Revelations

TORONTO - Healing and Revelations

I don't really need to go into too much more about California. I look forward to coming back, hopefully next time with Jessica. So hear I am, 18 hour later after being stuck at the Toronto airport. I checked in to the hotel, and a relaxing night watching Kubrick's last film "Eyes Wide Shut" all I can say is that film is fantastically messed up. I am a huge Stanley Kubrick fan, strangely I was introduced to him via a skinhead (friend?) at high school. yes I seem to befriend even the most philosophically vile people. anyway it was high school, and the dude was mis-led, besides his brain washed and simpleton views he was actually a decent guy. He would always be listening to classical music on his Walkman, I never understood, I figured he would be into some white supremest punk rock or something, no he loved classical music. So he actually turned me on to Beethoven via Kubrick's soundtrack for "A Clockwork Orange" another fabulously fucked up movie, and one of my favs to boot. How did I get onto this topic anyway??? Oh yeah, my movie watching last night, anyway because Eyes Wide Shut is such a long movie I does off around 2:00 am and woke up at 8:30.

My "standby" flight isn't until 2:00 pm, I really hope I can make it, I woke up early so I could go down to Atwell Street and visit the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship to got to Church (yes, even when I'm on the road I need to get a gas station fill up at church sometimes). I have made mention to this place before. Truly this building holds a big piece of who I am as a person, and where my spiritual walk sort of started. TACF is where spiritual renewal happened in the Christian church in the early 90s. It was here where thousands of people have been healed both physically and spiritually, it is here where a whole new style of free form worship was created, very similar to how the church that I go to is (Saint John Vineyard), it was here as well where much of the new sound of worship music originated from. I have played in bands for years and I always get a buzz out of playing live, but when I play bass guitar Sunday mornings at my church, there is no feeling like it. The difference is we are collectively offering our worship and energy's to our Creator when I play at church, so the "I" disappears and I become part of the collective. This is different when playing elsewhere where it is far more about the "I" then the "We". Also there is a lot of room and space for improve and groove playing bass with this sort of so called "worship music".

I have great memories of some VERY intense spiritual experiences that I had at this church back in the late 90s when I was going to film school at Niagara. I would come up to this church whenever I could, for a regular Sunday service, a mid week service, a youth conference, whatever, just to get filled up with the Spirit. Although my religious position in life has changed a lot since then the reality of the Spirit is still ever present in my life, and I feel empty when I get disconnected. I remember working on a Disney movie called "The Color of Friendship" in Toronto. To be honest I had a real hard time working as a camera trainee on that show. I grew a lot then, professionally and spiritually. It seemed that the 2 things that gave me comfort were "The New Riders of the Purple Sage" (the band that Jerry Garcia plays Pedal Steel in, fantastic albums) and the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship , radical!

TIMELAPSE

So hear I am again 2 hours after I wrote that great timeless word "Radical!" And yes I'm still at the Air Canada lounge. They wouldn't fit me on the last flight, so I will wait until tonight at 9:00, 7 hours later. I will have been delayed for 26 hours by then, all the more time to update my journal I guess! ( I have a Johnny walker, a Southern Ontario red wine, and a Baileys & coffee at my side ready to hang out with me for the rest of the night.

It has been an emotionally packed day to say the least. Where do I start, I guess because I was introducing my spiritual life earlier I will continue with it. Years ago I was really "into" the new wave of Christianity, radical left wing Christianity if you can imagine such a thing, BUT IT'S TRUE, IT EXISTS, I FEEL THAT I AM A LIVING EXAMPLE! I won't get too into it, but basically without contradicting myself too much (earlier in the blog I said I don't like to establish my religious beliefs in writing in fears of being dogmatic) anyway, I feel that living a life in the Spirit, in my case I am a follower of the teachings of Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus)?I feel that my positive experience 2 nights ago with the Polyphonic Spree in LA can be slightly connected with my spiritual Christianity; Joy, Freedom Love and openness? "Hey! It?s the sun! And it makes me shine!" If people actually followed the fundamentals of their religion there would be no war?LOVE LOVE LOVE"most of the world's religions are based upon love as their foundation, why do we always fuck it up? Selfishness and greed are at the root of dogmatism, which I think is the most powerful tool of the devil?LOVE and UNDERSTANDING,I need to keep reminding myself of that.

Anyhow, when I was a bit younger, like I mentioned a second ago, I was really into this Christian revival thing, it was very experiential, I had many times laying on the floor feeling the electric power of the Spirit flow through my body as I gave thanks and praise for life, love and all the blessing that are continually bestowed upon me. As time moved on I feel like I have become far more secularized, even surfacely ashamed of my beliefs, not having the energy or desire to defend my beliefs. I don?t like arguing politics or spirituality. Spirituality is its? own thing for everyone, mine is mine and mine is what makes me, well me! Blah blah blah, back to today.

It's been a while since I have really sensed the Spirit within me, I have been connecting to the Creator ONLY through music for so long (not that there is anything wrong with that on its own, that is my medium, but), its like religion was wiped out of me, and I have proudly tried to make it through my recent life (full of distractions, success, disappointments, love, broken relationships, debt etc) by myself. I have really adopted a protected "I'll do it myself" attitude. This is no way to grow as I have found out in so many aspects of my life. This morning I was urged to wake up, get out of my comfy hotel bed and hop in a cab and make it to the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship to go to church. I arrived, it was nice, great memories of a seemingly "much more spiritual" time of my life. The worship band came on, I went through the motions, it was nice, nothing mind blowing, but comforting in a safe environment (that is one thing that this new revival is a master at, making people feel comfortable and wanted and loved, not persecuted, judged and hated like many other dead factions of Christianity).

Then something profound!!!

A couple got up and told of their recent trip to Alabama for a week at a youth detention facility. They had a chance to minister to these kids, many with physical illness, drug addiction, emotional and physical pain, and how they witnessed with their own eyes healing that was a direct result of faithful prayer. I am always filled with joy when I hear these stories, but equally filled with skepticism. I feel awful saying that, but I feel that even though my faith is still foundational in my life, I have developed much doubt in many things as of late, especially healing, why, I don't know. I hope that I can soon get over that.

Recently my brother Mark found that he had a tumor in his inner ear, as a musician for so many years, scar tissue had developed and formed into a tumor. Why him and not me? I play way more music then he does and go to way more concerts, man its me that deserves that, not him, anyway suffice it to say it has been a scare to him and his family, and to our whole family. If Mark had to get this tumor operated on, there is a small risk that he would loose his motor skills in one side of his faced, leaving him slightly deformed, and a slight risk that he would have to re-learn how to walk.

A few months ago he came to my church with me, and after we got a few people together and prayed with Mark that he would be healed. Last week he went to a specialist in Toronto and as it turns out he doesn't need it to be operated on now and it isn?t at a stage where it will spread. We are all very thankful for this, I DON'T WANT CANCER to be in anyone close to me, I have already lost my good friend Randy Cable to this killer, and some other people close to me are battling it as we speak, I hate cancer. Was this a miracle that Mark doesn't have to get operated on? Maybe? Or is it just the way it is? I'm not sure, my faith is based very much in realism and logic, so I?m convinced that it is a miracle of natural design, or at least I think it is? my spiritual faith is up and down so much these days.

Then this morning happened. Wow, I haven't cried in so long, I have cried twice in 7 years. The first time was with my friend at Evolve this year as we both came to term with our friend Leslie's death. It was profound in the fact that we both realized that Leslie had to go at that time and at that place and that she was in a good place. It was 7 years previous that I cried before that on New Years Eve at a Phish Concert in the Florida Everglades with a head full of mushrooms and a spirit full of emotion.

As a side bar, I would like to remind the reader (family, friend, business acquaintance, etc) that my primary life desire is to me real and honest and truthful with everyone. Despite popular belief (haha) I am not a pot smoker, I have smoked a few joints in my day but I just have never enjoyed the buzz, always made me paranoid and antisocial, mushrooms however I have experienced a few times which I will write about someday, are a whole different experience. I have ALWAYS had deep spiritual / emotion experiences when I had a mushroom. Don't get me wrong, I experiment with these only 2 or 3 times a year, but it, like my spiritual Christianity, and like music, and like, family, friends and love, is what has made me who I am today, and I wouldn't trade my life experiences thus far for anything. So instead of me hiding the fact that I have from time to time experimented with mind altering drugs, let's just realize that every time in this blog I mention "chocolate", really I'm talking about tasty chocolate covered psilocybin mushrooms. Not to go on a tangent, but I do want to write about this sometime, I have had some very profound Holy Spirit experiences with mushrooms, I know it sounds crazy, but I will try to remember to write about Phish in Toronto 99 and NYE 2000, my weird zoomy experience with Grand Theft Bus, and again with my Evolve zoomy experience with my friend while dealing with Leslie's death while listening to drum and bass DJs in a field. Oh man, I am totally going off on a tangent here. The basic philosophy here that I am so pathetically trying to get across is reminded to me by a dead head I met, actually right here in Toronto at the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship during the Fresh wind Youth Conference many years ago.he said;

"Greg, when I die, I want everyone from every part of my life to know the real me"

I have quoted that for years since?what that means to me is that if we are all honest with ourselves and our friends and family, the no matter how painful it may be, we will create a better world, and a better understanding of ourselves. For example, at my funeral, I want my brothers and sisters from my church community to talk to my family, my friends, my business acquaintances, my party friends, my drinking buddies, people I have had profound "trips" with, etc to all know every aspect of my life. I don?t want my friends I smoked a joint with to say:

"I didn't know Greg was a spiritual Christian"

And also I don't want my church family to say.

I didn't think Greg ever experienced drugs, other spiritual avenues, and great Scotch Whiskey!?

It means a lot to me that I am honest, so from this point forward in my blog, no more bullshit, I respect you the reader enough to give you all of me in this. Why? Well maybe it's more interesting to you, but also maybe in a selfish way when I am gone these will be my words. And if I want people to remember me as the WHOLE GREG, then it is my responsibility to write it.

Back to my brother, and church in Toronto this morning?it?s been a very tearful day and I don't know why, not out of sadness, but out of love for my family and out of hope?it?s weird. I just got off the phone with Jessica telling the story I am about to tell you and I started to cry (it felt good by the way), I couldn't even talk to her, I tried to tell her I'd call her back because I was talking on the phone crying, trying to get my words out on the phone at the Air Canada executive lounge with all of these first class passengers sitting beside me eating cucumbers and drinking Scotch (mmmmmmmm, yummmmy!)

Back at church, as the couple where telling amazing stories of healing with these young offenders in Alabama, people started getting up and giving testimonials about their personal healing experiences, then they started calling people to stand up who had illnesses that needed to be healed, and people where being healed in the room, it was crazy, I've seen this many times before, and still my faith is week, weird eh? But peoples arms, legs, lungs, whatever, where being healed in front of all of our eyes. Then they said;

"If any one has cancer, or has someone in their family with cancer or a tumor please stand up!"

So I got up for my brother, I wanted prayer for his healing, my lack of faith didn't hold me back from standing up. When I stood up a bunch of people came over to me and started to pray over me, I immediately said "This is for my brother" and then I had to start trying to hold my tears back, honestly I'm not the least bit afraid for Mark, I know he is going to be ok, I just think it was this immediate and unexpected lowering of my emotional wall that brought me to tears. Anyway the Spirit was very present and our Creators' love was warm.

