ORIGINS OF CONSCIOUSNESS, 8min., Canada
Directed by John Ledingham
..or The Life of a Rock. Experimental documentary meditation on land, complexity and evolution, consciousness, interconnection, and artificial intelligence. Exploring the ideas of philosophers and scientists from a broad background of thought. Shot in the Okanagan and West Kootenays of British Columbia, Canada. Original music by Jack Brintnell.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

My friend Liam McCarrell I shot the short with had said we should film the Oliver backroads by Dominion Astrophysical for years now. We finally went out with a camera and a couple beers and the themes of a short just sort of came together.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

I think we filmed for 2 hours and I edited over the next 5 months or so on and off. My buddy Jack Brintnell took about a month on the song, which came, I think, in 2 drafts. Jack really helped inspire the edit as it came along and really brought the project together.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Okanagan meditation

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

It was actually an unusually easy process. Needed some time for the pieces to fall into place but they all did. No stress on this one at all.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Very cool to see people engaging with something I've made like that. Strange too.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I guess when I first tried a camera as a kid. And then digging into more and more movies in my late teens, seeing all the different things a movie could be.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Slacker (1991) More than a dozen times. A lot of love for that one on a lot of different levels.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Just getting to show my short around is cool. Thanks for the interview.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

FilmFreeway is an easy way to get your work seen, so long as you got the money to pay festival submission fees. It's a real weird and detached experience though. Like ordering an audience on Amazon.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Huevos rancheros with a Caesar.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Making money till October. Then a few months to finish a handful more short film projects. Mostly documentary. Maybe the next Winter I try for a feature. I want to get my hands on some arts grant money. You never know.