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Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World

Press Kit

Contents: Synopsis: Pg 2 Director’s Statement: Pg 3 Film Credits: Pg 4 Director Bio & resume: Pg 9 Producer Bio: Pg 14 Contact Charles Wilkinson: 604 970-5182

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Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World

A feature documentary film by Charles Wilkinson, director of Peace Out & Oil

Sands Karaoke

SYNOPSIS “Maybe we’re not totally screwed” reads the cut line on the poster – referring to the widespread pessimism many thinking people feel about the plight of the natural world. Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World, set on the pristine Haida Gwaii archipelago, shows how the distinct world view of an over 14,000 year old society is co-mingling with the values of an influx of progressive, modern urbanites to create an amazing example of how the world could be. The story of Haida Gwaii is one of of a place and a people who have experienced the ravages of unsustainable exploitation; they’ve fought back, reclaimed control of their lands, and have begun the process of rebuilding both their natural world and a sustainable modern community. A community free from corporate control, one where whole food is accessible to everyone, a community with no shopping malls. But wouldn’t you know it - all of that is now under the threat of daily fossil-fuel-laden super-tanker traffic wanting to pass through their treacherous waters. The film features insights from former Haida Nation president Guujaaw, activist Severn Suzuki, Haida carver Jaalen Edenshaw, International Rediscovery founder Thom ‘Huck’ Henley, Haida Chief Allan Wilson, ex-loggers, business and cultural leaders, troublemakers, biologists, curmudgeons, scientists and alternative energy experts. An irreverent, intimate, funny, beautiful, occasionally troubling but always intriguing human story of Canada’s world renowned archipelago - Haida Gwaii – where the 1st Nations Haida majority and their non-native neighbours are winning key battles in the campaign to beat back the dire global threats facing us all. And in the process it’s possible they’re creating a path forward that the rest of us can all follow. Haida Chief Allan Wilson asks near the beginning of the film: “How do we keep defeating the governments in our court battles, how do we keep beating the corporations, how do we keep winning?” Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World has some answers.

SHORE FILMS in association with KNOWLEDGE NETWORK and OPTIC NERVE FILMS presents HAIDA GWAII ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD featuring appearances by Chief Allan Wilson, Guujaaw, Severn Cullis Suzuki, Meredith Adams, Lynn Lee, Leandre Vilegneault, Alex Martinuik John Broadhead, Dafne Romero, Jaalen Edenshaw and many more. Sound mix Bill Shepherd, Color Gary Shaw, Executive Producers Kevin Eastwood & Murray Battle. Producers Tina Schliessler & Charles Wilkinson. Directed by Charles Wilkinson

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Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World

Charles Wilkinson’s Director’s Statement

I wanted to make a film as the 3rd and final chapter in what some call our ‘OK or not OK’ trilogy (by ‘our’ I mean my life & filmmaking partner Tina Schliessler and I). The first film, Peace Out asked the question: Are we destroying our world to extract energy? The answer was yes, we absolutely are. The causes were pretty clear: we consume too much (often unnecessary) stuff, we’re super wasteful in the process, and our governments enable the process by giving the voters what we’ve been encouraged to desire. This film led to us making the 2nd – Oil Sands Karaoke. It examines why, if most of us know how much trouble we’re in, why we don’t do anything much about it. The answer we found up in Ft. Mac was that we’re all so focussed on keeping the lifestyle going – making the payments and winning our own karaoke contests we have no time left for you know, saving the world. The first time we visited Haida Gwaii we found the obvious location for the final film in the series. Here was a place where the native population had been almost completely wiped out by the forces of global commerce. The Haida were down to 3% of their pre-contact level. Their natural world had been decimated – 2/3rds of the best timber gone, more than half the fish-stocks vanished, a web-work of abandoned mines scarred the landscape. But somehow the population fought back, kicked out the corporations, won control of the land, and started digging out. Today Haida Gwaii is world famous for its incredible art work and near pristine natural beauty. It’s the location of a UNESCO World Heritage site. But even more interestingly, a core group of progressive native Haida and like-minded non-native residents are building a different kind of world. No shopping malls, no corporate logos, very little conspicuous consumption. Without the need to pay for a consumer lifestyle people have time to visit, time to be involved in sourcing their own food, time to live. Making a film about a good news story is really hard. Check the titles at any eco-film festival - bad news is way more interesting. Even more difficult was the fact that this film did not lend itself to a linear, plot oriented structure. We have no road trip quest, no karaoke contest. And it’s not as if this stuff is visually spectacular – yes, the scenery is all of that. But from outward appearances the visuals on Haida Gwaii are not unlike many rural communities. How do you film an attitude, a value system? So trying to weave the subtle and almost impossibly disparate strands of this film together has been a real challenge, the greatest one I’ve ever faced in years (and years) as a filmmaker. I think there’s something here for our audience. I think many in our audience hunger for a more simple life with more community, less inequality, fewer pressures, and better food. I’m really hopeful that our audience will come away re-invigorated by the fresh salt air of the place, the fresh values, and an understanding that a way better life is within all of our reach - right where we are.

