NOMFA 2010: Part Two - The Highlights

We received quick directions to a lounge upstairs where the pre-ceremony wine and cheese was scheduled to take place. Maybe it was because we were all ready feeling a little outgunned, but we decided to take an alternate entrance through a corridor lined with carrels and chairs that looked like it had been set up to fend off a zombie onslaught. Eventually we made it in and were able to meet some of the other nominees (and reunite with Kevin and Darlene). I started with Kris Ketonen and Ryan La Via, two of the writing nominees, and promptly called Kris ‘Ryan’ because I was trying to remember Ryan’s name as he wanted us to submit The Lake to a festival in Thunder Bay – sorry again Kris). Eventually, we were given the heads up that it was show time and the nominees made their way back downstairs for the awards ceremony.

My parents were good enough to save eight seats and we settled in for the ceremony, the nerves on full alert. There were 24 presentations and performances throughout the ceremony and we were slotted in at 4 (editing) and 8 (cinematography), so at least we would not have to wait long to get it over with. The rest of the evening proceeded in a series of highlights, so I will present them as such, starting with the first pleasant surprise:

We lost editing to Ben Bruhmuller’s stop motion award sweeper Vs., but won best cinematography and Pat went up to deliver a nice speech that opened along the lines of: “For those of you that I met last night, well I felt like puking then so you can imagine how this feels”. He went on to say what an honour it was, and to thank Kevin for directing and editing the piece, and Mike for writing such a great story. There was a secondary woo from the far side of the room at the mention of my name. Thank you.

Meeting former DGC President Alan Goluboff following the awards and having a great chat, up until he took a call about an impending birth in the family and I had to make my way over to a frantically motioning and hollering Kevin and Pat who…

…wanted to introduce me to Paul Stephens, who it turns out thought we had managed to secure Liev Schreiber for The Lake. That would be me. I have to say, that’s is a much better compliment than Will Ferrell, although when I mentioned that was the usually reaction, I got some good laughs.

The Nominees and VIP after party at Respect is Burning a unique and fun place where we had a chance to catch up and meet the other nominees (and indulge in a few too many drinks all around). As a writer/filmmaker/actor, it was great to be able to discuss how we do what we do with other people who are doing it (in many cases with more success and funding behind them as well), and also to discuss the similarities between the different forms of art with the incredibly talented musicians in attendance.

Special shout out to Faye Blais who made Jaymee’s night by giving her a CD, and who made mine by telling me how she and her friend had pointed me out earlier in the day as “that guy from The Lake”. It was a somewhat surreal experience to be noticed in that capacity.

To check out some of the nominees and winners, click the respective links:

Faye Blais Best Vocal Performance on a Recording (Canvas); Suzana Da Câmara Best Album by a duo or Group (Proof of Love), Best Songwriter Mike Dell, Randall Savoy & Suzana Da Camara (Il n'y a qu'un homme); Kalle Mattson nominees Best Album by a Duo or Group, Best Songwriter Kalle Wainio (A to Z); Cindy Doire Best Album by a Solo Artist (Chapeau de Pluie); Sarah Craig nominee Best Album by a Solo Artist (and winner last year for Best Songwriter), Larry Berrio nominee Best Vocal Performance on a Recording (Rocktown); .

It was another memorable event this year, and we were very excited to be able to take part in all the festivities and to connect with so many talented people. The north truly is a breeding ground for talented, artistic, and uniquely focussed individuals. Next year, I plan to take in the full event. Also, for those who are wondering how things are coming along with our current and future productions, here is a little something to get you excited. It's just a tease mind you:

NOMFA 2010: Part One - The Way There

I left North Bay a little later than planned, my belly churning with a stew of coffee, sleeplessness and half hatched chrysalises. The Lake was nominated for editing (Kevin Hoffman) and cinematography (Patrick Gilbert and Ed Regan) at the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards and Pat had left for Sudbury the night before to present our film to a packed house, indulge in the musical showcase, and tie one on in a fury of networking. It was my job to get Jaymee and Nicole there in one piece, and join Pat in the remainder of the day’s activities.

By the time we passed through the not-as-moon-like-as-it-used-to-be dark rocked wilderness and into Sudbury, I had already heard about the warm reception The Lake received the night before; how I could rest assured that my mug looked “pretty good” on a 50 foot screen; how Thunder Bay wanted our film for their festival; and how we didn’t have a chance against the wealth of talent at the year’s event.

For two weeks I had been reminding Pat that our surprise win the year before (in a category that included an IMAX film) might be a sign that we did have a chance – even though we were definitely the untrained amateurs of the ball...

We arrived at the Comfort Inn and quickly chauffeured the ladies out to the mall before speeding back to the hotel for the final information seminar that we had planned to attend. It was a fairly full house and we sheepishly snuck in late and slid ourselves into a row of seats at the back of the room to listen to the CEO of the NOHFC and a pair of representatives from the Ontario Arts Council tell us about available funding. Bill Plumstead was also there, but the room was mostly filled with familiar (but not really at all familiar) faces. When the talks concluded, we moved to the lobby for some networking that resulted in a failed attempt by Pat to introduce himself to Paul Stephens, one of the producers of Oliver Sherman (a film starring Garret Dillahunt, Molly Parker and Donal Logue that Pat had done some art design on), and a successful attempt to introduce myself to Mark Palumbo (after two years).

We decided to head out once we realized that time was slowly slipping by and it would be time for the award ceremony before we knew it. That and the girls were hungry so we picked them up and went for dinner at Montana’s (where we had a brief chat with my parents who had come to see the awards again). Once the girls had been successfully sequestered in the hotel room, Pat and I took a quick jaunt back across town to grab some beer, then rushed back to the hotel.

We changed quickly, chugged a drink, and made it downstairs in time to catch the shuttle over to the university where the awards ceremony would be held in the Great Hall... It was show time and things were about to kick into overtime.

Make sure you come back tomorrow for the conclusion of our thrilling 2010 NOMFA Adventure!