Hello fellow film fanatics! My name is
John Christenson and I've been a member of the Film Co-op since
1997.
Fourth generation New Brunswicker,
I was born and raised right here in old Fredericton, Marysville
actually. I've tried leaving a couple of times but apparently the
force within isn't strong enough.
After a misspent youth of crazy
antics and parties I left school (mutually agreed solution), met a
beautiful young girl, found a job, married and raised a family. A
lot has changed over the years, the beautiful young girl is still
here, older but then so am I. The job is gone replaced after a brain
shift from left to right, or is it right to left - I can never
remember. I have a beautiful intelligent daughter, very
level-headed. Thank God she took after her Mother.
So how does a guy emerging from
many years of wild parties and a technical background find himself
slugging away at Independent Filmmaking and volunteering at the Film
Co-op. Well, many years ago I worked as a Mechanical Drafting Tech
pumping out piping drawings for large-scale construction projects,
Coleson Cove, Pt. Lepreau, Moosehead, Nackawic Pulp. The work was OK
but the environment lacked something. An opportunity in the early
80s offered a chance to learn new skills in the Graphic Arts
industry and since my employment insurance was running out it looked
pretty good. Two years later after working with the greatest bunch
of kooks I have ever met the contract ended and it was time to step
out into the wild and always crazy world of freelance Graphic
Design. As time passed technology and Government-funded training
programs began to change the local market so in 1996 I returned to
school, UNB, to take the Arts Multimedia Studies Program. As a new
program it lacked sufficient credits to feed it so UNB said it was
willing to accept some of the classes from Barry Cameron's Fine Arts
Film Program. Well, plant a seed and a big oak will grow.
Here I am, years later, toiling
away my downtime, and more, at the Film Co-op. Presently I am also
teaching various creative courses at the Centre for Arts and
Technology based in downtown Fredericton and am loving it.
Since 1997 I have
participated on 20 members' productions doing everything
from PA to 1st AD at the Film Co-op. I have been an active member on a very active
Board at a very, very active time at the Film Co-op. I was President
during the introduction of the 1st and 2nd Tidal Wave Film
Festivals. A Board member and a volunteer for the 3rd, took a break
on the 4th but came back with a vengeance for the new and improved
Silver Wave Film Festival as Marketing Lead and Vice-President of
the Board of Directors and am now President and work closely with
the staff once again. In 2003, on behalf of the Film Co-op, I
worked closely with the City of Fredericton Tourism Division,
Downtown Fredericton and the Centre for Arts and Technology to
create the Under the Stars Program, now headed into its fourth year.
Since staff is overworked and underpaid I try hard to assist
whenever and wherever I can so each and every Monday night you'll
find me helping Cat and Tony with the Monday Night Film Series.
Many years ago I was fortunate
enough to bump into someone who adjusted my focus towards the Arts.
Matthew MacKay (friend, mentor, artist, designer, teacher) saw
something within me that I didn't recognize. He not only turned on
my creative switch but he showed me the importance of giving back to
others. If not for him I might not be giving my time to the Film
Co-op or another community-volunteer activity, the Marysville
Heritage Committee.
Any of you who have put in some
serious hours volunteering though will recognize it when I say that
you sometimes can feel unappreciated. That is until you work closely
with Tony and Cat who never let you forget that every minute you put
in is
appreciated and that every effort you make is gold to them. My
thanks go to Tony and Cat for making it all worthwhile.
If you got a spot in your heart for
the Film Co-op stop by and talk to Cat and she can hook you up to
volunteer at the New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-op. The Film Co-op offers a place to appreciate
and learn about filmmaking and offers opportunities to give
something back to others, to help others feel good about themselves
and to help others better themselves creatively. It is the the
best place to be involved in film and television in NB.
For a good time call the NB
Filmmakers Co-operative. For a feel good time be a volunteer.
President, Board of Directors
NB Filmmakers' Co-operative
