Among the 2,000 registered contestants in Vancouver’s Run ‘n’ Gun 48-hour film competition, the solitary team from the Sunshine Coast netted the prize for Best Youth Film during a gala screening at the Orpheum Theatre on July 29.
Secondary students from the Elphinstone Television program produced a comedic science fiction short titled Chad & Brad’s Musical Adventure. The group of filmmakers comprised Garnet Janyk, Atala Herrera, Alana Krinapai, Hana Fraser, Mervy Mingo, Andrew Maxwell, Nathan Perrins and Devin Rae. (Eastlink Community TV producer Brittany Bronderson also occupied a starring role.)
The entire film was written, shot and edited over a 48-hour period. Last weekend the students traveled to Vancouver for a screening of 39 semi-final selections.
The Sunshine Coast Film Society will sponsor a free local screening of Chad & Brad’s Musical Adventure on Thursday, July 11 at 7 p.m., held at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons.
After the movie is shown, representatives of the production team will discuss their process and inspiration. The movie itself is a Generation Z homage to the 1990s-era Bill & Ted franchise, in which a pair of imperturbable buddies are lured into experimental treatment for a musical pandemic. Coast Reporter’s arts and culture writer will moderate the panel and invite audience questions.
The film and the event are family-friendly; details are online at facebook.com/chadandbrad.
Pottery Prowl artists give back
During this weekend’s Pottery Prowl (July 6 and 7), 15 Sunshine Coast studios will throw open their doors to visitors.
Participating artists have announced that five per cent of all sales from each venue will support Sunshine Coast Community Services through its Building Hope Together project and 50 Women for SCCSS — an initiative that involves 50 women who are raising $1.5 million to ensure every Sunshine Coast resident is nurtured and supported.
The full list of Pottery Prowl venues is available online via linktr.ee/potteryprowl.
Virtuoso to shine
Four guitarists with top-notch reputations are scheduled to perform at High Beam Dreams in Gibsons on July 12. The Ibison Guitar Duo — Chad Ibison and Janet Grohovac — are Grammy-nominated instrumentalists who perform throughout the U.S. and overseas. Both hold Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.
Lifelong performer and producer Josh J. Searles recently completed his master’s degree in classical guitar performance from the University of Alicante in Spain. In 2022 he was awarded a grant from the Canada Arts Council for the creation of a full album and live performance of his avant-garde hybrid classical guitar and electronic music. The album, Ghost Orchid, will be released for streaming in Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 surround format later this year.
World-renowned Brazilian guitarist and percussionist Celso Machado, who became one of Searles’s mentors, joins him on the High Beam Dreams program lineup. Machado has performed and taught master classes throughout Europe and the Americas. In 2008 he was named World Solo Artist of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards; his last four CDs have been nominated for Juno Awards.
The guitarists are linked by the custom instruments they play, which have been handcrafted by Sunshine Coast luthier Martin Blackwell.
Details and tickets for the Ibison-Searles-Machado superconcert are available at highbeamdreams.com.
