An all-star panel of Canadian directors gathered at University College on January 26, 2013 to discuss representations of Toronto in film. Showing clips from their own movies, acclaimed filmmakers Shane Belcourt, Atom Egoyan, Don McKellar, Ruba Nadda , Sarah Polley, and Clement Virgo explored the myriad cinematic portrayals of Canada’s largest city—from the unconventional to the stereotypical, the parochial to the sensual. Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival, moderated the event entitled Toronto: City On Screen. (Text by Yvonne Palkowski; all photos by Christopher Dew)
I was asked to be a panel member on what I thought was going to be a small group chat about films set in Toronto. I was expecting some indie filmmakers like myself to be on hand, maybe a film studies professor leading a group of students through a loose chat about how we make films and set them in Toronto. In some respects it still was that, the “prof” was re-cast as the one and only Mr. Tiff, Cameron Bailey, one who certainly could lead hours of film students into the labryth of this film knowledge. And the “fellow indie filmmakers” were recast from what I expected into some of Canada’s truly pre-emient filmmakers and storytellers in Sarah Polley, Atom Egoyan, Don McKellar, Ruba Nadda, and Clement Virgo. Only two days before the event, when I got sent this poster below, did I realize who I had been invited to sit with:
It took me about two hours after seeing that poster to breathe again. And not before conjuring up an endless amount of self-depricating jokes about my involvement in this … along with being the first photo on the thing. Sure, alphabetize things when all are equal but I wouldn’t have been put-off with just a tag line underneath in small print of “also Shane Belcourt may say a few words from the floor if time permits.” Again, I could go on with disparaging myself and my invitation to this event because, well, some of it is truth but a lot of it is some serious self-confidence issues. Let me just say this, it was truly an honour to be invited along with these filmmakers and moderator and share the stage with them.
What was the most interesting part end of day was the discussion had on the stage and then afterwards at the reception with the attendees. We all gathered for an afternoon and chatted about art, film, and the role that Toronto plays as as character, as a city like New York in a Woody Allen film or Brooklyn in a Spike Lee film, or Paris is a Goddard film or … on and on. What has Toronto become on screen? What else can it show and become as a character on screen? What other stories and faces and music are to come from this unique city? It was tremendous to sit and listen to Atom and Don, not only wonderfully chide each other, but to talk about how the city has changed since they started making their art here. Atom recalled from a scene in his film that once there were live animals in cages that could be purchased on the street – you know, for dinner and such. There also much talked about in terms of immigrant communities coming to Toronto and being left to their own space to be as they want to be – an unexpected freedom … and confusion about holding onto a past, a heritage, and then moving into the “mainstream”.
It was a thrill to be at this. I would have been just as happy to sit in the audience and listen as be a participant on the stage. Sometimes it’s impossible for me to see myself as perhaps others consider the work I’ve created with Duane and Jordan. I have much to do, learn, and grow into even still … I’m still trying to make films as good as the panelists I had the pleasure of meeting that fine Saturday afternoon.