The 5Q Interview with Vikram Vij

A new day has come at PunamArts! Here is the very first in a series of video portraits with artists and creatives.  (Electronic Media Release)

Called "The 5Q Interview", the video is more of a journey into chef Vikram Vij's philosophical bearings than a traditional interview about food and wine.  With references to Mahatma Gandhi, cultural identity, sexual orientation and atheism, the portrait captures the chef's essence and life outlook in under ten minutes and in the confines of five questions.

To find out who else is lined up in the series or to find out about having your loved one captured in a video portrait, visit 5Q Interview.

The Ukranian Indian

Yesterday, I released a fun little video "PITCH IT WITH VIKRAM VIJ", where I pitch my mom's specialty dish -The Curried Perogy - to the acclaimed Indian chef from Vancouver.

I think there are a couple things you should know about me.

The specialty dish is inspired equally by the Indian side AND the Ukranian side of my family (I can hear the question marks being hurled at me from across the world wide web). Yes, Ukranian.

My mom and step-dad, Jim, just celebrated their 26^th wedding anniversary. Through Jim, we have been exposed to many things we wouldn’t have otherwise, and one of those ways is how the Ukranians are just like the Indians. Seriously - there’s no such thing as starvation or isolation. You go for a short visit with one person, and soon there is a party with a smorgasbord of dishes: perogies, cabbage rolls, sausages, and desserts – and these are quite often hand-made.  Feasting is part of the package. And, just like us Indians, them Ukranians have got a couple show-stopping dance moves. 

Jim also brought theatre, books, art films, and the symphony into our lives so I owe much of my love of the arts to him. And last but not least, Jim brought his amazing family into our lives. Here’s one of the great ones: Emily, my green-eyed, blonde-haired, kindred spirit of a cousin, in front of the world’s biggest perogy (on her recent road trip to Alberta).

Pitch it with Vikram Vij

I pitched my mom's specialty dish to acclaimed chef, Vikram Vij. It went a little somethin' like this...

 My 5Q Interview with Vikram will be released next week, stay tuned! It is a portrait of the chef, covering all his philosophical bearings in the confines of 8 minutes and 5 questions.

Fear and Final Cut

My status update on my Facebook page reads, “Opened up Final Cut Pro for the 1^st time since becoming a mom. Aaah. Breathing through the fear & resting in my commitment. #fearoftechnology #editingisSCARY”. I also mentioned my fear to some filmmakers at last night’s Canada Council event. From the “me too” reactions, clearly, I hit a nerve.

For an example of the Final Cut panic syndrome, here's a screenshot from my current project. I am working on my first video-based "5Q Interview" with the soul-full Vikram Vij, the owner-chef of Vij's restaurant on W11th in Vancouver (gawd, have you tried the lamb popsicles).  In the shot below, you may notice a lot of red. Just like the homework assignments you got back from your teacher in grade school, red is never a good sign.  All my files have gone offline. Hmph.

Let me confess.  I am a filmmaker and yet I have a severe fear of technology.  I am scared of not remembering how to use Final Cut, of not knowing the answer when I find myself in a tech problem, of messing up my whole project with one click of the mouse.  I am scared to look at my footage and accept it just the way it is. I am scared that I will see glaring problems in the video or audio, and will need an editing solution, but that I won’t know what to do. I am scared of the process, the tedious process of assembling a timeline, making cuts, watching it again and again, rough cutting, then final cutting...then outputting (the worst part).  I am scared of the hours ahead of me.

(Here's a screenshot of what Final Cut can look like when things are working. No red!) 

When I think of a video camera, say a Panasonic HDV, here’s what I think of in my stream of consciousness: 24p, iris, aperture, lens, tripod, white balance, lift, haul, 1080i, tape, sound levels, headphones, 4:3, letterbox, menu, focus, color bars.

And here’s the stream when I think of Final Cut: settings, save, pen, link, apple-i, timeline, canvas, red audio, mouse, bin, sequence, render, cross-fade.

It’s amazing that only five years ago, I had not heard of any of these technological terms. I hadn’t even used a MAC. I was working in a completely different industry, almost like living on a different planet.

Whoa. Okay, that feels better.  A shift! An appreciation of myself for everything I HAVE learnt. And an appreciation that yes, I am relatively new at this.  A beginner.  I’m a beginner and I’m still learning. I am allowed to ask questions. I am allowed to feel uncertain.

