Poetry & Performance – Marie Metaphor Specht
Poetry & Performance – Marie Metaphor Specht
Music – Gabrielle Odowichuck.
Analogue Shadow Puppetry – Sarah Tonin
Editing & Post Production – Alana Black
Videography – Ashley Alexander
Funded by The Arts Council of Canada.
This poetry-short features poetry and a performance by Marie Metaphor Specht
Marie is a multi-disciplinary artist, poet and performer living in gratitude on the unceded and traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples. She is the current Poet Laureate of Victoria, BC.
The imagery in this film was created with analog shadow puppetry by Sarah Tonin
With a unique blend of playful whimsy and thought-provoking scientific imagery, Sarah Tonin’s art reflects her keen sense of curiosity and childlike wonder while also exemplifying her mature set of technical skills and scientific understanding.
Sarah’s lifelong fascination with the natural world lead her to complete a degree in Biology at the University of Winnipeg, a process which further revealed to her the staggering complexities of life at all scales, a reality that will undoubtedly provide her with a lifetime of artistic inspiration.
Film Premiere of “Lighthouse”
Victoria, BC at Quadratic Sound on February 12th, 2023
The debut screening of “Lighthouse,” a new poetry short by Marie Metaphor and Sarah Tonin, took place at Quadratric Sound in Victoria BC, setting the stage for a memorable cinematic experience.
This dreamy short film featured original spoken word poetry by Marie, analog shadow puppetry designed by Sarah, and an original score by Gabrielle Odowichuk. It was filmed and edited by Ashley Alexander and Alana Black, with puppetry assistance provided by Kay Gallivan and Steve Craik.
After the screening, two additional short films featuring work by Sarah Tonin and Marie Metaphor were screened, followed by a brief Q&A with the artists. Marie also performed some of her spoken word poetry live before the screening.
An interactive shadow-art station, NightShade LightPlay, was on-site for some hands-on fun. This enhanced version of NightShade LightPlay included three overhead projectors set up exactly as they were for the filming of “Lighthouse,” allowing everyone to see how the film was made and play with the pieces that were used.
The Q&A panel was a highlight of the event for me. I joined the panel alongside Marie and other key members of the production team. The audience’s questions were a testament to their engagement with the film, and I enjoyed sharing insights into the editing process, shedding light on the artistic choices that made the film so impactful.
The success of the screening was further underscored by the enthusiastic participation and positive feedback from the audience. Attendees commended the film’s technical excellence, storytelling, and the collaborative effort of the entire production team, with my editing work receiving particular recognition.
Video edited by Alana Black
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