Showreel

Démo from Alexandra Guité on Vimeo.

Human Interest Docs (CBC)

Salsa to change the world
Un documentaire d’Alexandra Guité

Michael Gabriel Rosen adores salsa. he also thrives on teaching the cuban art form.  But his ambitions are much greater: contributing to social change through the power of dance.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  May 2012.  3mins04

Dancing to the top
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Yvon Doglo, aka Crazy Smooth,  was hooked on dancing from his earliest age. But he could never have imagined how far he would go with Hip Hop.  Creating his own dance company Bboyizm and bringing street dance to  the highest spheres, whithout ever forgeting its social vocation.  His first Canadian tour brings him to British Columbia.  Alexandra Guité met this ambitious artist and entrepreneur.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  May 2012. 3mins14

Inti-Illimani: Icons of Chliean protest music
A short film by Alexandra Guité

In 1967, when young Chilean students started playing the guitar, they never would have imagined the future that awaited them.  A destiny of musical passion, politics and a 15 year exile under the ruthless Pinochet dictatorship.  But nothing stopped them and they recently celebrated their 45th anniversary.  Alexandra Guité meet up with them in Vancouver.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  May 2012. 3mins10

Myriam Laroche, a green fashionista
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Stylist Myriam Laroche has always adored expensive high fashion.  That is until she discovered the environmental disasters caused by the fashion industry.  Thus began her transformation into a green fashionisa which lead her to create Vancouver’s Eco Fashion Week.  I  followed her as she styled a fashion show which treasures found at Value Village.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  May 2012. 3mins10

From Harlem to  Vancouver, actress Marsha Regis’s new afro revival project
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Becoming an actress is quite the challenge.  Especially to get good roles as a black woman. So instead of waiting around for offers, Marsha Regis chose to create her own theatre compagny dedicated to promoting black culture.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  April 2012.  3mins11.

From marvel to action: environmental activist Linda Desormeaux’s tale
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Linda Desormeaux was blown away by the natural beauty of British Colombia when she first moved here from Québec. And it is what made her become both an activist and more recently a filmmaker.  A portrait of a real green missionary.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  April 2012.  3mins50.

«Documentary filmmaking is listening to others »
A short film by Alexandra Guité

For 45 years, filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin has created films that show First Nations’ realities and the injustices they have lived. The filmmaker who continues to produce films for the NFB to this day has become famous for her documentary on the 1990 Oka crisis. Alexandra Guité met this courageous artist also winner of the Governor General’s Award.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  April 2012.  4mins.

Sonic Voyage in a countainer
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Taking travelers unto a voyage on the ocean is quite an artistic challenge.  Especially when the experience is purely auditory.  And that is what Boca Del Lupo’s performance The Voyage offers in Vancouver.  Jean Routhier created the soundscape of this original odyssey. Alexandra Guité met up with him and his accomplice Carey Dodge.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  March 2012.  3mins25.

Star seeker
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Ever since he can remember, stary nights and the cosmos have always thrilled Pierre Léna.  And that’s what lead him to become one of France’s top astrophysician. And now instead of retiring, he pursues his dream of creating the most creative conditions to teach sciences to young kids.  Alexandra Guité met this extremely passionate scientist.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  March 2012.  3mins35.

Inventing Latino-Gaspesian Music
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Latino-gaspesian music now has an inventor and it is musician Juan Sebastian Larobina who not only creates warm and atmospherical music but also takes his audiences on a musical trip of the Americas.  Here is the portrait of a musician who has tarnsformed culture choc into art.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  March 2012.
3mins25.

« The Silicone Diaries », the world of transsexual artist Nina Arsenault
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Wanting to be a beautiful woman is already complicated but even more of a challenge if one was born in the bidy of a man.  Yet the obstacles have not stoped transsexual artist Nina Arsenault, from accomplishing her dreams of achieving a goddess like beauty.  After spending more than 200 000$ in about 60 chirurgical interventions, she now reveals her secrets in her work The Silicone Diaries.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  February 2012.  3mins04.

Slacklining….a fine balance!
A short film by Alexandra Guité

keeping balance is not always easy but it’s even more challenging when it’s on a tight rope…supended in the air…. But that has not stopped a young entrepreneur from Vancouver, Luke Ebner  from working non stop to make this new sports trend of slacklining known.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  February 2012.  3mins10.

