Showing posts with label Random Videos and Edits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random Videos and Edits. Show all posts

Mar 10, 2022

Monarch Theatre Documentary in Production

Currently in its second month of principal photography, my latest documentary featuring the Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat, Alberta has provided some really memorable experiences so far. With hours of interviews shot and a deep dive into every space, cubby, and rafter of this old theatre, I'm already certain that I've uncovered a few untold gems in the story of this cinema that have never been formally documented or contextualized before.

Monarch Theatre Documentary Luke Fandrich



In addition to this being a story about one of the oldest surviving cinemas in all of Canada, what's been particularly interesting about the Monarch is how little material actually exists about it. Photographs, artifacts, records, etc. are few and far between so connecting the dots to go beyond the obvious has been a really involved, but fascinating undertaking.

While I'm saving a lot of the surprises for the finished documentary, I wanted to share a few of the production highlights up to this point:

  • Interviews are still ongoing, but a few early highlights have come from acquiring stories from both a 101 year old with a unique connection to the theatre and a 94 year old who used to work at the Monarch as a teenager.
  • In addition to the obvious task of documenting the Monarch, the cinematic side of the production has involved playing with various lighting rigs, gimbals, cameras, props, and even painting with projections throughout the cinema. 
  • As a result I'm certain I've now filmed and photographed more details inside the Monarch Theatre than anyone else in its 110+ year history.
  • I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge how helpful the social media response has been, in addition to features in the local news, Toronto Star, etc. in helping to connect me with a wide array of people with memories about cinemas in this area.
  • Numerous highlights have also come from uncovering clues through old paperwork, basement finds, and mapping out the history of the theatre. What's been so thrilling about this is that I know just the exploratory aspect of this documentary will be compelling to a lot of people who have likely never even heard of this place.
  • Speaking to former employees has made me wish I'd have worked at a movie theatre as a teenager too lol.
  • And finally, one of the absolute coolest things about shooting this documentary has been the unfettered access I've been given to the Monarch. While it was always going to feature this space, the ability to arrange and film every interview within the cinema, while also coordinating multiple ancillary shoots, has been practically ideal. 
There will be lots more to share in the weeks ahead, particularly as the project transitions into post-production in the spring. Follow the Editing Luke instagram for more regular updates and stay tuned for details about the release of this documentary later in the year. 

If you have any information or memories to share about the Monarch Theatre (or any of the former cinemas in the Medicine Hat area) please contact me via my business site here.

Monarch Theatre Documentary Luke Fandrich


Feb 8, 2022

Meet Alice: Monarch Documentary

With interviews for the Monarch Theatre documentary kicking off this month, I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to one of the interviewees - Alice. 

Alice will be 95 years old this year. Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking with her about her time working at the Empress and Monarch theatres as a teenager in the early 1940s. From the uniform she wore to first seeing Gone With the Wind, moments like this - capturing memories and untold first hand experiences - are what make documentary filmmaking such a thrill.

Still razor sharp, her memories tap into a time when very little was written about these cinemas. This is what's been so exciting. The process unlocks doors that haven't been opened in decades.

Much more to come about this latest film project.



Jan 20, 2022

About That Documentary I Mentioned ...

As my final announcement of 2021 I shared that my latest documentary proposal had been greenlit with plans to move into production in early 2022. With things continuing to progress I wanted to share a few more updates about what the project is actually about.



Inspired by my love of vintage films and the cinematic experience - specifically, going to the movie theatre - this new documentary is all about cinemas. Highlighting the evolution of the theatre going experience and showcased through the rise and fall of some largely forgotten movie houses, this new documentary tells the story of how the oldest purpose-built cinema in all of Canada ended up (in of all places) my hometown - Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Locals are sure to recognize names like the Monarch, Towne, and Gemini, but what makes this story unique is how much hasn't been widely told - particularly regarding the 110+ year history of a single screen cinema on main street that is actually older than every major Hollywood studio. Perhaps most amazing, it's still here!

There's a lot to unpack, but I'm really excited to bring this story to life in this new feature documentary in the months ahead.

Here's where I could use some help ... 

Did you, a family member, or friend ever work at a movie theatre in the Medicine Hat area? 

I'd love to connect with anyone who has stories to share about what your time was like at the Monarch, Towne, drive-ins, etc. I'm deep in research these days and have already coordinated with the Friends of the Monarch, local archives, and City - what's missing is you!  

If you have any pictures or souvenirs from these venues from over the years it would also be a massive help as (not surprisingly) a lot of these places were not documented. Thank you in advance.

Lots more to come as this ramps up! ðŸŽ¥ðŸ˜‰ Please get in touch if you have anything to share that you think may be of interest. Cheers!   

Dec 30, 2021

Announcing A New Documentary

So, a little news to share ...