As people where praying for Mark through me, (I know that sounds weird, but whatever, I don't care anymore) other people where still getting up on stage giving testimonials about healing and faithfulness, I heard with my eyes shut as people still surrounded me, a woman say that she has $80,000 of credit card debt and it had been really breaking her spirit. I as well have been plagued with exactly $80,000 of credit card debt, yes its true, man I?m ballsy to admit it, but I am dying with debt, and this is the price of past business mistakes and of putting 150% into a small business, I am in debt and sadly I feel like I have lost a bit of myself as a result of the stress resulting from this stress. I feel that my family, friends and employees have all seen a different Greg with a slightly less "joy of life" in recent times SOLEY DUE TO DEBT. Trust me, I am crazy passionate and exited about where my life is right now, man I travel the world doing a job that I absolutely love, its nuts how blessed I am. This coaching experience has really helped me preserve my hopes and dreams, it has been truly invaluable. However there is still a stress that is bringing me down in a major way, it is this debt. I am a risk taker and I have such great dreams of what is possible for my business and my life that I dive straight in hoping for the best, in most cases it works out, I am still trying to manage this "illness" of debt though.

Anyway as people where still praying for my bro by laying hands on me, I heard the pastor say "anyone with debt issues, please stand up and lets pray for you?" typically I would take advantage of this opportunity, man I'll try anything at this point. I'm getting married, the last thing I want to worry about are my credit cards, I just want to live a happy and humble and successful life, I don't need much, but I know if there is one thing I don?t want are stressed due to something as stupid as credit card debt, responsible debt at that which came because of my entrepreneurial dreams. I am a VERY responsible person with my money, if I didn't have the plans to change my world through following my dreams I would probably have little or no debt, and a cushy, less than passionate job that pays the bills, but also makes me miserable, I guess it's the initial price to pay.

The temptation was there to take my mental focus on asking for healing for my bro and focus on my own problems, but it only took a split second to realize that it was far more important to keep focusing on my brother. I prayed to God that I would give up any debt relief for any amount of debt that I am ever in if it would heal Mark of his tumor. I didn't even think about it, its was my natural response, and truthfully I'm happy that my nature proved to be a somewhat selfless one, I have been worried about that in recent times.

Here's the messed up part , right after I made that prayer asking God to heal my brother and that I would rather that happen then for my finances to be cleared, a woman came up to me and opened my hand and gave my a $20.00 bill. I asked what this was for, very confused?she said it is a symbol of what God has in store for me, she was a random lady knowing nothing about my life and my financial struggle. She said ?I had a prophetic feeling that you need to know that IT IS COMING, THE REST IS COMING.

I said thank you, and she went on, I sat in my chair as the rest of the room where dancing in celebration?I didn?t get it at first, but then it clicked in, she gave me $20.00 as a SYMBOL OF WHAT IS TO COME. Maybe that is an answer to my prayer for help with my debt relief that I just voided by asking to exchange it for my brother?s healing.

I am for some reason of little faith in recent years, it is very easy for me to think that none of this could be true, it?s not logical or scientific, but you know what? It is what it is,this experience was real and brought be to cry for the first time in years,crying without the aid of a mushrooms! Ha ha, Anyway, I don't feel comfortable crying, although it is very liberating, and in fact I cry quite often in my dreams and as I sleep I realize how feeing crying really is. Sadly I have been trapped into the groove that society has carved out saying that men don't cry. I still have a long way to go on that one, but today I feel a part of that wall has been broken down.

Sometimes I feel like I am a selfish person. I have experienced deaths and sickness where I didn't feel any emotion. These are people who I loved, I just didn't feel sad. I felt like it was their time. I think I confused those feelings with being selfish. But I think between my experiences of dealing with Leslie's death, and asking for healing for my brother I am starting to realize that maybe I am not selfish, maybe I am just growing up and become closer to the ways of the spirit and of the "peaceful warrior" (The Peaceful Warrior is a pretty cheesy new age story about a man who finds complete peace in his spirit recognizing the true value of life and timeless existence, if you get a chance to read the book you will groan at some of the cheese ball parts, but fundamentally I took a lot away from that book and it can all be related to this entry into my blog.)

Over and out..let's hope I can catch the 9:oo flight tonight, otherwise I fear I will be drunk with all of the free flowing Guinness and Johnny Walker on tap in the lounge till the next flight opportunity, tomorrow at 10:00 am.

Wait a minute I can't close this off just yet. One of the most important reasons why I am so disappointed that I am not home is that my old captain Paul Whalen is in Saint Andrews this weekend and I was supposed to be there with him and Charlene and other friends to be with Paul. Paul was my captain on the Avontuur, the tall ship I lived on for many months back in 1999. Sadly Paul has recently developed cancer, it has spread all throughout, this man is the strongest (in physique and in mind and spirit) that I have ever met. Always hanging off the top of the mast untangling sails in hurricane winds, and deathly waves.

I learned a lot about life, work ethic, and philosophy working on this ship with Paul. Even though this was years ago, I will type out my journal from my experiences on the Avontuur with Paul very soon. Maybe when I get home if I ever do! Haha. Anyway sadly Charlene (the woman who got me on the ship in the first place) invited me and other close friends to hang and party with Paul this weekend, and this damned storm is keeping me stuck at the Toronto Airport. I am saddened by Paul?s cancer, but I talked to him tonight and damn is he ever positive, he lives with himself knowing that he lived a good life and is in check with his own karma. I feel at peace with Paul, he is the man in control of all things around him, and I respect him beyond words. As I said earlier, cancer is taking over, I feel like we are at war, it can happen to any of us, we NEEED TO REALIZE THE VALUE OF OUR LIVES and the lives of our loved ones, this fucking disease is taking too much. This is why I am so proud of my future wife Jessica who is taking on the fight for cancer as her full time career.

One last note about my brother Mark?I honestly have faith (blind or legit? who knows) that he is healed. I just have this feeling that his tumor will be gone next time he goes to get checked out. I know Mark has a huge task on this planet and he isn?t even close to realizing his responsibilities, Mark will be a healer of some sort as a result of this experience, I know it.

Speaking of Jessica, her younger brother Adam, who I have mounds of respect for (as well for her older bro Chris who I recorded one of my first band,s albums with) wrote a letter to Paul that I was supposed to read to him this weekend if I was able to be there?and not here writing this long drawn out journal. I don't think Adam would mind if I shared it here. After I get a chance, like I said earlier I will type out my journals of my experiences aboard the Avontuur. As a side, the very first thing that I ever filmed on my own outside of film school was my adventures with Paul, as well as Charlene, one of my best bros Jamie (Wolfman) Fougiere, amongst others as we delivered cargo between the Caribbean islands, to South America all the way up to Martha's Vineyard on a 90 year old 130 ft double masted schooner, the last self sustained, working sailing cargo ship left in the world. And I was one it. I still haven't edited that first experience, but now I'm thinking I might have to find some time to put it together. My experience on the Avontuur, like many other things mentioned in this blog, was a defining experience that has shaped me for better or for worse, into what I am today, and I thank everyone involved for making this experience available to me.

Here is Adam's letter that I wanted to read to Paul last night, if I wasn't in this wretched airport?

Second night on the Avontuur, first night sailing. The wind direction was starboard which allowed me to see out the door from my vantage point in bed, on the bottom starboard bunk. From there the night looked dark and forbidding, nay a star nor moon in sight. Darkness and unknown invited and beckoned me to get out of bed and onto the deck. With much protest I pulled my body out of bed, stood up and kind of doggy walked up the stairs that lead out of the bunk area and up to the deck. The day previous I had chosen the VERY early morning watch for the reason of wanting to witness the sun rise - to see every inch of the glorious sun peak it's way over the horizion and then progressively fill the sky. A beautiful sight with an uninterrupted horizon.

I made my way up the stairs and onto the deck which in itself was quite the task because I was not feeling so hot. O man, SEA SICK. I had never felt anything like that before. As soon as the Avontuur left the break water in the Charleston harbor I was feeling rather tired in my knees. That feeling spread rapidly and took over my body. All I can say is that I was pretty much useless that day (and the next for that matter). So that early morning as I pulled my body up onto the deck I felt sick, but I felt ready. This was going to be great. Always up for a challenge. I stepped out of the door and was immediately hit by wind. I was then hit by the most awe inspiring sight I have ever been witness too. A vast, black, rolling sea. Water to the ends of sight. No land. Water. Shadowed hills that moved like shells of giant turtles. A visual plane that altered itself every second so nothing was constant except for the darkness, the immensity and the terror that was bestowed upon me. The Avontuur being hurled this way and that. Rocking back and forth threatening to flip over into the sea and forever be lost. I grabbed the rail and looked around. To my right was the bow where the previous day I learned the technique of laying rope on the deck when raising sail so it wouldn't get caught up in itself and get tangled. Chinese style I believe the captain called it. To my immediate left was the rigging beyond which, a faint red glow that I would later come to admire as a source of warmth and reflection.

On the other side there was Charlene, her beauty radiating through the night, holding a rope and looking up. Still gripping the rail and I'm sure a washed with sickness and terror she noticed me, smiled and waved then returned her attention upwards. Smiled and waved?! Who could smile and wave in this choas? I followed her gaze up. At first I didn't see anything. I didn't understand what she was looking at. Then I saw the Captain. He was at the top of the mast, at the very top. He couldn't have gone any higher. With his back to the mast, holding himself steady with his hands he seemed to be using his feet to untangle the sail that was up there. It was completely insane. I knew the Avontuur was rocking around but when looking at the mast it became more apparent just how much it was moving. I stared for a few minutes in disbelief. Have you ever seen a cartoon where someone is flung off a catapult and is sent soaring into the horizion never to be seen again? Well, that is what I was expecting. Like a sling shot - the Captain..... gone. Seriously. I know is sounds ridiculous but that's what I envisioned. I then started to think of ways in which I could save or catch him should he fall. As if I could actually catch the man falling from that height! I just kind of stayed where I was, watching him work, with my mouth gaping in awe. It was terrifying but thrilling. Amazing. The man had complete control. I began to relax. That happened a lot on that trip. The Captain doing some acrobatic work up in the rigging and never missing a beat. Another form of control he often displayed was more personal. For instance, patience while I grabbed the wrong line, or calmly repeating himself when I asked the same question over again.

I was 20 when I boarded the Avontuur. 2 1/2 months was the duration of the trip. I've since thought about that time over and over again. Sometimes I tell friends about it, but mostly I keep it for myself. I find it hard to relate exactly what I felt, saw and did to make telling the story justifiable. In the end the whole experience had a profound influence on my life. After working for Paul I believe that anything is possible. I know that is a very cliché statement but it's true. Paul taught me what it was like to have a passion in life. What it was like to live a non-materialistic life style. He taught me patience; inner reflection; determination; the will and drive to seek more and do more in life; to be a complete individual and be happy with choices made. These are all qualities that were developed and fortified on the Avontuur.

Paul, I thank you for the opportunity and experience you gave me. I wish I was there to shake your hand and talk with you.

Adam Guimond

Hollywood, November 2007

November, 2007

LOS ANGELES for the ICF

I spent the week after New Jersey editing the Coaches promo together. I am currently on the airplane heading to Los Angeles to meet all of my coaching buddies that I have met along the way filming the documentary. As I edited the promo together for the “Coaches documentary” last night, I finally decided that really the film is about a year in the life of me, and I feel that I should use some content from this blog as narrative. So I have now named my film about coaching “Airplane Journals”. I figured the name “Coaches” is far too bland and is somewhat misleading as well. So I have a promo, I’ still severely under funded so I am hoping to scrape up some investment monies together at this International Coaches Federation conference in Long Beach this week. It’s going to be a trip! I’ll write more about it on the way home!

