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20 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017 ARTS FOCUS WATERLOO CHRONICLEWATERLOO CHRONICLE By Bob Vrbanac Chronicle Sta� Growing up steeped in native storytelling and mythos, Narsiesse Paul searched for a creative way to express the images he was seeing in his head. Being a big fan of cinema, and possessing almost a photographic memory of famous scenes and shots, he thought fi lm would be a natural but there wasn't a lot of opportunity for the member of Adams Lake Indian Band in Chase, B.C. So he went the conventional route for a few years, becoming a trained carpenter and realizing the artistry and intricacy that comes in translating a good design while working in Calgary. He made his way to Waterloo eventually, studying English Literature at the University of Waterloo and spending a few years teaching Eng- lish in Japan. But the pull of telling stories through moving images was too tough to ignore. "It's always been there but I fi nally did some- thing about it," said Narsiesse, who prefers to go by his fi rst name. "I've always studied movies and I was always analytical about them." He received some theatre training from the Toronto based Centre for Indigenous Th eatre and at the Gastown Actors Studio in Vancouver, but he became a self-taught screenwriter, director and fi lmmaker from all those years of analyzing other artists' works and put it into practice. Last month, he finished a short called The Winemaker, using a lot of the symbols and imag- es that were culturally signifi cant to him. "I made that prop using a 3D printer at the KPL (Kitchener Public Library)," said Narsiesse. "It was free, and I couldn't do it otherwise. "It makes a cool prop and I could do it at any scale, because the buffalo is a major theme to bring in the First Nations part of it." Th e fi lm was shot using a few apps and add- ons with his smartphone, and it is hard not to notice the professionalism he was able to achieve with such a common item as a smartphone. "Your smartphone can literally be a fi lmmak- ing, production and distribution device all in one box," said Narsiesse. "Th e cool aspect of fi lmmak- ing right now is that it's so accessible. "Th is is no exaggeration, this has levelled the playing field for filmmakers both professional and amateur and up-and-comers." He also got a lot of support from the com- munity programs at the KPL that allowed him to achieve a level of expertise in crafting together his project he wouldn't have been able to do on his own. "It helped me to get to this point and to be more professional," said Narsiesse, of the two years it's taken him to go from concept to active fi lmmaker. "I'm glad I didn't do it faster because I wouldn't have been able to achieve the success without the tools I have now." In fact, the professionalism of his fi rst eff ort and the symbolism it uses are the most common things referenced about the piece that will be a springboard for four webisodes and a full feature he hopes to have completed by the end of the year. His initial work has also be accepted for entry and an upcoming short fi lm festival. He has an active Twitter following that talks about the art of fi lm and he has had important discussions with artists and filmmakers them- selves about capturing the right images. "I love the art of fi lm making," said Narsiesse, who is also an active blogger and tweeter on the subject. "I have had people in the business who have commented on the quality." He counts filmmakers like Stanley Kubrick, director of The Shining, and Japanese master Akira Kurosawa, of Seven Samurai fame, as inspi- rations. But family has been key too as his wife Mad- eleine VandenHurk-Paul and his kids Phoenix, 10, and Laertes, 7, have been supportive of his fi lmmaking exploits. In fact, his daughter and son both feature prominently in the short piece, and the children are a major part of the plot he plans for his fea- ture. "We're all learning," said Madeleine, adding that her children have also picked up things like editing and production by being part of the pro- cess. "It's all modelling and using an approach of what is available for you. "You do it and if doesn't work you try again, and you talk to people, and it grows and builds and changes. It's been powerful for them because they say how things get done." Th e story is about a man named Vic who tries to leave his marital problems behind by going on a winery tour. Along his journey he repeatedly sees two chil- dren, but isn't sure if they are real or some spirits that are haunting him. At the vineyard, Vic meets the winemaker, who plays a deadly game of cat and mouse with him. At the story's climax, Vic is forced to decide whether to save himself or the souls of the two children. "An idea would come and I wouldn't know what do about it," said Narsiesse. "You get all these ideas and visuals coming into your mind. "Now I can follow up on it." To view his digital short visit vimeo. com/199781869. Building a new mythos Filmmaker inspired by native heritage and cultural touchstones to create � e Winemaker A scene from the short � lm The Winemaker featuring Phoenix and Laertes Paul that will be the basis of four webisodes and a feature created by their dad Narsiesse. The work is inspired by the native symbology and images he grew up with as a members of the Adams Lake Indian Band. SUBMITTED PHOTO The image of a buffalo features prominently in director Narsiesse Paul's � rst work. SUBMITTED PHOTO