Une Affaire de Famille (UAF) launched a series of 24 video vignettes featuring a dozen locations in the Haut-Saint-Laurent, including natural, heritage, and cultural sites, as seen through the eyes of young residents and older adults.
Over forty people gathered at the Centre Culturel Barberivain in Sainte-Barbe on January 23 for the premiere screening of the vignettes, which will be released in pairs weekly on social media over the new few months.
The series is the result of two distinct projects, coordinated by the Ormstown-based non-profit in partnership with the Productions du 3 Juin (P3J) production house in Sainte-Barbe. There were at least 17 participants at the press conference.
Funded through a call for projects issued by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications, the Solid’Art project aimed to improve mental health within the youth population by working to break isolation, create intergenerational links, and develop stronger ties to the region and a sense of belonging.
The Territo-Art project, which received funding from the Quebec government and the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent, was designed to offer those above the age of 50 living in the region the opportunity to engage with local culture and discover new means of communication through artistic achievements.
Over thirty people participated in the two projects, which took place over the course of a year. Both the Sold’Art and Territo’Art initiatives included a series of four intergenerational workshops where participants discussed the different locations, including local parks, landmarks, attractions, and activities, as well as the stories and perspectives they wanted to share.
From a production standpoint, the projects were just as collaborative. Participants appear in the vignettes and were also responsible for much of the work behind the scenes. Those involved took turns acting as an assistant director, production assistant, narrator, extra, clapperboard operator, and so on.
P3J film director Alessandro Cassa provided professional and technical guidance to the two groups, while contributing his production expertise to the final products as well. Particular attention was paid to creating accessible and engaging content designed specifically for social media platforms. He described his involvement in the collaborative projects as one of the greatest challenges he has experienced in his 20-year career.
UAF director Gabrielle Limoges said she was equally thrilled with the final results. “This project perfectly embodies our mission to strengthen intergenerational ties, in an inclusive and sustainable perspective, while promoting greater knowledge of the territory and its riches.”