Wow, so much to write about…The conference was great, Long Beach is a very cool town, for Halloween I got to see a great Hip Hop show with Brother Ali and Ghostface Killah (formerly of Wu-Tang Clan), they where backed up by a stellar live band called the Rhythm All-stars, incredible show. I am now at the Maple Leaf lounge in Toronto. Apparently there’s a crazy hurricane happening out East so last night I flew in, all flights to the East where cancelled. Another night in a hotel. These are the times where you really start to realize how much you miss your woman…yes I miss my woman!!! But I think everything happens for a reason and I will get into that later. I’m just hoping that because I’m on the “waiting List” to get home, that I can get on that flight. I don’t intend to spend 2 days at Pearson…but the lounge does offer this great Bailey’s sponsored massage chair that I could see myself falling asleep in! ha ha…Baileys in hand of course!!!

Back to Cali...it was truly a relaxing shoot, I only came back with a couple of tapes worth of footage, but I filmed some great content for the coaches project, which I have now dubbed (as mentioned earlier) “Airplane Journals” reflecting this very blog. The neat thing was that the night before I edited into the wee hours an 8 minute promo video clip of Airplane Journals (www.greghemmings.com/video/temp/airplanepromo.wmv) so I could bring it to the ICF (International Coaching Federation) conference…basically I need to raise another $20,000 to finish the documentary in a way that won’t bankrupt me. It’s a great passion project so far, and Alison and my coach Dave have contributed a lot in cash and in-kind to help make this project happen, we just need a bit more.

Anyway, it was very cool to shop the video around to other coaches, possible investors, friends etc. I even filmed the screening of the promo and got some real valuable feedback from everyone…all in all people love the concept and at the end of the day I think I will be getting some more investment for the project all because I showed up. Thanks Alison for buying my plane ticket and hotel!!!

Besides meeting all of these great people, going out to dinner with old and new friends, meeting the cats at www.peoplejam.com (an online social network community based around coaching), I also had some great personal time. I drove up to Hollywood to have lunch with my old friend Cayman Grant. I hadn’t seen her since the X-tremey Awards in Orange County so many months ago. We went our for Mexican, drove up to the Hollywood sign, checked out some of the studios (MGM, Disney, ABC etc). And then….

THE HAPPIEST, MOST ENERGETIC, CULTISH MUSICAL EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!!! THE POLYPHONIC SPREE!!!.

If you get a chance to check them out, or by their discs, please do…their music is so positive and full of life, energy and hope. I went to see them at the Music Box at the Peter Fonda Theater…all I can say is wow! The energy was electric and religious! “HEY! It’s the sun! And it makes me shine!!!”. The venue was very cool as well, very classic theater décor…balcony seating, large open dance floor, and on the outdoor rooftop…a very cool bar surrounded by tropical plants, fountains, cool lighting, projections and piped in audio from the concert below, couches, a view of Hollywood and a lot of beautiful people. That was my last night in California…a good way to wrap up a great week I would say. I really feel rejuvenated and ready to edit Airplane Journals into a great documentary.

Stern Family. New Jersey

OCEAN CITY

STERN FAMILY DOCUMENTARY

One of my best friends growing up is named Anthony Davis. Anthony came from an influential Jewish family in Saint John. His grandfather Sam Davis was a progressive, and much loved mayor of our city, pre-Elsie Wayne (too bad he didn’t just keep being mayor, Elsie is …ummm, well…a representation of Saint John that makes us look like a bunch of radical right winged ignorant Christian bigots…to put it nicely). Anyway, not to say anything more about that, Sam did plenty of wonderful things for our city, his son Gary (father of my friend Anthony) is the man who has hired me for this next adventure…the documentation of the history of Saint John from the perspective of the Jewish community, starting with his family heritage, the Stern family.

Let me rewind just for a moment…

Anthony is part of the old school friends group, the guys that I grew up with, I feel we all sort of grew up together, going to school together, Boy Scouts, building tree houses, going to concerts, traveling, road tripping in my first VW van, exploring abandoned buildings like the old General Hospital where I was born, checking out girls, playing in bands, and of course drinking for the first time…all of that good stuff is what made us who we are, and it is interesting to see where we have all gone, although we are all very different and have created very diverse lives, we all still get together as much as we can, typically at bachelor parties and weddings at this point.

Here is the crew as of October 29^th 2007:

• Anthony Davis- Married with a child on the way, he has his doctorate in forestry and is traveling the world for that career
• Erik Klein- Married and working as a successful chiropractor
• Mike Long- Married in Ottawa, working as a very successful electrical engineer for Alcatel
• Mike Leblanc- Also in Ottawa kicking ass with IT work for the government
• Jamie Brown- Engaged, working as a specialist doctor in Kingston
• Craig Wilson- Married, he’s my first cousin and is both an accountant AND a lawyer…he was thinking!

Of course there are many other great friends that where around in those formative days, but this was the original crew. I find it very cool that we have all stayed close though our lives and interests even are so different. I will at some point be going into more detail about these guys and the adventures we got ourselves into. To remind myself I am going to write a reminder list of topics I want to share.

• The Tree House
• Save the Beavers
• Canadian Jamboree (Scouts and Venturers)
• Old General Hospital
• Kaotic Disarray
• Playdough Fish
• CarlosThe LocalSkateboard Shop
• The Hole
• Film School in Niagara
• Hitch Hiking to Florida
• Living in a Vineyard in a Motor home
• Phish and other music Festival
• Avontuur – Sailing the Caribbean
• Cruise Ships
• Film Sets – from Disney to CBC to Star Hunter
• Tidby and adventures
• My Early Films – Revolve, Heads Tale, Songs of Solidarity, East Coast Breakdown, Rubarbicon
• HIT! Media

Not only should this list remind me to write about it more, hopefully it will also entice you the reader to be curious enough to keep reading! J

FOCUS GREG….FOCUS

Sorry about that little tangent, where was I? ahhh yes with Anthony’s Dad heading to Ocean City NJ. We flew from SJ to Philadelphia with some annoying delays, but after 3 hours of screw ups, Air Canada finally got us to our destination. We checked in the hotel readying ourselves for a busy day ahead.

Basically this is how this project came to be, years ago Gary Davis mentioned to me that the Jewish Museum tourism video, well to put it nicely, sucks. American tourists come off cruise ships everyday and visit the museum, but apparently want to fall asleep after being forced to watch this thing. I have always had it in my mind that sometime I would like to help them make a kick ass video, my idea though would be to tell the story of Saint John through the words of members of the Saint John Jewish Community, of all generations. Unfortunately this project wasn’t really in the budget I guess for the museum so I didn’t think it was going to happen. Then Gary suggested that he could take the project on if we concentrated on his family history from his mother’s side. It would be sort of a video family tree, and a part of Saint John’s history would be told. I thought it was a great idea.

Gary’s Great Grandfather was a fellow named Mr. Sam Stern, he and his wife moved up from New York to South Bay in Saint John (just around the corner from my place actually) to this amazing piece of farm land overlooking the Saint John River and reaching back hundreds of acres into the forest. The Sterns where farmers and did there best in the rough conditions that this area afforded them. They had 7 children (I may have to double check that) the two youngest where twins, Albert and Alfred, and where the best of friends. After a few years of trying to make a go in Saint John they decided to move the farm down to New Jersey, Vineland to be exact. The whole family moved accept the 3 sisters who had married Saint John men and started their families in the city. One of these women is Gary’s grandmother, the mother of Sam Davis mentioned earlier, and Anthony’s great grandmother.

Currently the only remaining child of Sam Stern alive is uncle Albert, and this weekend marks him and his wife’s 70^th wedding anniversary. This is why we are going through Vineland and then down to the beautiful coast of Ocean City. After a few hours of checking out the old Stern farm and distribution plants in Vineland, I realize that the Sterns ended up being very successful as farmers down here, known as the largest producer of scallions in the USA. There are remnants of the farm and the Stern presence throughout the small town. As it turns out all of the decedents of Sam Stern seem to be extremely successful and whatever they do from Forestry to Bee Keeping, from teaching to heading up huge multinational corporations…this ALL STARTED IN SOUTH BAY!!! I fond it very interested to see how 1 person, 2 people, or a small group of people can start something that lives through the ages and becomes something significant. I like to think that our small group of childhood friends, all originating form Saint John, will have a major impact on the world in the future, and I imagine even what our children will be capable of. This is why I am interested in this project and how documenting history through family tress, or in my case documentaries is crucial for the sake of future generations.

Uncle Albert and his wife where very quick and seemingly very healthy for their age. Gary showed him pictures and videos that the two of took of the South Bay Stern Farm as it is right now…just open pastures and some remnants of building structures. He was delighted and was quick to show us where certain buildings where and shared some stories with us all on tape.

We ate, had some wine, walked on the incredible Ocean City boardwalk…the surf was huge and the surfers where taking full advantage, it was 25 degrees and late October, something’s up with Global Warming, but that day it sure felt nice! We went back to the hotel, Gary and I had a drink and discussed the day, it was pretty cool…I just kind of wish I thought about doing the same a few years ago when my Grand Parents and great uncles and aunts where around. Uncle Bronson in Pleasantville and so many incredible stories to tell, sadly he died before any of us could document them. Lesson Learned.

Trans Can road trip to Cannes to WR delivery!

SEPTEMBER, 2007

Trans Canadian road trip to WR delivery

Wrestling Reality is almost totally packaged, the stress levels are the highest they have ever been, delivery is in 11 days, and I’m on an airplane to Calgary to pick up Jess. We are going to drive across the country together and move her and all of her stuff to Acamac, I am very excited about this, plus this road trip will complete my full coverage of road tripping from West to East on the Trans Canada. I will have traveled from Sunshine Coast BC to Cape Spear Newfoundland. Although the timing is very bad for me to leave the office, I am confident that my editor Andrew MacCormack and Steve will be able to keep chugging along at a sleepless pace. I anticipate a restless few weeks ahead.

It was so good to see Jess and start our lives together, right when I landed on the plane her room mate Tash picked me up, and I got to their place and started packing Jessica’s Subaru waiting for her to get back from her last call shift of her contract at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary. Before I knew it Jessica’s other roomies Nicky and Niale got home and grabbed me to join them to the Labor Day Edmonton vs. Calgary football game...hilarious! I have never seen so many out of control drunken people, everything from streakers, to fights, to passed out dudes in wheelchairs, a true cultural experience. Jess got back from work and we immediately started our road trip…except we weren’t heading east, we starting by heading west into the Rockies for one last mountain experience. Kananaskas has an incredible resort, the same place where the G8 summit happened in 2004. Only when I was there in 2004 filming the anti globalization protests for my film Songs of Solidarity, access to this resort was impossible. The Canadian Army has rocket launchers, tanks and choppers surrounding the whole estate and perimeter for 50 kms each way. This time around, a lot more of a chilled out vibe! Jess and I spent 2 nights at the resort, treated ourselves to a massage, pedicure for Jess, outdoor hot tub, and a lot of relaxing.

After 2 nights of rejuvenation, needed for both of us, the reality that I needed to be back home to oversea the delivery of the show kicked in, and instead of doing the trip in our hoped 10 days, we decided to boot it across the country.

