48 (+1) Hour Flick Fest

The basis behind the local component at the Windsor International Film Festival is that we wanted to maintain our mandate of showing critically acclaimed films from Canada and the world to Windsor.

As a group that included local film makers, we felt that it would not further the goals of local film makers to show their films to an audience that didn't necessarily want to see them. Our idea of assisting local film makers is to get them the resources they need to be able to make world class films that will be shown outside of Windsor.

First we want to showcase their talents in a way that is fun and receptive to our audience. The 48 Hour Flickfest accomplishes that http://www.48hourflickfest.com/. This idea, which was brought to me by Dylan Pearce is something that I am confident will grow to a bi-national favorite. Already, there are people in Detroit who have asked how they can become a part of this particular event next year. First Prize is a local film makers package made up of $1000 of gifts from House of Toast, Mediacity, Edcom, Local restaurants, Unique Video, Windsor Municipal Shadow. Thanks to all these sponsors that came forward. Also we will be showing these contestants films on Cogeco, with the winner appearing on Plugged In.

Just in case you don't know a 48 hour film is a contest where film makers are given a subject, prop and line of dialogue Friday night at 7 pm with only 48 hours to turn in a completed 2-4 minute film. It is an amazing testimony to the talent of these local teams to be able to complete the project.

WIFF is also bringing down officials from the Ontario Media Development Corporation. So that we can have them inform our local filmmaking community about industry standards that have to be adhered to for obtaining funding.

Of course we want to include the showing of local films in our festival, however we want to show films that have received accolades such as Mike McNamarra's 100 films and a funeral and Matt Gallagher's Hi Ho: The Rise and Fall of Grumpy Burger.

Most of all we need everyone's support, this non profit festival (currently seeking charitable tax status) needs the support of sponsors and the public. That support will only be forthcoming if we show that our community demands this type of cultural entertainment. Take a look at the website for a selection of films we have lined up and are extremely proud of . These are movies that people in Toronto and New York talk about in the coffee shops each night that never make it into local theaters. http://www.windsorfilmfestival.com/. I am certain that you will easily find films that appeal to your particular tastes. We have films that discuss different cultures, Eco-terrorism, Marijuana, relationships etcetera etcetera. This is a perfect festival for a community that boasts that it is one of Canada's most multicultural cities.

The media and the message

I want to send everyone over to Windsor Municipal Shadow to read something that should be of interest to everyone in the city.

"Silencing dissent
A word to the wise to all the Editors at the Windsor Star, City Hall and anywhere else that someone might be inclined to alter what's been posted on the Internet..."

As someone who has been following the University's site selection very closely, I was interested in finding out what our resident automotive journalist had to say about the topic in his U of W Engineering Bldg Won't Fit Downtown Site blog entry. But lo and behold - it dissappeared from the Windsor Star's blog pages.

Now, thanks to the Shadow's advanced google-foo, we have access to the blog entry the Windsor Star appears to have tried to suppress.

Welcome to the Urban Design Idea Factory

Inspired ideas and progressive thinking. These are the ideals that we like to shine a light on around here. They really don't get enough attention these days. Imagine the community we would live in if they did.

I know that I am at my creative best when I'm surrounded by people who thrive on creativity and are not afraid to put their ideas out there on the chopping block of public scrutiny. The scariest thing in the world is to expose your thoughts and ideas to comment and ridicule. It is by far easier when you're amongst others who take those chances right along side of you. That's what SDW wants to be - your safe-haven for creative urban design comradery.

One of our regular readers, AC, sent me his thoughts and ideas regarding the abandoned Transit Windsor depot and has agreed to let me publish his plans here. I think he is on the right path when advocating for facilities for local artists and a permanent downtown farmer's market. Let's hear what you think. (Thanks to Andrew at International Metropolis for the original photo AC used in his work)

Click on the above image for a larger photo of AC's plans for the depot.