In the spring of 2021, feeling like I was still spinning my wheels with everything going on, I went into development on some new ideas. I came up with a few concepts, pitched them around, and settled on one that I was really excited about.

I won't drag this news out ... this fall it all came together. Word came back that my latest film proposal received the greenlight

Luke Fandrich Filmmaker Documentary

With the treatment approved, funding secured, and the production agreement signed - I'm happy to finally announce that my next feature documentary project is going into production in 2022.

There will obviously be lots to share as everything unfolds in the months ahead - particularly as production kicks off next month - for now, just let me say how thrilled I am to have the opportunity to dive into an elaborate storytelling experience like this and direct another original project. Details to come.

Happy new year, indeed!
🎥😉🎬👌

Oct 6, 2021

A Long Awaited "Welcome Back" to Co-op Place

Over the summer I had the pleasure of being commissioned by the newly rebranded Co-op Place to produce this "welcome back" commercial that just debuted during the Medicine Hat Tigers home opener for their 2021 season. As the premiere venue for concerts, hockey, and live events in Medicine Hat, Alberta it was a blast to have an entire arena to play in for this latest shoot.    

Coop Place Medicine Hat Arena

Medicine Hat Arena Coop Place



Sep 10, 2021

Remembering Dave: A Decade Later

I'm thinking about my friend Dave today, who we lost unexpectedly 10 years ago now. It really makes you wonder where the time has gone?

Dave and I met on our first day of film school at orientation and became fast friends. In addition to the countless uni stories and film projects that followed, it was in the two years before his death that we created some of our best memories. For two consecutive years each fall we road tripped cross country to end up in Southern California where we spent a lot of time getting lost in the desert (where this pic was snapped in Joshua Tree).



I still credit these early adventures for my continued road trip addiction to this day.

The thing about losing one of your best friends so young is that those formative years you spent together feel like a lifetime in themselves. The cruel thing is that as we grow up we're reminded of how much we've actually missed getting to share with them.

A lot of my memories of Dave are locked in time, but it's funny how his voice will still creep into an anecdote or how something insignificant will tap into a seemingly forgotten story every once and awhile. In my head we're still cracking jokes about each other lol.


It's a regular reminder to not take the small stuff for granted. To make as many memories as possible while you can. To surround yourself with people who make you laugh. 

All of that stays with you.

I miss you buddy.

Aug 23, 2021

About the Medalta Documentary

I have social media to thank for reminding me that two years ago this week I completed "that Medalta documentary" called Clay, Creativity & the Comeback. Late 2019 only feels like 5 years ago given the weird time loop we've all been in, but as I'm currently in the middle of finalizing several new contracts it's exciting to look back at a project that by all accounts was a success.

As a quick recap, this doc tells the story of the industrial ruins and abandoned factories of a once booming clay industry in a small prairie city and how a group of volunteers helped to transform the area into a National Historic Site of Canada through efforts that spanned decades.

Medalta Documentary Editing Luke
I think more people have found this documentary in the last year as a result of having more time, but I also attribute it to more house cleaning and organizing. No joke, the number of messages I've received about this documentary because someone found a random piece of pottery that lead to them discovering this film is amazing.

While I really don't have more to say about this project that I haven't already said in previous posts, I'm always happy to recount what a great experience it was and have a reason to share it again. Given the incredible amount of work that went into this and all of the efforts from so many amazing individuals, I will gladly keep promoting it. 

The entire documentary is free to view online here   

Aug 8, 2021

A Look Back at "the School Project" Documentary

For much of this summer I've been in the process of writing proposals and exploring options as we head into the fall. This isn't out of the ordinary, but with a lot more time on my hands over the last year I found myself revisiting past projects and trying to contextualize them. In short, I was re-exploring what I've already done, what's worked, and what I'd like to do next. 

This is how I found myself re-watching hours of unused footage from "The School Project" again, a documentary I completed in 2017 that was never formally released in full. That's actually another story entirely, which if you care to dive into and watch some clips you can here

School Documentary Editing Luke

What's been amazing about exploring this old project (among several others) has been finding so many fragments of ideas that were never fully developed. "The School Project" was an incredibly ambitious documentary about finding the culture of a brand new Canadian school by filming the daily life inside of it over the course of an entire year. 

In some ways this fall feels like starting over again, which is perhaps why it's been so liberating to re-explore highlights amidst projects that I remember taking on and thinking, "where do we even start with this?". Finished work aside, diving into the ideas that inspired past projects to begin with has been a valuable creative exercise to get the gears turning again. Especially with a project this size, it reminded me how much of it was about just being present. 

Thinking all this, I then found the teaser (see above) that I'd made just after principal shooting on this documentary had wrapped. It felt poignant. This work in progress really is never ending - that, and I'm still just a big kid continuously trying to find new ways to entertain myself lol.

