When John McKay's "Off the Wall Film Festival" pointed a spotlight on the wealth of media talent that existed within the NDG community last year, he had purposely booked his event on the same weekend as the Folk and Country music festival "Country en Ville". When local artist Scott McLeod jumped on board with his Live Arts Walk, he and McKay had helped to create an NDG Arts Weekend. This year, the Arts Weekend has blossomed to become NDG's Arts Week and will run from August 19th to August 28th.
In McKay's eyes the first screening of "Off the Wall" was an overwhelming success drawing an estimated 500 people. At the time, the event gave McKay a chance to not only showcase the media talent that existed in his community, but it gave him the opportunity to also shine a spotlight on one of NDG's most iconic landmarks - The Empress Theatre. Besides screening the series of short films off the side of a truck in the middle of Parc Girouard, McKay had the films shown off the facade of the theatre which has remained closed since it was gutted by a fire in 1992.
One year later and McKay admits that the fate of the Empress is out of his hands, but he is still very much motivated to bringing local artists together to show off their talents. McKay and McLeod teamed up with "Country en Ville" organizer Roger Haughey, and recruited the help of local singer-songwriter Paul Cargnello, to form a makeshift board of directors although McKay admits, "It's nothing so formal, we're really just a bunch of guys with the same interest in bolstering the community's spirit."
During last year's film festival, McKay and organizers had an impromptu passing of the hat with the aim of raising money for the local NDG food depot. That small gesture raised nearly $400 and led to the involvement of Fiona Keats who runs the NDG food depot. With her contribution over a dozen local restaurants, pubs, and cafés have decided to donate a share of their profits during Arts Week to the local food depot.
Kevin Tierney of Bon Cop, Bad Cop fame, who last year showed the trailer of what was then his upcoming film Good Neighbor - which is set in NDG - will once again be sharing the trailer from his latest film French Immersion. -
Despite the explosion of Arts Week McKay does not want to get ahead of himself and is wary of his flagship event suffering a "sophomore jinx". Sitting in a newly printed "Off the Wall Film Festival" t-shirt, McKay shares his desire to see the Film Festival become an event that anchors Arts Week which, still in its infancy, he hopes becomes an expected yearly tradition and not just a brand new change of pace for the community.
McKay points out that his ultimate goal is to remind local residents of the talent that exists in their community, and besides acting as chief organizer he doesn't shy away from the grunt work as he is busy putting up posters and canvassing the neighborhood passing out fliers in an effort to raise awareness about the event.
The Film Festival will showcase various media talents throughout the community and McKay insists there will be something for everyone. Kevin Tierney of Bon Cop, Bad Cop fame, who last year showed the trailer of what was then his upcoming film Good Neighbor - which is set in NDG - will once again be sharing the trailer from his latest film French Immersion.
The Off the Wall Film Festival is set to take place at Parc Girouard on Friday the 26th of August from 8pm to 10pm. In case of rain, the River's Edge Community Church at the north end of the park has made its facilities available. There is also much more information about the event available at the event's facebook page at www.facebook.com/ndg.off.the.wall.
