I’m always fascinated by people who have gained a great deal of mastery in one creative discipline and then dare to venture into another—only to become hugely successful in that field as well. Such is the case and story of Vancouver director Rob Leickner.
Photo credit: Michelle Kim who met up with Rob at Gene Cafe on Main
You see, Rob is a music guy. In the mid 1990’s, Rob and two of his friends started The Hive—an independent recording studio in Vancouver. What began in someone’s basement later evolved into a 3,000-square-foot industrial complex. Since its inception, the studio has recorded some of the most recognized names in independent music including Destroyer, Gigi, Ten Kens, The Cave Singers, and Black Mountain.
Now his first foray into the film industry happened by chance, really, when his friend Terry Miles (whose band, Ashley Park, he recorded at the studio) asked him to play the role of a mute director in a film he was making on a shoe-string budget. It was suppose to be just one-day shoot for Rob, but ended up being more. But Rob didn’t care, he was having fun working with his friends on what seemed to be a good film.
But the film wasn’t just good—it was great. When Life Was Good premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2008 to rave reviews and all the accolade took everyone who worked on the film on a bit of a whirlwind. It was this experience that inspired Rob to make something of his own.
“It got me thinking,” he says. “I didn’t just want to be a bystander. I wanted to make my own film.”
Now Rob didn’t have a lot of experience in the film industry, other than being a huge fan of films—in particular Korean and Chinese ones (in fact, it was his love for Korean cinema that inspired him to move to Korean and teach English for a year). So he decided to shoot what he knew.
The result was Rob’s first feature film, Everything Louder Than Everything Else, about a recording studio and all the characters that come through it, which premiered at the Whistler International Film Festival last December. I actually saw it in Whistler and I’m not going to lie—I was pretty surprised that I loved it. Here was this guy who had never shot anything before, completing an excellent first feature film.
Photo credit: Michael Milardo for
Lost LagoonIn the same vain of his first feature (of shooting what you know), Rob is tapping into his experiences of living in Korea, being a long-distance runner, and, of course, working in the music industry to make his next feature film, Lost Lagoon, currently in pre-production and slated to shoot later this summer.
Lost Lagoon tells the story of Mi-Ran (Diana Bang)—a long-distance runner who moves to from Seoul to Vancouver under the guise of studying English but really comes to listen good music and run through some beautiful trails. But when Vancouver doesn’t turn out to be quite what she expected and when her beautiful older sister comes to visit, Mi-Ran finds that she is just as isolated in Vancouver as she was in Seoul. What ensues is a process of self-discovery.
Photo credit: Michael Milardo for
Lost LagoonWhy the title Lost Lagoon?
“Because Vancouver’s Lost Lagoon was once part of the ocean but now it’s separated,” he says. “I like the idea of this isolated body of water being a metaphor for this young woman.
Rob is currently trying to raise funds for Lost Lagoon through Kickstarter—an online funding platform that allows people to donate to create projects in development. You can donate anything (from as low as a five dollars )and there are incentives to donate more (my favourite incentive is the opportunity to go on a 10km run with Rob!)
To get more information , to see some preliminary footage, and to see how you can support the film, visit the project online and follow on Twitter.
Photo credit: Michael Milardo for
Lost LagoonWhat is cool about the site is that Rob posts Mi-Ran’s running playlists (pointing you to some very cool music) and he even gives you running tips! I plan to download some of the music and run through Stanley Park… maybe even around Lost Lagoon.
This feature was written exclusively for Miss604 by actor, writer, and producer, Michelle Kim. Read all posts contributed by Michelle for Miss604.com and follow her on Twitter @miju.
The highlight of my summers growing up would be that one week I’d spend over at camp on the Sunshine Coast. It was just seven days out of ninety but the experience will be with me always. While there are still full-on summer camp adventures available throughout the province, the next best thing (close to home) is a day camp program.
