New Domension Films had footage from Punkfest held near Marmora , Ontario in 1995. The original footage was shot using a VHS camera, making it difficult to use. The footage was so dynamic that I just couldnt let it sit in the archives any longer. Over the past 14 years we had tried many times to locate the band featured "The Dear Departed". I did have a chance to speak with them at the well known nightclub in Toronto "The Elmocombo" about a year later. I let members of the band know how I wanted to one day attempt a film, which featured footage that included their performance. I dont think they took me seriously at the time. I was co-host of a radio show then, at CIUT radio at the University of Toronto. Time went by, my media skills developing over time. The advent of digital media allowed me to move ahead into film and to be able to use the footage from Punkfest. Searching the internet I was able to connect with Denise Shively of California, who wrote the narration which I performed. The film is one of our most downloaded and continues to be a favourite.Click on the picture below to download the WMV file which is moderate compression.
The film was presented with great success at the Wreck Beach Film Festival 2009.Clocking in at 16 min 32 sec the film features some great shots of the awesome party at Punkfest 95. I had no idea at the time about the passing of the well known, Warren "Spider" Hastings, in Febuary 2009, when I started the project. I also learned that the totally outstanding lead singer, Steve Woods of the dear Departed, had also passed away. I learned this form the lead guitartist, Shawna, whom I eventually tracked down, but not until after the film was made.
This is awesome..I posted the film on the internet and as luck would have it Shawna became aware of it, and contacted me by email. We agreed to meet and that we did. This was awesome since we hadnt seen each other in 14 years and even back then didn't really know each other that well, we do now! What a time we had discussing the film, her experiences with the Dear Departed, and her life today, still rockin in Toronto with two bands. It was a small miracle made possible by the internet. WOW!!! what a world we live in !
