Press Kit - One World Film Festival

Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World
Press Kit
Contents:
Synopsis: Pg 2
Director’s Statement: Pg 3
Film Credits: Pg 4
Director Bio & resume: Pg 9
Producer Bio: Pg 14
Contact Charles Wilkinson: 604 970-5182
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Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World
A feature documentary film by Charles Wilkinson, director of Peace Out & Oil
Sands Karaoke
SYNOPSIS
“Maybe we’re not totally screwed” reads the cut line on the poster – referring to the
widespread pessimism many thinking people feel about the plight of the natural
world. Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World, set on the pristine Haida Gwaii
archipelago, shows how the distinct world view of an over 14,000 year old society is
co-mingling with the values of an influx of progressive, modern urbanites to create
an amazing example of how the world could be.
The story of Haida Gwaii is one of of a place and a people who have experienced
the ravages of unsustainable exploitation; they’ve fought back, reclaimed control of
their lands, and have begun the process of rebuilding both their natural world and a
sustainable modern community. A community free from corporate control, one
where whole food is accessible to everyone, a community with no shopping malls.
But wouldn’t you know it - all of that is now under the threat of daily fossil-fuelladen super-tanker traffic wanting to pass through their treacherous waters.
The film features insights from former Haida Nation president Guujaaw, activist
Severn Suzuki, Haida carver Jaalen Edenshaw, International Rediscovery founder
Thom ‘Huck’ Henley, Haida Chief Allan Wilson, ex-loggers, business and cultural
leaders, troublemakers, biologists, curmudgeons, scientists and alternative energy
experts.
An irreverent, intimate, funny, beautiful, occasionally troubling but always
intriguing human story of Canada’s world renowned archipelago - Haida Gwaii –
where the 1st Nations Haida majority and their non-native neighbours are winning
key battles in the campaign to beat back the dire global threats facing us all. And
in the process it’s possible they’re creating a path forward that the rest of us can all
follow.
Haida Chief Allan Wilson asks near the beginning of the film: “How do we keep
defeating the governments in our court battles, how do we keep beating the
corporations, how do we keep winning?” Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World
has some answers.
SHORE FILMS in association with KNOWLEDGE NETWORK and OPTIC NERVE FILMS presents HAIDA GWAII ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
featuring appearances by Chief Allan Wilson, Guujaaw, Severn Cullis Suzuki, Meredith Adams, Lynn Lee, Leandre Vilegneault, Alex Martinuik
John Broadhead, Dafne Romero, Jaalen Edenshaw and many more. Sound mix Bill Shepherd, Color Gary Shaw, Executive Producers Kevin Eastwood &
Murray Battle. Producers Tina Schliessler & Charles Wilkinson. Directed by Charles Wilkinson
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Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World
Charles Wilkinson’s Director’s Statement
I wanted to make a film as the 3rd and final chapter in what some call our ‘OK or
not OK’ trilogy (by ‘our’ I mean my life & filmmaking partner Tina Schliessler and I).
The first film, Peace Out asked the question: Are we destroying our world to extract
energy? The answer was yes, we absolutely are. The causes were pretty clear: we
consume too much (often unnecessary) stuff, we’re super wasteful in the process,
and our governments enable the process by giving the voters what we’ve been
encouraged to desire.
This film led to us making the 2nd – Oil Sands Karaoke. It examines why, if most of
us know how much trouble we’re in, why we don’t do anything much about it. The
answer we found up in Ft. Mac was that we’re all so focussed on keeping the
lifestyle going – making the payments and winning our own karaoke contests we
have no time left for you know, saving the world.
The first time we visited Haida Gwaii we found the obvious location for the final film
in the series. Here was a place where the native population had been almost
completely wiped out by the forces of global commerce. The Haida were down to
3% of their pre-contact level. Their natural world had been decimated – 2/3rds of
the best timber gone, more than half the fish-stocks vanished, a web-work of
abandoned mines scarred the landscape. But somehow the population fought back,
kicked out the corporations, won control of the land, and started digging out.