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Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World

DIRECTOR CHARLES WILKINSON

PRODUCERS

TINA SCHLIESSLER CHARLES WILKINSON

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

KEVIN EASTWOOD

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

MURRAY BATTLE

Featuring (In Order Of Appearance)

Bill Woodworth Severin Cullis-Suzuki

Alex Martinuik Allan Wilson

Jaalen Edenshaw John Broadhead

Guujaaw Werner Funk Thom Henley

Ernie Gladstone Leandre Vigneault

Lynn Lee Nathalie Macfarlane

Archie and Liz Stocker Sr. Dafne Romero Salazar Meredith Lee Adams

Amanda Cook Jacques Morin

Michaela McGuire

Cinematography & Picture Editing

Charles Wilkinson Tina Schliessler

Music & Sound

Charles Wilkinson

Sound Mix

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Bill Sheppard - DBC Sound

Color Timing Gary Shaw - Side Street Post

Production Coordinator

Dafne Romero

Music Production Services Tyler Pearson - Deep Cove Music

Music Licensing

Michael Perlmutter – Instinct Entertainment

Production Accounting Christina Lynch - Harbour Block Ltd.

Additional GoPro Photography

Kevin Eastwood Heather Ramsey

Mix Technician Gord Sprule

Mix Studio Coordination

Kat Liffiton

Stills Photographer Kevin Eastwood

Legal Services

Heather Watt - Chandler Fogden

Production Insurance Front Row Insurance

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Insurance

Shephard Ashmore Insurance

Also appearing Ildagwaay - Beatrice Harley

Shoshanna Greene Raven Leblanc

Tiisaan Suzuki-Brown Ben Davidson

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Taimen Vigneault Jeff Mosher

Sebastian Dalgarno Terry Russ - Daughters of the River Dancers Staff & Students - Rediscovery Foundation

Tyler York Allen Weir

Ralph Stocker Trevis Ridley Bill Walker

Matthew Davies

Sincere gratitude to the Haida Nation for the warm welcome to their traditional territory

Special Thanks To

Victor and Bev Fradette Benita Sanders and Borje Lambert Staff at Parks Canada Haida Gwaii

Gwaii Haanas Watchmen Wynn Deschner Heather Ramsey Patrice Ramsey

John Reid

Acknowledgements

The Haida Nation Department of Fisheries & Oceans

Jason Alsop and staff at Haida Gwaii Museum And Heritage Center Roland and Janet Rigg - Edge Of The World Music Festival

The Skidegate Haida Immersion Program (S.H.I.P.) Shawn Baybutt - Haida Wild Seafoods

Bob Brash and the team at HaiCo Grace Flanagan - Gracie’s Place Edi Szasz – Kay Center Bistro North Pacific Kelp Wild Foods Moon Over Naikoon Bakery

Sail Piraeus Adventures All About U Arts Gallery The Crow’s Nest - Tlell Taan Forest Products Island Sunrise Café

