Located northwest of the the booming city of Calgary, just north of Cochrane, the village of Cremona may seem a little off the beaten path. But, for two Vancouver filmmakers, the small town may hold one of the keys to discovering the Canadian identity.
Alexandra Caulfield and Ryder White, of Caulfield White Productions, brought their Canadian Frame(lines) interactive documentary project to the village north of Cochrane on Jan. 31. Remaining in Cremona until the end of February, the pair have recruited residents and passed out cameras, all in an effort to capture what it means to live in small-town Alberta.
“The Canadian identity, it’s an elusive thing,” said White, who originally hails from New Mexico. “There is something about living here that was unique, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.”
After brainstorming ideas to kick off their career following their graduation from the film program at B.C.’s Simon Fraser University, Caulfield and White said they knew they wanted to travel.
But they came to a halt when discussing the country’s identity.
“When we started talking about Canadian cultural identity, I found I couldn’t articulate what I meant when I was talking about Canada and how we’re different from the rest of the world,” explained Caulfield, who is from White Rock.
So, they hit the road. Starting last month, the couple will be travelling in their converted bus for a year, with plans to visit small towns in 10 provinces and two First Nations communities.
B.C.’s Pender Harbour area was the first stop. Cremona was next.
At each stop, the pair will provide volunteers with a quick film workshop, hand out Super 8mm film cameras and send them off to record what it means to live in each town. The creators will also process the film.
The motion picture film produces a grainy, raw effect that the duo wanted in their final project.
“There is something to be said about films that have been touched by their creators,” said Caulfield. “Not only are you seeing the images these people have captured, but you see the full labour of their work.”
Residents are asked to film in an effort to get the most truthful portrayal of life in each town.
“We can never get inside someone’s stories as well as they can themselves,” said White.
Once they collect the footage from all 12 stops, the filmmakers are planning to digitize the film and create a travelling gallery installation. Depending on the footage and films, Caulfield said they may create a feature-length documentary or TV mini-series.
“As we travel throughout the country, collecting these films and stories, we can see where the similarities and differences lie,” said White. “We can see how we are connected and what sets us apart.”
The filmmakers have slated a public showing of the Cremona-based motion pictures for Feb. 25 — details of the viewing have yet to be confirmed.
After the viewing, the pair will be packing up their bus and hitting the road, bound for Gravelbourg, Sask.
The pair will be sad to leave Cremona behind. Having “Google-mapped” Cremona before leaving Vancouver, Caulfield said she knew what to physically expect of the community, but both she and White said they have been overwhelmed by the village’s sense of community.
For more details on the Canadian Frame(lines) project, visit canadianframelines.com or check out their Facebook page.
