Author hopes to pique film interest
Northern writer and producer Richard Van Camp schedules trip to Fort Providence
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, June 2, 2016
DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
For storyteller and indigenous author Richard Van Camp, creativity transcends mediums.
Richard Van Camp: will be taking a trip to Fort Providence to hold a creative writing workshop, as well as scout for upcoming films.
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A Northern novelist and filmmaker from Fort Smith, Van Camp remembers scouring the territory - including Fort Providence - for film talents years ago, when casting for the film adaptation of his book, The Lesser Blessed.
Now, as the 20th anniversary edition of that book is released, Van Camp will be returning to Fort Providence to hold a storytelling session and a creative writing workshop - and to do some scouting for his upcoming films.
Van Camp's visit opens on June 13 with a community-wide screening of The Lesser Blessed and a storytelling session. The following day, he plans to spend time
at Deh Gah School.
Although his time at the school will focus on creative writing, Van Camp said he will be promoting two films in particular while he is there.
Van Camp is currently the executive producer for Monkey Beach, a novel by Eden Robinson which is being adapted into a film with a budget of between $3 million and $5 million.
He is also preparing to shoot The Blue Raven, based on one of his graphic novels, in Fort Smith.
"We're going to be looking for young indigenous actors," he said.
"We'll be shooting The Blue Raven in August ... so I want to talk to the kids about that. It's an opportunity to go to Fort Smith for as long as you want, starting in August. This is a chance to star in a short film shot in Fort Smith."
He also plans to make a film adaptation of his latest graphic novel, A Blanket of Butterflies, in the future.
"I want to see who the serious actors are. I want to give everybody the heads-up that if you do want to be an actor and you're serious about it ... use the time now to prep," he said, referencing The Lesser Blessed auditions, which saw 16-year-old Joel Evans from Fort Smith picked for the lead role.
"We discovered him on the last day at the 11th hour. And that's what I want. I really want to go and say, 'Look - don't think that because you're from a small community, you can't reach international heights with your dreams."
With support growing for the local film industry, Van Camp said he wants to give back by using his success to bolster the careers of other writers, filmmakers and storytellers.
"That's what I love doing. I love helping young people succeed in their dreams ... The path to success, there's a lot of hard work," he said.
"My job, as a son of the North, is to give back."
That includes using his connections to help writers get published.
"If you're hungry and you can show me you're serious about your craft, I want to be that bridge," he said.