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Jag's Beanstalk Queen Bee’s

Engelhard’s Oceanview Lodge Staff - Queen Charlotte City Liquor Store

Royal Canadian Legion – Queen Charlotte City The crew at City Center Store & occasional laundromat

Moresby Explorers (for saving our tripod) Leanne Vogstad, Mark and family Barbara Small and Noel Wotten

Tom Greene & Laura Dutheil Severn Cullis-Suzuki Family

Ernie Gladstone Family Brian & Deb Bussiere John Legate & Crew

Robert Davidson Leslie Johnson Rick Grange Dale Lore Nick Allen

Bob Fraumeni Laird Bateham George Pattison

Göetz Hanish – Rose Harbour Guest House Kitimat security guard who thought we were filming a porno

Lorne Lapham & the terrific gang at LLSR Canon Canada

Salmon & logging maps courtesy John Broadhead, Gowgaia Institute Digital media & island map by Jezze Korzan & Nick Johnston - EthicalUX

Lisa & The Crew At Flying Cameras Jason Rule – Transport Canada

The BC Ferries Corp. Woody Morrison James Kidney Avi Federgreen

Nadine Sheppard Tobias Schliessler ASC

Nadya, Pablo & Fabio Wilkinson & Jamie Dodd The many friends who gave valuable input on the film

Archival footage courtesy Canadian Broadcasting Corporation: TV Archives Sales

Carry On

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Performed by Coleen Rennison Written by Jack Antanoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost, Nate Reuss

Published by Rough Art (ASCAP)/ Shira Lee Lawrence Rick Music (BMI)/ Way Above Music (BMI)/ Sony/ATV Songs LLC (BMI)

and WB Music Corp. (ASCAP), FBR Music (ASCAP) and Bearvon Music (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Produced by: Tyler Pearson – DCM Studios Recorded at DCM Studios & Deep Cove Music

Programming - Ian Prince

Flyin’ Cave Blues Written & performed by Jeff Pevar

Courtesy Peeved Music, BMI

Filmed on location and with the permission of the Parks Canada Agency, at Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area

Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site, British Columbia

Filmed on location on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada Post Produced in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada

This motion picture is protected under the copyright laws of Canada, the

United States and other countries. Any unauthorized downloading, duplication, reproduction, distribution, dissemination, or exhibition – even

without remuneration is a direct violation of applicable laws, it will be prosecuted, and is basically stealing from not very well paid people you’d

probably like.

PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH BC’s Knowledge Network

And

OPTIC NERVE FILMS

PRODUCED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF

THE CANADIAN FILM OR VIDEO PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT

© COPYRIGHT SHORE FILMS MMXV ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Charles Wilkinson – Director – Short Bio

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Charles Wilkinson is an multi award-winning film and television director and published author. His more recent titles include Down Here, Peace Out, Oil Sands Karaoke, and Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World. His newest book, published by Red Deer Press is Peace Out: Adventures on the Road to Green Energy. Charles lives with his family near Vancouver, BC.

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Charles Wilkinson - Bio Charles Wilkinson is the writer/director of a large body of dramatic & documentary film (Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World, Oil Sands

Karaoke, Peace Out, Down Here, Max, Breach of Trust, The Highlander, Heart of The Storm, etc). The films have won awards and played in cinemas and on television worldwide. The 2nd edition of his 1st book, The Working Film Director is in book stores. His second book – Peace Out: Adventures on the Road to Green Energy is in bookstores. His documentary- Down Here received critical and audience success on the international festival circuit (Vancouver, Cleveland, Houston, Venice). Peace Out was the official opening film at the 2012 Global Visions festival, it was awarded Most Popular Canadian Documentary at the 2011 Vancouver International Film Festival as well as at the 2012 Available Light International Film Festival. It has been selected at numerous film festivals including Hot Docs 2012, North America’s largest documentary festival where it won the Special Jury Prize for Canadian Documentary. Oil Sands Karaoke –had its world premiere at Hot Docs in 2013 where it met with extraordinary praise and is currently touring the international festival circuit. The new film from Charles – Haida Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World will have its world premiere at Hot Docs in April 2015. It’s a film that just might point to some solutions to our global sustainability dilemma. Visit charleswilkinson.com

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Charles Wilkinson Director - Writer - Producer

Books

PEACE OUT (Red Deer Press, Toronto, 2015). On the top left hand corner of North America there's an

energy gold rush under way. Hydro, Fracking, Nuclear, Tar Sands. Energy costs - here's how much. Based

on the award-winning feature documentary film.