Katimavik
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Getting young people to discover their vocation is already an enormous task but when it’s combined with volunteering and living away from home, it’s a total challenge.  And that’s exactly what 12 youths from all over Canada have come to experience in Vancouver with Katimavik

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  February 2012.  3mins10.

Bagpipe Fanatic
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Focusing your entire life on music demands total dedication. But playing music was not enough for teacher and musician Boris Favre.  He decided to go one step ahead and create musical instruments.  But not any kind.  He created from scratch the very first Canadian bagpipe.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  December 2011. 3mins03.

Destination : Poverty
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Losing one’s job and being hungry is a though reality that touches many Canadians, even some who never would conceive of losing it all.  André, a chef, knows something about it.  He never could have imagined one day needing to rely on food banks to survive.  But recently he had to swallow his pride.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  December 2011.  4mins09.

When teaching is not enough
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Getting students to surpass themselves is a lot of work but for arts teacher Josée Hémond, it is a total passion that does not stop at the classroom doors.  So she chose to write a book about her best teaching tricks.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  December 2011. 3mins08.

Western Canadian Music Awards
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Whitehorse hosts  Break Out West Festival and the Western Canadian Awards. Portrait of the activities.

Haida Gwaii’s adventurer
A short film by Alexandra Guité

S’isoler du monde dans des coins reculés pour y vivre en autarcie, c’est un défi énorme mais une aventure qui n’a pas fait froid aux yeux à l’intrépide Patrick Lemaire qui a choisi de créer son coin de paradis en pleine contrée sauvage des îles de Haida Gwaii.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  August 2011. 4mins45.

A modern day Robinson
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Le beauceron Jacques Morin est d’abord venu planter des arbres dans les îles isolées de Haida Gwaii.  Tombé amoureux de de cette région biologiquement unique, il a choisi de s’y installer afin de se consacrer à l’observation des animaux rares.Il vient de construire la maison de ses rêves, une maison écolo.  Rencontre avec un Robinson des temps modernes.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  August 2011. 4mins15.

Art Wheelers
A short film by Alexandra Guité

S’arrêter et admirer les œuvres d’art extérieurs d’une grande ville peut paraître spécial, mais lorsque cette expérience est jumelée avec une excursion à vélo à travers Vancouver, c’est tout à fait original ! C’est ce que proposent les visites guidées ArtWheelers, les seules excursions artistiques du genre au Canada.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  August 2011.  .2mins31.

Empowerment Biking
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Repairing a flat tire should be pretty simple… But if you go to Vancouver’s OUR COMMUNITY BIKES for your next checkup, don’t be surprised if you learn a life lesson as well.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  June 2011.  3mins04.

Healing Soccer
A short film by Alexandra Guité

They don’t have a home, they are struggling with addictions or have lived through the hell of prostitution … But when they put on their shoes and soccer t.-shirts… They are transformed. Enough to be heading shortly to compete in the World’s Homeless Cup in Paris.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  June 2011.  3mins.

Creating an Arabic Newspaper
A news report by Alexandra Guité

As the Arab world rebels, two Vancouver entrepreneurs are creating their own revolution: the Arabic newspaper Al-Qâlam.  They eagerly hope it will reach the city’s 26 000 people of Arabic origins.  Creating a space of community in the midst of the not always easy process of immigration.

Researched, written and directed by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  May 2011.  2mins02.

Bouffon Revolution
A short film by Alexandra Guité

They make us laugh or sometimes think.  In any case, they make us react.
And that is the goal.  According to Trilby Jeeves, creator Buffoonery workshops in Vancouver, we all possess an inner buffoon.  And how free we can feel, once we find it.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  May 2011.  3mins04.

Social Dentist
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Operating a dental clinic is intense work but when it’s a volunteer clinic in the heart of the Downtown East Side, it’s also social work. For dentist Bruce Ward, president of British Columbia’s dentists association, it’s a way to give back and ease the pains of those who can’t afford dental care.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  May 2011.  3mins08.