Today Haida Gwaii is world famous for its incredible art work and near pristine
natural beauty. It’s the location of a UNESCO World Heritage site. But even more
interestingly, a core group of progressive native Haida and like-minded non-native
residents are building a different kind of world. No shopping malls, no corporate
logos, very little conspicuous consumption. Without the need to pay for a
consumer lifestyle people have time to visit, time to be involved in sourcing their
own food, time to live.
Making a film about a good news story is really hard. Check the titles at any ecofilm festival - bad news is way more interesting. Even more difficult was the fact
that this film did not lend itself to a linear, plot oriented structure. We have no
road trip quest, no karaoke contest. And it’s not as if this stuff is visually
spectacular – yes, the scenery is all of that. But from outward appearances the
visuals on Haida Gwaii are not unlike many rural communities. How do you film an
attitude, a value system? So trying to weave the subtle and almost impossibly
disparate strands of this film together has been a real challenge, the greatest one
I’ve ever faced in years (and years) as a filmmaker.
I think there’s something here for our audience. I think many in our audience
hunger for a more simple life with more community, less inequality, fewer
pressures, and better food. I’m really hopeful that our audience will come away reinvigorated by the fresh salt air of the place, the fresh values, and an
understanding that a way better life is within all of our reach - right where we are.
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Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World
DIRECTOR
CHARLES WILKINSON
PRODUCERS
TINA SCHLIESSLER
CHARLES WILKINSON
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
KEVIN EASTWOOD
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, KNOWLEDGE NETWORK
MURRAY BATTLE
Featuring (In Order Of Appearance)
Bill Woodworth
Severin Cullis-Suzuki
Alex Martinuik
Allan Wilson
Jaalen Edenshaw
John Broadhead
Guujaaw
Werner Funk
Thom Henley
Ernie Gladstone
Leandre Vigneault
Lynn Lee
Nathalie Macfarlane
Archie and Liz Stocker Sr.
Dafne Romero Salazar
Meredith Lee Adams
Amanda Cook
Jacques Morin
Michaela McGuire
Cinematography & Picture Editing
Charles Wilkinson
Tina Schliessler
Music & Sound
Charles Wilkinson
Sound Mix
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Bill Sheppard - DBC Sound
Color Timing
Gary Shaw - Side Street Post
Production Coordinator
Dafne Romero
Music Production Services
Tyler Pearson - Deep Cove Music
Music Licensing
Michael Perlmutter – Instinct Entertainment
Production Accounting
Christina Lynch - Harbour Block Ltd.
Additional GoPro Photography
Kevin Eastwood
Heather Ramsey
Mix Technician
Gord Sprule
Mix Studio Coordination
Kat Liffiton
Stills Photographer
Kevin Eastwood
Legal Services
Heather Watt - Chandler Fogden
Production Insurance
Front Row Insurance
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Insurance
Shephard Ashmore Insurance
Also appearing
Ildagwaay - Beatrice Harley
Shoshanna Greene
Raven Leblanc
Tiisaan Suzuki-Brown
Ben Davidson
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Taimen Vigneault
Jeff Mosher
Sebastian Dalgarno
Terry Russ - Daughters of the River Dancers
Staff & Students - Rediscovery Foundation
Tyler York
Allen Weir
Ralph Stocker
Trevis Ridley
Bill Walker
Matthew Davies
Sincere gratitude to the Haida Nation for the warm welcome to their
traditional territory
Special Thanks To
Victor and Bev Fradette
Benita Sanders and Borje Lambert
Staff at Parks Canada Haida Gwaii
Gwaii Haanas Watchmen
Wynn Deschner
Heather Ramsey
Patrice Ramsey
John Reid
Acknowledgements
The Haida Nation
Department of Fisheries & Oceans
Jason Alsop and staff at Haida Gwaii Museum And Heritage Center
Roland and Janet Rigg - Edge Of The World Music Festival
The Skidegate Haida Immersion Program (S.H.I.P.)
