A26 www.saobserver.net
SAS grad produces success By Barb Brouwer OBSERVER STAFF
Vancouver director Mike Southworth is up for three out of five nominations for the best music video category at the 2014 Western Canadian Music Awards. The three videos are all for popular Vancouver artists: former Shuswap resident Dominique Fricot – Our Last Song, Hilary Grift – Waltzing Matilda and The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer – Shake It. “It’s just really nice that people are appreciating them, it’s a lot of work not for a lot of money,” Southworth laughs. “I would have been happy with one nomination – to get three is amazing.” The content of the videos is about as drastically different as three videos could be, he says. Our Last Song is stopmotion time-lapse with more than 3,000 pictures and 850 costume changes from artist Dominique Fricot; Shake It is set in a rundown trailer park with a hilarious cast of characters and Waltzing Matilda is a short film based in the comedic film noir style of the 1950s and featuring an invisible detective, a mad scientist and a
phoTo conTriBuTed
Three for five: Mike Southworth has been selected
for three out of five nominations for the 2014 Western Canadian Music Awards. femme fatale. Southworth is also a music producer who has produced more than 100 albums for artists like Grift, Warren Dean Flandez and C.R. Avery. His initial foray into music videos was making videos for his own band, Scatterheart. “We needed videos but didn’t have a lot of money so we decided to make them on our own,” he says. “These first low-budget videos, like the allin-one-shot Beautiful, were so unique and creative that they made it onto a handful of top10 press lists, received tens of
thousands of views online and were nominated for WCMA awards.” It wasn’t long before Southworth was being approached to make music videos for other artists. “I already had a lot of connections in the music industry so it all just fell into place,” he says. “It’s nice not to have to pound the pavement and I’ve found if you do good work, people come to you for the most part.” Just four years later, Southworth and his company, Collide Entertainment, have pro-
duced more than 50 music videos. “I really love the form of music videos,” he says. “You can try out a lot of different looks and techniques in a short timeline.” Southworth says videos also provide an opportunity to take the concept of the song and build something bigger around it. Sharing the three nominations is Vancouver cinematographer Byron Kopman, who helped create the distinctive and polished look of these videos. Southworth and Kopman have worked together on more than 20 projects since their first video together for Fricot’s Our Last Song in fall 2012. Southworth just finished his first commercial for Chevy US and is working on scripts for two short films. Amid his many commitments, Southworth makes time to feed his musical soul by playing with his own band. He, his wife Hilary Grift, and Dominique Fricot will launch a month-long tour across Vancouver Island and as far east as Saskatchewan. They will appear at the Shuswap Pie Company on July 17.
Gospel and soul legend adds voice to festival Mavis Staples will appear at the 22nd Annual Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival this August. Staples’ voice has carried and inspired generations and, after more than 60 years of touring, this powerhouse of a performer doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. There are few living musicians who can lay claim to being the voice of America’s conscience. For six decades, Staples has been
the solid rock of American music. Alongside the family group she is so identified with, the Staple Singers, Staples has managed to transform herself as she goes, yet never alters her truth. From the Delta-inflected gospel sound she helped create in the 1950s, to the engaged protest of the civil rights era, and then on pop radio with a series of soul anthems, she has given voice to entire movements, eras and songs.
Recognition of her unique role in American music has been growing beyond her longtime fans, dipping into the wider world of pop as she performs alongside Justin Timberlake, or with Elton John in a show-stealing Grammy tribute. Her 13th studio album won the Grammy
Award for Best Americana Album in 2011, adding a remarkable new chapter to an already historic career. Staples is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, a National Heritage Fellowship Award recipient and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Rolling Stone listed her as one
Royal Canadian Legion #62
August 1-3
Gavel Passing
of the 100 greatest singers of all time. Catch Mavis Staples and other legendary performing artists at Roots & Blues, Aug. 15 to 17.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014 Salmon Arm Observer
Marla Beblow DENTURIST LTD.
■ Complete Dentures ■ Partial Dentures ■ Repairs or Relines ■ Personalized Denture Services
832-7204
#1 - 480 Harbourfront Drive, N.E., Salmon Arm
Thank You! would like to express our sincere thanks to all the supporters of the Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival. 2014 Sponsors B.C. Arts Council Hucul Printing City of Salmon Arm Friday AM Shuswap Community SASCU Foundation Shuswap Rotary Anonymous Piccadilly Terrace British Columbia Retirement Residence Prestige Choices Salmon Arm Observer The Mall At Piccadilly Askew’s Foods UPS Store Okanagan College Puzzle Factory Festival Donors 2014 Bookingham Palace Crannog Ales Save On Foods Demille’s Farm Market Grass Root Dairies Kay McCracken Ovino Winery Royal Bank Flowers By Fimmy Scotia Bank
NEWSPAPER ROLLENDS
Shuswap Pie Company Tim Horton’s Uptown Total Office Supply The Wicked Spoon CMHA Hanna Orchards Farm Market & Garden Centre PJ’s Restaurant Canada Safeway Larch Hills Winery
2014 volunteers who made it all flow. Donna Booth Estelle Noakes Dianne Redman Elaine Thuncher Debra Boulton Irene Maclennan Paivi Sarre Suzie Bowman Brenda Kilberg Una St. Claire-Moniz Rose Malischewski Lynne Storey Faye Fawcett Ainsley Sosnowsky Bernie Hutchins Nan Diskie Vera Schreiber Joe Coffey Lee Rawn Irma Klassen Anne Caughlin Jan Unander Pat Wilson
Advertising that works To Advertise call 832-2131 or Fax 832-5140
Your Health &
Wellness This weekly Health & Wellness feature will be published every Friday in the Shuswap Market News. It will highlight the health issues that are important to our readers and provide a platform for advertisers to submit general editorials pertaining to the health and wellness of their customers.
COMING EVENTS June 28 Open House BarBQ July 13 Golf Tournament watch for sign up sheet(at branch)
Monday to Friday
Canadian and US Post get together for a fun filled weekend of events
Must Pre-Register
Tel: 250-832-2131 • Fax: 250-832-5140
advertising@saobserver.net
IDEAL FOR: Table covers, crafts, drawing or packing. Various sizes.
◆ Darts ◆ Shuffleboard ◆ Pool – Anytime! ◆ Meat Draws Saturdays at 2 pm
Available at the SALMON ARM OBSERVER OFFIcE CASH SALES ONLY! 171 Shuswap St. NW, Salmon Arm
OPEN 11:00 A.M. • www.legion62.ca
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #62 ~ 141 Hudson St. NW, Salmon Arm ~ 832-3687
FREQUENCY DISCOUNT 13 weeks @ 10% off 26 weeks @ 15% off 52 weeks @ 20% off