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January 12, 2018

KEEPERS OF THE MOUND

Ceremonial site, burial ground, midden, gateway, lighthouse, high ground: there are countless theories and explanations for the purpose of mounds, earthen structures built by native peoples of the United States.  Mounds hold more than just fragments of ancient life, they can teach us how ancient peoples settled, inhabited, and adapted to a rapidly evolving landscape.  For the Native American descendants of tribes that inhabited the delta, these spaces also are spiritual centers.  Hundreds of these ancient sites dot Louisiana’s coastline, and yet with rising sea levels, Louisiana is at risk of losing more and more mounds each year, and the wisdom they possess.  But cultural heritage is not a renewable resource.

Bayou Grand Caillou is one such mound at risk.  A giant mound on private property in Dulac, Louisiana, the mound at Bayou Grand Caillou is part of a rapidly changing ecosystem that is at risk of being washed away.  Today, this mound sits on property owned by several local lawyers and developers, not by the United Houma Nation or the local Dulac community.  Carla Solet, a member of the Houma and a Dulac local who lives next door to this mound, wants the mound protected from coastal land loss, but she also wants (legal) access to this sacred space.  For now, Carla and her family visit the site without permission, collecting palms to make baskets and spending time on land that holds deep meaning to their identity.  We follow the Solet family as they explore the meaning of the mounds in terms of their cultural heritage and reclaim the mound in a clandestine flag-planting ceremony.

Mounds were gathering sites for ancient peoples, a place to share knowledge and stories, and today they are a symbol for something that is in danger of being lost, both literally and figuratively, as Louisiana’s coast continues to dissolve.  As land disappears coastal communities rich in culture lose spaces and rituals, opportunities for people to come together, share and collect stories and artifacts to honor the land and its people’s history.  

KEEPERS OF THE MOUND was created with direct support from the Foundation from Louisiana and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Water/Ways program.  Directed by Katie Mathews, Camera by Justin Zweifach, Sound by Lukas Gonzales, Edit Paavo Hanninen.  Executive Producer Darcy McKinnon, Producer for LEH John Richie, for LEH Brian Boyles.

January 10, 2018

REFUGE

Phan Plork emigrated to Buras, Louisiana, in the early 1980s to escape the brutal regime of the Khmer Rouge.  He now is part of a vibrant community of over 30 families of Cambodian descent in the heart of Plaquemines Parish.  He and other Cambodian and Vietnames fishermen are active parts of their community, but struggle to be engaged in the process of coastal restoration planning, due to cultural and language barriers.  As he looks towards the possibility of needing to move his family and community, becoming a refugee twice in his life, he wonders if his personal resilience will be enough to see his family, home and livelihood through.  REFUGE premiered at the 2017 New Orleans Film Festival.

REFUGE, featuring Phan Plork and Sandy Ngyuen.

Directed and produced by Katie Mathews

Camera by Biliana Grozdanova and Alex Glustrom

Edit by James Page

January 9, 2018

MONIQUE VERDIN: signals::doc

Antenna::Signals-docs presented in partnership with NOVAC

As part of a series of short documentaries about local artists and activists who have participated in Antenna’s Signals live magazine events, NOVAC produced this short documentary portrait of the current work of Monique Verdin, St. Bernard native, citizen of the United Houma Nation and artistic activist whose works focus on her indigenous heritage, her relationship to place, and the impacts of environmental change and pollution on southern Louisiana.

Directed by Katie Mathews and Ikeem George, Camera by Justin Zweifach, Edit by Cameron Wheeless and Ikeem George.

September 26, 2017

NOVAC <3 NOFF17

Once again, we are thrilled to partner with our friends at the New Orleans Film Society, as they present the 28th Annual New Orleans Film Festival.  We are excited this year to be at the festival in new ways – this year, not only as a partner throwing the Filmmaker Welcome Party for the 4th year in a row, but also as filmmakers!  Check out our NOFF events here:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12: Filmmaker Welcome Party!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14:  Premiere of REFUGE at the PRYTANIA, 5PM!

REFUGE is a portrait of Phan, a Cambodian fisherman who escaped the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields as a child to resettle along the coast in Buras, Louisiana. Today, Phan and his community are faced with the possibility of becoming refugees again, this time from coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and state restoration programs that struggle to engage with affected communities. REFUGE is screening at the New Orleans Film Festival at the Pyrtania Theater on October 14th at 5 PM.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18: Premiere of KEEPERS OF THE MOUND, at the Advocate Headquarters, 8PM!

