Halloween night

New for our decorations this is the full scale animation puppet I built for "Canister Versus The Red Death" this summer. We put it out front with a new Canister short playing (digitally) in the window. The video was shot by Erik Sirke over a year ago but this is the first time I've played the raw files. Allan was over for a quick supper and to hang out and give out candy. William (with Allan and I in tow) trick or treated to three houses (friends within a block: Gerda, David, and Gerri Ann). Geremy, Ellen, James, and Rory also paid a visit. It isn't Halloween without them. 

carving pumpkins

We carved three pumpkins, two of which had to be purchased due to the disappointing crop of our own this year. William did Pud's face into his.

We met with Neil about William contributing drawings to the Village Voice community bi-monthly paper. Seems like it will be fun, and we'll get free copies!

Typing and snow

I started doing some new ATCs but as we needed to rush out of the session yesterday, I borrowed Gertrud's typewriter but I only typed on two of the cards. My desire is to make up, and type, original stories on each card.
Snowed a bit today.

Biblio Files book launch

Congratulations to everyone involved in the Biblio Files book about the Regina Public Library. After nearly a decade, the book's release comes at a great time as the library continues to fight off threats to funding and keeps growing and changing. Readings at the launch included Margaret, Mike Wihak, Jeannie Mah, Berny Flaman, and about ten others. We arrived on time, having made our way from the ATC session, but not early enough to get seats. Great crowd and great success.

Cartoons at Lifelong Learning

Today I gave a brief history of American cartoons at the Lifelong Learning centre. I knew that my 90 minutes of films would likely not fit into the two hours so I needed to adjust but removing two and chowing only half of one other, bringing it down to about 72 minutes of films, ten minutes for a break, and then loading dvd time and other discussion and introductions. It went well. I put on
Gertie the Dinosaur
Felix in the Swim
Alice Gets in Dutch (excerpt)
Out of the Inkwell: Koko, Trip to Mars
Mickey Mouse, Plane Crazy
Betty Boop in Minnie the Moocher
Popeye, Lost and Foundry
Mickey's Fire Brigade
What's Opera Doc

It went well. They liked the old Mickey and Cab Callaway in the Betty Boop. 

This evening I tried to visit the hospital and really just ended up conversing with Sarah in the hallway. When I got home I found that William had created some artist trading cards for tomorrow's monster session. Here is a preview:

Dianne Ouellette's feature doc "Rigger" premiers

Huge congratulations to Dianne on the completion of the moving tribute to her brother who was killed in a rigging accident seven years ago. The project weaves together an almost impossible collection of interviews, home movies, and new footage shot over a long period of time.Very complex.
William and I dashed away immediately after the Q&A to arrive just a few minutes late for Night of the Living Dead at the RPL. Unlike other times I've seen this film, the image was not contrasty, murky, and scratched. Belinda told me that she unwittingly ordered the new 4K version which was restored from the original negatives. Amazing clarity: an entirely different experience. It was William's first look at Romero. 

Risa's AGR opening

Risa Horowitz's exhibition of photos from the arctic opened at the Art Gallery of Regina. The images are deep and rich and almost magical. I wanted to get in close and stare at the details in these prints. The films also had allure. I've not spent time with the two videos but the silent 13 minute super-8 was engaging and spoke to me on my terms, letting me feel like I was there (and staring through a camera viewfinder, which is how I see all important sites). Great event: everyone from the art community was there.

Hanging out on Deck

With the weather in the high teens, William and I hung out on the deck after work for a while. He's reading The Kite Runner and I'm reading The Castle. We should have done this earlier while the sun was still on us, but it still felt great.

list of film screenings

I spent much of the weekend, and a bit more time this Monday, building this list of about 280 public screening events of my films since 1985. I'm sure I have a bunch in the 80s and 90s that I've lost track of. I guess I'll update it when I can, but I doubt it matters. Here is the link to it:
SAUL SCREENINGS

sick at home

Stayed close to home today. Raked leaves, tidied the back yard. Went to Social Club for farewell party for Ramses and Michelle who are moving to Ottawa. 

Deck and foundation completed - picture series

Fall convocation

Congratulations to our graduates at this fall's University of Regina convocation. It was great to see Ken, Rania, Lydia, and Cindy.

 

\