VIDEO VIGNETTES BUILD PRIDE IN SASKATCHEWAN

Sask Scene is capturing the hopes and dreams of young people across the province through a series of vignettes produced by a team of students at festivals and celebrations this summer.

Sask Scene is a collaborative effort involving the First Nations University of Canada (FNUC), Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, and the arts and culture community. The aim of the partnership is to develop the skills of students while raising awareness of the wealth of opportunities available in Saskatchewan.

The Sask Scene team is comprised of students from FNUC's Indian Communication Arts program (INCA). They spent the summer interviewing young people about what it means to be from Saskatchewan and what makes the province unique. The sometimes surprising, and always spontaneous, answers were edited into a series of video vignettes screened today at the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina.

"When INCA proposed this project, we were very keen to be a partner," Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. "Sask Scene enables young people to talk about their lives here in Saskatchewan. It encourages a wide spectrum of young people from all areas of the province to share their Saskatchewan experience and the wide open future they want to build for themselves here."

"This has been a real hands-on experience for all of the students involved," said Shannon Avison, Department Head, INCA. "It has helped them to develop a wide range of skills, from interviewing people of diverse backgrounds to videotaping on location and editing the final version."

The vignettes are published on the Sask Scene Web site at www.saskscene.ca. They will also serve as a record of the cultural events attended.

Shelley Kaszefski, Saskatoon International Fringe Festival Co-ordinator, says she appreciates the extra exposure the multimedia project brings to the arts and culture community, especially to a young audience. "Sask Scene provided a great creative base for a whole network of young people to showcase their custom-made dreams."

Sask Scene was launched in May, 2003. The team attended 24 events in 16 communities and published over 60 interviews on the Web site.

Sask Scene team members include:
Beverly Andrews, Amy Stevenson, Mike Bird, Helder Carvajal, Phoebe Fosseneuve, Amanda Snell, Eagle Thom, Janine Windolph, plus Tom Jordens, senior producer.

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For More Information, Contact:

Bob Ellis Industry and Resources Regina Phone: (306)787-8277 Email: rellis@ir.gov.sk.ca

Shannon Avison Department Head INCA Phone: (306)790-5950 Email: ext. 3230