KEEPERS OF THE MOUND is a short documentary film about a Native American family who cares for one of the many ancient earthen mounds threatened by the rapid disintegration of the Louisiana coastline.  With the threat of land loss looming and limited resources available for coastal restoration and protection, KEEPERS OF THE MOUND highlights indigenous communities’ fight to be considered in the cost-benefit-ratio of coastal protection. KEEPERS OF THE MOUND is screening at the New Orleans Film Festival at the Advocate Headquarters, October 18th at 8 PM.

April 13, 2017

Sync Up Cinema 2017

It’s festival time y’all, and NOVAC is pleased once again to partner with the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation to bring you Sync Up Cinema – three days of free films, panels and fun at the Jazz and Heritage Center! Kicking off with the Sync Up music industry conference, Sync Up Cinema brings industry leaders and Louisiana filmmakers directly to you.  This year’s schedule is better than ever, with some awesome highlights below – join us at Sync Up Cinema this year!

 

KEYNOTE CONVO: HANNAH BEACHLER

Meet the über talented production designer from MOONLIGHT, CREED, Beyoncé’s LEMONADE and the upcoming BLACK PANTHERS.

THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED: Filmmaking in the Trump Era

presented by Firelight Media and Field of Vision, with local films Aloné by Garrett Bradley and selections from NOVAC’s BetteR series.

BURNING SANDS + DIRECTOR GERARD McMURRAY

the Sundance premiere by New Orleans native Gerard McMurray tackles hazing at HBCU fraternities, and the director will be in attendance to discuss his rise from the 7th ward to producing and directing.

JOE INCAPRERA: FROM PA TO PRODUCER

New Orleans-based producer Joe Incaprera fell in love with the Crescent City when he worked on HBO’s Tremé. He moved his family here and produced and production managed hit television shows including American Horror Story, Quarry, and most recently, 13 Reasons Why, which is currently the most watched television show in history.  Now he’s shepherding a new and innovatively produced project right here in New Orleans.  Joe talks with indie producer Angela Tucker about his path from Baltimore PA to NOLA Producer to Hollywood Powerhouse in the new golden age of television.

Musician’s Clinic Birthday celebration & screening of ONE NOTE AT A TIME

A special screening of Renee Edwards’ ONE NOTE AT A TIME in celebration of the 19th birthday of the New Orleans Musician’s Assistance Foundation and Clinic.  And, the happy hour celebrating the clinic’s 19th anniversary!

CUBA, CONTIGO!

A short exploration into Cuban cinema expression, from the documentary CODIGO COLOR, about the legacy of colorism and racism in Cuba, to a partnership of youth media between Baton Rouge and rural Cuban media makers, to a special sneak preview of a high profile upcoming documentary featuring a legendary group of New Orleans musicians as they explore and meet their Cuban musical heritage dopplegängers.  SPECIAL GUESTS!

And loads more local films, music films and panels and parties – all FREE thanks to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation and the City of New Orleans Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy.

Download a FULL SCHEDULE HERE!!

January 16, 2017

Music Video Production Launch @ Retroperspective

Join us on February 4th at 12pm at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center (1225 N Rampart St. New Orleans) for the official launch of the 2017 Music Video Production Project. This will be a one-hour info session, free and open to the public, where you can learn all about the class, what we’ve done in the past and what we will be producing this year!

Thanks to the Jazz & Heritage Foundation, this is the third year in a row we are able to offer free music videos to a variety of local musicians, as we pair talented filmmakers and eager students in the A-Z process of making a top quality creative product.

If you’re ready to dive in, you can reserve your spot today!

TICKETS

December 12, 2016

YES! for NOLA Libraries

NOVAC and Breathe Video Nation partnered to help the Yes! for NOLA Libraries campaign express how important libraries are to a thriving community, in advance of a millage vote.

 

December 12, 2016

Louisiana District Judges Association

NOVAC: Baton Rouge partnered with local filmmaker Teddy Smith to create a series of videos for the Louisiana District Judges Association, designed to help self-represented litigants be prepared for and navigate representing themselves in court.

December 12, 2016

IMPACT 100, Greater New Orleans Foundation

NOVAC and Breathe Video Nation partnered with the Greater New Orleans Foundation to help three local organizations, the New Orleans Women’s Shelter, NAMI New Orleans and Eden House to create video pitches highlighting their work, as part of the IMPACT 100 Giving Circle. The NOWS video featured above was part of the pitch that helped secure the organization’s $100,000 grant from IMPACT 100.

 

December 12, 2016

International School of Louisiana

NOVAC, filmmaker Ben Long and sound designer Ian Painter collaborated with the International School of Louisiana to create 12 videos in 3 languages designed to connect incoming teachers from around the world with the practices and ethos of working at ISL. Big kudos to Ben Long for editing in three languages, only one of which does he speak!