By Carli Whitwell
“This film is important for the community to have,” said Huntsville mayor Claude Doughty at a Huntsville economic development committee meeting last week. “We’ll have this documentary in 20 and 30 years (to show what Huntsville experienced).”
The economic development committee has supported the project in principle, putting aside $8,000 in its 2010 draft budget for the film, a small portion of the shoestring budget film company VQ Productions is hoping to raise.
VQ Productions consists of University of Toronto graduate and Huntsville native Kate Heming; long-time area cottager and former manager of the Canadian Film Festival Brenda Darling; and screenwriter/producer Tanya Campolin. The three women are working in conjunction with the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and, along with the support from the town, are seeking government or private funding to make up the rest of an operating budget of $140,000.
The documentary, they believe, is important not only for Huntsville, but also for the world.
“It’s a snapshot of Huntsville in 2010,” said Rob Saunders, general manager of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, a not-for-profit arts festival. “With a documentary like this, people a world away can get a sense of what it’s like (to experience a G8).”
The filmmakers plan to shadow a handful of residents in the leadup to and aftermath of the consecutive G8 and G20 Summits in the area. These leads, who could be anyone from senior citizens to religious leaders, haven’t yet been picked and likely won’t be filmed until the new year, said Saunders. He was quick to caution that there won’t be open auditions or casting calls; rather, the real-life leads will eventually reveal themselves.
Success for the partners will be reflected in increased tourism and film production in the area and having their documentary aired in major film festivals and on television. But, they’ll also measure it by what they leave behind for Huntsville students.
Saunders said they plan to allow aspiring student filmmakers help film the documentary. Also, any equipment purchased for the documentary — such as cameras, processing equipment and more — may also be lent out to Huntsville High School students.
While VQ Productions has filmed a town hall meeting and interviewed the mayor, major filming can’t take place until funding is in place, said Saunders.
