Adolescent Sublime

Zaviar Lyon's Family/Pride

A couple more pics that have nothing to do with documentary filmmaking... just because we're parents now.
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DoubleWide News

Well well, the news just gets bigger and bigger. Finally, it's become double big news. First off: on the 21st of July, Lee signed a contract for a production deal with Microtainment Plus Inc. here in Toronto. They're undertaking to pitch Adolescent Sublime both in Canada as well as at the major film and television markets overseas. Hey, it hasn't sold yet but they've got a whole lot more experience talking the talk than this first-time filmmaker. Read on for even bigger news...

Coasts of Sun and Light

Well, where did we leave off? Ah yes, your intrepid documenters were holed up in a north German country house, midway between Berlin and the border with Poland. The nearest town, Bad Saarow boasted very few teens, being largely a retirement and resort community. But the hot mineral springs! Now there was cause for boasting. Before I give you the impression that the A.S. crew were living the high life often associated with the film industry, let me add that those halcyon waters were savoured but once in the two weeks otherwise spent feverishly editing the material shot to date in the trip. From the front window of our country retreat we watched deer forage in the snowy forest floor. On our walks into town for provisions we commiserated with the ducks, geese and swans huddled in the last bit of open water on one shore of an otherwise frozen-over lake. Our neighbors down the nearest lane had a litter of adorable Daschund pups that fell over themselves with joy each time we passed by en route to the organic farm for fresh whole milk and cheeses. Did I mention feverishly editing the material shot to date?

Capitalism, an Encore

Will the workers of tomorrow pay for your retirement?

Continuing on the subject of “Capitalism”, our economy here in the west is fueled by people: spending, making, buying and creating. With “off-shoring” and “out-sourcing” rapidly entering the realm of mainstream concerns, there is a distinct sense that substantial structural changes are underway in the societies of the developed world. In Europe, Israel, and Russia unemployment rates among young people hover steadily around 10-12%. Is it lack of paying jobs or lack of opportunities? What available jobs capture the imagination and talents of “Indigo Children”, this generation astrologically predestined to feats of creative strength

The modern mega-cities import workers for low-paying jobs from developing countries. Since the Palestinian uprising, Romanians and Koreans have become the builders of Israel and an exodus from the Balkans feeds the construction needs of Western Europe. The low-wage semi-legal workers overburden social systems of their host countries, brewing inevitable conflicts and resentment. But “native” youngsters are not exactly rushing to compete with the determined newcomers for the 'golden opportunity' of paving roads, for example. A recent Jobs section of Canadian daily, The National Post attempted to steer first time job seekers exactly in this direction: construction workers and hair-stylists are expected to be in high demand through 2012.

Has this generation of I-POD Web-Surfers has developed skills and perspectives, mental landscapes if you like, which have subsequently rendered it unsuitable for the types of occupations on offer? Based on what we heard in some of our interviews, the answer lies in not having a single 'job', not aspiring to a profession, or becoming a specialist. Shifting grounds in the marketplace call for adaptable skill-sets. Young people respond by focusing on building a portfolio of skills acquired through pursuing interests that appeal to them. We saw them kite-surfing in Tarifa on the Costa del Sol, and organizing pan-European graffiti fests from San Francisco. Contemporary youth have a strong awareness of time's essential value. Corporate types can suggest all the entry-level jobs they like, these young graduates really work for themselves. They patch together personal projects and temporary jobs. They receive no benefits or guarantees for the future beyond the lasting relationships developed while working together.

Fair is fair, I suppose: it's a low commitment relationship on both sides. I haven’t asked if these youths pay taxes on their small sources of income but I have a sneaking suspicion.

Pearls in the North

Riga

Where is it? My friends that don't read the Financial Times were genuinely challenged to place me anywhere on the map when I telephoned from Riga. Riga, Latvia, has become a fabulous city since the country gained independence. “The New Prague” in the eyes of some, and “the Pearl of the North” as Saxons of old referred to it. I am finding that many young American bankers have joined mature European artists and crisply smiling Nordic executives in remaking the city. But into what? Pearl of the North, or Baltic Banana Republic? Grim rows of Soviet era apartment buildings still house the majority of Riga’s working folk. On the pearl side, the Stockholm Business School acquired, and restored to ornate, blue-cream perfection, a bunch of Art Nouveau buildings in the city centre. It turns out that Riga has the biggest collection of early 20th century architecture, including famous buildings by Eisenstein.

East Meets West Twice

Givatayim

A bright white hillside district of Tel Aviv. With nary a sand-bagged machine gun turret to be seen, it is difficult to imagine one' s self near the centre of one of the world's most tireless conflicts. In twenty years much has changed in Israel, but at a glance, new housing aside, Givatayim reflects little of it. On the street and in the shops, however, one change becomes evident. In a single generation, Israel has unlearned the English language. Having lived in Montreal for ten years, I am sensitive to the pride associated with resisting the monolith of la langue anglaise. I at first attribute the scarcity of English phonemes in the air here with this same project of cultural resuscitation. As our two weeks pass in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, I meet only a handful of citizens proficient in English. From this handful though, I learn my theory is flawed. The demise of the tourist industry is more commonly cited as cause for the country's verging unilingualism.

Gettin the Hell Outta Dodge

Oh Canada, Eh?

I often hear from Canadians attempts to create or express their identity. They seem constantly to struggle with it, often measuring up (or down) to Americans. Bizarrely, for an outsider, there is plenty of Canadian identity. It hit me right at the border, in the organic focus of the nation's flag. Next was the relaxed, coherent and cheerful young waitresses in the first bar we stopped for a snack. Her banter verged upon a slightly kinky attitude compared with tired platitudes we'd been served across America. Expressing Canadian identity in words is admittedly, tough. European sensibilities diffused in North American vastness? A cocktail of British quirkiness and Gallic flamboyance? It comes across vividly in the confident stride of multi-cultured Torontonians engaged at every level of the city's business. Unlike the melting pot of big business USA, where there's always a hint of condescending sympathy for those who can’t quite pull off a crisp WASP accent. Condescension that provokes a pushier, reactionary style among minorities.

A.S. Tour Beginnings Revisited

Farewell Left Coast

Lee and I started our journey, with only a filmic destination in mind.

The end of day 1 found us soaking up the sunset while soaking in a natural hot spring. Spencer Hot Springs in Nevada, three small pools in the desert. How must the frontiersmen, miners and the like, have felt coming upon this little oasis at the end of a dust choked day in the saddle? How revered might this site have been by the local 1st Peoples?

Elated by the big sky sunset dynamo, the perfectly smooth and utterly empty road, and by the thought of adventures lying ahead, we rolled along I-50 at a steady 85 miles per hour, straight into a classic speed trap near Eureka. We had just gone through a playful calculation of how long would it take us to get to Montreal if we drive 24 hours a day on this perfect, unobstructed highway: 68 hours.

The State Trooper, on duty guarding this mile-long stretch of the highway, mysteriously temporarily limited to 45 miles per hour, learning from us that we are on a one way journey to Canada, politely offered us a range of perfectly inconvenient ways to exercise our judicial right to appeal. He then suggested the very convenient postal payment of an aggregate penalty, county assessment, local and county tax. Add it up, and just send your check to the address provided on the envelope. Reconciled to making our donation to the local community, we moved on to Ely and a casino hotel for the night.

MoscowbyNight

Ivan

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Institute4PositiveBehaviour

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Russian Losha(man)

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HeritageClub, Moscow2

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HeritageClub, Moscow

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Lubki Celebrants