Shawn Baybutt - Haida Wild Seafoods
Bob Brash and the team at HaiCo
Grace Flanagan - Gracie’s Place
Edi Szasz – Kay Center Bistro
North Pacific Kelp Wild Foods
Moon Over Naikoon Bakery
Sail Piraeus Adventures
All About U Arts Gallery
The Crow’s Nest - Tlell
Taan Forest Products
Island Sunrise Café
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Jag's Beanstalk
Queen Bee’s
Engelhard’s Oceanview Lodge
Staff - Queen Charlotte City Liquor Store
Royal Canadian Legion – Queen Charlotte City
The crew at City Center Store & occasional laundromat
Moresby Explorers (for saving our tripod)
Leanne Vogstad, Mark and family
Barbara Small and Noel Wotten
Tom Greene & Laura Dutheil
Severn Cullis-Suzuki Family
Ernie Gladstone Family
Brian & Deb Bussiere
John Legate & Crew
Robert Davidson
Leslie Johnson
Rick Grange
Dale Lore
Nick Allen
Bob Fraumeni
Laird Bateham
George Pattison
Göetz Hanish – Rose Harbour Guest House
Kitimat security guard who thought we were filming a porno
Lorne Lapham & the terrific gang at LLSR
Canon Canada
Salmon & logging maps courtesy John Broadhead, Gowgaia Institute
Digital media & island map by Jezze Korzan & Nick Johnston - EthicalUX
Lisa & The Crew At Flying Cameras
Jason Rule – Transport Canada
The BC Ferries Corp.
Woody Morrison
James Kidney
Avi Federgreen
Nadine Sheppard
Tobias Schliessler ASC
Nadya, Pablo & Fabio Wilkinson & Jamie Dodd
The many friends who gave valuable input on the film
Archival footage courtesy
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation: TV Archives Sales
Carry On
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Performed by Coleen Rennison
Written by Jack Antanoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost, Nate Reuss
Published by Rough Art (ASCAP)/ Shira Lee Lawrence Rick Music (BMI)/ Way
Above Music (BMI)/ Sony/ATV Songs LLC (BMI)
and WB Music Corp. (ASCAP), FBR Music (ASCAP) and Bearvon
Music (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Produced by: Tyler Pearson – DCM Studios
Recorded at DCM Studios & Deep Cove Music
Programming - Ian Prince
Flyin’ Cave Blues
Written & performed by Jeff Pevar
Courtesy Peeved Music, BMI
Filmed on location and with the permission of the Parks Canada Agency, at
Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area
Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site, British Columbia
Filmed on location on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada
Post Produced in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
This motion picture is protected under the copyright laws of Canada, the
United States and other countries. Any unauthorized downloading,
duplication, reproduction, distribution, dissemination, or exhibition – even
without remuneration is a direct violation of applicable laws, it will be
prosecuted, and is basically stealing from not very well paid people you’d
probably like.
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH
BC’s Knowledge Network
And
OPTIC NERVE FILMS
PRODUCED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF
THE CANADIAN FILM OR VIDEO PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT
© COPYRIGHT SHORE FILMS MMXV
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Charles Wilkinson – Director – Short Bio
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Charles Wilkinson is an multi award-winning film and television director and
published author. His more recent titles include Down Here, Peace Out, Oil
Sands Karaoke, and Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World. His newest
book, published by Red Deer Press is Peace Out: Adventures on the Road to
Green Energy. Charles lives with his family near Vancouver, BC.
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Charles Wilkinson - Bio
Charles Wilkinson is the writer/director of a large body of dramatic &
documentary film (Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World, Oil Sands
Karaoke, Peace Out, Down Here, Max, Breach of Trust, The Highlander,
Heart of The Storm, etc). The films have won awards and played in cinemas
and on television worldwide.
The 2nd edition of his 1st book, The Working Film Director is in book stores.
His second book – Peace Out: Adventures on the Road to Green Energy is in
bookstores. His documentary- Down Here received critical and audience
success on the international festival circuit (Vancouver, Cleveland, Houston,
Venice). Peace Out was the official opening film at the 2012 Global Visions
festival, it was awarded Most Popular Canadian Documentary at the 2011
Vancouver International Film Festival as well as at the 2012 Available Light
International Film Festival. It has been selected at numerous film festivals
including Hot Docs 2012, North America’s largest documentary festival
where it won the Special Jury Prize for Canadian Documentary.
