News
This Living Earth at Gospel Rock, a video by local filmmaker Sarama, reveals a surprising richness of life underwater at the Gospel Rock shoreline. [View the video].
The underwater sections of the 12-minute videofocus on an area of Gospel Rock not usually seen: an astonishing variety of fish, shellfish and underwater flora, along with the ever-present seals.
"This area of conservation has been generally ignored" says Sarama. " I read through the entire GRNP, which took a long time, and there was reference to the 'marine environment', but only in general terms. There were no specific studies on that."
"In the public mind it is also not discussed" he added. "The main theme of the comments I have received on the film express surprise at the richness of the underwater life."
Sarama attempted to submit a six-minute portion of the film, the underwater section to the Gibsons council on Tuesday, October 2. He wanted this section to be screened at the public hearing, on October 11, as his submission. His request to screen a portion of the film at the public hearing was made to the Town of Gibsons administrative staff and subsequently denied by the town's corporate officer, Michelle Jansson, with the following explanation:
"After reviewing the legislation, as well as the legal notice published in the Coast Reporter Newspaper, I must advise you that your video will not be shown at the Public Hearing on Thursday, October 11, 2012. I suggest you provide your written comments or attend the meeting and address Council directly to ensure they understand your point-of-view on the matter. The legislation clearly requires written or verbal submissions for Public Hearings. I have provided you with the section of the Local Government Act which addresses public hearings for your information."
Sarama responded with a statement on behalf of all artists:
'To be heard' , can have a much broader interpretation that a simple oral presentation, I think. There are many more ways to communicate information, than just talking. What about a song? Poetry? Showing images of habitat, etc?
The Corporate Officer was steadfast in her refusal.
He also sent a request to Coast Cable asking them to show the film before the public hearing. "Too controversial, and too close to the hearing", and "can't fit in the 12 minute length into our 1/2 hour segments" was the response.
I purposefully shot the film in a very simple way, without any filters, and using only ambient light, since I wanted to show this environment in an honest way, and let it speak for itself. My rule in making the film was that it had to be shot entirely at Gospel Rock. I didn't use any special effects, other than dissolves between shots, in the editing process.Despite being a film on the aesthetics in the natural world, it does also contain hard factual information. If one watches it critically from a scientific viewpoint, it is very evident that this is a delicate eco system that has a richness that must be preserved in a pristine state.
PRESS RELEASE FROM SARAMA
A film on beauty in the natural world... In the summer of 2012, a Gibsons artist, Sarama, felt that the debate surrounding the values at Gospel Rock in Gibsons required another layer of meaning, and so, set out to make a film about beauty in the natural world.
The film, shot entirely at Gospel Rock, in Gibsons, B.C. Canada, is now completed. Half of the twelve-minute film was shot on land, and half was shot underwater, along the shoreline, at Gospel Rock.
The undersea portions of the film, especially, show an astonishing richness of life that may be surprising and unfamilar to many viewers, and that, so far, has been missing from the debate.
The film uses the universal language of images and music.
At the time of this press release, “This Living Earth at Gospel Rock,” had been viewed on line in 21 countries.
One viewer, who is widely travelled, and based in New Zealand, commented:
...“This piece of land needs to be made into a national park... I wish you and all the Gospel Rock supporters the best of luck
in your efforts to protect this precious piece of the planet!” Kiri
Sarama hopes that people will view the film on line and speak up to further protect the existing natural values at Gospel Rock, at the upcoming Public Hearing on the Official Community Plan for Gospel Rock, to be held on Thursday, Oct.11th, 6:00 pm, at Elphinstone Secondary School, in Gibsons, or e-mail concerns to Gibsons council with copies to staff:
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To contact Sarama, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 604-886-4002