» Like Things – Dissimilar Things

Like Things – Dissimilar Things – Creating Connection

Chance – Observation – Imagery – Voice and even a little Research

A recent opportunity allowed me to think a bit more about what I do to create content – to find relationships between like things, dissimilar things and to create or perhaps reconnect connections. I suggested to my audience there were five keys that I use – research – imagery – voice – chance and observation. It’s about storytelling finding the why of events, people and places that can create a lasting memory of a day, of a time – something that might harness our own past with our own present – a chance to reconnect, a chance to find the me in this day of others.

And so this day I reflect upon a seemingly regular day walking across the park grass, hand in hand with my girl Rosemary passing by the idle amusement park rides which will soon propel excitable youth this way and that with cries and shrieks emitted amidst the tumult. The rides remind me of one of my life’s soundtracks…

Hey little girl take me by the hand,
Walk me down this boardwalk
Once last time again
See those pretty pier lights
Hear those carnival sounds
Stop right at the top tonight
When the ferris wheel goes round

We wander over to the pancake breakfast alongside the waterfront, as young and old willfully and wistfully wander about the grounds in anticipation. As one happy youngster proudly exclaims “I’ve got the pancakes!” I turn my head towards their table to see family together, mom, dad, kids, siblings and a grandmother who tells the table “It will be fun!”

Family together…and for the day I am reminded of my own time spent with parents at similar events and what this year has meant to the family Ferguson. These reminiscences will take me back for a Take 2 of a museum exhibit whose panels about Away and Apart and A Death in the Family need no further explanation. Caught in these emotions of yesterday this day becomes the perfect day when the final connect is delivered. Is it chance, is it observation? Yes and so too imagery, voice and a little bit of research.

The perfect day with the perfect soundtrack, singer and guitarist Peter Bourne, Victoria, B.C.

Peter Bourne, Lion and Elder delivers his songs to his audience from a chair, with the Salish Sea as a backdrop, guitar across his legs, caught within the melody of his tunes, dark glasses and ball cap, a jacket covered with lapel pins, Peter bars the chords and sings the tunes of today’s soundtrack capturing all of today and all of yesterday, What About Me and Hey Good Lookin’.

It’s a fine day, a beautiful day as the rides swing into motion and families walk together.

Tags: Anne Murray, Connection, David Francey, Eddie and the Cruisers, Eddie and the Cruisers II Eddie Lives!, Family, Film History, Gatherings, Hank Williams, Hey Good Lookin', Imagery, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, Midway, New York City, Oak Bay, Observation Chance, Peter Bourne, Remembrance, Research, Soundtracks, Victoria, Voice, What About Me

This entry was posted by pferguson on Sunday, June 4th, 2017 at 9:20 pm and is filed under Our Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

About The Author

pferguson

Paul has worked with the Paradigm Motion Picture Company since 2009 as producer, historian and research specialist. Paul first met Casey and Ian WIlliams of Paradigm in April 2007 at Ieper (Ypres), Belgium when ceremonies were being held for the re-dedication of the Vimy Memorial, France. Paul's sensitivity to film was developed at an early age seeing his first films at RCAF Zweibrucken, Germany and Sardinia. Paul returned to Canada in 1967 and was captivated by David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Bridge on the River Kwai". Over time Paul became increasingly interested in storytelling, content development, character, direction, cinematography, narration and soundtracks. At the University of Victoria, Paul studied and compared Japanese and Australian film and became interested in Australian film maker Peter Weir and his film "Gallipoli" (1981). Paul was inspired when he learned Weir visited the beaches, ridges and ravines of the peninsula. "Gallipoli", the film, led Paul on many journeys to sites of conflict in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Malta, Hawaii, Gallipoli, North Macedonia and Salonika. When Paul first watched documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, "The Civil War", Paul understood how his own experience and insight could be effective and perhaps influential in film-making. Combining his knowledge of Museums and Archives, exhibitions and idea strategies with his film interests was a natural progression. Paul thinks like a film-maker. His passion for history and storytelling brings to Paradigm an eye (and ear) to the keen and sensitive interests of; content development, the understanding of successful and relational use of collections, imagery and voice. Like Paul's favorite actor, Peter O'Toole, Paul believes in the adage “To deepen not broaden.” While on this path Paul always remembers his grandmother whose father did not return from the Great War and how his loss shaped her life and how her experience continues to guide him.

Comments

One Response to “Like Things – Dissimilar Things – Creating Connection”

pferguson says:

June 4, 2017 at 9:21 pm

Very special thanks to Peter Bourne for allowing me to take his picture at the Oak Bay Tea Party. Your humour was wonderful and your kind heart goes a long way for all.

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