Oil Sands Karaoke –had its world premiere at Hot Docs in 2013 where it met
with extraordinary praise and is currently touring the international festival
circuit. The new film from Charles – Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World
will have its world premiere at Hot Docs in April 2015. It’s a film that just
might point to some solutions to our global sustainability dilemma.
Visit charleswilkinson.com
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Charles Wilkinson
Director - Writer - Producer
Books
PEACE OUT (Red Deer Press, Toronto, 2015). On the top left hand corner of North America there's an
energy gold rush under way. Hydro, Fracking, Nuclear, Tar Sands. Energy costs - here's how much. Based
on the award-winning feature documentary film.
THE WORKING FILM DIRECTOR (Wiese Press, Los Angeles, 2005 – 2013) The new rules of the
game. “Perfectionism is evident in the meticulously organized approach Wilkinson he brings to a
book that should prove highly beneficial for aspiring directors” Publisher’s Weekly
Feature Films:
HAIDA GWAII: On The Edge Of The World. Shore Films, Knowledge Network. World premiere Hot Docs
2015.
OIL SANDS KARAOKE - Feature Documentary - Shore Films, Knowledge Network. World premiere Hot
Docs 2013. Official selection VIFF, Global Visions Opening Night, Boca Raton FF, Calgary FF.
““…surprisingly sensitive… Poignant and beautifully shot… spectacular and revealing… a dignified portrait
of both the booming town and the workers who have been driven to it.”
Marsha Lederman, The Globe and Mail
PEACE OUT – Feature Documentary – Shore Films Inc. Winner “Most Popular Candian Documentary VIFF
2011, Audience Choice Best Documentary ALFF 2012, Opening Night Film Global Visions FF 2012. Winner
Special Jury Prize Hot Docs 2012 Writer/Director/Producer
HEART OF THE STORM – w/Tom Cavanaugh, Melissa Gilbert & Brian Wimmer. Walletsize
Pictures/Green Bacino. World Premiere at Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival.
Director
BREACH OF TRUST (aka CRASH) - w/Michael Biehn, Leilani Ferrer, Matt Craven, Miguel Sandoval.
Republic Pictures. Director
I ACCUSE - Rampage Ent. for Cinetel, Coscient, John Ketcham Dir. Writer.
MAX - w/R.H. Thomson, Denise Crosby. Canada wide theatrical release. Astral Films.
Winner Vermont Film Festival & Ft. Lauderdale Film Festival - Best Drama.
Writer/Director/Producer
BLOOD CLAN - w/Gordon Pinsent, Michelle Little, Robert Wisden. Winner best feature A.M.P.I.A.
awards. Director
QUARANTINE - w/Garwin Sanford, Beatrice Boeple. Republic Pictures. Award - Brussels Sci Fi Film
Fantastique Festival . Canada wide theatrical release. Writer/Director/Producer
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MY KIND OF TOWN - - Peter Smith, Martina Schliessler. Feline Films. Finalist Upsalla Film Festival,
Sweden. Canada wide theatrical release. Writer/Director/Producer
DOCUMENTARY
HAIDA GWAII: On The Edge Of The World. Feature documentary – Shore Films Inc. (see above)
Writer/Director/Producer
OIL SANDS KARAOKE – Feature Documentary – Shore Films Inc. (see above) Writer/Director/Producer
PEACE OUT – Feature Documentary – Shore Films Inc. (see above) Writer/Director/Producer
DOWN HERE - 30 minutes - Moving Images Distribution - Writer/Director/Producer.