The prairies where beautiful, everyone always says that it’s a painfully long and boring part of the trip, I disagree, the skys, the fields, the oil drills, such a foreign landscape for me. The sunsets where incredible, and the leaves on the trees had already begun turning color. We met up with our friends Van and Matt in a provincial park in Saskatchewan and a great night over a campfire beside a prairie lake. They where doing a road trip the opposite way with there newborn and pop tent trailer…reminded me that I need to get a motor home again sometime!

The next day we made it to Manitoba where we met one of my old best bros Jason Tippet and his wife Amaris at a truck stop style restaurant on the side of the Trans Canada that Burton Cummings owns, it was a dive…but it was great to see the two of them even if for only a bit. Jay was around back in my early days of traveling the country following Phish shows, going to festivals, and Vineyardy experiences. We share many stories together, all full of Kerouacian road trip adventures from hitch hiking with our other friend Shannon (we where 3 peas in a strange little pos) through the sleepy country roads of Southern Ontario, to making heap loads of money selling hemp jewellery at Christian music festivals (just doesn’t sound right does it? Ha ha) to drinking wine all night in cabins in the middle of the woods. There could be a whole journal dedicated to my adventures with Jason and Shannon. Great memories. The three of us are all scattered now but still try to stay in touch.

After our brief, yet fulfilling Burton Cummings experience, Jess and I hit the road and drove as far as we could, I think we made it to Dryden, or maybe Kenora? I can’t remember, I was too tired to think. We pulled into the shittiest little motel I have ever stayed in, that didn’t matter much to me, I just needed to sleep. Jess wasn’t exactly in love with our only resting place, but we managed. The road trip continued, I purchased Sirius satellite radio in Calgary, so our trip was made much more fun with Howard Stern getting us through the hours! We made it to Toronto in pretty good time, the trip along Lake Superior was truly breath taking, I had no idea the landscape was so beautiful up there! However I still think that Ontario is the most boring part of the drive, not the Prairies!

After settling in, Jess stayed at the Hotel and I went to meet Garry Blye for dinner. Garry has become somewhat of a mentor to me and I really appreciate his time. I am still very hungry to learn from the best and be guided through at least one other full TV series by an experienced producer. Wrestling Reality proved to myself that I can produce on my own, now I just need to learn how to do it without so many fuck ups. Strange to say though, the “fuck ups” that I made on this show where crucial ones. Because of these mistakes I feel like I have matured and propelled myself to a whole other level. Refiner’s Fire is a song that we play sometimes when I’m playing base at Saint John Vineyard…its about strengthening your spiritual walk, and getting closer to God through testing, and painful experiences…this show was my Refiner’s Fire for sure. Only Wrestling Reality didn’t necessarily get me closer to God…it just made me realize that I’m now a hard core wrestling fan! Ha ha.
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My time with Garry was insightful and I am keen o do a project with him sometime soon. The next day was a long but nice drive through Montreal, up the Northern side of the Saint Lawrence River, through Trois Riviere, up to Quebec City, across the river and up to Riviere du Loops (I love French Canadian town names…St. Lois de Ha Ha for example). Jess and I got a hotel room that night and drank some wine and ate some chocolates…the chocolates where intense and beautiful!

The last bit of our adventure was the welcoming leg of New Brunswick, we took the alternate route from Riviere du Loops to Edmonston, that drive in itself revealed a secret land that I never knew existed in this area, so many little French towns on lakes surrounded by rolling hills and all in all beauty. I have driven the Trans Canada leg so many times and to be honest am quite bored of it, this was a nice alternative. It always feels good to be on the final leg of a journey, we where keen to get home, we had a great trip, but reality of wrestling had to be faced. Jessica saw her new home (first time she has seen my house since it was a bombed out, charred fire wreck almost 3 years ago). We unpacked and the madness began.
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WRESTLING REALITY DELIVERY

When I saw madness that is exactly what I mean. The delivery of the show was intense. I am currently at Pearson airport waiting to get back home after another week at Cannes for MIPCOM, and believe it or not the whole show isn’t delivered yet, but the guys are close. To rewind…Jessica had 2 weeks off, I feel for her as we where all in a very intense no-sleep schedule for the first 2 weeks of September. I fall in love with her deeper and deeper every day, not only because she is the most amazing woman on Earth, she also would bring me down Bailey’s and Coffee every morning after an all night editing session! Tidby thinks I have a drinking problem because I put Bailey’s in my coffee…but I just tell him, “Hey…Jessica is a doctor, and I will take what the doctor prescribes me!”

Andrew MacCormack has really proven his worth as the editor of this show. The reality of the show is that there just wasn’t any money, and for me to devote all my time to it, and not to developing other business would have been disastrous. So it was perfect timing to hire Andrew. He and Steve have literally been thrown into the fire, and are learning very quickly. I edited episode 1 so Andrew could see my style, I taught him the basics of Avid, and let him go for it…so much of the look and style of this show has to be credited to his editing skills, I’m very impressed with his learning curve. This is exactly what I need, an editor I can trust. What I also need is another “producer” to help support me, that is where Steve comes in. Steve is quickly learning the ropes, and I am excited to see where he will soar to after we get to concentrate on producing the next shows. The important thing for me is that my employees can deliver the same if not better product to the client than I can. As an entrepreneur and a producer, I will have to step back a bit from shooting, editing, even directing. I need to know that my guys can fill the holes, and so far they have proven themselves.

Our deadline was the 14^th of September. The show was supposed to go fully to air on the 18^th…and we where NO WHERES near delivering the product that we wanted to, we where rushed and after pouring so much effort, time, and sleepless nights, it was heart aching to think that the best version of our show wouldn’t be on TV, but we had to deliver. I called Brian Sobie at The Fight Network and told him that we where going to have to overnight the tapes on Purolator for a Saturday deliver, it was going to cost 500 dollars. The shitty thing about this business is it is so hard to plan your personal life because of unexpected production screw ups and delivery issues. The whole show was to be finished on this day, but it wasn’t. Jessica and I had planned on a 3 day vacation to Pleasantville (my family’s cottage in Nova Scotia right on LeHave River). It was 4:30 pm, I was scrambling to make sure everything was taken care of, I was trying to explain to Rick and Peter why the fights and the documentaries weren’t going to be back to back on TFN, we still hadn’t resolved our legal issues and the show was to air in 4 days. It didn’t look like Jess and I where going to be able to go…until the phone rang…conversation went like this:

TFN- “Greg, we have a big problem with your show”

GREG-“ WTF??? What are you talking about (insert heart attack here)

TFN- “We can’t air your show on Tuesday”

GREG- “Why the hell not?”

TFN- “ It’s too good…our sales department watched it and realized that this is gold, we need to promote the hell out of this thing, we have pushed the show up to November for release…you have a couple more weeks to deliver the show to us in its perfect state”

Yes it was huge relief for me...and a compliment for all of us. Unfortunately Rick and Peter didn’t agree at first, they where both pretty pissed. Understandable actually considering that all of the wrestling fans and all of the Maritimes where expecting the show to start in 4 days. I explained to them that it’s in the show’s best interest to hold off. Rick called Brian at TFN and asked for an explanation, and also mentioned that we have release parties all set up already. The result of that phone call was that TFN would still run episode 1 Tuesday night for our premiere, but run the whole series in November. It made a lot of sense to me, and I think in the end Peter and Rick where happy with the results as well. Jessica packed up the Subaru and headed to Nova Scotia for a much deserved rest.

We stayed at Cindy and Al’s place in Bedford. The next morning I was interviewed on Tom Young’s talk show, then I went to meet Rob Power while Jessica looked at possible future homes. Rob and I discussed a partnership of sorts for the 2 years that I will be living in Halifax. He is going to give me an office space and an offline editing machine in his incredible facility Power Post. This is in exchange for me bringing him as much online work as I can. I’m all over that. It is the online experience that is the stressful stage of the editing process. We have onlined the show ourselves for WR and this is why we are so stressed and exhausted. This is one of a few very strategic partnerships that I am lining up right now to get Hemmings House Pictures to the level that I need it to be at to make a profit. Rob also mentioned that if we are going to be in Halifax for 2 years, that I really need to meet the other producers in town, he called up John Wesley Chisholm…his company Arcadia is one of Atlantic Canada’s busiest producers. John Wesley does a lot of underwater documentaries, and at any one time has multiple series on the go. I arranged with John Wesley to come back to Halifax at some point in the near future and chat about opportunities.

Jess and I finally got to Pleasantville and enjoyed a weekend of no stress. We hit the beaches, went to my and my dad’s favorite pub in Lunenburg “The Knot” saw the worst movie ever at the Bridgewater theater called “Mr. Woodcock” went for a sail on our sunfish, drank wine and ate cheese. This is the life I need to create for myself, or at least balance for myself.

The next week we got back into the madness mode, we now had to deliver the 6 one hour fight specials. This required more all nighters, and once again props to MacCormack for pushing it so forcefully. The fights look great, I know we are going to have a kick ass show. Tuesday night was our Premier on The Fight Network at Dooley’s. Dooley’s have been very cool for our show, they sponsored us a considerable amount of money for product placements, and the held all of our after parties. Tonight it was only fitting that we held this event here…and it was packed. Great turnout, so good to have so much support in my community, my friends, family, interested others…very cool. It is always a surreal experience watching something that I produced on television, a small thrill.

Another strategic partner that I am looking for is with someone who can offer me some new production facility real estate. Working from the basement has its benefits, but man doesn’t it ever have its drawbacks as well. I truly believe that working in a professional environment will keep you in the professional mode. Working in my basement with drums, guitars, empty bottles, people crashing on the couch, distractions of home life…it just doesn’t cut it anymore. So I went to talk to an old client of mine Steve Belyea, he was the one who hired us to film the Marty Smith DVD which took me to LA a few months ago for its award. He has an old car factory that is 50% empty, his business occupies the other half. This building is incredible, all open brick, very hip, perfect environment…if I can afford it! Steve seems to be interested to talk further about it. I’m stoked. One of the things that I would be interested in doing is get some other like minded companies involved in helpingt o make this work, like IVS for example. They are technically competition, only in a small way mind you, but we are all great friends and work together often. I took them and my CFO Steve Foster to check it out. There is a buzz. Who knows if it could happen, maybe it would cost way to much, hard to say. The time has come to start leveraging other people, companies and finances to get what I need. I am guessing that this is the entrepreneurial drug that I am addicted to that gets me excited to make these connections work.

The New Brunswick Film commission every year puts on a conference, and this year thankfully it was in Saint John. There was 2 days of panels, networking and pitch sessions, it was real nice. Sadly the attendance wasn’t very strong, but those who where there got a lot out of it…ESPECIALLY ME! My friends at Fat Kat animation in Marimichi had a booth set up, and everytime I talk to them they tell me about their expansions. They currently have 120 employees animating shows for producers all over the world. I first met Andrew Dunn from Fat Kat at the Banff Film and Television Festival a few years back…when Jessica and I first moved her to Calgary, and when we drove across the Rockies. Since then I always run into him and his team and different industry events, truly the magic of industry events is getting to know the other players in the scene, and to become friends with like minded people.

