Collaboration in Indie Film: Culture 365 Blog

My article on Collaboration in Indie Film, written to support BC Culture Days, is now available here.

Community is Important for Artists, and Artists are Important for Communities!

When I signed up to be a BC Culture Days Ambassador, I thought of course I want to help celebrate and grow British Columbia's art scene! I jumped at the chance to be involved, not only because it was going to be fun, but because I thought it would be easy! I am heavily involved in Victoria's independent film community -- I figured that all I need to do is reach out to a few other arts organizations to get them involved. I mean, after all, all artists are tight-knit...

It was during our Culture Days Community Planning Session on June the 18th, that I truly realized how much Culture Days means to our communities.

As an independent filmmaker, it is so easy to get trapped in my bubble of other like-minded collaborative artists, that I didn't realize how separated other artists and artistic organizations really are. With independent film, you gradually find your team of people -- your little film family -- and then you help each other out as needed, in a variety of roles. You could be producing on one set, and helping with craft services on another. Sometimes both at the same time! Yes, it's a struggle to find funding and actually support ourselves with our art work, but there is something really special about Victoria's independent film scene.

To those participating in more solo art forms though, it can be difficult to build that sense of community, that support network, with others. When you're head down working on a collage project, working on a novel, or pursuing other independent artistic endeavours, it's can be tough to not only be social, but to feel like your work is being appreciated. Culture Days is truly one of the few opportunities that some independent artists have to not only show off what they have been working on over the past year, but to see what their peers have been up to!

If you haven't already, I would like to encourage you to sign up to host your own Culture Days event (perhaps you are a sculpture that would like to host a workshop, or maybe you and your actor friends want to showcase a scene)?). It is free to sign up and participate in, and will help you to build Victoria's arts community for everyone. More information is available at bc.culturedays.ca.

I will be hosting my own event BC Culture Days event at CineVic: Society of Independent Filmmakers on September the 29th. It is going to be a free screening of short films by local filmmakers, and will include a Q&A period with the attending filmmakers. If you would like to attend, please RSVP on Eventbrite.

The CRD Arts Champion Summit

As the BC Culture Days Ambassador, I will be spending the summer attending local arts and culture events and to spread the word about Culture Days within the community. Since I was already going to attend most of these local events, and already talk a bit too much about the arts, it's sort of the perfect fit! Most recently I attended the CRD's (Capital Regional District) Arts Champion Summit, which focused on the importance of inclusivity and collaboration in the arts.

Here is transcript of the brief talk that I gave on June the 6th. And yes, I write the way I speak... I guess that's the screenwriter part of me. 

Hello -- As the announcer just said, my name is Ashley Good, and I am a local filmmaker, as well as this year’s BC Culture Days Ambassador for Victoria.
BC Culture Days is our province’s chapter of the cross-country Culture Days movement, which aims to make the arts more inclusive and accessible by inspiring more members of our communities to get creative.

This year’s theme is OnBeat, inspired by the collaborative nature of drum circles. Because at the heart of it, drumming is universal, accessible, inclusive, and powerful, just as we want the arts to be. In celebration of OnBeat, artists and organizations are invited to participate by organizing a drumming or rhythm-inspired event during BC Culture Days. Or really, any sort of artistic event that get hands clapping or hearts pounding!

While BC Culture Days officially run from September 28th to the 30th, our goal is to raise awareness of and celebrate British Columbian artists and the arts all year round. Our Culture Days events don’t take place in just one location – they will happen all around the city in a variety of locations.

I’ve just got to say that, as an indie filmmaker, artistic collaboration is essential to my field. Whether it’s a 5-minute short that someone self funded or a huge blockbuster, there is a team behind every project… Writers, directors, cinematographers… Filmmaking might be one of the more obvious examples of artistic collaboration, but really, all mediums are collaborative. You can’t paint without inspiration. I guess what I am saying is, the more people that get involved in the arts, the better it will be for all of us and our communities! 

If you would like to learn more about Culture Days and how you can connect with other artists around Victoria, then I would like to invite you to attend our upcoming community planning session on Monday, June the 18th at 2:30pm at the Central Branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library. This, and all information about Culture Days is available at culturedays.ca.

Thank you!

Special Announcement: 2018 BC Culture Days Ambassador

Well, the cat is out of the bag... I am so excited to announce that I have been selected as an official BC Culture Days Ambassador for 2018! I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to the Culture Days team for this opportunity.

Read the complete list of Culture Ambassadors, here. 

If you are an artist or work for an artists or cultural organization, then I would like to invite you to attend our Culture Days Community Planning Session in Victoria on June 18th! Click here to learn more about the event.