Overland at HIFF

Overland screens at the Atlantic Canadian Showcase

Freed the Puppet's Overland was recently selected to screen at the Atlantic Canadian Showcase, during the Atlantic Film Co-Operative (AFCOOP)'s annual Halifax Independent Filmmakers Festival (April 2-8). Overland (2010), a Freed the Puppet production, marks a departure from performance and installation, and lands the project soundly in the world of dance cinema. Taking the form of a travelogue, Overland examines a common experience through contemporary dance and sound, and depicts the moment of overcoming and it's attendant release.

Filmed in Montreal and Halifax in February 2010, editing for Overland began in the basement of the Halifax Backpackers Hostel, fueled by Alter Eggos and Americanos (big up to Michelle, Caley and all the Backpacker crew). Interior and exterior sound effect recording with the help of CFAT's (Center For Art Tapes) studio and microphones lends the soundscape an original texture, and train sounds dubbed from a 1952 record (courtesy of Sam Fraser) add a nostalgic tone. The final recording of the score and cut of the video were completed in Winnipeg, in November 2010.

Overland was produced with the generous help of Lien Cayer and the Holisticlean family. Lien not only made sure the project came in on budget, he picked us up in Jaquet River in the early morning, found us that burned out stone and iron building to capture the character's epiphany, and got us back on the train in Moncton. The images of those moments by the Baie are as beautiful as they are because of his patience and dedication.

Overland is the creation of Travis Macloud and Alexandra Elliott through their collaboration in the Freed the Puppet project. They continue to collaborate with Freed, recently completing work on a new stage show, Fragmented/Fused. A body of video material for projection behind on stage dance with live soundscape generation, F/F's first performance is as yet unannounced.

Thank you Halifax!