As it turns out Fat Kat are actually getting a booth at MIPCOM next week. Andrew asked if I was going this time around, and to be honest I told him straight up that another trip to France plus $2000 for the conference pass is out of my budget right now. I really wished I could go to MIP this year because the show is ready to sell for the international market. Then a big change of thought came my way when he said they had an extra ticket and I could have it, provided I pay for my flight! I discussed it with Jess, and we both felt that it was the right thing for me to do, everytime I go to a market I end up coming back with more opportunities. Jess and I had to be in Toronto on Friday for my busy Jeff Prime’s wedding in Perry Sound. We where going to fly back to Saint John on Sunday, but instead, I purchased a return flight to Nice leaving Toronto on Sunday.

The end of the week was similar to the end of the previous week. All nighters for MacCormack, late nights for me juggling everything that needs to be done before the next adventure. The next adventure started with the familiar drive up to Perry Sound for Jeff’s wedding. Why familiar? Well Jess and I just drove this route the opposite way 4 weeks ago on our trans Canadian road trip.

But my most significant memories of this segment of the Trans Canada is when Andrew Tidby and I hitch hiked passed Perry Sound into the lakes regions for our old buddy Erik Klein’s bachelor party. This was only 3 years ago…why did we hitch hike? I have NO IDEA. It was that day when I realized, hey, I have money, why don’t I rent cars? Previously I would never think of renting a car, I would just rough it buy hitch hiking, sleeping in a ditch, bathing in a river, you know, that’s ort of thing! Ha ha. But here we are, 2 grown men hitch hiking to our bother’s bachelor in the far reached of the Muskokas. It was a hard hitch to be honest, it took hours to reach our destination. We arrived there and it was beautiful, right on the lake, we went fishing, played Frisbee, drank…and ultimately driving 2 hour North to Sudbury to the strip joint that Erik “apparently” wanted to go to. Why we would ever want to leave this paradise for a dirty Sudbury Saturday night is beyond me, but we did, and dammit we had fun. Nothing like sitting front row with a bunch of your childhood brothers hollering at the dancers…sure I felt like a bit of a dirt, but what the hell…it’s a bachelor party!

Anyway, back to the present, enough about the strip joints…After our arrival we drove downtown to finally meet the guys at the Fight Network,a nd to hand deliver the fights. The Fight Network was a very cool spot, Toronto is a happening town, these spaces are everywhere, all open brick, metal and wood finishes, very creative environment. They immediately started rolling cameras when I got there interviewing me about the success of Wrestling Reality. It is always a different experience when I am on that side of the camera! It was cool though, everyone I met at the Network really liked the show, I was introduced to the CEO who saw plenty of potential, and who wanst to make this TFN’s flagship show. Things have definitely changed since the beginning when I was perceived as a nobody, to now when they treat me as the producer of a sure to be hit show. Moments like this really help me justify the huge sacrifice we all took to produce this gem.

Brian took Jess and I out for dinner and we discussed business. They all knew I was heading to Cannes to sell the show, but it was obvious that they where interested in distributing it. I can see a real benefit to staying in house with TFN, I just have to be sure that it will be profitable for us to make it work. After discussions, I decided that I wouldn’t push the show at Cannes, but focus on my other projects like Grave Concerns and Weather Bomb…we would continue this dialogue when I get back.

WEDDING IN THE WOODS

Jess and I arrived at the Tim Horton’s camp where the wedding was to take place. We checked into our cabin and once again had a relaxing night and day. The wedding was really nice, very small, but in the natural confines of the edges of the Canadian Shield. I was proud of Jeffy, he deserves a good woman, and he got one!

Early the next morning, Jess and I woke up for a 5:30 departure to get her to her 9:00 flight. The party was still going on when we woke up. It was nice to wake up that early sans-hangover. We hit the road and got to Pearson in no time at all, clear roads on a Sunday morning. Jess boarded her plane, and for the first time I actually started to miss her immediately, it was to be our first time apart in a month, and this month was the first time we have lived in the same place for 13 years. I had a very frustrating wait all day at Pearson, I forgot my AMEX card so I couldn’t get into my beloved Maple Leaf lounge, they are total Nazis there, even though they know you are a member, without the card NO ENTRY.

CANNES

The flight was long to Zurich, when I got there I checked into the lounge for only half hour, then continued to Nice. Once in Nice I had the option of taking a private helicopter to MIPCOM, or the bus…I decided to save 100 EU and took the bus! I finally got to Le Palaise and found the Fat Kat crew. Their booth was great, huge and colorful. These markets are full of producers, thousands of people trying to buy and sell. You HAVE to stand out, buying a booth is truly a smart move. The boys gave me the key to one of the 2 condos they rented, I got there, took a shower and crashed into a 1 hour sleep thatw as so deep and lucid that I didn’t even know I was dreaming. The jet leg and the lack of sleep over the past month finally caught up with me.

I got my stuff together, headed back to the Market, met Garry Blye and we had a great dinner at a Mongolian restaurant up in the middle of the cobblestoned side streets of Cannes. Garry as I have mentioned before is a real solid guy and I am very happy that he always takes time out to meet with me.

India was the presenting nation at this year’s MIPCOM so you can only imagine what the opening night party was going to be like. Garry and I headed over to the hotel where the festivities where going on, everything was velvet red, there where beautiful belly dancing girls, sitar and tabla players, bollywood electronica, and all the free booze a tired producer could handle. This was truly an experience, and that is my only real addiction, different experiences.

The next day was filled with great sessions from key note speakers like the CEO of NBC talking about the future of the industry, to Discovery Green, talkinga bout the trends for Green TV…right up my ally…finally the mass market is consuming environmentally conscious television. Too bad 3 years ago when I was involved with Eco 4 The World the market didn’t give a shit about green programming. Eco 4 The World (E4W) is an amazing TV series that is produced out of Singapore. I met Kevin, the show’s distributor, at Banff a few years back. They where very keen to co-produce the show in Canada, I saw it as a golden opportunity. I even went down to Singapore when I was shooting my “Chasing the Sun” documentary in China to meet with the producers to see where we could go with this. Sadly the Canadian broadcasters where not interested. This is no surprise, Canada for the most part are trend followers, not setters (save for NFB documentaries!). Sadly my opportunity to be involved in this great show slipped away, I only wish it was presented to me now when the green TV market is so hot.

Besides great session, and productive meetings, I was just happy to be on the beaches of Cannes again, large palm trees, multi million dollar mega yaughts, beautiful people, man it’s a real shot in the arm! That night I had the chance to meet with John Wesley Chisholm. I ended up cancelling my meeting with him in Halifax and told him I would meet him here. We hit it off instantly, in fact it turns out that he used to be in a bunch of bands that I used to listen too inckuding Johnny Favorite Swing Orchestra, and Black Pool (with Chris Murphy of Sloan fame). As I was looking at his project sheet I realized, on of his many projects on the go is a show called RIP..it is IDENTICLE to Grave Concerns. This is crazy, I pull out my laptop and show him the Pilot Brent and I show for Jack Kerouac…we where both surprised and strangely excited. I think most people would become defensive, but I just saw opportunity, Iw ant to produce this show with him, and as it turns out, he’s cool with that idea as wel. Great way to get myself into the Halifax scene, and quickly get Grave Concerns on the road He already has interested broadcasters ready to buy the show, so it was certainly meant to be that I went to visit Rob Power that day and that he decided that I should meet this guy. Many good things on the go, I also offered myself to him as a director if he is in need anytime. He is very excited about this. We walked along the waterfront for an hour discussing opportunities, and ended the evening on an excited note. I returned to the villa and hung out with the 8 other Fat Kats for a bit and crashed to rest up for another incredible day to follow.
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The next day was truly an action packed day, I joined John Wesley for a meeting with a BC broadcaster, went out to lunch again with him, then met with Federica and Matteo. They drove from Torino just to meet with me, I was very thrilled by this. The Weather Bomb pilot as edited and it looked great. We discussed next steps for the next half of shooting that we need to do in April back in the Arctic. We met also with Garry again because we hope he is going to help us get this show to the market. We cruised along the dockside to check out some of the massive mega yaghts and I delivered the pilot to CBC, Discovery and Natioanl Geographic, then said good buy to my favorite Italian friends There will be a very exciting, busy and successful 2008, I have a feeling.

That night was my last night so the Fat Kat guys invited me to join them for dinner with a young distributor and her boyfriend. This was a true French experience, we ate outside in this steep and narrow cobblestoned alleyway, drank some fine wine, cheese and meats. We had a real fun time together and ended up another huge hotel party, these people don’t stop. I befriended and aquistions guy from Iran’s newest broadcaster (similar to Al Jazira). I talked to him about religion, politics, roles of women, business, broadcasting, everything. In the end he said he was very interested in buying and broadcasting my “Songs of Solidarity” documentary I shot so many years ago at the G8 summit protests…”We will buy anything Anti-Bush” he said…well this would be the film for him!

I got 2 hours sleep that night, hopped in a cab at 5:00 am, picked up John Wesley and we shared a cab to Nice. I am currently on my West Jet flight almost back to Saint John, by the time I arrive home I will have been traveling for 42 hours. I hate airplanes…but West Jet’s newest drink is the Mohito, Im on mt 2^nd one and they are making my exhausted travels a bit better! Till next time!

Evolve to tropical jungle Illinois

As a result of some of the legal issues with the Wrestling Show, and also a man power shortage for the Sabian documentary coming up, plus the breaking down of both our HD cameras, the few days that I was home where filled to the max to say the least. As it turns out, a very important opportunity came up for the Sabian documentary in Burlington Vermont. Master drummers from all over are meeting there to teach workshops and play shows…I am supposed to be there to film. Unfortunately it lands on the same days that I will be in Chicago for the Coaches documentary, so I can’t go to Vermont. Tidby graciously has taken my place and will be shooting with Semra down there, I know it’s a pain in the ass for him, and there certainly isn’t much money involved, but he really has bailed me out.

I was home for 3 days, and then I got back on the road. Friday morning Tidby, MacCormack and I filled the outback with sleeping bags, tents, beer and cameras and headed up to Antigonish Nova Scotia for the Evolve Music and Awareness Festival. I have been filming this festival for years. In fact my very first independent release was a doc about the festival called REVOLVE. You can watch this on my website www.hemmingshousepictures.com , click into the screening room and you can see what I’m talking about. I also filmed a lot of my next documentary called A Head’s Tale at Evolve one year. You can also see that on my webpage. The only year I didn’t film there, my good friend Kent Sobey of Farmhouse Pictures, also co-producer for my last film Rubarbicon (also filmed at Evolve), filmed a great concert documentary complete with Wassabi Collective, Jimmy Swift Band, Grand Theft Bus, amongst many many others. As I film a lot of concerts fro Aliant, the years that I wasn’t filming for docs, I would film the shows to post online. This year, the 8^th year of the festival was one of those times, unfortunately I have a big weekend with other commitments so I will only be able to be here for Friday, MacCormack will film the rest of the weekend as I put more miles on the Subaru.

My good friend Alex’s band The Divorcee’s started the festival off for me, and rocked it…these guys have nailed the outlaw country sound. I’m going to be shooting a music video for them soon, I can’t wait. Sadly this is the set where my camera audio package blew. Believe it or not I do get stressed, and this breaking as our only camera to film the whole festival hardly phased me in comparison with some of the other things I’m dealing with currently, however I still am facing every challenge with a positive attitude, trying to find the lessons to be learned in ever situation…plus I’m at Evolve, the highlight of every summer for me.

