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Art beat

The arts scene in Whistler

Film Festival Society hosting summer youth camps

The hot weather and long days bring scores of summer ski and snowboard camp kids to Whistler, identifiable by their definitive goggle sunburn from hours spent grinding rails on the Horstman Glacier.

But this summer a new brand of youth camper will appear in Whistler and with it a new kind of sunburn that comes from holding a video camera in front of one’s eye for extended periods of time.

The Whistler Film Festival Society has announced it will host youth film camps for aspiring filmmakers aged 14-19 July 4-8 and July 11-15 in Whistler.

The five-day camps will provide hands-on training over the spectrum of film jobs, from actor to camera operator to director. Under the guidance of film industry professionals the campers will work together to create a short digital film screened at the close of each camp and also during the fifth annual Whistler Film Festival, taking place Dec. 1-4, 2005. Confirmed instructors at this time include producer/director and seasoned instructor Diana Wilson, whose NFB-produced documentary film Being Caribou was a runner up for the People’s Choice award at the fourth annual Whistler Film Festival last December.

"It’s very exciting to be able to offer real-life hands-on training to young people who are interested in learning more about film. This program may help develop a budding Quentin Tarantino or Sofia Coppola," Whistler Film Festival director of programming Bill Evans said in a written statement.

Camp fees have been set at $749 per participant, with a $999 rate for out of town campers that includes accommodation, meals and evening activities. The registration deadline is Friday, June 24 at 4:30 p.m. PST. Registration forms are available via festival website www.whistlerfilmfestival.com or by calling 604-935-8035.

Neverland in a Dufflebag

Zany children’s stage troupe Dufflebag Theatre presents the well-loved story of Peter Pan at Millennium Place on Saturday, June 4.

The unique interactive performance begins with narration, and continues by pulling unsuspecting audience members of all ages onstage to fill out the cast as is required. The unique participatory element has made the troupe’s shows a hit with kids of all ages.

Established in 1992, Dufflebag Theatre performs year round at schools, theatres, festivals and events all over the world.

The Whistler performance concludes the Whistler Arts Council/MY Place 2004/05 Performance Series. Tickets are $15 for adults, $9.99 for kids with special group rates available for purchases of 10 tickets or more. The show begins at 7 p.m.

For more information call 604-935-8410.

MY Place bringing in Barnum

There are a couple days remaining to see the current exhibition of lush, whimsical landscape paintings by Whistler’s own Sheree Blanch before the gallery space upstairs at MY Millennium Place brings in watercolour artist Jim Barnum for the month of June.

Whistler-based Barnum paints mostly realist landscapes, local scenes and the European locales to which he often travels.

Barnum will host an artist reception on Sunday, June 5 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Photo Society hosting open projector at Hub

Also on Sunday, June 5, the Whistler Photography Society is hosting its second open projector night at Hub Film and Internet Lounge in Creekside.

The event runs similar to an open mike for musicians. Aspiring amateurs, recreational shooters and seasoned pros alike are invited to present their work in the casual lounge atmosphere.

Participants must show up by 8 p.m. to register with their images formatted as JPEG files on a CD Rom or as a digital slide presentation on DVD. Participants needing their images scanned can do so at the Hub before June 5. There will also be a brief discussion of digital imagery, including scanning, adjustment and presentation at the event.

Showtime is at 9 p.m. Entry is free to Society members and $5 for non-members.

The Society held its first open projector event this past February and intends to make the nights a regular occurrence.