The Official Website & Blog of Paxton Allewell. Communications Specialist, Educator, Writer and Designer.
Movies
Movie Recommendation: The Young Victoria
Jun 28th
The Young Victoria is not only a great movie, it’s a story of a Quebecois Director making it big
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Not too long ago I came across a compelling interview on the TV show Arts & Minds with a Director named Jean-Marc Vallée. Vallée – a well-spoken guy from Quebec – I learned, directed a successful French-Canadian movie called C.R.A.Z.Y and subsequently The Young Victoria – neither of which I had seen.
In the interview he discussed how he put all his energy into C.R.A.Z.Y and was a film he had to make. A defining career experience for him, which lead to the opportunity to direct The Young Victoria.
I watched C.R.A.Z.Y first (rented it from the library) and enjoyed it a lot. It’s a French speaking film about family love and adolescence, and it suited me very well because I want to be exposed to more French (culture). Watch the trailer here >>
Then, I followed it up with The Young Victoria which was just as fantastic. A wonderful (true) love story, great visuals, awesome score and useful historical references. They say period pieces rarely explore the behind the scenes life of Royals, so this film gives a more realistic and unique interpretation of what life would have been like for The Young Victoria (played by Emily Blunt), who became Queen at 18. Albert (played by Rupert Friend) was also a main character in the film. It was neat to see Prince Albert’s love and devotion portrayed for Victoria – a great example for men.
The Young Victoria is a great story and it’s also a story of a Quebecois Director making it big. i.e. Martin Scorsese and Sarah Derguson being Producers. I look forward to Vallée’s next film.
You can watch the Arts & Minds feature online here>>
The Young Victoria Trailer
An Interview with Jean-Marc Vallée
Emily Blunt & Rupert Friend: Uncut Interview
“Alberta is named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848–1939), the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta)
Bryan Adams: Bare Bones
May 7th
I came across this short NFB doc on Bryan Adams the other day and thought you might like it too. Really cool that he’s Canadian! It’s also really cool that the NFB lets people, like me, share and embed their documentaries with their stylish video embed player.
So long Eva Markvoort – aka 65_RedRoses
Apr 3rd
Eva with her laptop at the hospital
I’m sad to report that Eva Markvoort, subject and STAR of the documentary 65_RedRoses, passed away on March 27th. On her blog it said: “Our beautiful girl died this morning at 9:30. She is at peace. Will write more later.”
It hurt to read it.
Eva had battled with the genetic disease Cystic Fibrosis her whole life and recently went through a double lung transplant hoping to be cured (the story of the documentary).
With what seemed to be a successful transplant, Eva’s life was hers again and it was so incredible to see and experience indirectly, but unfortunately her body rejected the lungs and she has since passed only months later. The documentary made note of the serious possibility of rejection, but she seemed clear of that issue. So it was very surprising to hear that her body had rejected the lungs.
I remember seeing the amazingly cool photo of Eva Markvoort on the front of NOW Magazine in Toronto, and also on the cover of the Hot Docs film festival. See pic here >> – (More pics from her visit to Toronto are on her blog as well).
I was fortunate enough to meet Eva in person after a viewing of the documentary 65_RedRoses at the Bloor Cinema during the 2009 Hot Docs festival. I didn’t think she was going to make it as I heard she was heading back to Vancouver that day. But she was in attendance, and I was so happy to spot her just a few rows back from me. I peeked over a few times to see her expression and I could see her looking around at the audience a bit trying to evaluate their experience. She had such an innocent, humble yet movie star-like quality to her. (She was an actor as well).
After the film I got to say hello and shake her hand which was special. I was so impressed with the amount of love and courage she had. The film highlighted her love, her q&a talk after the film highlighted it, her blog highlighted it. Love ran through her like fire and she wasn’t afraid to show and admit it. Her passion and openness about love was inspiring and contageous.
Since last fall I’ve checked out her blog every once in awhile, and I was shocked when I discovered that her body was rejecting her lungs, and that she was going to die. It was so sad, and I literally cried, which I don’t do often.
But she fought so hard throughout her whole life and she’s left a legacy of love that will long outlive her. I hope you can take a few minutes to learn more about her.
Make sure you check out her popular blog: 65redroses.livejournal.com. Also, below is a video of MP Joyce Murray’s Statement on the Life of Eva Markvoort and you’ll also the find the official preview of the documentary 65_RedRoses, which was named after her blog.
Brock’s 24 HR Film Festival Audience Choice Winner!
Mar 14th
I attended the Communication, Popular Culture & Film (CPCF) Society’s 24 Hour Film Festival this past Thursday night, and below is a video of the runner up and Audience Choice award winner, which was really entertaining.
Their film is called “Robots Need Love Too” and it was based on the festival’s theme: “overheard.” Team’s were given the theme and only had 24 hours to script, film, edit and process their submissions.
I co-founded the Society in my last year at Brock and I’m so proud that it’s still around and serving students. The festival took place at the Empire Theatre in St. Catharines and it was to a packed audience; about 200 people attended and 14 films were screened in total. It was a great event and congrats the film makers, actors, judges and society’s executive and volunteers for putting on such a memorable event.
For more about the festival you can read last week’s front page feature article in the Brock Press here: “Brock’s 24 Hour Artists”
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Robots Need Love Too from Lindsay Gray on Vimeo.
Our 2010 Brock University 24 Hour Film Festival movie!
We won Runner Up by the judges, and Audience Choice! Felt like first!
The theme this year was “overheard” but we didnt want to make a serious typical movie like everyone else, so we gave ourselves our own them of incorporating a robot we had made!
I think it turned out awesome!
I am so so proud of this, and had the best time making it!
thanks to everyone that helped out!
Enjoy! 
Lindsay Gray, Filmmaker
With current club President Elizabeth Janzen at the after party