MEMBER UPDATES - PETER EVANCHUCK

GOOP gallery curators and Film Co-op members, HELENE LACELLE & PETER EVANCHUCK are on the move with their growing array of international 'MAIL ART' - GOOP is one of several 'mail art' galleries worldwide - the purpose is to promote a free exchange of art among all the artists of this planet and beyond if there are any artists in our wonderous universe - our openings not only shows this international 'mail art' but also provides all the info necessary for all the commnity to participate... welcome come on down!!

Each artist makes their art then sends it via post to other artists who in turn make their art and send it to all others - now our 'artists' number over one hundred soooooooooo every couple months HELENE (sometimes PETER) makes a hundred pieces of mail art, mails them out and usually gets at least 50 back soooooooooooo that means every couple months we have 50 more pieces of mail art to show to this world we call canNADA and under Harper it seems that latter part of CaNADA is closer to the conservative view of our culture.

Now that we have 50 new pieces of mail art we plan to cruise across this fair, beautiful land in my old, but new for me, MAZDA MPV van all hooked up, built up into a sleep/cookWAGON (artists don't make enough moola to stay in hotels - do they? - anyway it's more fun to 'rough it'.

oh as a sidebar a documentary is being made on their adventures....

Email Peter at: peter.chuckles@live.ca                                                                          

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Membership: Getting Involved - It's Easy As 1-2-3

You are a brand spanking new NB Film Co-op member and you are leaving the Co-op offices and in your hot little hands are your new membership card (it's still warm from the laminator) and the receipt for your membership fee. What now? 

It's true that Cat, intrepid membership services gal, did bend your ear for a time about volunteer activities and what you could do, geez can she talk and why is she so happy all the time, weird! It's all so overwhelming you think as you trudge home with visions of workshops, socials, productions and why is Cat so excited about an interactive calendar?

Where do you go from here?

THE STEPS
Email Cat a profile and bio when you first join and an updated bio and picture when you renew each year after

- This is extremely important as the bio and picture introduces you to everybody on the Film Co-op listserv and the listserv is huge. The weekly e-news goes out to not only the Film Co-op members (250 province wide) but the following groups: NB schools, NB universities, NB film/video/animation/audio training centres, NB commercial producers, screenwriters and tech people, NB granting agencies, other NB artist-run centres in different creative disciplines, Canadian training centres for film and video, 99 centres similar to the Film Co-op in Canada, specific Canadian filmmakers, producers and tech people, film and actor unions in Canada, NB and Canadian casting directors, actors, community colleges, city halls, etc..etc...the list goes on and on.

Remember to keep in touch with the Film Co-op full time core staff 

- Members should always feel free to email Cat if they have questions or concerns about anything. Cat is quick on email and really enjoys helping out. Don't be shy, email her anytime day or night and she will likely answer you right away if she can, she's weird that way. If you have questions for Tony or Michel, she can help out as well.

Email Cat to set up times to come in to help out in the office

- Members that live in town can do different things to help out in different ways. Cleaning up the offices, typing up articles, website corrections, scanning and sizing pictures, helping with socials, running errands, cleaning up the resources centre, dusting, organizing etc...all this is a huge help to staff. Volunteers are pure gold.

Email Cat if you want to to take out videos and films produced by other Co-op members

- This is very important as watching what the other members have created gives you insight into what is possible for you to do creatively and through the Co-op. You can also get an idea of member's work whether they are directors, cinematographers, screenwriters, production designers etc...possible crew for your future projects. Also, it's important to be up on what your creative peers are doing at all times.

Email Cat to plan impromptu events/meetings/socials and find out who needs help on their productions where ever you live in NB

- The Film Co-op can always use a hand with socials and events happening locally or in other parts of the province and it's sometimes nice for newer members to help out to give the alumni members a break if they are the ones that always have to do this. It's a great way for a newer member to get really involved and get to know staff and members so much better. It's important for everybody to share the work load of volunteer labour so that a few don't get extreme burn out. No matter where you live, there are productions and events going on, get involved. There are also Silver Wave Film Festival activities and work that goes on all year long that the Film Co-op needs help with, ask anytime.

Email Cat if you joined and are not getting the weekly e-news

- The weekly e-news is the creative bible for the NB Film Co-op and the larger community as it really tries to keep people in the loop on what is going on in film and television in NB and beyond. It is so important to read the e-news once a week when it goes out as it keeps everybody connected. It is also important for members and non-members to send Cat updates on what is going on in the cinematic arts in their areas in NB. As well, there are two Co-op facebook pages and it's good to be a member of at least one of them: New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative: The Official Site and Silver Wave Film Festival .

Email Cat if you want to register and pay for workshops as they fill up quickly

- The workshops really get the creative juices going for everybody. Going to workshops also helps members and non-members alike to network with other likeminded creative people in NB. Nobody is beyond taking workshops to strength their creative skills, nobody, nobody knows it all or has nothing to learn at any stage. Workshops can be refreshers for more experienced people as well.

END NOTE

Ok, so you have done some of the above but you have not landed on a member production as of yet and you are really keen to get your hands dirty and get some production action. You can't handle equipment until you are trained (let's say that you are a complete greenhorn), and have gotten in your volunteer hours, so, is that possible? Yes it is. 

Any new associate or full member can volunteer on a member shoot in a non-technical role . There are more non-technical roles on a shoot so, there is plenty of room for new members and older members alike to assist.

The interactive calendar is great as it tells each member what films are being shot on specific dates, who the filmmaker is and there is short description of the project. New members are welcome to contact any filmmaker listed in the calendar but ultimately it is up to the filmmaker who works on their shoot.

If you are a little shy about contacting a filmmaker or two, ask Cat and she will help you out.

You will find the calendar on the Film Co-op homepage and in each weekly e-news.

There is so much activity at the Film Co-op now that it's quite easy to find something to do. Please take the time to get involved and help out.

Take that step into the Co-op spotlight and get into the action!

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New Brunswick Filmmakers’ Co-operative Member Production & activity Calendar

Check out this link for the NBFC online Activity Calendar!

http://www.nbfilmcoop.com/NBFC%20Activity%20Calendar/Welcome.html

Check out this link to see who our members in good standing are: http://www.nbfilmcoop.com/Membership_List/NBFC_Members_List.html

UPDATED ON THURSDAY, August 25, 2011