. The hours on set were long and boring, and I was too practical to pursue acting beyond that.
Still, I love the movies. Pretty much any kind — documentaries, comedies, sci-fi, historical, zombies. Love ’em all. I love the escape and the magic, and that feeling of emerging as if from a dream as you step out of the theatre after a film. Everything is different somehow and a good film will linger with you for days, weeks, maybe all your life.
And so, of course I love film festivals.
Lucky for me and a lot of other people, every year for the last decade and a half, Powtown has been home to the Powell River Film Festival. Film festivals are so incredibly exciting because you get to see films you may not otherwise see, and the Powell River Film Festival does an exceptional job of screening local, Canadian, and international films.
Michelle Hignell, festival director, Powell River Film Festival. (photo courtesy of Ross and Maria Munro)
Even better, there’s the Adventures in Film Camp and the 5-Minute Film Contest, both aimed at youth. It’s really impressive what the students produce under very tight time constraints. Powell River has such a wealth of natural, heritage, and haunted film locales, it’s hard not to be inspired though. Often surprising, sometimes hilarious and spooky, and always, always creative, the youth films are a highlight of the film fest.
Josiah, a film student from Nanaimo, clearly thought my request to take his picture was a little strange but said OK just the same.
When possible, I’ve bought a festival pass and watched every single film shown. I’ve taken vacation time to do it, ’cause that’s what film junkies do.
It may be raining but nothing’s going to stop these film lovers from experiencing cinema at its best.
And then last year, I signed up to be a volunteer driver, providing transportation to students and three filmmakers from Vancouver. Ross and Maria Munro were screening their film “Broken Palace,” about the destruction of vintage movie houses, lost sisters to Powell River’s own Patricia Theatre. And Julia Kwan’s film “Everything Will Be,” is an insider’s view of Vancouver’s Chinatown and how it’s changing and threatened by development. Excellent films both and the time spent with Ross, Maria, and Julia was a treat. They even kept me up way past my bedtime at the Film Fest wind-up party. Crazy good fun with, dare I say, crazy good people.
Maria Munro and I are all smiles after a film fest screening at the Patricia Theatre. (photo courtesy of Ross and Maria Munro)
Events like the Film Fest rely heavily on volunteers. Everything from ushers, to will-call attendants, to billet families, to drivers, like me and Bob! It literally takes an army to host an event like this.
Picking up dinner from QF for delivery to starving film students and their mentors back at the Rodmay.
This year, we were drivers once again, delivering food and providing transportation for students. You’d think we were members of the Hollywood elite by the reception we got when we arrived at the Rainbow Room. Bring food and you’re everyone’s new best friend.
Cav and Megan (youth program coordinator) were happy to see us walk in the door laden with dinner.
And it brings to mind why Bob and I moved to Powell River. Back when we lived in Victoria, we didn’t have the time nor the energy for much more than work. We really felt like drones, plodding along through life when all we wanted was to be involved in our community and have adventures. So, one of the first things we did once we got settled in as new Powell River residents was to volunteer. And as a result, we’ve met a lot of great people while doing some good, worthwhile work.
Bob and I first met Jacquie while volunteering at a Friends of the Library fundraiser.
So now, instead of marking our time in terms of work schedules, we’ve got a life more balanced. There’s work yes, but there’s also more time for friends and family, volunteering and other leisure activities, and still after all that, there’s even time to go to the movies. And I’m pretty sure that little girl who wanted to be a movie star would be good with that.
For more information on volunteer opportunities in Powell River, visit Powell River & District United Way.
Angie Davey
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