Screening: Under One Sky
Monday, January 25th kicks off with a screening of Chris McDowell and Moira Simpson’s film (screened at VIFF 2009) Under One Sky at 6pm. We are excited to have the film makers in house And one of the martial artists from the film (Please see information from Inside Douglas College Newsletter below) offer a demo and a mini workshop with the women. Photographer, Ken Villeneuve will be taking photos of the women in their favourite martial arts pose. Our makeover program and Kids Club will run as scheduled starting at 6pm.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2009
Media tech’s film featured at VIFF
Cinephiles planning to hit the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) are advised to check out Under One Sky, directed and co-produced by our very own Chris McDowell. Chris is a Media Production Technician/Trainer with the Centre for Educational and Information Technology (CEIT).
Under One Sky is unlike any other film in the martial arts genre, says Chris. Filmed on the Sunshine Coast, it features a group of women taking part in an annual training camp with the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists. Moira Simpson, a respected, award-winning filmmaker and sessional instructor at Emily Carr University, shot, edited and co-produced the piece with Chris, Monica Baillie and Joni Miller.
“A documentary like this is a team sport and Mo was an essential collaborator,” says Chris.
Chris first became interested in the subject matter when she worked on a film about Karate for Women, a local martial arts club. Initially, she was interested in sharing the accomplishments of the women in Under One Sky, along with their influence in teaching other women to defend themselves. “In the end, the film focuses on the powerful spiritual journey these women find themselves on,” she says.
“This film is a testament to every woman who has fought back.”
Womyns Gym Program Coordinator, Tyla Flexman and National Executive Director, Caroline MacGillivray thought the film would be a great way to inspire more women to explore the different tools for healing offered through physical fitness. With our 2010 Womyns Gym session starting on February 9 on Monday and Wednesday nights, we wanted to remind our participants of the different tools that can be used to create life makeovers.
For the 2010 session of Womyns Gym, Flexman and MacGillivray aim to have several women complete the Sun Run on May 9, 2010. We will be coordinating a running clinic for the Womyns gym participants who would like to complete the run.
