Oil Sands Karaoke
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| Oil Sands Karaoke | |
|---|---|
| File:Oil Sands Karaoke Poster.jpg Poster | |
| Directed by | Charles Wilkinson |
| Produced by | Kevin Eastwood Murray Battle Tina Schliessler |
| Cinematography | Charles Wilkinson |
| Edited by | Tina Schliessler Charles Wilkinson |
Running time | 82 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Oil Sands Karaoke is a 2013 documentary film directed by Charles Wilkinson and produced by Kevin Eastwood, Murray Battle, and Tin Schliessler. The film follows five workers in the infamous Oil Sands of Northern Alberta as they compete to win a Karaoke contest in one of the most controversial places on earth.
Plot
The documentary takes a look at the lives of five very different people working in or around the Oil Sands. The five main subjects that are followed within this film are Dan Debrabandere, Massey Whiteknife, Chad Ellis, Brandy Willier, and Jason Sauchuk. Each worker is introduced through a series of interviews and scenes shot at their workplace and in (Bailey's Pub) which is where the Karaoke contest is being held. The film explores the humanity that exists within what could be the most destructive industrial project in human history.[1]
Dan Debrabandre works as a hull truck driver in Alberta for a large oil company. The mining truck that he drives can hold up to 500 tons worth of product on the back of his truck. Prior to working as a hull truck driver, Dan had pursued his dream of becoming a singer. He was able to record six songs on a CD at a sound studio in Nashville, but due to family obligations he was unable to pursue this any further. Dan grateful for all the financial and emotional support his friends and family have given him, works in the oil sands as a way to repay them.
Brandy Willer is a hull truck driver who operates the biggest hull truck in the world. Brandy joined a 3 month all paid course for heavy equipment operating. She then got hired on to work with the same crew she trained with for a year, and eventually got hired on with Suncor. She is a status treaty first nations who was born in High Prairie Alberta. When Brandy was young she lived on a reserve with her father and mother. Her father was an acoustic guitar player which inspired her own love for singing. Her father passed away when she was seven making it very hard for her mother as a single parent. She never thought of being a musician on a professional level, but it is a dream.
Massey Whiteknife, also known under the alias Iceis Rain is an entrepreneur in Alberta and a openly gay male who does drag. He owns three businesses in the heart of the oil sands. He is the first gay male to come out in Fort McMurray fifteen years ago. One of Massey's most treasured memories is of when he was young, he would go down into the basement of his house and listen to music. He would dance and sing until he was able to sing the songs exactly like the singers. Massey has always loved singing, however for a time he denied himself the joy due to being a victim of sexual abuse.
Chad Ellis works within the Suncor plant as a Scaffolder. He dreams of becoming a singer but realizes that he has to make a living somehow. Chad had begun singing at a very young age, he continued as he grew older, going from singing in a church choir, to singing in a basement studio, to opening for other more famous singers. However due to circumstances with a girl he met during those openings and her ex boyfriend, he got into some trouble. The ex boyfriend would attend the shows he opened for as a way to threaten him, this eventually caused Chad to stop performing.
Jason Sauchuk works in the Oil Sands as a hull truck driver. Initially Jason had attended school for computer programming out of his love for playing computer games, however after a year he decided that it was not for him. After he left school he decided to work with his dad who had worked with heavy equipment all his life. After working with his dad for six years, layoffs were becoming a big issue especially for the lower seniority. At the same time he was supporting his girlfriend who was also a mother of three kids from a previous relationship. Eventually Jason found out his girlfriend was cheating on him with one of his best friends. With the constant threat of layoffs and his girlfriend's infidelity, he moved to Fort McMurray and found a new job.
Release
The film's first Canadian public exhibition took place on April 26, 2013 at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in The Isabel Bader Theatre
The film premiered in The Vancouver International Film Festival on October 4th, 2013.
Critical Reception
The film was received favorably at Globe and Mail. They described it as "poignant and beautifully shot, the film takes pains not to judge as it paints a dignified portraits of the boom town and the workers".[2]
A review on nowtoronto.com noted that, "Wilkinson cannily uses a radio DJ's announcements to help structure the film, and he's got a natural climax in a very moedest karaoke competition (where the same DJ is MC). But not all the stories are equally gripping".[3]
References
- ^ Jamail, Dahr. "Alberta's Tar Sands Nighmare Environmental Catastrophe Looms". Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ Lederman, Marsha. "Review Oil Sands Karaoke". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ Sumi, Glen. "Oil Sands Karaoke". nowtoronto.com. Retrieved 27 October 2013.