Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 29/99) - When Martin Kreelak, filmmaker from Baker Lake, filmed Amarok's Song -- which has aired on Vision! TV and played at film festivals, including the Far North Film Festival in Yellowknife -- he had 40 hours of film in the can.

"We (Kreelak and co-director Ole Gjerstad) shot over 40 hours of tape to do the film and we condensed it down to one hour, out of those 40 hours," explains Kreelak.

"So we decided to do an Inuktitut series because we had so much material."

The film, Amarok's Song, told the story of the Okkusiksalikmiut and their journey from the nomadic tribe on the Kivalliq tundra to the dawning of Nunavut. Two elders were prominently featured -- Samson Amarok Quinagnaq and his wife Tululik.

Kreelak began work on the TV series a year ago and completed the work this March 16. All the paperwork was done in Baker Lake, the rough story outlines and narrations. That took three weeks.

Then it was off to Rankin Inlet for four weeks to do rough cuts at the IBC facility, in October and November.

Kreelak then spent one month in Iqaluit to do the off-line edit. Finally, it was to Montreal, March 1 to 16, to do the final on-line edit.

"It was a lot of work, but that's what it's all about," says Kreelak. "It was a lot of work but it was fun and challenging."

Kreelak has been a filmmaker for 14 years.

"I took the two-year training here in Baker Lake -- TV production with the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation," he says. "That's where it all started off. I was very lucky to be part of the group there."

Kreelak, who at 48 considers himself "not that old and not that young," figures on many more satisfying filmmaking years. He already has a few bites for his directing services and plans on the go.

"It's just like yesterday that I started TV production. I guess when you like what you do, time passes away fast."

Kreelak learned last week that he is a recipient of the Rothchild Award.

"So I'm going to Banff for a two-week intensive, and probably I'm going to extend my stay in Banff," says Kreelak. "I've submitted two of the series for the TVNC awards."

Kreelak is excited, and for good reason.

"Fourteen years ago my trainer told me work hard, and if you work hard enough things will start paying off. Just last year, I'm starting to see what my trainer has told me."

The following is the programming schedule for the Amarok series appearing on TVNC. The legendary figure of Kiviu is the thread that holds the series together.

March 29, 8:30 p.m. EST Episode One

Amarok: Every spring Amarok must leave Baker Lake and return to the land to be energized and tell his grandchildren the stories of Kiviu.

March 30, 8:30 p.m. EST Episode Two

Kichekat: Kichekat is where Amarok left memories and the relatives who died there.

March 31, 8:30 p.m. EST Episode Three

Kivlu: Victoria Mamgosulakuk is an elder, artist and story-teller from Baker Lake. Today Inuit artists tell their stories in many forms through their imagination, wall-hangings, drawings and carvings.

April 5, 8:30 p.m. EST Episode Four

Sister Pelagie: Chesterfield Inlet is the birthplace of Pelagie, the first Inuit Grey Nun in history. Pelagie served with the Grey Nuns for 20 years before she finally left. This is her story.

April 6, 8:30 p.m. EST Episode Five

Two Sisters: Baker Lake artists Janet Kigusuik and Victoria Mamgosualuk are two sisters who grew up in Back River.

April 7, 8:30 p.m. Episode Six

Saqvakjuak: About the life of a hunter, Maurice Kukkiak, whose uncle was a great shaman.