THE WORKING FILM DIRECTOR (Wiese Press, Los Angeles, 2005 – 2013) The new rules of the

game. “Perfectionism is evident in the meticulously organized approach Wilkinson he brings to a

book that should prove highly beneficial for aspiring directors” Publisher’s Weekly

Feature Films:

HAIDA GWAII: On The Edge Of The World. Shore Films, Knowledge Network. World premiere Hot Docs

2015.

OIL SANDS KARAOKE - Feature Documentary - Shore Films, Knowledge Network. World premiere Hot

Docs 2013. Official selection VIFF, Global Visions Opening Night, Boca Raton FF, Calgary FF.

““…surprisingly sensitive… Poignant and beautifully shot… spectacular and revealing… a dignified portrait

of both the booming town and the workers who have been driven to it.”

Marsha Lederman, The Globe and Mail

PEACE OUT – Feature Documentary – Shore Films Inc. Winner “Most Popular Candian Documentary VIFF

2011, Audience Choice Best Documentary ALFF 2012, Opening Night Film Global Visions FF 2012. Winner

Special Jury Prize Hot Docs 2012 Writer/Director/Producer

HEART OF THE STORM – w/Tom Cavanaugh, Melissa Gilbert & Brian Wimmer. Walletsize

Pictures/Green Bacino. World Premiere at Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival.

Director

BREACH OF TRUST (aka CRASH) - w/Michael Biehn, Leilani Ferrer, Matt Craven, Miguel Sandoval.

Republic Pictures. Director

I ACCUSE - Rampage Ent. for Cinetel, Coscient, John Ketcham Dir. Writer.

MAX - w/R.H. Thomson, Denise Crosby. Canada wide theatrical release. Astral Films.

Winner Vermont Film Festival & Ft. Lauderdale Film Festival - Best Drama.

Writer/Director/Producer

BLOOD CLAN - w/Gordon Pinsent, Michelle Little, Robert Wisden. Winner best feature A.M.P.I.A.

awards. Director

QUARANTINE - w/Garwin Sanford, Beatrice Boeple. Republic Pictures. Award - Brussels Sci Fi Film

Fantastique Festival . Canada wide theatrical release. Writer/Director/Producer

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MY KIND OF TOWN - - Peter Smith, Martina Schliessler. Feline Films. Finalist Upsalla Film Festival,

Sweden. Canada wide theatrical release. Writer/Director/Producer

DOCUMENTARY

HAIDA GWAII: On The Edge Of The World. Feature documentary – Shore Films Inc. (see above)

Writer/Director/Producer

OIL SANDS KARAOKE – Feature Documentary – Shore Films Inc. (see above) Writer/Director/Producer

PEACE OUT – Feature Documentary – Shore Films Inc. (see above) Writer/Director/Producer

DOWN HERE - 30 minutes - Moving Images Distribution - Writer/Director/Producer. - Vancouver International Film Festival - "Most Popular Canadian Short Film"

- Okanagan International Film Festival - "Best Short Documentary"

- Cleveland International Film Festival - "Best Short Documentary"

- Edmonton International Film Festival - "Best Short Documentary"

- Venice International "Circuito Off" - "Ondo Curta Award - "Best Short Documentary"

- Houston World Fest – “Special Jury Award”

AIRPRENTICE - 20 minutes. Official Selection Whistler Film Festival 2006. Current international

distribution - NSX Extreme. Writer/Director

DEMODEMENTIA - Yorkton & IAAP US Festival Honors. Writer/Director/Producer

THE LITTLE TOWN THAT DID - Portland Festival Honors. Writer/Director/Producer

TIERS... A STORY OF THE PENITENTIARY - 18 min. National Film Board of Canada. Yorkton & Seattle

Festival Honors. Writer/Director

TELEVISION MOVIES

A CRIME OF PASSION – Mary Higgins Clark Suspense Theatre – PAX, Robbins Ent. Edge Ent.

