We welcome Andrew Genaille to Sabot. Andrew is a Native Writer / Filmmaker currently based in British Columbia. He'll be writing about his current trip to the Banff TV Convention. This is Andrew's second trip to Canadian TV's wildest week.
Banff T minus 2 days.
Supplies and wardrobe have all been squared away, in anticipation of the first leg of the journey to Banff. There's some anxiety about illness as one of our travel companions has fallen ill with a sore throat, headaches, and some sort of cough; our anxiety isn't so much for his well being but for ours, as it's already been decided that if our vehicle breaks down on some deserted pass, Fareed will be the first one eaten.
There's debate now whether or not a head cold can be caught through consumption, in the same manner as mad cow desease. No worries though, if that is the case we may switch to Keith, the second smallest of the group; just enough to sustain us the half hour before BCAA arrives.
And how does a writer prepare for Banff? Clothes, camera, reading material for the trip, all of these are the obvious choices but isn't a complete list of what's needed for the whirlwind of a week ahead.
Anybody that doesn't know what Banff is, it's a week long excursion in the middle of a mountain paradise, where you spend your days meeting, greeting and pitching to some of the most powerful men and women in the television industry; then the sun goes down, and you do the same thing with the same people, only with the added help of alcohol. It's a time for producers to meet with the money people, in order to get things off the ground; the end result, those images you see on your television year round.
It would be naive, though, to head up there thinking that you'll be walking away with a television deal; it's more of a meet and greet, a chance to schmooze with the big boys, get your name out there. I, myself, am not so great at schmoozing, therefore it's my intention to meet as many people as I can that'll do it for me.
To my original question, how does a Writer prepare for Banff? Tough question to answer, as it's usually not recommended that writers go to Banff, Banff isn't a place to sell your script or try to get it into the hands of somebody that'll make it.
The money men in Banff are expecting packages, a couple of sheets of paper explaining the story, why the story will be watched, who the writer is, who the director is, and who the producer is. So a writer prepares for going to Banff by finding himself a producer first, which should happen months and months before Banff.
I have, therefor I am prepared, as it's the producer that'll be doing all the work; the writer is basically just there to keep his mouth shut and look like a prop. I'm good at doing both.
It's not so bad though, this gives the writer time to look around and meet some of the celebrities that'll be attending; memories of last year have Steve Smith (Red Green), Paul Gross from Due South, two of the Royal Canadian Air Farce members and David Suzuki, but the guy that stands out is the Minister of Silly walks, John Cleese.
Robert Fugger, my driver (and for all intense and purposes the director/producer I spoke of earlier) for the week is going to be arriving soon; having packed the night before, it's a matter of loading up my gear with the rest of the gear and we're off to the first base camp...
Mr.Fugger's parents place halfway to Banff.
