Halifax Musicians Help Make a Movie

Canadian music is more popular than it has ever been, inside and outside of Canada. Smart Canadian filmmakers, who are always strapped for cash and desperate for publicity have figured this out and are incorporating Canadian music into their films.

2007 Ed Gass-Donnelly incorporated an amazing soundtrack featuring Sunparlour Players, Buck 65, the Ghost is Dancing, Shad, and others into his film This Beautiful City

2007 Bruce McDonald, who previously made the rock mockumentary Hard Core Logo (Toronto band Billy Talent takes it's name from one of the characters) convinces Broken Social Scene to score his new film the Tracey Fragments. If Hollywood had any taste this would have been taken the Best Picture Oscar.

2008 Michael McGowan not only puts together an amazing soundtrack of Canadian music for his film One Week but the film also features cameo appearances from people like Gord Downie, Emm Gryner and Joel Plaskett.

Laura Dawe's first feature film "The Inevitability of Something That Once Felt Impossible" may put them all to shame before she's done though.

The film is about three "art kids" who, in the midst of an economic depression and gas crisis, move to a house in the country to try to build a sustainable, self-sufficient life for themselves. The Halifax music community, in support of Dawe, her idea, and the possibility of having films made in the maritimes have latched onto it in an unprecedented way.

Artists like Dog Day, Jane Vain and the Dark Matter, Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees, Jon McKiel, Jenn Grant and others have donated songs to the soundtrack. Beyond that many of the same people are doing what they can to promote the film and holding fundraisers to get Dawe the money to finish making it.

It has been featured on Rebekah Higgs Sobama radio show on CKDU - especially Episode 5 which is devoted entirely to talking with Dawe about the film and trying to raise funds for it.

Jenn Grant has turned her brithday party into a fundraiser for the film.

"My birthday wish this year is to have a music party with lots of friends and cupcakes to help to raise money for Laura Dawe's first feature film so she can finish it. Everyone! is! Invited! Please come. Musical guests will include Ruth Minnikin, Ryan MacGrath, Dance Movie, Daniel Ledwell, John Mullane, Klarka Weinwurm, Rebekah Higgs, Jon Mckiel, Alright Already, Acres and Acres and Zac Crouse. Oh yeah, i am a white ninja and laura is a black ninja. we are going to fight in a dual. i will wear flowers in my hair but she will probably wear evil crystals to try and deflect my awesome powers. It is required that you dress up as either a black or white ninja. eat my words as well as my knife."

Details are at the Facebook Event Page.

Local independent press from the Coast to Herohill have also been lending a hand.

Smart Canadian filmmakers have learned the value of using Canadian music to draw a wider audience but as far as I know this is the first time that Canadian musicians have been so directly involved with the funding and creation of the film. Canadians have recently become more interested in their own stories and their own voices. Perhaps the unprecedented popularity of Canadian music is only the first step toward a more prosperous and prolific Canadian arts and media on the whole.

I've sent a message asking how others can get involved, keep up with the project and make donations to the cause but haven't gotten word yet. I'll let you know if I hear anything.

On Edit: Those wishing to donate who cannot attend the fundraisers can paypal or donate an email money transfer to [email protected] - There wasn't a permanent Facebook group so I made one (with Laura Dawe's approval - see http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115527373251.

First time filmmaker Laura Dawe and Birthday Girl Jenn Grant ninja it up.