Musically, the two bands that I came to see on Friday night where Lotus and Do Make Say Think. Lotus where ridiculous…live techno at it’s best. I can’t say I have ever danced do hard. Somewhere in the midst of the crowd my sandals came off for no logical reason and the rest of the night I was forced into bare feet because I totally lost my shoes…no worries, dancing barefoot really is the only way to go…who needs shoes…right? Last time I saw Lotus was at the Langarado Festival in Southern Florida a couple years back. I was coming back from 2 weeks in Belize shooting a documentary about missionary work, and on the way back I stopped in Miami for a few nights, rented a car and traveled up to the festival and had a great time on my own. I met a bunch of great people and Lotus was my highlight, as they where this year! The Belize documentary is sadly not finished yet, I’m getting there though…2 years late mind you. It’s hard when the projects that you do for no money, but for the pure sake of making a film are put on the backburner, put aside to lesser soul filling projects that actually pay for things like mortgage, car, food, salaries etc. I need to overcome this so my business is making money on cruise control and I can focus on some of these important projects. I will write more later about the Belize adventure.

The festival night was a lot of fun; I was with some of my closest friends, enjoying some barley sandwiches, gin & juice and chocolate. Even though Do Make Say Think was my priority band to see, I didn’t get to see them. Do Make Say Think are an incredible collective from Montreal who are part of the Godspeed You Black Emperor family, another one of my favorite live musical experiences. Anyway, Halfway through the Lotus show a friend and I ended up sitting on the field and taking in the natural beauty, the moonlit clouds, the fields, the warm air, the music, the beats it was all so beautiful, truly God’s gift to us. My friend and I talked for hours about many things philosophical. I really feel that on that night I was made aware again of the truths of the Spirit, of nature, of humanity, and of God. I had a similar experience with the exact same friend back in 1998 in Toronto at a Phish concert….all the setting was there, it is amazing what doors the environment, the natural surroundings, music and a strong bond of a friendship can open.

We where both good friends with Leslie, and when she died everybody took it so hard. I, as a typically emotionally shielded male, suppressed my feelings about her loss. Life goes on, I always say that, and when I die, people will be sad for a short time, but then they will quickly move on and soon I will be forgotten. That sad point of view is what kept me from properly mourning the loss of my good friend, and such a beautiful person Leslie. This night was very important for my friend and I because we really got to talk through the whole surreal thing and emotionally deal with it, for the first time I really had a concept that her death was OK, she was fully in a better place and I actually know that now. The most amazing realization I have ever had I think. I also know that she was with us and that she didn’t want us to be sad, but rather she wanted us to know that “she made it!” and she is exactly where she needs to be. I know it sounds fluffy, but this experience is why I had no problems missing seeing one of my favorite bands…it is rare when you can share experiences like this with a close friend and be able to feel some collective closure.

After a long night of Drum and Bass beats, and deep conversations, Tidby and I left for the 5 hour drive back home where we picked up our friends Mike, Vanessa, roomy Brian and Leanne, the 5 of us headed up to Public Landing on the St. John River where Leslie’s family was holding a celebration in her name. That night they raised $12,000 to go towards an environmental scholarship also in Leslie’s name. There is no way this girl is girl is going to fade away into the memories of her friends, family and international community. There where bands, fireworks, a bunch of boats on the dock, lots of old friends, a huge dinner, even my band Something French ( www.somethingfrenchmusic.com) Played a midnight set. Sadly though I won’t be playing with them anymore as my busy travel schedule has let them down too many times, I keep missing shows. My good friend Pete will be playing bass full time from this point on. I’m really happy for them because they are all great folks and friends, and the songs are amazing, I had a lot of fun playing and recording with them. Sadly if you go full heartedly to pursue a passion, it is hard to feed a secondary one. This is the struggle of a passionate person.

The next morning my old roommate Mark Doyle and I packed the Outback and headed 3 hours North to Pert Andover to attend a fantastic folk party. This older hippy cat named Dan has been holding this gathering campout for 24 years now. It was beautiful, probably 100 real wonderful folk there, playing music around a campfire, collectively cooking meals, swimming, playing horseshoes…it was wonderful. My buddy Matt Anderson who I have been producing a DVD for (hopefully to be released this fall, shot last Christmas with Ross Neilson) is from Perth Andover, and he and many others have told me about this party for years. My good friend Karen Palmer played at it last year even. Anyhow Chris Dunlap from Calgary is also from here and was visiting home for a week and invited me up. I was so exhausted that morning that I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to make it, but I did and it was the best decision all week. A great way to put the stresses of the week on the back burner, even if it is only for 3 days.

Last night Jay MacLean and I went Skateboarding in town, then met my bro Mark and old friend Marney for a Martini at Sebastian’s. We talked about the industrialization of Saint John, the weight of corporate oppression, and love. This morning I said bye to Tidby who drove my car to Vermont to get the Sabian footage for me, and I hot the airport. I am currently flying over the Great Lakes en-route to Chicago for more Coaches shooting.

Chicago and Cornfields

August 2007

I landed in Chicago just as a tornado was speeding through, my plane was the last to land before they shut the airport down. The storm came quick, I was in the tram when the rain started to pelt down. The storm forced a diversion in Alison’s plane so I had to wait a couple hours for her. She finally arrived, it was so nice to see her as usual, and I know I say this all the time, but this Coaches project has put me in the presence of some of the most highly motivated people around, and it’s contagious. My confidence in life and in business is always boosted after hanging with these types of cats.

Alison and I hopped in a limo and headed into the heartland of Illinois, Republican country! “Jesus Saves...VOTE BUSH 2004”…I love how there is a perfect gay marriage of politics and religion in this country, it brings a tear to my eye! Ha ha. We ended up at one of Alison’s great friend / coaching colleague Amy’s beautiful home in the depths of what felt like the Amazon rainforest. Their home and property is amazing, I had no idea the heartland was so lush and alive! The sounds of the bugs in this lush wet and humid forest reminded me of my time in the jungles of Surinam. Instant memories of my South American adventures flew through my mind…and the smell! Amy’s husband Brian, very cool fellow with a beard halfway down his belly, has been building this amazing fence around the property out of this raw wood that really took me back. When I was in Surinam we where loading the cargo sailboat with custom selectively cut wood for the construction of a Martha’s Vineyard wooden sailboat. The smell of the fresh wood was intoxicating! When we hit the seas even in the middle of the ocean the smell of the wood was dominant, I haven’t smelled that until now, funny that it was in Illinois!

That night we had a great dinner, talked about a hold bunch of fun stuff that I won’t write about, suffice it to say, Alison, Amy and Brian are my type of peoples! I can only hope that I end up living lives like them when I become their age!

The next morning we hopped into Amy’s truck and hit the road for 2.5 hours South, truly into the Heartland, the Red White and Blue proudly displayed on every standing structure…this is America! It’s funny how different the spirit is here compared to the North Eastern states, which I am far more used too. Truly religion is number one, I choose the word religion…not spirituality, and like I mentioned earlier, I could even secularize it and drop the word religion and replace it with politics. The more I think of how politically religious Christianity has become, the more I want to move myself from it. I am faithful to my personal Christian based spirituality, but religious Christianity makes me upset…for a week minded person this dichotomy could cause much conflict within one’s self, I feel just fine about it however. Not to get into the religious trip right now, but I feel that God has given me an incredibly gifted life with the artwork of nature all around, great friends and family, yadda yadda yadda. My personal beliefs don’t seem to jive with a lot of other people in my life, and that’s just great.

Back to the bass… (Fat Tala R.I.P.). We arrive in a town called Normal Illinois. And like the name suggests, it’s a pretty Normal place, very typical small town mid America. There we met with a great group of folks from the executive of the Hospital Corporation. They had been previous clients of Alison’s and we interviewed them to get their perspectives on coaching, and how it has affected them personally and collectively. We got some good stuff.

The ride home was hilarious, Alison and Amy are constantly in giggle fits, they are a couple of very funny ladies. We got back to their jungle paradise, drank some very strong martinis (Amy likes a good proper mix of Vodka in her shaken drinks!) then we met up with Brian for a great Thai meal in this real cool little “bring your own wine” Thai restaurant. Its great how much in common we all have, I had a great time with these folks, can’t wait to roll back through again sometime. We stopped into a popcorn shack on the way home, the place has been serving popcorn since the 1920’s, and it’s no bigger than 2 porta-potties stuck together, but his popcorn was killer!!! After a way too short sleep I caught a limo at 5:00 am, got to Chicago, flew to Toronto where I am currently writing from the Maple Leaf Lounge. My wonderful friend Aisha is picking me up at the airport and we are going to check out the Saint John art gallery hop, always a happening time in the port city. We might go for a sail with Brian later tonight as well. Tidby is still in Vermont and I owe him my life for bailing me out, I’ve totally put him in an annoying position, but when things get crazy and double booked, I can’t be in 2 places at once, and I really appreciate his help…yo Tidby, thanks!

Sub Arctic Meltdown

Today is Monday and I’m writing all of this on the Plane to Newfoundland. I just met Federica and our Italian camera man in the Halifax airport, we where fortunate that my flight was delayed for 3 hours so now we are on the same flight! So good to see her again! I spent the last few hours in the maple Leaf lounge working form my laptop, Google Talking to my Goddaughter Chloe (so cute) and enjoying the on-tap privileges of the Maple Leaf Lounge, no other way to travel! We are about to film the first episode of the Weather Bomb for RAI television in Italy. The first episode is called “Melting Lands” and is about the affects of Global Warming from the perspective of the Inuit. Tomorrow Newfoundland, the next day Gander / Grand Falls / Star Lake, next day Montreal, and the next day the Arctic Circle!!! More to come!!!

DAY 1

Newfoundland

July, 2007

Federica, Genti and I had a fine flight to St. Johns, checked into the hotel, ate and crashed. Early the next morning we where blessed to be taken out into the St. John’s harbor and then into the ocean on this incredible whale research Zodiac, man did we see whales! We probably saw 10 to 12 Minke whales, so beautiful. Some where 20 meters off the side of the boat, others 5. It is hard to believe that people are still killing these magnificent creatures. We filmed into the coolest little harbor in all of Newfoundland; Quiddy Viddey, we filmed out at Cape Spear, the most Eastern Part of North America. Memories quickly came back to a few years ago when Tidby, Mackenzi, Miller and I shot 4 episodes for our TV series “Useless Fact Travel Show”. We spent a long time exploring all the cool and “useless” facts that exist in regions of Atlantic Canada, Newfoundland was my favorite, anyhow when we shot here for that show we got up very early in the morning and filmed a time-lapse of the sun rising in the Eastern-most part of the sky.

It is always nice to be able to be in such a wonderful natural environment and step back and realize that this is your job! I love those moments of clarity that remind me that I’m on the right path…or so I let myself believe!!! After we got back to shire we got back to the airport and flew to Gander where the nicest man on Earth picked us up. Nigel works for the hydro power plant that we filmed the next day and he was sent to take care of us, and that he did! We drove an hour to Grand Falls and the company put us all up in obscene luxury! We stayed in the Grand Falls House which is owned by the mill, and is reserved for VIPs like royalty and CEOs etc, there pictures of many high profile people who have stayed there!. And what a liquor cabinet! Ha ha. Nigel and is lovely wife Susan and I enjoyed some Scotch and fine wine together and had a great time. Federica and Genti where very jet legged so they went to sleep early.