Dancing to the brink
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Losing one’s mind… it could happen to anyone. That is the conviction that inspired iconic choreographer Ginette Laurin in creating her celebrated dance piece La Chambre Blanche. In a décor half way between a mental health institution and a Turkish bath, the company O Vertigo plunges us into what it means to lose control mentally and physically within a cramped space. Emerges a poetic exploration of human vulnerability through dance.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité. Production : CBC/Radio-Canada. May 2011. 3mins07.

Climbing to the top of the world
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Climbing to the summits of the Himalayas is a huge and daring enterprise. Especially when it is to raise funds to help build schools and hostels for young girls who dream of pursuing their education. That’s the challenge Vancouver based social movement Kina.ca has crafted, bringing some 20 Canadians on a life changing trek to Nepal. Some days before embarking on the 20 day trek near Everest’s base camp, Ellen Vaillancourt is racing around the clock to be ready for this great social expedition.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité. Production : CBC/Radio-Canada. April 2011. 3mins15.

A Clown’s life
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Roaming the world amusing publics as a clown is a vocation that demands a lot of passion. A passion that has taken Benoit Ranger throughout 40 countries, stints with the Cirque du Soleil and the recent creation of a circus program in Vancouver’s schools. He remembers with some nostalgia his career that reaches back 35 years.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité. Production : CBC/Radio-Canada. April 2011. 2mins48..

Move Over!
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Moving, dancing, crawling… kids do it all the time without thinking twice about it… But the chances of dancing together as a family are pretty rare. To move things around, Québec dance troup Bouge de là has created movement workshops that bring adults and kids together on the dance floor. Because for Bouge de là, dance is more than an artistic vocation, it’s also a pedagocical mission.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité. Production : Radio-Canada. April 2011. 3mins08.

Thinking outside the box : Reinventing Eco-Fashion
A short film by Alexandra Guité

For designer Katherine Soucie, fashion is a lot more than fabric.  It’s actually a social and ecological mission.  And with her new label Zerolab, she strives to share her original recycling techniques to create a more responsable fashion world.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  March 2011.  2mins36.

Lady Gaga’s artistic catwalk
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Creating an art show is a lot of work.  But if you also have to invent and present a new artistic movement, it can get intense.  The students of Vancouver’s Jules-Verne school where asked to do just.  Their assignment: to create radical, Lady Gaga inspired artwork.  To heighten the challenge, they also had to strut themselves their pieces unto a catwalk under the gaze of 300 people.  A unique artistic experience that would not have been possible if it where not for their passionate art teacher, the kind of teacher we would all have loved to have in high school.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  March 2011.  2mins51.

Native Wapikoni filmmaking
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Not everyone can become a filmmaker… That’s what a lot of First Nations youths thought when the Wapikoni Mobile Car pulled into their remote hometowns.  A mobile training and creation centre for Native youth, Wapikoni Mobile has helped produced more than 350 films in tiny and remote communities.  Both Catherine Boivin and Dave “Madjick” Baudin are now roaming the country to present the movies they crafted about their unique realities.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  March 2011.  3mins07.

Psychedelic Dance Marathon Cabaret
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Who could have imagined that the great depression of the 30’s would have witnessed the rise of dance marathons?  Marathons where the most desperate danced for months on end, something sinking into insanity or even dying.  Revisiting the longest and most grueling of these desperate contests, the artists of Vancouver’s Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret have imaged a completely wild show.  Prepare yourself to explore the dark underbelly of economic depression but also the dance of cooperation.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  February 2011.  3mins12.

Animation to change the world
A short film by Alexandra Guité

How would like to change the world?  What does the media overlook?  These are the kinds of question REEL YOUTH’s filmmakers ask youths in workshops they hold in alternative schools and detention centres throughout the country.  Their answers just might surprise you.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  February 2011.  3mins14.

Beyond Death : Historian Chuck Davis’ legacy
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Known affectionately as Mr. Vancouver, historian Chuck Davis was the reference on Vancouver’s history.  His hallmark book, The Vancouver Book, is the second most stolen of the municipal library.  In October 2010, knowing he had only a few weeks left to live, he called out for help to finish his final and most extensive book on his beloved city.  Many answered the plea.  Now, three months after his death, his colleagues and family are working around the clock to complete his work, just in time for Vancouver’s 125 years celebrations.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  February 2011.  2mins50.

