Since I wrote last I have had a few more experiences to speak of. I went to a film screening at Concordia University a few evenings ago. There were about 4 short films and one that ran 50 minutes (all independent films). They were pretty funny very well done. After the screening a bunch of us (people my age who were at the screening because they were either in the films being shown or they were supporting the arts) went to a place called Bishop Street Pub.
It’s the same pub I went to for Ezra’s Uberculture 3 year anniversary and fundraiser a few nights ago. The pub is a chill place with hardwood floors, tall tables, and short tables and chairs along the bar. It also has a dimly lit place with couches and a coffee table set up, which is where I sat. There is art- work all over the place in this pub. Most of it is for an art auction that was set up on the uberculture night.
There was an open mic this night, and the mic was open to poets. A few of the people who read at the Zine launch were there and there were new faces too. Great stuff! This one guy, Simon, who was in the 50 minute film from earlier was reading some poetry and then he put his papers aside and went solo, he just started spouting off thoughts. This really caught everyone’s attention (or maybe just mine, because everyone was already paying attention, while I was busy writing a poem about the guy next to me, who I had made aqaintences with at the Uberculture night and now again on this night).
Anyways by the time I looked up from my journal Simon was sitting down on the stage cross- legged and I heard him say the word meditation. To this I looked up and others in the bar hopped out of their chairs and sat on the floor too (one woman pressed her back up against the wall and raised her arms up and down along side of her body while humming). Everyone broke into meditation for about 2 minutes, all humming and chanting in a monk like style. Talk about a feeling of community and peace within a room.
Next Simon stood up (everyone resumed to their seats) and he started talking and pacing around the stage. He was getting louder and louder and I heard him say, “I just want to feel! I want to know that I’m alive! I just want to feel alive!!! I want to take off my clothes, right here, right now! I’ve done it before! And I’ll do it again!!!!”
To that he set down the mic and continued yelling, everyone was laughing (not at him, but out of the excitement that we are in company with someone so sporadic and alive!) he stripped down so that his pants were around his ankles. His back faced us and he was in front of a large window that faced out onto the street. He turned around to face us with only his feet still dressed and his shirt held up in front of his genitals, then he threw his shirt down! We cheered! LOL, it was so spontaneous, he was living in the moment, that’s for sure.
Next up was another Simon. He has blond dreads and he dresses very colourfully and has the best smile and very kind eyes, he’s really sweet. Until yesterday I had unexpectedly ran into him 4 days out of 4. It was the 3rd day that I introduced myself. I said, “ok, I have now seen you 3 days in a row, all coincidentally. I think I should introduce myself. I’m Amie!” and so we made friends. If you’re reading it now Simon, hello! I hope to see you soon, I missed seeing you yesterday.
Anyways, yesterday I went to Concordia and had a free veegan lunch at the cafeteria. I offered to help clean up after, but it was all pretty much done. Jay and some people were filming a short in the bar ‘Reggie’s’ downstairs. They had lights, camera and action! It was the film that I made the masks for last week with some people in this guy Charlie’s apartment. Charlie is also blond with dreads, he’s a really cool guy, very chilled out and down to earth.
Anyways, we went to this place in the city after 2 hours of filming in the bar and did some shots there. It was an elevated area, above the city. It had stone -walls with windows carved into them. There was a large field type area with contemporary metal sculptures scattered throughout. That is where we shot the scene.
I was in this shot as an extra with my mask on. There were probably 6 of us extras with the masks on or so. We had to walk following Vera (she was the masked leader) very slowly. This one girl Sylvie was wearing a mask that she made last week and it had no eye holes. It was all grey (thick paper) with stuff hanging off the chin part of it and the only hole in it was for her nose, which fit into a plastic gum square from a gum pack. Anyways, because she couldn’t see, when the director called “Action” we’d all follow Vera and Sylvie would end up walking the other direction and just slowly wandering around… it was hilarious. She didn’t even know she was doing it for the longest time because we’d get told to go back to our starting positions, which is where she was practically was. Anyways, it was a good time.
I have also been to a crepe place with Mulli. The chocolate, peanut butter and banana is the ultimate crepe! Soooo good. Mulli and I went out on the weekend to an 80’s bar with her friends from school. There were little and big circle mirrors all over the walls, red lights everywhere, a disco ball spinning, red hand chairs all over the place and circular rolo looking chairs too. It was a neat little bar, but it was super packed, I wanted to push the people out of my way… but I didn’t. The music was great, we danced until 3 am and then walked home.
So, I have been having a great time, keeping very busy. I am loving the people that I am meeting here as well as all the constant functions and activities. Yay Montreal!
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