Lauren MacDiarmid checks out Black Field by Danishka Esterhazy
Industry Centre > Blogs > Lauren MacDiarmid checks out Black Field by Danishka Esterhazy
Posted by Lauren MacDiarmid
on Thursday, June 03, 2010.
Categories: Film, NSI, Alumni
I recently went to see Black Field - the feature film debut from NSI Drama Prize and Features First alumna Danishka Esterhazy.
I was there to support Danishka but it was also an opportunity to see a film at my beloved Cinematheque – an independent Winnipeg movie theatre. It’s one of my favourite theatres and the very best place in the city to see interesting and unique films. Programmer Dave Barber is also a champion of local talent, so no surprise that it was hosting the premiere of Black Field.
My friends Polly Washburn and James Farago worked on the film (line producer and grip, respectively) so I was excited to see how the project they’d worked so long and hard on had turned out.
I wasn’t sure what to expect.
The only thing I knew about Black Field was that it’s set in the 1800s, is described as gothic and was filmed in Tyndall, Manitoba on the sprawling rural property owned by Two Lagoons Productions.
Now that I’ve seen Black Field I have to say I was thoroughly impressed.
The production quality was great; I was totally engaged in the story, and the lead actress, Sara Canning, knocked my socks off - everything about her was beautiful. I am particularly curious to know if Danishka asked the two female leads (Sara and Ferron Guerreiro) to stay out of the sun prior to filming. Their skin was so lovely and pale – gorgeous with their dark locks swirling around their faces!
It was evident that a lot of research went into the production. Although the set designer Ricardo Alms said in the post-screening Q&A that it wasn’t a historical piece – it was a drama. This allowed the production team to take liberties like building the houses larger than they would have been. They were true to the lighting of time (only sunlight, moonlight and candlelight) which also added to the look of the film.
I thought of my friend James during one of the nighttime scenes, and of his stories about the long hours and muddy conditions throughout the shoot. Apparently, one day he was so covered in mud that he drove home in his undies! Ah, the glamorous world of film.
Until the next time, Cinematheque. And when I do see you again, I’ll remember that pre-purchasing tickets means I don’t have to wait in line until the theatre’s almost sold out. Thank you, mystery man who moved to another seat so my friend and I could sit together and dish throughout the movie – ultra quietly of course!
Photo: Rebecca Sandulak
- Lauren has been with NSI since 2004. Her position includes planning events, providing support for programs including NSI Drama Prize, NSI Features First, NSI Totally Television and the NSI Online Short Film Festival. In addition to supporting the local arts community Lauren is sports-mad -
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Views expressed here are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).
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The views expressed here are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).