Arrival of a Train: the Documentary
Donation protected
The next adventure...I'm making a movie!
I love movies. I always have. Sitting in the theatre, when the lights go down and the screen lights up, you get that amazing feeling that anything is possible. That moment, the beginning of infinite adventures, is magical to me.
I've been especially fascinated with the history of theatres in Canada. The very first display of a "moving picture" was presented by the Lumiere brothers (with their newly purchased Cinematograph) in Montreal in 1896, at a building called The Robillard . Among the short films that were played that day was one called Arrival of a Train. The movie-goers were in awe of the one-minute film, wherein a train pulls into a station. "It's like I'm there!" "You can see each individual person on the platform!"
The Robillard building burned down in November of 2016. Sad that I would never get to see it, it inspired me to get to as many of Canada's historical theatres while I have the chance, to tell their stories, and bring them to as many people as possible.
Starting in April I am going to go across the country, just me and my equipment, talking to the people who run these theatres, gathering people in the communities who have memories there, and putting a camera to whoever is willing to talk about what the movie theatre experience means to them.
It's about the stories. Both on the screen and off.
All of the footage and interviews will culminate in a documentary called Arrival of a Train: Canada's Great Movie Houses, shown in Saskatoon (and hopefully Calgary, Toronto) in June. I will also be producing YouTube content as I go, so everyone can watch the journey as it unfolds.
I have some money saved, and am going to be paying for most of the trip myself, but I need your help. I plan to hit Vancouver, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, and then end in Montreal, where it all began. I would love to be able to do some of it on the train, to be able to meet interesting people along the way, and be able to produce video content for YouTube as I go, but it is more expensive than driving, so it depends how much money I can raise. I need to buy some good used equipment as well. The money will be only be used for equipment, travel and accomodations. This is going to be shot guerilla-style, as cheap and as adventurous as possible.
If you live in any of those cities, love movies and would be interested in being in the film, please reach out!
My email is: [email redacted]. If you have any questions, would like to be in the movie, or are interested in investing a more significant amount than the levels here, please let me know.
A million thanks everyone! Life is short, there's adventure to be found, and I intend to find it!
I love movies. I always have. Sitting in the theatre, when the lights go down and the screen lights up, you get that amazing feeling that anything is possible. That moment, the beginning of infinite adventures, is magical to me.
I've been especially fascinated with the history of theatres in Canada. The very first display of a "moving picture" was presented by the Lumiere brothers (with their newly purchased Cinematograph) in Montreal in 1896, at a building called The Robillard . Among the short films that were played that day was one called Arrival of a Train. The movie-goers were in awe of the one-minute film, wherein a train pulls into a station. "It's like I'm there!" "You can see each individual person on the platform!"
The Robillard building burned down in November of 2016. Sad that I would never get to see it, it inspired me to get to as many of Canada's historical theatres while I have the chance, to tell their stories, and bring them to as many people as possible.
Starting in April I am going to go across the country, just me and my equipment, talking to the people who run these theatres, gathering people in the communities who have memories there, and putting a camera to whoever is willing to talk about what the movie theatre experience means to them.
It's about the stories. Both on the screen and off.
All of the footage and interviews will culminate in a documentary called Arrival of a Train: Canada's Great Movie Houses, shown in Saskatoon (and hopefully Calgary, Toronto) in June. I will also be producing YouTube content as I go, so everyone can watch the journey as it unfolds.
I have some money saved, and am going to be paying for most of the trip myself, but I need your help. I plan to hit Vancouver, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, and then end in Montreal, where it all began. I would love to be able to do some of it on the train, to be able to meet interesting people along the way, and be able to produce video content for YouTube as I go, but it is more expensive than driving, so it depends how much money I can raise. I need to buy some good used equipment as well. The money will be only be used for equipment, travel and accomodations. This is going to be shot guerilla-style, as cheap and as adventurous as possible.
If you live in any of those cities, love movies and would be interested in being in the film, please reach out!
My email is: [email redacted]. If you have any questions, would like to be in the movie, or are interested in investing a more significant amount than the levels here, please let me know.
A million thanks everyone! Life is short, there's adventure to be found, and I intend to find it!
Organizer
Mike Fisher
Organizer
Saskatoon, SK
