Arts chat: Patience a virtue for filmmaker
- Mike Gosselin | April 30, 2014
Reuben Martell is a Saskatoon based filmmaker who is producing, directing and starring in A Life Less Empty, a feature film he wrote twenty years ago. Eagle Feather News caught up with him recently for the first installment of Arts Chat.
Mike: You wrote A Life Less Empty twenty years ago. Did you ever lose hope it would be produced?
Reuben: Everyday. I never produced it on a level of "get it done in this time frame." It was always produced with such a low budget that is equivalent to most people's water budget on low budget features. I've always been lucky that people were willing to trust me and follow me into shooting this. I never felt it was ever a "never going to happen," and more like a "choose the right time and place to get it done."
Mike: Why is this story so important for you to tell?
Reuben: I never seen a native film where I could say "that encapsulated me and my family perfectly." I wanted something with a native feel and less "woe is me" and more "who am I?" We haven't found a way to deal with our emotions and we either lash out or praise immediately. I wanted to show people we can be seen as people that love and deal with problems as well.
Mike: You worked on a lot of alternative funding methods, like crowd-sourcing. Do you feel this is a sign of the times in Saskatchewan since the tax-credit was axed?
Reuben: I was never directly effected by it. But I get hired less because of it. Most of my experience has come from shows such as Moccasin Flats and Corner Gas. Crowd sourcing for me hasn't been great, and it is a popularity contest. When I tell people about a contemporary native love story, they look at me and say "I don't get it." That's also another reason for me to get it done. This is in a time where 50% of Canada has no idea what a residential school is, and that's scary how much people aren't aware when it comes to natives.
Mike: What does it mean to you to finally film your baby?
Reuben: Everything actually. My sons Nick and Koan have always been on my back about getting it done. I preach get it done and they want me to practice what I preach and how can I disappoint them? And I have a great cast. Sarain Carson Fox, Shannon Baker and my partner with filmmaking courses Mathew Strongeagle.
Mike: Is there a grander sense of accomplishment since the government was of little to no help?
Reuben: It's always a sense of victory when a native can do something without the government involved. Isn't that the native dream?
Mike: If you had to choose one hero, TV/film or otherwise, who would it be? Why?
Reuben: My mother Doreen without a doubt. She's been my super hero, my north star and my army.
Mike: What movie changed your life and made you want to embark on a career in TV/fim?
Reuben: Pow wow highway in 1988. I was in grade 7 and wanted to rent Cyborg, a Van Damne film. And next to it was a contemporary native film. Blew my mind!!! Natives can be in movies?!!
Mike: Favourite Aboriginal film all time? Why?
Reuben: Rhymes for young ghouls. First native voice with balls in my humble opinion. It's playing at the Roxy. Go and watch it!!
Mike: How would you encourage a youngster ready to embark on a heart-breaking career in the industry?
Reuben: If we're scared to fail in dreams, it makes it harder to do it in reality. Currently Mathew Strongeagle and I are doing film courses that focus on youth developing short films. We're currently in Alberta trying to do Saskatchewan proud and hoping to bring it to Saskatchewan this summer. Book us and we will come!