But I have also allowed my fears keep me away from technology for too long. I had time to reflect during my recent trip to the West Coast, and I pinpointed the fears that are holding me back from pursuing my calling.  And I will be writing about them here on this blog.

By writing about my fears in my journal or on this blog, broadcasting them on my Facebook page, vocalizing them to whoever will listen, I realize that the fear is only as big or small as I make it.  I realize that I am not alone – technology and editing feel terrifying and overwhelming to anyone who is still learning (even the guys!) and we need each other’s honesty to build our own capacity. To keep going.

I realize that my commitment to my calling is bigger than my fear. Yes! My mouse is waiting.

[A shout-out to Brian Batista for being my editor slash editing teacher for my last two films.  He’s the reason I know anything at all.]  

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The 5Q interview with CHANTEY DAYAL

Bono's words, "A feeling is so much more stronger/Than a thought" are the song to Chantey Dayal's artistry.   

 

Chantey Dayal, from Duncan, British Columbia

Her paintings convey those feelings that my body holds holy, those experiences that only the senses, not the mind, can capture: my bare feet touching lush, warm, green grass after a long winter; a charmed evening spent in six yards of regal, contrast-colored silk; my newborn's tiny ankles and feet gently fidgeting on my body as I feed him.

 

I appreciate Chantey's ability to evoke such feelings because I often struggle with it in my own work. My creative process, probably like many others', begins with a mind spark - a wondering about life, a new idea, a concept I want to illuminate. The thought is raw, cerebral, and my process continues to be a very mental one as I chew, mull, ruminate. I sometimes make the mistake of staying here too long, and not pivoting into a different place, the place that has no answers, the place which can only be felt. I've never discussed this with anyone, but it must be a common struggle.  Why else would Bono explicitly write those lyrics?

I asked Chantey 5 questions about life, art, and upbringing. Her paintings told me she was a woman who had journeyed and would have something meaningful to share. 

PunamArts: "Painter of nature and folly" are how you describe your work. Did you ever imagine that your unbridled love of life could lead you to being a painter and getting paid to follow your passion?

CHANTEY: I've always felt deeply that love of life would lead me exactly where I needed to be, mistakes and all.  As an impressionable eight year old on a visit to India, a family member read my fingerprint and told me in no uncertain terms that I was destined to be an artist.  It felt as though I was being told something which I already knew, so I never doubted that I would someday be paid to follow my passion.  There was simply no choice in the matter and that is still true today. 

PunamArts: What's it like being a working artist amongst your family and friends? What's the one thing people underestimate about being an artist?

CHANTEY: All of my soul friends are artists and in my family being an artist was a good thing.  My mother's side is a line of culinary masters, knitters and singers, and despite the conservative background of my father's side, each person is still passionate about music, or drawing, cooking or poetry.  I can honestly say, that I have always felt supported, encouraged and even pushed to pursue my dreams. The one thing that is underestimated is how painful it can be to put yourself out there as an artist and to continue the "inner digging" that is required to keep coming back to what calls you.

PunamArts: I am interested in the influences (media, parental, teacher) on young people when they begin exploring their future. Why do you think the words "I want to be an artist" often gets such negative reactions? What did you hear when you told people what you wanted to be?

CHANTEY: I think that almost all negative reactions come from one place, and that is fear.  People are afraid to stand at the cliff or in front of the mirror or naked for all to see.  I suppose they also fear those who are willing to do so.  I've had many reactions, from rolling eyes to half hearted "good lucks", from pats on the back to incredibly supportive actions.  All of them were necessary in helping me find my own truth of the matter.  What other's think is pretty much irrelevant, it is the inner conversation which propels us or stops us dead in our tracks!

PunamArts: I've made a documentary which further explores these themes that we are discussing like passion, influences, and mastery of a craft. I'm curious what resonates with you when you watch the trailer?

CHANTEY: Finally! A story that inspires us to be ourselves, but also to be our very best selves.  I have always been drawn to, and admired the story of the blue collar worker.  I have worked for unions and hung out with highly skilled humans that quietly and relentlessly perfect their craft.  I really look forward to seeing the full length version.   

PunamArts: I sometimes encourage people to think of their future in terms of a LIFE VERB (create, build, love, fight) instead of a label like accountant, filmmaker, photographer. What would be your life verb?

CHANTEY: RADIATE

Chantey's art ranges in price from $125 for prints to $1500 for a large original.  She also welcomes commission. Please visit www.chanteydayal.com for more information.  

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