- repaved lot to house outdoor market (including underneath overhang) to house fresh fruit & veggie vendors, fresh flowers, apparel, food vendors, etc.
-green upper roofs
-small outdoor restaurant on top of overhang, make it so that the fruits and veggies are fresh and only from the vendors in the market below
-overhanging lights between the tunnel ventilation building and the bus depot
-the rear of the building (west side) can be left vacant and used for loading and unloading.
-trees and benches line the "inner" walkway

It could really be a boost for that area of downtown and even give a link between the casino and the main strip. After admitting that the tunnel stacks concentrate the pollution in that area, they possibly couldn't turn down a green roof either.

So, get thinking of ways to improve this community yourself and send them in. We citizens can be the default planners for this community until our politicians find the testicular fortitude to start planning for a creative future.

Ross Paul is wrong

I thought that it was very nice of The Windsor Star editorial board to give Dr. Ross Paul nearly a third of a page in this Saturday's Star. Paul, without even a hint of disguise, makes his pitch for a suburban campus for both the new school of Engineering and the medical campus.

Paul makes a profound blunder when he states "Within the City of Windsor, where we build is less important to all concerned than how we build." (Those are his italics, not mine!) If this is the new mantra of the University of Windsor, then shame on them for their poor corporate and academic citizenship. It is absolutely ridiculous to think that the location of the largest academic institution in Windsor, and, if all goes according to plan, the most technologically advanced piece of architecture built in my short lifetime, can be mitigated by adding more technological bling. Where does Paul get off in marginalizing those of us who have been advocating for a downtown campus at the U of W? Many people do not realize that the city had a magnificent plan for an urban village (whether a new village or recreation of what was already torn down is for another day) and the administration, who only rarely get kudos on this blog, was willing to set aside years of planning to have the University anchor its' core. For Paul to say that location is less important shows his complete ignorance in urban planning, city development and manufactured social structures. Even my real estate agent tells me that it is location, location, location.

Rest assured, we're going to oppose the U of W at every turn as it continues its' campaign to "prove" to Windsor that it does not need a downtown campus. In reality, a couple of million dollars invested now will return gains to the city like we've never seen before. To the city administration I say, what's a couple of million for a University when we wasted $65 million on an arena? Open up the city cophers and get this University built downtown. The increase in property values (read: increased property taxes) will more than offset the cost of funding the shortfalls in the building budget.

Look for more on this topic as we continue to fight for a real change in Windsor. If you are a U of W alumni, student, etc., please make your opposition to the plan to build outside of the city core known to the administration.

Kudos to Mark Boscariol

Kudos to Mark Boscariol, one of the contributors at SDW, for his guest column on page A6 of the Windsor Star today. Although Mark was talking about the Windsor International Film Festival, he managed to sneak in a dig at the city for its' lack of regionalism (way to go Mark!), and an uncontested statement of logic regarding the requirement for a creative class in Windsor. (Again, way to go Mark.)

For those of you who missed this, click on the picture to the left to be taken to Mark's article.

Hear ye, hear ye...

A couple of upcoming events in and around Windsor dealing with environmental and social issues. Please note, these are not organized by SDW and, as such, we cannot guarantee that the message of SDW will be supported by these events. However, we do feel that free and open discussions, particularly where opposition and contention has existed in the past, is a great start to building change.

The CAW Windsor Regional Environment Council and the Canadian Detroit RiverKeeper have partnered with the Amadiyya Muslim Students Association to host Saving the Environment- What Faith Tells Us. This Interfaith symposium will feature speakers from Muslim, Christian, Hindu and the Jewish faiths. It is being held at the University of Windsor, Vanier Hall at 6 PM on Thursday, November 8th. Please join us to hear a faith-based perspective on the challenges facing humankind and our planet.

Also from the Canadian Detroit RiverKeepers...

Robert Kennedy Jr. will be speaking at Wayne State University November 2nd from 6-8pm. The RiverKeepers have organized a bus which, as of this email, has about 20 open seats. If you would like to get on-board please contact Kelly St. Pierre by clicking on her name.

The speaking event is free and open (I'm not 100% sure about the bus). If you want to go and hear Robert Kennedy Jr speak, you must pre-register at focis.wayne.edu