Dancing Ballroom to the top
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Steve Gaudet and Laure Colmard are France’s ballroom dancing champions.  Their dream: becoming World champions.  Overcoming the challenges of slow waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, slow fox and quickstep, they have come to Vancouver to compete against the world’s best dancers in an exhilarating World Cup.  Will they triumph?

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.   February 2011.  2mins47.

Portable Theatre in the Streets of Vancouver
A short film by Alexandra Guité

We might know about podcasts, but what would you say about discovering Podplays, or portable theatre plays.  That is the theatrical experience actress and author Adrienne Wong has crafted.  A unique theatrical experience where the audience gets to get out of its chairs and explore Vancouver, while reliving the play.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  January 2011.  2mins39.

Painting to Afghanistan
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Painter Christopher Hennebery and photographer Shaun O’Mara’s dream of transporting you to Afghanistan…through painting.  Their aim: understand and depict what reservists, non-professional soldiers, live on the front.  This is a mission these two ex-reservists are pursuing purely out of their own passion.  A passion that will soon take them to be embedded with the 22nd regiment, the Van Doos, in Afghanistan.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : CBC/Radio-Canada.  Producer: Marc Cotton.  January 2011.  3mins08.

Alain, a homeless photographer
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Because of his alcohol problems, Alain lost both his job and his home a little over a year ago.  Since, he sleeps at the Union Gospel Mission.  In the last year, however he has found a new form of expression that has helped him completely change his life.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité.  Production : Radio-Canada.  Producer: Marc Cotton.  January 2011.  2mins24.

High Marocan Fashion in Vancouver’s suburbs
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Salwa Gardaf, a housewife and mother of five children dreams of transforming women into princesses. This prolific Burnaby based designer creates somptuous gowns that bridge the gap between Haute-Couture and Oriental tradition. Recently she trew a evening just for ladies of the local Muslim community, an evening where women could explore both their feminity and their sensuality, away from the gaze of men.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité. Production : CBC/Radio-Canada. Producer: Marc Cotton. 2011. 2mins41.

Across five continents to discover world happiness
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Arielle de Garie and Stéphane Demers want to understand what makes human beings happy. This couple of adventurous souls have thus chosen to cross by van the 5 continents, making a movie about their discoveries. In Vancouver, they face numerous problems that might just jeopardize their ambitious filmmaking.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité. Production : Radio-Canada. Producer: Christian Molgat. 2010. 2mins58.

Elaine Lee, an artist with bones of glass
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Elaine Lee was not meant to live more than 2 years. Born with the brittle born disease, all of her bones where broken when she was born. Today, she is 31 years and has just graduated from Emily Carr University’s Fine Arts Program in Vancouver. She is 2 feet tall and weights in at 29 pounds. Her creative imagination knows no boundaries: she writes, draws, paints and performs. In spite of the cruel gaze that is often cast on her, she strives with all her wit and humour to be seen not just as a person with a disability but simply as a Woman.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité. Production : Radio-Canada. Producer: Christian Molgat. 2010. 2mins35.

Free Computer Access Under threat
A short film by Alexandra Guité

For many Canadians, computer and Internet access still are luxuries. The Community Access Program (CAP) seeks to bridge the digital divide by offering access and training to the needy. But this program could be cut, to the great distress of its users.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité. Production : Radio-Canada. Producer: Marc Cotton. 2010. 2mins17.

Men’s movements
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Men often suffer in silence, commit suicide more often than women and boys are dropping out of school at alarming rates. And Manology specialist John Hatfield has had enough. To get men to break out of their old roles, he is coordinating Vancouver’s first International Men’s Day.

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité. Production : Radio-Canada. Producer: Christian Molgat. 2010. 2mins12.

Gentrification and Homelessness
A short film by Alexandra Guité

Fashionable areas are eating up more and more of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Even the prices of most squalid hotel rooms are rising. And its most vulnerable residents, such as Fraser Stuart, worry about not being able to afford to pay the rent. Where to go now?

Researched, written, directed, filmed and edited by Alexandra Guité. Production : Radio-Canada. Producer: Christian Molgat. 2010. 2mins22.

