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Museum seeking Whistler seniors for phase I of film project

The Whistler Museum and Archives is launching an innovative, multi-phase film project next month that will document the Whistler community as a series of age demographics.

The project is being organized in conjunction with the ongoing Celebration 2010 Whistler Arts Showcase. The month-long festival of local arts and culture organized by the Whistler Arts Council was created during the Olympic bid process in 2003. It will continue every February in the years leading up to the 2010 winter Olympic Games.

For each Celebration 2010 festival from 2005 to 2009 the museum plans to create and screen a "featurette" film on a different age demographic in Whistler: seniors (age 50 plus) this year, adults, teens and children in future years. Each segment will screen at a special reception. In 2009 the featurettes of all demographic groups will be screened together and in 2010 the featurettes will be edited into a final full-length feature documentary and screened at a gala reception.

The first phase of the project, debuting in February, will focus on Whistler’s senior population. The museum is seeking "enthusiastic" residents, ages 50 plus, to participate. Those involved will be asked to take part in an interview lasting approximately 10 minutes. Interviews will take place in January.

Jimi Galvao, co-ordinator of education and design services for the museum, said participants will be asked to share stories about Whistler, what they contribute to the community and what the 2010 Winter Games mean to them.

"By doing this we aim to promote 2010 Winter Games spirit, foster community pride in Whistler’s history, heritage and culture, and create an archival record that visually documents Whistler people and places in the years leading to 2010," Galvao said.

The film project is inspired by the museum’s Picturing Whistler exhibition, a community-generated photo display exploring the concept of what it means to be a "local," which has drawn enthusiastic response.

"Everyone has their own ideas of what it means to be a local and the exhibit really motivated people to come forward and communicate those ideas," curator Kerry Clark said in a written statement. "With our (upcoming) project we want to replicate that motivation."

Clark also said the project aims to "break boundaries and shatter the commonly held perception of Whistler as only a holiday destination.

"There is a community here with a diverse and interesting history that we want to share with the rest of Canada and the world."

For more information on the project or to schedule an interview contact the museum at 604-932-2019 or go to www.whistlermuseum.org. Space is limited.