Starring Cynthia Gibb & Alexandra Kamp. Director

OUT OF NOWHERE - Disney/ABC - Green Epstein Sunday Night Movie starring Lisa Hartman Black,

Jason Wiles, Eva Larue. "A suspenseful ride... Wilkinson keeps the action at a good clip, sparks fly."

Holloywood Reporter. Director

SEDUCTION - ABC - Green Epstein Sunday Night Movie starring Melissa Gilbert, Joley Fisher, Dennis

Weaver. "...intense, radiant, hypnotic, superb..." Hollywood Reporter. Director

ANGEL FLIGHT DOWN - ABC - Monday Night Movie starring Patricia Kalember, David Charvet,

Christopher Atkins, Gary Graham. Charles Wilkinson Director & Script polish. "... Riveting... best kid-

in-peril movie since EVERYBODY'S BABY..." TV GUIDE Director

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THE LEGEND OF THE RUBY SILVER - ABC - Green Epstein - Saturday night movie starring John

Schnieder, Bruce Weitz, Johnathon Jackson, Rebecca Jenkins. "...a gem... a find... Wilkinson does an

outstanding job... visually satisfying... The Legend of the Ruby Silver is a pleasure." Hollywood

Reporter Director

CHILDREN OF THE DARK - CBS - Steve Krantz Prods. Starring Peter Horton. Charles Wilkinson -

Writer

EPISODIC TV

THE HIGHLANDER III & IV - w/Adrian Paul multiple episodes (LEO AWARD for BEST DIRECTOR)

Rysher Ent. Director

DEAD MAN'S GUN - Brian Kerwin. Showtime. Larry Sugar, Henry Winkler. Showtime. Director

THE ROAD TO AVONLEA - W/Jackie Buroughs, R.H. Thomson. Disney/Sullivan Films Director

WELCOME TO PARADOX (BETAVILLE) - USA, Alliance. Tab Baird, Lewis Chesler Director

SO WEIRD - starring Mackenzie Phillips. John Cooksey, Henry Winkler, Larry Sugar, Lee Gaither, Gary

Marsh. Disney. Director

THE IMMORTAL - starring Lorenzo Lamas. Michael Grais for Peace Arch Director

2GETHER - starring 2GETHER. The Gunn Cousins for MTV and Alliance Director

LOS LUCHADORES - Dan Clark Producer, Lance Robbins for Shavick, Saban, Fox Family Director

BEACHCOMBERS – Don S Williams Producer for CBC. Various episodes. Director

PILOTS

HIGH COUNTRY - Magic Hour w/ Kenneth Welch & Jessica Steen for Atlantis. Became Destiny Ridge

Director Award - Best 1 Hr. Drama, AMPIA AWARDS

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TINA SCHLIESSLER – Producer - Bio Tina Schliessler is a documentary film producer and cinematographer based in Vancouver, Canada. She’s produced numerous animation short films for NDR TV in Germany. Tina, a painter and photographer as well has had numerous exhibitions of her work including the Moving Portraits series and Bushwhack, the photographic series the iconography found in nature. In collaboration with writer/poet Heather Haley and using these images Tina produced the documentary film, Bushwhack which played at various festivals including the Vancouver Woman in Film Festival, 2011. With her partner, director Charles Wilkinson, she produced the multi award winning documentary films Down Here, Peace Out, and Oil Sands Karaoke. Tina is excited to have the world premiere of their newest feature documentary Haida Gwaii On The Edge of the World at Hot Docs 2015.