May 22, 2004
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?
Before leaving Berlin, A.S. spoke with ex-Canuck, Kathy Johnson who works in Public Television there. We also did a little light research, logging serious hours watching our favourite, Charlotte on VIVA TV’s music programs.
Three and a half months under the leaden skies of Northern Europe! Enough, or rather, BASTA! On this impulse, we hastily scheduled a new stop for the A.S. tour and flew off on New Year’s Eve for sunny Andalusia. The gods blessed us with our first tanning-strength sun since the trip’s beginnings in Tel Aviv, at the opposite end of the Mediterranean. For two solid weeks, the off-season skies stayed clear, and from Estepona to Tarifa and back, we basked in a winter warmth that was balm to our souls. We also got to know teens who slacked on the beaches, and others industrious enough to save up airfares and bring entire families over from economically ravaged Argentina. The hard-working and family-oriented, Carolina ran an Englishman’s bar for him! Seven days a week she promoted the place, tended bar, ordered and received stock.
Our traveling is for now behind us. We marked the end of our production phase (in industry terms: completion of principle photography) by confirming the beginnings of a grand new adventure. On Spain’s Costa del Sol, just where it gives onto the Costa de la Luz, within sight of Africa and with balmy winter winds buffeting us, producer and director were informed of our next, and no doubt greatest co-production ever. Wait for it… the Adolescent Sublime Project is pregnant!
Many new plans were pondered on those sunny winter beaches, in between interviews with local youths and some with the large Argentinian teen expat community. And the planning and pondering continue four months later, here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, latest home to the Adolescent Sublime Project. And you guessed it, this amazing news is also our amazing excuse for this present update having been so long coming.
N.B. ...Nika and I would like to thank all those who graciously made their guest beds and couches available to us as we pursued our project. Especially, but not limited to: Anya and Amir, in Tel Aviv, Simon and Sue at The Carrot in London, Lina in Moscow, Ilya and Lilya in Berlin, and our kindred spirit, Kristi in Estepona. The thank-you's could run for pages but food and shelter are the fundamentals. For the rest, we'll have to wait for the credits to run at the end of the Adolescent Sublime.