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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Could this be Cowichan’s special Day? Once upon a day...Cowichan: Sneak peek of Nick Versteeg’s Cowichan promotional film sparks excitement for March 7 Cowichan Theatre world premiere Ashley Degraaf
News Leader Pictorial
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ever has Cowichan been portrayed in a such a way. Everything special about Cowichan Valley living is beautifully and uniquely displayed in Cowichan ¿lmmaker Nick Versteeg’s new ¿lm Once upon a day...Cowichan. Viewers at a special media screening at the Clifton in Cowichan Bay last week couldn’t stop talking about how emotional it made them. “We were just totally astounded when we ¿rst saw it,” said Economic Development Cowichan manager Geoff Millar. “We had shivers running down our necks.” Produced in partnership with the Cowichan Valley Regional District and its economic development department, Once upon a day is part of a series of short ¿lms by Versteeg, made in collaboration with retired local composer Eric Smith. The series is aimed at not only drawing tourists to the Warm Land, but also educating locals on what’s available in their backyards. Thursday’s sneak peek was of the ¿ve-minute Once upon a day — which will be available online on sites like Youtube and Vimeo as well as the websites of local businesses and the CVRD — to be used a huge tourism booster. It features many familiar valley faces including musicians Hope King and Ed Peekeekoot, carver Herb Rice, the Cowichan Consort Choir and conductor Robert Mari, music producer Zak Cohen and Cowichan “We had shivers Tribes’ Tzinquaw dancrunning down ers, along with ¿shermen, bakers, cooks, artists, our necks.” golfers, hikers and kayakers all enjoying the beauty of Cowichan to the music of Beethoven’s Ode To Joy. But the piece is just a taster. Versteeg has also created a 42-minute version, Once upon a year... Cowichan, which will be premiered to the public next week. It showcases in-depth
Millar
courtesy Nick Versteeg
Cowichan Bay composer Eric Smith plays his grand piano at the Cowichan Bay dock during Älming for Once upon a day...Cowichan, a Älm showcasing the charms of the local community that will be premiered March 7 at the Cowichan Theatre. interviews with local business owners and is aimed more at educating local folk so they, in turn, can educate visitors. And he has produced three one-minute clips with day-trip ideas and featured themes of food and wine, history, and adventure, that will also be available for tourists on websites. Versteeg is a trained chef, has been producing and directing documentaries for A&E, History Channel, Discovery Channel, CBC, and CTV Canada. For the past 15 years, he has specialized in the culinary ¿eld and produced a variety of specials for the U.S. and Canadian Food Networks. While his latest works have local funding partners excited for their great promise as a
promotional tool, the project originally began last winter from Versteeg’s wintertime lusting to create. “I said to my wife last January that I needed something I can work on creatively,” the internationally known videographer said. He came up with the Once upon a day... concept, pitched it to local politicians and business leaders, and quickly gathered the support he needed. Versteeg gave huge credit to Smith, his collaborator and across-the-street neighbour in Cowichan Bay, saying he was hugely instrumental in the making of the ¿lm. “I said to Eric, we have free reign over it and that’s always a lot of fun for an artist,” Versteeg
said. “If it wasn’t for Eric, there wouldn’t have been anything.” Smith, a Cowichan Bay musician, composer and arranger, is featured at the beginning of the ¿lm playing his grand piano on one of the bay’s docks. He also produced and arranged the music in the ¿lm. Versteeg ¿gured the ¿lm cost about $23,000 to make, which isn’t a lot, he said, noting several community members stepped up to donate time. “Eric alone donated probably 150 hours of studio time,” Versteeg said. The CVRD, plus 15 business sponsors, are splitting the cost. more on 4
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