School Project Documentary

Jun 1, 2021

Evening View of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

I spent a lot of time searching out iconic views to capture the Eiffel Tower while in Paris, France. After all the wandering and various shoots over several weeks, on my final night in the city I moved out of central Paris and was rewarded with this incredible view directly from my hotel room. Turns out all I was missing was a view from further back.   

Eiffel Tower La Vie En Rose

Eiffel Tower Night Lights


Apr 11, 2021

Clay, Creativity, and the Comeback: Official Poster

After a year and a half since its premiere, I've finally added a framed poster of Clay, Creativity, and the Comeback - the feature length documentary I directed in 2019 - to my office wall. 

Luke Fandrich Filmmaker Documentary
The documentary chronicles how the abandoned factories of a century old clay industry were saved and revitalized over a decades long journey involving countless devoted individuals. Clay, Creativity, and the Comeback is a story about heritage, reinvention, rebuilding an Alberta landmark that would become a National Historic Site of Canada, and the years of effort involved in uncovering the stories hidden inside the industrial ruins that many deemed unsavable. 

Filmed on location in the historic clay district in my hometown of Medicine Hat, Alberta - the entire documentary, produced with the support of Telus, is free to watch online here.

Luke Fandrich Filmmaker Documentary

Clay Creativity Comeback Documentary



 

Mar 7, 2021

One Year of the Hometown Series in Medicine Hat

One year ago, as the insanity of 2020 kicked in, I saw the majority of my upcoming projects and travel shoots evaporate under lockdown. Realizing I was going to have some time on my hands, and that 80% of my business would be paused without being able to travel, I did something I hadn't done in years - I began exploring my hometown in detail again.

Hometown Medicine Hat Editing Luke


The resulting "Hometown Series" shot in Medicine Hat, Alberta has seen the creation of hundreds of new local images, thousands of reshares, and nearly 2.5 million online impressions over the last 12 months. I can't begin to thank everyone who expressed interest, shared engagement, and provided the patronage that further fueled the entire project.

You can explore highlights from the "Hometown Series" as an extension of the original Around the Hat collection that launced back in 2012. Thousands of images have been categorized here.

Hometown Series Luke Fandrich


To mark this anniversary I've released two new limited edition, numbered collage prints titled, "Hometown Winter" and "Hometown Summer" - each featuring 30 unique images from the series. Only 25 units of each collage are being released. Details are on the Editing Luke facebook page if you'd like to get one before they're gone.

Finally, I put together this short video to promote the "Hometown Series".


Sep 18, 2020

Clay Documentary Continues To Find New Eyes

One year ago today the documentary I directed Clay, Creativity & the Comeback premiered inside one of the historic factories showcased in the film (Medalta Potteries) and was then released to the public. Resulting in some amazing connections over the last twelve months, the project has now reached hundreds of thousands of people on various platforms across Canada. 

Editing Luke Fandrich Documentary
Clay, Creativity & the Comeback is the story of how the factories and abandoned ruins of a once booming industrial clay district were saved from demolition and renewed through the work of artists, volunteers, and a community with a vision. 

Shot in my hometown of Medicine Hat, Alberta this was a story that I felt echoed one of the challenges that communities across Canada are continually facing. How do you preserve heritage while also adapting historic sites for renewed purposes? What does that even look like? And who are the people that make these visions a reality?

Clay, Creativity & the Comeback is a documentary that captures the first hand stories of many of the individuals directly involved in this decades long transformation - a transformation that lead a collection of crumbling structures to not just be saved or restored, but to become a National Historic Site of Canada that would welcome artists from around the world.

The entire feature length documentary is FREE to watch and has been posted on Editing Luke. View Clay, Creativity & the Comeback here.  

Jul 1, 2020

A Canada Day Without Fireworks

In a long list of things not going to plan in 2020, the celebrations for Canada Day have been cancelled in numerous communities across the country. I figured we could still do with some fireworks, so put together this short video to mark the occasion. Happy 153rd Canada!

Canada Day Fireworks 2020

Canada 153 Years Old

Jan 22, 2020

Exploring the Salton Sea in California

Compelling history, abandoned landmarks, and monumental artwork. The Salton Sea in California is a location wrapped up in mystery, failed attempts, reinvention, and numerous possibilities. 

Salton Sea California Abandoned PlacesOnce a tourist's playground in the sixties, today the Salton Sea is a playground for abandoned explorers in places like Bombay Beach, for art lovers in places like Salvation Mountain, for architecture enthusiasts in places like the restored North Shore Yacht Club, and for escapists in places like Slab City. Here are just a few visual highlights I've captured over the years as part of my Roadside California travel series. Explore more here



Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places









Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places


Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Standing at the top of Salvation Mountain.

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places


Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places


Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places



Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places


Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places

Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places


Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places
Salton Sea California Abandoned Places