Caméra Boréale
Broadcast: French CBC (Radio-Canada) in the Arctic. summer 2011.
Research, scriptwriting, camera, sound and editing on the road of 4 short documentaries on social issues in the Yukon and North West Territories and participation in the 6 episode TV series.

Subjects: The aftermaths of healing residential schools, the dreams of the youths who leave their tiny village to study elsewhere, a travelling dentist roams isolated communities and the tragedies of bootlegging in the North.

Techno-Web Talk

Techno Web Talk with Alexandra Guité – May 19th  2012
We explore the impacts of Facebook’s IPO, how people are showing their discontente against law 78 on the Web and the power of consumers in the age of social media.

Research and concept: Alexandra Guité. Technical Production: Eric Morisson. Production and Broadcast : Radio-Canada/British Columbia.  May 2012. 3mins.

Techno Web Talk with Alexandra Guité – May 5th  2012
We explore Friction-less Web, a Harvard/MIT online education project and a publicity campaign with a bang.

Research and concept: Alexandra Guité. Technical Production: Benoit Clément. Production and Broadcast : Radio-Canada/British Columbia.  May 2012. 3mins.

Techno Web Talk with Alexandra Guité- April 28th 2012
We speak of the new role of social media in political conflicts, of Google Drive and of an NFB prized Web creation.

Research and concept: Alexandra Guité. Technical Production: Benoit Clément. Production and Broadcast : Radio-Canada/British Columbia.  May 2012. 3mins.

« Techno-Web Talk»  CBC/Radio-Canada- April 21st  2012
Twitter and the French elections, KONY 2012 and what if  Facebook had been invented in the 90s.

Research and concept: Alexandra Guité. Technical Production: Benoit Clément. Production and Broadcast : Radio-Canada/British Columbia.  April 2012. 3mins34.

« Techno-Web Talk»  CBC/Radio-Canada- June 10th 2011

Weekly exposé for CBC/Radio-Canada’s television on breaking technological issues and news.  Alexandra Guité scans the Web every week to gather what is happening and what is viral.  On June 10th 2011, we spoke about:
The Keynotes Apple conference, controversial viral interview with Margie Gillis, Twitter Tv and the Canucks on the Web.

Research and concept: Alexandra Guité. Technical Production: Martin-Olivier Huet. Production and broadcast : Radio-Canada/British Columbia: http://bit.ly/muXtVt. June 2011. 3mins51.

« Techno-Web Talk»  CBC/Radio-Canada- June 3rd 2011

Weekly exposé for CBC/Radio-Canada’s television on breaking technological issues and news.  Alexandra Guité scans the Web every week to gather what is happening and what is viral.  On June 3rd 2011, we spoke about :
The software Hidden, uploading photos and videos onTwitter, new Google coupons, smurfs accused of racism and the Canucks on the Web.

Research and concept: Alexandra Guité. Technical Production: Martin-Olivier Huet. Production and broadcast : Radio-Canada/British Columbia: http://bit.ly/kQjRHH. June 2011. 5mins10.

Sound Ecology

Web Documentary. HD. 2010
12 short documentaries scripted, researched, directed, coproduced and edited by Alexandra Guité.
Production: National Film Board and TOXA

http://ecologiesonore.onf.ca/

Urban Soundscape
	Where there is no noise there is no life!		The torture of absolute silence
	Connecting to sounds		Sounds are essential
Suburban Soundscape
	My personal touch		A soundman’s hell
	An important sense
Nature Soundscape
	Sound Refuge		Engine’s Paradise
	Listening to the Farm
Monastery Soundscape
	A silence of presence		Grace

Web Documentary  on the fascinating world of sound, noise and silence as seen by captivating people in intimate portraits.  Rich interactive visual and audio experience of four soundscapes : the city, the countryside, the suburbs and the silence of monastic spaces.   From the journey of the blind Nathalie who guides herself mostly with the help of sounds to the mysteries of silence chambers and the racket of  snowmobiles, passionate and touching people guide us throughout the complex world of sound.

Image : Anna Lupien and Sofiane Belaïd Sound : France Poliseno, Dominique Greffard and Maxime Dumesnil Edited by : Alexandra Guité, Alexandre Leblanc, Étienne Gagnon and Kim Nguyen

Sound Ecology Short films

Urban Soundscape

« Where there is no noise there is no life!  »
Lili Jetté never holds back on what she thinks. Although her home is under a busy highway, she has devloped a unique perspective on sound, community and life. Let’s hear her.