- Vancouver International Film Festival - "Most Popular Canadian Short Film"
- Okanagan International Film Festival - "Best Short Documentary"
- Cleveland International Film Festival - "Best Short Documentary"
- Edmonton International Film Festival - "Best Short Documentary"
- Venice International "Circuito Off" - "Ondo Curta Award - "Best Short Documentary"
- Houston World Fest – “Special Jury Award”
AIRPRENTICE - 20 minutes. Official Selection Whistler Film Festival 2006. Current international
distribution - NSX Extreme. Writer/Director
DEMODEMENTIA - Yorkton & IAAP US Festival Honors. Writer/Director/Producer
THE LITTLE TOWN THAT DID - Portland Festival Honors. Writer/Director/Producer
TIERS... A STORY OF THE PENITENTIARY - 18 min. National Film Board of Canada. Yorkton & Seattle
Festival Honors. Writer/Director
TELEVISION MOVIES
A CRIME OF PASSION – Mary Higgins Clark Suspense Theatre – PAX, Robbins Ent. Edge Ent.
Starring Cynthia Gibb & Alexandra Kamp. Director
OUT OF NOWHERE - Disney/ABC - Green Epstein Sunday Night Movie starring Lisa Hartman Black,
Jason Wiles, Eva Larue. "A suspenseful ride... Wilkinson keeps the action at a good clip, sparks fly."
Holloywood Reporter. Director
SEDUCTION - ABC - Green Epstein Sunday Night Movie starring Melissa Gilbert, Joley Fisher, Dennis
Weaver. "...intense, radiant, hypnotic, superb..." Hollywood Reporter. Director
ANGEL FLIGHT DOWN - ABC - Monday Night Movie starring Patricia Kalember, David Charvet,
Christopher Atkins, Gary Graham. Charles Wilkinson Director & Script polish. "... Riveting... best kidin-peril movie since EVERYBODY'S BABY..." TV GUIDE Director
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THE LEGEND OF THE RUBY SILVER - ABC - Green Epstein - Saturday night movie starring John
Schnieder, Bruce Weitz, Johnathon Jackson, Rebecca Jenkins. "...a gem... a find... Wilkinson does an
outstanding job... visually satisfying... The Legend of the Ruby Silver is a pleasure." Hollywood
Reporter Director
CHILDREN OF THE DARK - CBS - Steve Krantz Prods. Starring Peter Horton. Charles Wilkinson Writer
EPISODIC TV
THE HIGHLANDER III & IV - w/Adrian Paul multiple episodes (LEO AWARD for BEST DIRECTOR)
Rysher Ent. Director
DEAD MAN'S GUN - Brian Kerwin. Showtime. Larry Sugar, Henry Winkler. Showtime. Director
THE ROAD TO AVONLEA - W/Jackie Buroughs, R.H. Thomson. Disney/Sullivan Films Director
WELCOME TO PARADOX (BETAVILLE) - USA, Alliance. Tab Baird, Lewis Chesler Director
SO WEIRD - starring Mackenzie Phillips. John Cooksey, Henry Winkler, Larry Sugar, Lee Gaither, Gary
Marsh. Disney. Director
THE IMMORTAL - starring Lorenzo Lamas. Michael Grais for Peace Arch Director
2GETHER - starring 2GETHER. The Gunn Cousins for MTV and Alliance Director
LOS LUCHADORES - Dan Clark Producer, Lance Robbins for Shavick, Saban, Fox Family Director
BEACHCOMBERS – Don S Williams Producer for CBC. Various episodes. Director
PILOTS
HIGH COUNTRY - Magic Hour w/ Kenneth Welch & Jessica Steen for Atlantis. Became Destiny Ridge
Director Award - Best 1 Hr. Drama, AMPIA AWARDS
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TINA SCHLIESSLER – Producer - Bio
Tina Schliessler is a documentary film producer and cinematographer based in
Vancouver, Canada. She’s produced numerous animation short films for NDR TV in
Germany. Tina, a painter and photographer as well has had numerous exhibitions of
her work including the Moving Portraits series and Bushwhack, the photographic series
the iconography found in nature. In collaboration with writer/poet Heather Haley and
using these images Tina produced the documentary film, Bushwhack which played at
various festivals including the Vancouver Woman in Film Festival, 2011. With her
partner, director Charles Wilkinson, she produced the multi award winning documentary
films Down Here, Peace Out, and Oil Sands Karaoke. Tina is excited to have the world
premiere of their newest feature documentary Haida Gwaii On The Edge of the World at
Hot Docs 2015.
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