The WFG founding members were local and independent. They represented all film disciplines and had honed their skills in various ways—in commercial, government and academic work, and by being self taught. Contagious energy fuelled ambitious ideas. Fortunately, there were clear-headed planners involved. Nevertheless, as early co-ordinator Leon Johnson reflected, “we had to start with nothing. There was a lot of struggle”. Most of the films in this selection are from early WFG animation and documentary makers. Moving and I Dream of Driftwood reflect their legacy. This program is rated 18A. Curated by Joanne Jackson Johnson.
Joanne Jackson Johnson is a founding member of the Winnipeg Film Group. She and Leon Johnson, then married, had spent several years in Minneapolis involved in the visual art communities. In the late 1960s, they even worked for John Cage shooting 8mm film at a Cage Music Circus. After the first few years of film projects Joanne decided to concentrate on still photography, exhibiting and teaching part time at the School of Art, University of Manitoba. In 1989 Joanne moved to Whitehorse Yukon where she continued to photograph, exhibit and work in art education. For the past twenty years she has been engaged in organic farming and advocacy for organic agriculture.
Ho Down
Dir. John Paizs
2:00 | Direct Animation | Colour | 1976
Techniques: Animated painting, 16mm
An enjoyable animated film done by drawing directly on the film in the tradition of Norman McLaren. Two circles, one male and one female, bounce, spin and stretch to lively music.
Primiti Too Taa
Dir. Ed Ackerman, Colin Morton
3:00 | Experimental / Animation | B&W | 1986
Techniques: Drawing/painting on paper, 16mm
A delightful animated poem made with only a typewriter and simple vocal messages, based on the 1920s sound poem Ursonate (Sonata in Primitive Sounds) by the German avant-garde artist Kurt Schwitters. The human voice provides the music while words and syllables dance in this short film, which has won several international awards, including a Bronze Apple from the National Educational Film and Video Festival. Primiti Too Taa was a six-week collaboration between filmmaker and artist Ed Ackerman and writer and poet Colin Morton.
Sarah’s Dream
Dir. Ed Ackerman
5:00 | Animation | Colour | 1980
Techniques: Animated objects, 16mm
Plasticine animation tells the quick amusing story of a girl whose wish to move to Canada from the Old Country is granted.
Live Studio Sound
Dir. Ed Ackerman
5:00 | Documentary | Colour | 1980
Live Studio Sound is a portrayal of a group of people taping the soundtrack to an animated film. The film is Ed Ackerman’s riotous companion piece to Sarah’s Dream. We discover how the unusual sound effects are created and see how applying the sound track is the last step in completing a film.
Moving
Dir. Leslie Supnet
1:00 | Animation | Colour | 2007
Techniques: Drawing/painting on paper, paper cutouts, DV
Moving is Leslie Supnet’s first animation made for the Winnipeg Film Group’s 48 Hour Film Contest where it took home 1st prize. This short explores the ways in which we move from one place to another, and how we all leave things behind.
Havakeen Lunch
Dir. Elise Swerhone
28:00 | Documentary | Colour | 1979
Language: English
After eighteen years of operating the favourite lunch counter in Manitoba’s Interlake region, Ellen and Martin Kihn have retired. A poignant look at the last day, The Kihns, their friends and their customers, demanding rural life and the place the disappearing institution of the country café plays in these people’s lives. A tribute to the cafes found in small towns.
You Laugh Like A Duck
Dir. Leon Johnson & Cordell Wynne
29:00 | Documentary | Colour | 1980
Language: English
A film of great warmth and insight, this co-production between the Winnipeg Film Group and the Atlantic Filmmaker’s Co-operative explores the lives of a number of children in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
I Dream of Driftwood
Dir. Matthew Rankin
3:00 | Documentary / Experimental | Colour | 2006
Techniques: Super 8mm
Language: English
A Super-8mm catalogue of Winnipeg apartment blocks.