Research, scriptwriting, direction and coproduction: Alexandra Guité . Image : Anna Lupien . Sound : Sonia Poirier . Editing : Alexandra Guité and Etienne Gagnon. Sound Editing and Mix : Geoffrey Mitchell. Special thanks to Frank Desoer, Michel Labrecque, Jody Negley and all the Jetté family.

« The torture of absolute silence  »
Tony Leroux is an audiologist who has dedicated his life to exploring the impact of noises on people’s lives. We follow him as he works his way through the extremes of intense noise pollution and the dead silence of an anechoic chamber.

Research, scriptwriting, direction and coproduction: Alexandra Guité. Image : Sofiane Belaïd. Sound : Dominique Greffard . Editing : Alexandra Guité et Kim X. Nguyen. Sound Editing and Mix : Geoffrey Mitchell. Special thanks to Mathieu Régnier, Marc Schoenwiesner and the International Laboratory for Brain Music and Sound Research (BRAMS)

« Connecting to sounds »
Max Stein, student of electro-acoustic music, is passionate about cities’ soundscapes. He organizes Sound Walks to soak in the city’s sounds in order to better hear his city … and his environment.

Research, scriptwriting, direction and coproduction: Alexandra Guité. Image : Sofiane Belaïd. Sound : Dominique Greffard . Editing : Alexandra Guité and Etienne Gagnon. Sound Editing and Mix : Geoffrey Mitchell. Special thanks to Mathieu Régnier and all the participants of the Sound Walk.

« Sounds are essential »
Nathalie Chartrand, President of the Athlectic’s Association of the Blind of Québec, is blind. She relies mostly on sounds to orientates herself throughout the city. We followed her through noisy highways and crowded metros as she weaved her way to work.

Research, scriptwriting, direction and coproduction: Alexandra Guité. Image : Anna Lupien. Sound : Sonia Poirier. Editing : Alexandra Guité and Etienne Gagnon. Editing and Mix : Geoffrey Mitchell.

Suburban Soundscape

« My personal touch »
Erick Gosselin is president of a group of Car tuning fans. The strong sound of his modified car is music to his year, in spite of anyone’s complaints. Journey into an individualistic perspective on sound pollution.

Research, scriptwriting, direction and coproduction: Alexandra Guité. Image : Anna Lupien. Sound : Maxime Dumesnil. Editing : Alexandre Leblanc. Sound Editing: François Lafrenière. Mix : Geoffrey Mitchell. Special thanks to David Pieropan, Anne-Marie Archambault and the members of Club Xtreem Kustoms Crew.

« A soundman’s hell »
There are some sounds soundman Jean Verrette just cannot stand as he journeys through Montreal’s suburban jungle

Research, scriptwriting, direction and coproduction: Alexandra Guité. Image : Anna Lupien. Sound: France Poliseno. Editing : Alexandra Guité and Kim X. Nguyen. Sound Editing: François Lafrenière. Mix : Geoffrey Mitchell. Special thanks to the Francs-Tireurs tv show.

« An important sense »
Christian Chaffée became deaf working on a big construction machine. He knows all too well the isolation and sadness that come from living in forced silence.

Research, scriptwriting, direction and coproduction: Alexandra Guité . Image : Anna Lupien . Sound : Maxime Dumesnil . Editing : Kim X. Nguyen. Sound Editing : François Lafrenière. Mix : Geoffrey Mitchell. Special thanks to Victorien Pilote, Louis Bergeron, Pierre Morin, the town of Saint-Bruno de Montarville and all it’s workers.

Nature Soundscape

« Sound Refuge »
Park Ranger Jean-Philippe Genest takes us on a visit of a national park that strikes a balance between natural preservation and intense human presence in the middle of sprawling suburbia.

Research, scriptwriting, direction and coproduction: Alexandra Guité. Image : Anna Lupien. Sound : Maxime Dumesnil. Editing : Alexandre Leblanc. Sound Editing: François Lafrenière. Mix : Geoffrey Mitchell. Special thanks to SEPAQ, Lucie Boulianne and Serge Perreault.

