Welcome to our new ongoing series of blog posts featuring interviews with our membership. The Film and Video Arts Society of Alberta is an artist-run co-operative that exists to facilitate and support the creation, exhibition, distribution, and preservation of independent film, video and new media art in Northern Alberta. What makes that all possible is the artists, filmmakers, and creators that are members of our society. Watch this space on #MembershipMonday as we highlight a different member weekly.
How did you start working in film and why? How did you find out about FAVA?
I started doing film because of FAVA. My friend Lizzie Derksen, who is a member and used to be treasurer, got a FAVA membership for me in 2016 to kind of force me into actually starting all of these ideas that I always talked about wanting to work on. I took FAVA’s Video Kitchen class, participated in the Gotta Minute Film Festival that year, and did the Super 8 Challenge. I’ve always wanted to make films and FAVA and my friends basically made that possible.
Still from Laura La France’s work
What was a great collaborative experience you’ve had on a project?
I helped Lizzie with one of her Gotta Minute films in 2018 and her most recent Super 8 Challenge film. One of the best collaborative experiences I’ve had with her and in general was shooting a poetry visualizer which involved filming her reciting her own poem. It was the first time I had really taken initiative on shooting something that involved someone else. I’ve been most proud of my Super 8 related work because I can see throughout my learning curve where I’ve improved.
How has FAVA supported your filmmaking journey/experience?
Getting to know a lot of other FAVA members, including Jamie McRae who works in rentals. He’s been super supportive with my endeavors, especially regarding Super 8 and 16mm. He’s invited me to come and look at cameras with him, he’s shown me how to load them and things like that. Heather Noel who works in programming has also been really supportive of my Super 8 work. Going to FAVA Fridays back when it was at the Ortona building and having those gatherings makes it feel like you’re not the only one trying to make things in Edmonton. It’s really nice to have all of these people and resources that FAVA provides at your disposal.
Still from Laura La France’s work
How does it feel to present your work with an audience?
Specifically with the Super 8 Challenge, I loved having this film where you don’t know how it worked out until it’s being projected for a huge audience like at the FAVA end-of-the-year barbeque. Just seeing it for the first time with an audience has been some of the most fun I’ve had presenting my work.
Still from Laura La France’s work
What are you working on next?
I’m working on a documentary right now and essentially I’m filming the entire year. I started towards the end of December 2019 and I’ve just been filming everything that feels important as the year progresses. So far, I’ve shot sixteen rolls of Super 8. Obviously I had no idea 2020 would be like this so I had originally intended it to be just a process of capturing my life, all of my friends and the Edmonton arts scene specifically. Now it’s shifted focus to how the Edmonton arts scene is surviving the pandemic, but it’s still coming along.
Where can folks see your work?
You can check out Laura’s work on her Vimeo and website linked below!
Subscribe to Laura’s Vimeo
Website
