The last two weekends were spent in Oshawa and visiting the family farm in Whitby, taking photos and recording video. On February 4th I filmed items being taken from the barn and shed and thrown into a scrap metal bin. The milk cooler was removed from the barn, seeing proper daylight for the first time in at least a decade. The thing was spotless on the inside. I ask my dad if it could be sold to another farm–he said there aren’t really any farmers that would have use for such a small milk cooler. As of now I’m unsure of its ultimate fate.

I took some photos the next day, February 5th, and then the following weekend, on the 12th, I had a nice farm dinner with my family including grandpa. More video was taken with the DSLR–still perfecting that system as it’s not as easy as filming with the HVX camcorder. Some videos and photos will make their way to this site, which I’m still tweaking to deliver images and video more easily.

Above is a photo taken of a window in the barn. A log leans up against the window on the outside. A few years ago when I encountered this window, seeing the log startled me as I thought it was someone standing against the window, or a cow perhaps, but I finally realized what it was. I think it startled me because the barn has been empty for so long–the idea of anyone greeting you in there is an odd concept. Oh, except for the squirrels and doves. You can rely on them for a good scare.

This window is located on a wall that’s ready to cave in–there’s a large split running along the middle of the wall, with large wooden beams braced against it to keep it from falling. John assured me it’s sturdy. Thanks!

In my thesis paper, a complement to my documentary film on the sale of my family’s farm in Whitby, Ontario, I wrote that I would continue the project with a website documenting the changes to the farm and surrounding area as the developers shape and build on the land. There hasn’t been much to note since the end of the MFA program (October 2010), but sudden developments have sprung up.

While I’m excited at the prospect of getting back to production (re-editing the film, posting content online), the realization of what’s to come certainly sets a gloomy and depressing tone. However, as I also note in my thesis paper, recording these events will preserve the farm, essentially saving it.

Happy New Year! Today, the Christmas tree comes down, giving me a good chance to take some photos.

…how lovely are your branches! This year’s tree is short but real, so it smells amazing in the De Grassi apartment. It’s more manageable as well since it takes up less room. And it’s pretty.

My good friend Hilary Dean directed a film entitled, “So You’re Going Crazy…”, an amazing film that looks at mental illness and in the end provides a message of hope for those going through difficult times. I was lucky to be a part of this film, and am excited for it’s premiere broadcast on CBC’s documentary channel.

December 2, 2011 – 7pm – documentary

So You’re Going Crazy… is a personal documentary combining interviews, animation, and reflexive narrative ruptures in order to convey the experience of madness and shifting reality, as well as offer messages of hope to those currently in crisis.

So You’re Going Crazy… [Official Facebook]
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN242uCgA5w