DAY 2

The morning came far too early and what a great sleep I had, I felt like an 18^th Century lord staying in this incredible mansion! We drove 2 and a half hours into the Newfoundland Interior; saw Moose, Caribou, and all sorts of other animals. We where so far into the middle of the island that there was absolutely no communication with the outside world. We arrived at the dam and filmed the turbines and interviews, and learned all about green power, and also about what the company has done to compensate for the damage they did to the forest buy flooding the head pond. They have a fish hatchery that introduces new fish into the head pond on a continual basis, that was a pretty cool thing to check out, they even had an underwater window under the salmon stream and we could see the Salmon climb the fish ladder, great place for filming.

They took us out in a boat to explore Star Lake (the head pond) and saw more caribou and got to breath in the great fresh air…another moment of clarity. Even though it was sad to see how flooding land destroys so many acres of wildlife habitat, it was nice to see and understand the environmental commitments of this project. The reality is we need energy, we can get it from fossil fuels, or from wind and solar, unfortunately wind and solar aren’t always consistent, or you can get it from Hydro. The initial footprint is large and destructive, but there are no CO2 emissions at all…not that I support this process, it was just cool to see how it all works, and to see the honesty in the people who work there.

We where supposed to get a Helicopter back but it cancelled on us so we drove the 2.5 hours through the woods and got back to the mansion. This is when Genti and Federica became Newfies! Yes, we got Screeched! I’ve been screeched many times before so Im pretty much a Newfie now, but they had no idea what was going on, it was hilarious! And they loved it. After taking back double of the darkest screech in the house I had to call it an early night. This morning we got some shots of grand falls, drove to the airport, got into St. Johns, and one of my favorite friends of the past Melissa Taffe picked us up and we went out to lunch. We paid a quick visit to the Batterie which is in my opinion the coolest little cliff side neighborhood in the world, the she dropped us off at the airport and I have a glass of Port that I need to finish before we hit our next leg…Montreal! See you then!

DAY 3

Montreal – Nunavik

Montreal last night was nice; the Quebec Tourism officer who has the Italy Portfolio took us out for a great French meal, then hooked us up for a night at the swank Fairmont Montreal. Quebec also hooked us up with some sweet discounts on the flights up North which is necessary, man tickets up to here are ridiculous! It’s cheaper to fly to Italy than it is from Montreal to the Quebec Arctic…same province!!!

Today has been incredible, we flew from Montreal to a town right on the tree line called Kujjuak Here a handful of people got off the plane and a few more got on to continue up North. The pilot came in and announced that the plane was full and asked for someone to come up front into the jump seat with them, I quickly volunteered and next thing I know I’m sitting up with the pilot and copilot drinking coffee and chatting about life in the North, I brought the video camera and got some AMAZING aerial shots, breath taking! The cliffs, the water, the ice burgs, the caribou, and to top it off the pilot flew only 300 feet the whole way for me so I could get great shots, I couldn’t believe it!

We landed in Kangiksujjuaq and our guides picked us up and drove us to the school where we are making our new home for 5 days. We took a walk around and I must say strangely enough it was very similar to my memories of places like Jamaica and Belize, the homes are all up on jacks, some of them very shack like, barren dirt roads, just no palm trees or Red Stripe. Anyway it is a beautiful little settlement nestled at the bottom of a great fjord, huge vertical, and perfectly clear Arctic Ocean water. The sunset was unlike anything I have ever scene in my life, it is currently midnight and it is still light out. The sun took about 30 minutes to go from on the horizon to setting, I’ve never seen that happen before, down close to the equator the sun sets so quickly that if you blink you may miss it, up here you cant avoid it, and it was the most flaming red sunset I have ever seen, to top it off there was a massive rainbow arcing the whole community. The only other experience I have had of this caliber was sailing out of New York City once right after a crazy rain storm, the big black clouds where blood red and deep grey-blue as the setting sun beams filtered beautifully through the polluted Manhattan skyline, a rainbow arced the whole horizon in fore of the ship, and the sunset in the stern…then no kidding, at least 20 dolphins started playing and surfing in our wake…tonight’s sunset over the inlet and the mountains was just as astounding!

The people here are very timid and shy, they don’t make too much notice of us and are a bit too intimidated by us to say hello back to us, but at the same time they are very friendly and I don’t feel threatened, I only hope they wont feel threatened by our presence, especially with our cameras. One other thing I must add, it feels like the apocalypse here, or at least Mad Maxx…EVERYONE races there motocross bikes, or their quadrunner ATCs up and down and all around the dusty streets of this VERY small community of 540 people. It sounds like the buzz of a thousand bumble bees there is so much wheeler action kicking up dust in this arctic town…I LOVE IT!

DAY 4

Today was as an eventful day as I could have ever asked for in the arctic. We woke up early and Genti and I took a walk about the own getting some great shots of the towering mountains engulfed in fog. It was such a peaceful morning with not a sole awake. Around noon we met our helicopter pilot and started getting the aerial shots that we are in such need of, and man was that ever a view!!! We where specifically on the hunt for polar bears. We had a local hunter and 2 rifles on board the chopper jut in case. We got some great cliff and ocean aerials, circled a great big iceberg and then flew down to 40 feet on top of the freezing arctic water to get an incredible shot of a walrus and her baby pup. This site is even more of a rarity than seeing a Polar bear, we where so blessed, and the water was as smooth as glass.

We then flew inland over the tundra and flew over herds of hundreds of Caribou. What beautiful animals, the sight and sound of the chopper gave them a good fright but the shots of them running along the riversides and cliff tops where priceless. We ended up in a ravine with a rapid river racing down the middle. This valley of high and very narrow cliffs wound down the arctic tundra over waterfalls and past herds of Caribou for …at leas 20 minutes of flying, that’s quite a distance!!!

After 2.5 hours we flew back to the airport and Federica and I changed places, Genti stayed aboard. They flew up again to get some more incredible shots of a meteor site, a lake, now provincial park, that is a perfect circle 3.7 kms wide, it was formed by a meteor hitting Earth many years ago. The footage looks great! Meanwhile Mateo (researcher) and Julio (2^nd unit DOP) and I met a dude named Louis form Montreal who works for the Northern school district. As it happened Louis owns Canada’s largest indoor skate park in Montreal. We talked about skateboarding, and how I used to own a skate shop, and how my dad used to own one as well, he offered us a ride through the tundra for more shots so we excepted. We got some great shots of arctic flowers, lakes, inukshuks, and landscapes.

When we finally got home 3 wonderful new Inuit friends showed up, Tacka, Laurie, Elyja, and 2 very neat girls from Gaspe and Montreal (one named Elody with the exact same humour, voice, and, and mannerisms as my friend Claudine), and the other Kate who had the same wonderful smile and loving energy as my friend Tracy, it all goes to show that wherever you are there is another you, and another equivalent of everyone you know. It is a comforting feeling when you are so far out of your comfort zone. Tacka brought a great amount of fantastic Caribou meet, Kate brought some fantastic Shiraz boxed wine (a delicacy around these parts) and Elody brought another delicacy for this region, apple, lentil and celery salad! What a treat! Truly an international meal was had, 5 native languages where represented at our humble table. We ended the night and it is now 1:15 a.m. and its still light out. Good night!

DAY 5

This is my 3^rd night here, and already its getting darker! They told me today that each day they loose 6 minutes of daylight, 2 nights ago it was light all night, now there is an almost dark sky. Today was a very eventful day in many ways, one I had great experiences, two, I met some more wonderful people, and three, I found a real weakness in my directorial abilities.

The morning started slow, it is Sunday morning and no one is on the streets, only a few children on bikes that we hung out with for half an hour. All the adults where either still sleeping at 10:00 am or where at the weekend fishing camps. Our good man and new friend Louis from yesterday saw us on the beach and drove down t say hi, we hopped into the back of his pickup truck and traveled half hour all the way to the other coast this time, all I can say is it was “F*#king Ansel” (ask me about that one some other time.) Such a beautiful land and sea scape with huge towering cliffs. Scattered around the huge arctic bay where little canvas round tents or small shacks where the Inuit in the community come to fish. We strolled over to one tent and the 4 ladies who lived there where very open to talking to us. One woman let us film her as she showed us how to cut open an Arctic Char, then prepare it for air dry. I hate to make this reference, but she was straight out of a National Geographic magazine, her beautiful soul truly shone through her weather beaten eyes. She looked to be in her 80s but we soon where told that it was her 61^st birthday next week! The rugged climate and exposure to sun really ages people in these regions.

She also showed us the gutting of the seal that was just killed earlier in the day. She eats everything, not a piece goes to waste. I think when idiot celebrities like Pamela Anderson take up a fight against cruelty to seals in Canada’s North as a “cause” they only re-enforce the fact that they are ignorant morons. (no offense Pamela, I know your probably a nice person). Before the recent modernization of the Northern communities the only diet was fish, seal, caribou or polar bear. This is what they ate since the beginning of time, why expect them to stop living their traditional lifestyles now? Because it doesn’t conform with our comfortable little Southern values? Being here has really given me some interesting insight on the way people live up here.

After a great interview she invited us to come into the tent, it was so cozy in there with a big bed set up and a Coleman stove with fresh seal meat melting in a pot. After we said goodbye we saw a boat coming into the rugged coast, it turned out to be 2 geologists from Quebec City who where out on an archeologist expedition for the last 10 days in the wild, just them, sleeping bags, tent and guide / protector Johnny. They needed a ride back into town so we all jammed in the back of Louis’ truck and cruised back to civilization. As it turned out the hotel of 6 rooms (just a large trailer) was fully booked and they had no where to go so they ended up coming back to our pad and now they each have their own room and a shower for the first time in a long while. Two very nice women, in fact we interviewed them because their studies are specific to climate change through the ages with data collected from archeological sites. They had some great perspective on the topic.

After a lunch of Italian pasta (of course!) we headed back to the tundra to see if we could find some other fishers. We hiked a long way along the river bed finding many caribou antlers and bones. The rocks where huge in this area, lots of fun to jump over. We finally found a few people in their different tents, they are all so very friendly and peaceful people, and are very welcoming to talk to, but very shy. Because I have issues of media exploiting peoples like this I always need to make sure they are comfortable with have a camera on them, so I ask if we can roll camera and they always get nervous and ask not to be shot. It is frustrating, but I totally respect their decisions, its just making this documentary very hard to make, I guess I need more balls, but its just not who I am, I always struggle with this, especially when I was in the Caribbean, I don’t want to be the ignorant media person to being sensitive to the peoples I am interviewing…this has cost me many good opportunities, and I’m really struggling with this. I'll have to bring this one up to coach dave I think!

Anyhow we came back and I was down in the dumps because of my failure, but things got better when we got back and started to make Sushi with the Arctic Char that we got from the old lady. What a meal we made! Louis, the 2 geologists (Elsie and Nagette), and Elody joined us for the meal, the baked Arctic Char was incredible, we had the sushi, smoked muscles, and a potato / carrot mash…now I’m in bed. VERY TIRED! But I’m constantly reminded how great my life and job really is, I love meeting so many wonderful new people and traveling to so many magical lands. I’m listening to Phish’s “Chalk Dust Torture” tune, which incidentally was the first live Phish song I ever saw at Clifford Ball Vermont in 97. The lyrics keep repeating “Can I live while I’m young”…hell yeah!

DAY 6

Another quite incredible day in Nunavik. We started our day off with an elder of the community named Lukasi who showed us how o put out the fishing nets at low tide. He has seen many changes over the years in the climate and the culture. He, like many other elders are very concerned for the next generation, if the climate keeps warming, then the hunting will become far more difficult with less ice, and they will loose their food supply and be forced to fully adopt the ways of the South. It is very sad to see a way of life diminish before your eyes, especially when it is the carelessness of the industrialized world to blame for the most part.