Photo credit:
{Lina} on Flickr
I saw a tweet this morning from @TroutLakeCC about their day camp programs so it has inspired me to put together the following list:
Trout Lake Community Centre
Find adventure at the Summer Daze Day Camp
Our staff lead your kids through a summer filled with Ninja’s, Pirates, Messy Monsters, Mysteries,Superheroes, Holidays, and the Jungle. Join us for the summer! Role models and fun will be provided.
Website
Toodle around at the Preschool Day Camp
Campers come join our Camp Leader in fun games, learning about the outdoors, exciting crafts, and journey’s to the park!
Website
False Creek Community Centre
Preschool Explorers AM Summer Daycamp (ages 3-5)
Junior Explorers Summer Daycamp (ages 6-10)
Waterworld Adventures Summer (ages 10-12)
Youth Leadership Explorers (ages 12-15)
Website
Kitsilano Community Centre
Kicks for Kids (ages 6-12)
Website
Surrey
Summer Day Camps 2011 (ages 6-12)
Nature Discovery, Wildlife Trackers, Outdoor Survival, Creepy Crawlies
Website
North Vancouver Recreation
Delbrook Junior Outtrippers (grades 1-3)
Delbrook Senior Outtrippers (grades 4-7)
Lonsdale Crazy Crusaders (grades 1-3)
Lonsdale Kids Club (grades 4-7)
Seymour – Camp Andrews Fun Seekers (grades 1-3)
Seymour – Camp Andrews Real Adventures (grades 4-7)
Lynn Valley – Camp Kirkstone (grades 1-3)
Lynn Valley – Camp Nye (grades 4-7)
Website & Full Guide
Lynn Valley Centre
Writing camps, horseback riding camps, hockey camps, kayaking camps, music & art camps, and more.
Website
If you’re looking for something a little more for your children and youth, check out themed camps such as the prestigious Digital Media Academy at UBC, Bloom Art Studios Arts & Crafts Camp, Vancouver Allstars Baseball Camp, Summer Science Camp at Science World, AquaCamps at the Vancouver Aquarium, and Theatre Under the Stars Musical Theatre Summer Camps.
The people of Vancouver can have their say when it comes to the Plaza of Nations through a series of Open Houses this month. The memorable performance area from Expo 86 has been stuck in development limbo over the last few years and the future of the whole North East False Creek (NEFC) are is currently being discussed.
The High Level Review will identify policies, plans and strategies regarding the future land use, built form, urban structure, infrastructure requirements and public amenities for NEFC. The review will seek to clarify the future role of the area within the downtown, noting it is currently the location of transit-oriented citywide entertainment, sport and cultural activities. More specifically, the High Level Review will have the following objectives:
- to identify a preferred land use mix and development capacity for the Northeast False Creek (NEFC) area;
- to identify the location, function and role of the streets and identify the location of pedestrian/bike routes, including the waterfront walkway;
- to identify major open spaces and gathering places;
- to prepare a basic massing for the development sites, noting potential tower locations and heights, and podium requirements; and
- to develop a public benefit strategy, after the preferred land use and structure plan has been developed
The NEFC area consists of the Cambie bridgehead/Concord Pacific site, the Plaza of Nations, the other Concord Pacific site near the viaduct, the Rogers Arena site, and BC Place stadium. The Open Houses will serve to inform the public about the latest proposal and spark discussions.
I spoke with Devon Kuiper who is a member of the False Creek Residents’ Association about the plans for NEFC. “One thing that’s great with these two developers [Canadian Metropolitan Properties and Aquilini Investment Group] is that they’ve been really pro-active with the community.” He said they’ve been coming out to their monthly meetings, asking for input, being transparent, and making sure they can meet the community’s needs. A concern is also the area between Science World and the areas that’s laid vacant save for a few festivals, Cirque du Soleil tents, and Olympic pavilions. “A park was supposed to be supplied which hasn’t happened yet. There’s design for a beach, a wharf… it’s a big lingering plan,” Kuiper added.