Another elder who is in his late 80’s allowed us to interview him in his house, so much experiences this man has gone through and I was honored that he would share some of them with us, all in his native tongue. His son Jaaka (Yak-a) translated for us. He was a true nomad living and moving all over the place in igloo and tents following the food. He also is very concerned and saddened about the affects of global warming.

Jaaka afterwards took us to the green mountain side and showed us where the perma-frost was melting, and how the mountain was literally cracking apart because of it. This was evidence before my very eyes that global warming is rapidly affecting the people and the arctic lands of the North quicker than anywhere else in the world.

The 2 French geologists Nagette and Elsa got us in touch with Johnny, their Inuk guide. He took Genti and Matteo out to get footage of his hunt for seal and fish. Meanwhile Federica, Julio and I where invited to the school for a gourmet meal prepared by 3 local women under the guidance of a very nice Quebecois chef who was teaching them a course all week. We had pasta with goose and caribou and more arctic char. After the meal I was so tired that I went to sleep good an early for a big day to come

DAY 7

We started the day splitting up, Genti and Matteo out with Johnny for another hunt, the rest of over to Jaaka’s waterfront home for coffee, what a view he has right on the bay! He told me horrible stories of the past about how the Canadian government decided that there where too many Huskies up North and they had to kill them all, including his little puppy. It didn’t make sense, but then when he mentioned his theories it started to make sense and it made me quite angry and compelled to possibly look into it further to make a documentary about it in the future.

Theory 1

Bombardier is the mega corporation responsible for many atrocities, and also for the snowmobile. When the snowmobile was invented the company was having a very hard time turning a profit in the south for this new vehicle. However they where an instant success overnight and made millions of dollars the months following by selling then to the now dog-team free peoples of the North. Without the dogs around as the main mode of transportation the Inuk where forced to take advantage of the speed and efficiencies of the snowmobile. Conspiracy is written all over this one.

Theory 2

The Hudson Bay Company certainly has their share of a culturally abusive history. Before the dog slaying of the 50’s the Inuk where far more spread out living as Nomads hunting for their food. Communities certainly existed, designed perfectly for the conveniences of the Whiteman, but there where still a large percentage of the peoples who lived out in the wild tundra or along the coast. Jaaka theorizes that maybe the Hudson Bay Company used their political pull to have the dogs destroyed to “urbanize” the Inuk, thus forcing dependency upon them, with great profits as an extra bonus.

2 very interesting theories, enough to make me interested that is for sure! Jaaka then took us out to find Polar Bear in his boat, he found one swimming 2 days earlier and got a great picture of it. Unfortunately the winds picked up when where out there and things got a bit sketchy so after some time we turned back.

Tonight before another breath taking sunset we met up with Lukasi again to see if he caught anything in his nets, which he did. We filmed him and his grandson take the fish from the net, gut them and clean them.

DAY 8

All I can say is I cant believe that I haven’t mentioned the mosquitoes yet, they are enormous and EVERYWHERE. It is very surprising to see them in such cold weather, but they are a constant here and it’s enough to drive someone mad!

We started the day again with Jaaka, I interviewed him again about the dog slaying, I’m stoked to pursue this story, it was so touching hearing him speak so emotionally about this horrible experience that he witnessed. We also rented an SUV from a nice girl named Sally, picked up Lukasi and his grandson and we headed across the tundra to the other bay where fishermen where landing in their canoes. He taught his grandson all about wild berries, plants, canvas tents and the old way. We filmed it all, it was quite beautiful actually seeing a grandfather pass down to his grandson all the needed knowledge to become a man, all in Inuk.

We had some really good interviews and I’m feeling more comfortable with my directing and the crew. It has been a challenge ( a positive on) working with 4 other crew who all speak Italian, filming a peoples who speak Inuktitut. We are all getting along great despite some of the style differences and pace differences, and I’m taking it all in as a positive learning experience. To be honest, even though we are getting some great stuff and this documentary is going to be wonderful, I’m not 100% satisfied with my directing on this, I think its because I didn’t do the research, Matteo was the researcher, If I wasn’t swamped with the Wrestling show I feel I could have come up here more confidently, however the footage looks amazing, Genti is a great cinematographer, he is always after the “money shot”. I also feel that my ability to lead when there are multiple cooks in the kitchen to be a challenge as I am far too diplomatic. Things to work on, over all, I’m very very happy!

DAY 9

Today I saw and ate a beluga Whale…whoa…never thought I would do either! It was a very busy day today as it is our last day in this incredible village. We interviewed Lukasi again, as well as his father who is very old and wise. They both told us of the old days, how the climate was different, how the culture was different. They also told us about the low tide under ice mussel picking, so interesting. Despite the claim that the Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world, as it turns out it is actually here on Wakum Bay. In the winter when the sea water freezes at minus 40 degrees, Lukasi drills a hole 10 feet through snow and ice, waits for low tide, lowers himself down and picks from a field of a million mussels. The temperature under the ice is a temperate plus 3 degrees. He says that it is his version of going south to Florida! He picks hundreds of mussels every low tide, but they must be very careful as the ice could collapse at anytime, and when the fast tides rush in through the darkness they rise very quickly and it is very easy to lose your way under the ice and get swept away as it happened to 2 women many years earlier. He has invited us back in March to experience this, I’m stoked.

We also met with a fellow named george who caught a seal and he let us film him cut the seal apart, take its skin off, and prepare it for the community freezer. We also interviewed an incredible man named Charlie who works to preserve the Inuit culture, he had a great perspective and gave me more information on the dog slayings, he was there as a child as well for the nightmare.

One of the coolest things I got to hear today was the throat singers. We got 3 girls together in their traditional dress and they performed five throat songs for us….what a trip! I am looking forward to using some of this as soundtrack for the film. I also want to take the samples and mix it with drum and bass. The children of this community are incredibly cute, they always cling on us and I have become quite taken by them. They follow us all over and are always wanting to help, even though they know no English or French. It is amazing how open youngsters are to everybody. When is it that we learn about racial differences and racism in the later years? I’m sure that many of these kids as they get older will be taught about the crimes the white people, and our governments and sadly for many of them their openness will begin to close. I am shamed when I hear the stories about how their culture was stripped away. I hope that the next generation can forgive the sins of our forefathers, I have a real desire to help bring healing to these people through my gifts of filmmaking, and maybe I will be able to offer that some time.

We met and interviewed the Mayor of the village and she invited us over to have dinner with her husband Lukasi (cousin of the first Lukasi), and our new friend Sally (we rented the SUV from her yesterday). It is here where I had the ultimate country food...Beluga whale. It was raw blubber. We dipped it into the melted whale fat (similar to melted butter) and took 'er down. It wasn’t my favorite meal, but I enjoyed the experience, I also had so dried whale meat, this was very similar to beef jerky, much more palatable. So for my country food so far I have tried Caribou, Arctic Char, Goose, Mussels and now Beluga. Maybe next time Polar Bear and seal…we shall see.

To top the night off there was an incredible late afternoon light with amazing clouds. Sally drove up and told us that there are many Belugas swimming close to the beach, we raced down and what a site! There where at least 30 Belugas, what beautiful creatures. And the water is so deep that they where literally 12 feet away from me, we got some amazing shots of them, I felt truly blessed. I am thankful that I was able to see them so close and understand that the meal I had earlier was provided for from these creatures. I let my previous attitudes of meat eating down and forced myself to truly experience the culture, and I did.

DAY 10

Sadly today we must leave Kangirsujuak, this certainly is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I really look forward to coming back in the winter when it is a white wash of snow and ice. We flew a few hundred kilometers South to Kujjuak.

Kujjuak is a very interesting landscape because it is right on the tree line. The forest literally ends here, 15 K North and you will not see a tree again until you traverse past the North Pole and end up somewhere in the temperate regions of Russia! The landscape here is far less mountainous and less beautiful in my opinion. Climatologist Martin Tremblait picked us up at the airport. He reminded my very much of a combination of two of my friends from back home Adam and Nick, a French version of the both of them. After we settled in the Co-op hotel we met Martin and his girlfriend Anne-Marie for drinks at the other Hotel lounge. Kujjuak is the only town in Nunavik that is not dry, all the other towns have large restrictions on alcohol. Most likely for the best I’m sure.

The weird highlight of this night is when we where sipping on our Johnny Walker Black Labels who enters the lounge but Liam Neeson (Star Wars, Shindler’s List, etc)…what the hell is he doing in this small Northern Community! Ha-ha. My Italian crew where star struck and needed to get a picture with him. Even in the sub arctic a celebrity can’t be left alone! It must be an incredibly annoying life not being able to escape recognition! I thought about asking him what my friend Miller wanted to ask Tim Burton when he met him…” Excuse me Mr. Neeson, would you be kind enough to take a picture of me?”…but I didn’t! We ended our night at the night club where I bought a drink for $20.00 and called it a night! It’s cheaper to buy a drink in a luxurious Mediterranean resort!

DAY 11

Today was another typical day, we hooked up with Martin, he gave us a great interview about his studies of climate change and how he studies adaptation of the Inuit in respect to the rapid change of environmental conditions. Back at the Hotel is was cool to scroll through the TV satellite guide to see Planet Luxury screening, as well as my good friend Kent Sobey’s documentary called “Air Guitar in Oulu”, one of the funniest mocumentaries I have ever seen! Kent is also the co-producer of Rubarbicon, which is also on the Independent Film Channel.

DAY 12

As it turns out we have all the shots we need. We all agreed that spending a few more days in Kujjuak would be a waste, and fortunately we where able to change our tickets without a problem. Before we left however we got some great shots of the tree line which is so close to the outskirts of town, as well we paid a visit to Dr. Chubbah at the hospital to explore some of the health risks associated with climate and cultural change.

I was happy to say goodbye to the North and head south to a balmy 35 degrees in Montreal. Old cruise ship friend and longtime bro Fun Peter and his girlfriend Linzy picked Federica and I up, the others caught a cab to the bed and breakfast. We all met for dinner at a great little Irish pub on Crescent street. Pete set up his tent for me and I slept outside on his back deck beside the palm trees, such a difference for the previous week! J

Day 13

Today is the last day of this section of my journal. I was able to get a flight changed back to Saint John today, I’m in the airport currently waiting for the plane to arrive. This morning Pete and Linzy made us a great breakfast that we ate out at my campsite under the palm and banana trees (so tropical). I had a conversation with my lawyer, there are some very big challenges awaiting me when I get home, both legally and financially in respects to the Wrestling show…what a nightmare. I am surprisingly chilled out about the situation though, getting over stressed will accomplish nothing, I need to move forward in faith and know that all things work out in the end, and if the concept of Karma exists, I feel that it will work out in my favor, all though it certainly doesn’t look that way currently. I know that I will have many stresses to deal with when I get back to reality, but I’m ready to plug through. In 5 weeks I get to see Jessica and we will be taking a couple weeks off to drive across Canada, this will be very good and needed for the both of us.

It has been a truly enriching experience being up North, the humility of the people is very inspiring, the landscapes where breathtaking, and one of my lifetime to do list items has been accomplished. I just cant wait to get back in the winter when I can experience the real North! Although I am far from rich monetarily, I feel like I am very rich and blessed with experience, if traveling and meeting wonderful new people, trying new foods and experiencing new cultures had a dollar value to it, I would be a billionaire.