Part of the proposal from Canadian Metropolitan Properties and Aquilini Investment Group over the Plaza of Nations site includes a 40,000 square foot public gathering place by the water, apartment buildings, and removal of the casino. Kuiper says it will completely change the look of downtown and “the designs are amazing”.
Open houses (where you can view the designs) will take place at the following times and locations:
Thursday, June 9, 2011, 6:30 to 9:00pm, site walking tour 7:30pm
Saturday, June 11, 2011, 2:00pm to 4:30pm, site walking tour 3:00pm
Meeting Room B, Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown (181 Roundhouse Mews)
Sunday, June 12, 2011, 10:00am – 6:00pm
Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival, Athletes Way, Olympic Village
You can review the site maps and council reports online in advance.
June is Greek Heritage Month in Vancouver which includes the always uplifting (and delicious) Greek Day festival on West Broadway in Kitsilano.
Sunday, June 26, 2011 from 11:00am to 9:00pm
The 21st annual Greek Day on Broadway
Free, family-oriented street festival on West Broadway from McDonald to Blenheim
Aside from Greek Day, there are dozens of other Greek Heritage Month events taking place around the city that include:
Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 12:30pm
Photographic Retrospective of Past Greek Days and the Greek Community
Free event at the Hellenic Community Centre, 4500 Arbutus, Main Hall
Thursday, June 16, 2011 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
“Grecian De-LIGHT” Champaign Reception
Free event, adults only at the Chali-Rosso Art Gallery, 2250 Granville
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Intercultural Heritage Exploration – An evening with Inez Jasper (dinner included)
$60 but you can enter to win free tickets on Facebook
Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro, 1128 West Broadway
A full Greek Heritage Month calendar is available online along with more information about Greek Day.
There are many options for fish and chips in Victoria, from brew pubs to float-through windows at Fisherman’s Wharf – and I’ve explored most of them. Red Fish Blue Fish has been at the top of my list since Karen Hamilton told me about it years ago and this past weekend I was finally able to sample their seasonal seaside fare.
Located on a dock off Wharf Street in Victoria, the queue for Red Fish Blue Fish was about three times longer than the full length of its converted freight container.
It was a gloriously sunny day, and I had heard so many good things, that the 20-30 minute wait breezed by. In the meantime, take-out only patrons lucky enough to already score their lunches were sitting out on the dock, grabbing an Island Farms soft-serve cone, or enjoying the serenade of a nearby busker.
As I was in Victoria to speak at Social Media Camp, I didn’t want to have a full order of fish and chips so I decided on the tacone. Red Fish Blue Fish’s tacones are wraps that taper at the end, making a cone shape. My mistake was ordering two tacones (since one was filling enough) but I wanted to get a good sampling of their food. So much for not stuffing myself before my speaking engagement… but it was worth it.
Spicy Pacific Fish Tacone: Simmered in sweet-smoked chili adobo with pea shoots and lemon pickled onions. One for $5, two for $9. It wasn’t too spicy (I was expecting it to pack more of a punch) but it was full of flavour.
Tempura Cod Tacones: Sweet-smoked chili adobo with pea shoots and lemon pickled onions. One for $5, two for $9. This was my favourite of the two. Classic, crisp, flaky, and still juicy.
Other items from their full Ocean Wise menu include (but are not limited to) a local shrimp roll (lobster roll style), curry or Kennebec hand cut chips, BBQ Fanny Bay oyster sandwich, the cod dog, and your choice of salmon, halibut or cod for the classic fish and chips.
I could easily order a $5 tacone for lunch and be satisfied. If you’re in the area, you probably already now the goodness that is Red Fish Blue Fish but if you’re a visitor be sure to check it out the next time you’re in town. Tip: Follow them on Facebook or Twitter for updates as they do close early on poor-weather days.
Disclosure: cpm.ly/0 I was not paid to write this post nor was I given a review sample. I paid for lunch.