« Engine’s Paradise »
Christine Gagnon and her wife desperately looked for a little piece of paradise. They never thought they would be so surrounded and bothered. Welcome to their snow mobile heaven. Not exactly what they expected.

Research, scriptwriting, direction and coproduction: Alexandra Guité. Image : Anna Lupien. Sound : Maxime Dumesnil. Editing : Alexandre Leblanc. Sound Editing: François Lafrenière. Mix : Geoffrey Mitchell. Special thanks to Danielle Guimond and the Regroupement québécois contre le bruit (RQCB).

« Listening to the Farm»
Agriculture is in full mutation and animals are living its impact first hand, especially with the growing levels of noise. How are they living the growing noise pollution on farms? Farmer Martin Lavallée takes us on a journey into the industrialization of agriculture.

Research, scriptwriting, direction and coproduction: Alexandra Guité. Image : Anna Lupien . Sound : Alexandre Le Mouël . Editing : Kim X. Nguyen. Sound Editing: François Lafrenière. Mix : Geoffrey Mitchell. Special thanks to Isabelle Lavallée.

Monastery Soundscape

« A silence of presence »
This unique Benedictine Monastery set in the middle of rural Quebec, breathes all kinds of sounds, both spiritual and material. The monks try everyday to reconcile the Christ’s silence, devotional chanting, listening to one another with the loud clamor of the many work operations they

Research, scriptwriting, direction and coproduction: Alexandra Guité. Image : Anna Lupien. Sound : Maxime Dumesnil. Editing : Alexandre Leblanc. Sound Editing: François Lafrenière. Mix : Geoffrey Mitchell. Special thanks to all the community of Monastère Val-Notre-Dame

« Grace »
In her corner of paradise, healer Grace Bubeck nurtures inspiring thoughts on silence, and the effects of noise on one’s interior silence.

Research, scriptwriting, direction and coproduction: Alexandra Guité. Image : Anna Lupien. Sound : France Poliseno. Editing : Alexandre Leblanc. Sound Editing: François Lafrenière. Mix : Geoffrey Mitchell. Special thanks to Andrea Goernitz.

The Rural Series
French CBC (Radio-Canada), 2010. 3 short documentaries on organic agriculture.

John Wilcox’s Wild Garlic
4mins.
Jonh Wilcox has a dream : living of the produces of his land on exquisite Salt Spring Island, BC. After working for more that 20 years at sea in order to afford becoming a farmer, he might this year just sell his best production of fresh, juicy and highly cherished Portuguese Garlic.

Scriptwriting, camera, sound and editing on the road : Alexandra Guité. For the TV show The Rural Series, Radio-Canada/CBC. Producer: Charles Marcoux, 2010.

Sacred lavender
4mins.
Jacqueline Sutton and her husband Ben choose to leave successful but stressful urban careers to pursue a dream of creating a healing lavender farm on magical Salt Spring Island. They are still mystified by the abundance of properties of lavender and so will you be.

Scriptwriting, camera, sound and editing on the road : Alexandra Guité. For theTV show The Rural Series, Radio-Canada/CBC. Producer: Charles Marcoux, 2010.

Ponteix’s rebels
3mins54.
Henri Stringer and his family live in the midst of massive industrial agro-businesses in Saskatchewan. Against all odds and surrounding chemical spraying, they plant with great conviction organic spelt and lentils that are sold around the globe.

Scriptwriting, camera, sound and editing on the road : Alexandra Guité. For the tv show The Rural Series, Radio-Canada. Producer: Charles Marcoux, 2010.

Autumn

Autumn – Automne from Alexandra Guité on Vimeo.

A Film by Alexandra Guité
Fiction. HD. 6mins10. 2010

Charles designs erotic books. Yet, he is excruciatingly shy. That is until he meets Tatiana and everything changes. Autumn is the poetical exploration of an impossible yet luminous and sensual love story. Set in Montreal in the magical fall light, this movie was written, directed and edited in 48h during the Kino filmmakers’ collective film Kabarety.

Scripted, directed, shot and edited in 72h during Montreal’s International Kino Kabaret :

The movie on the website of Kino :
http://www.kino00.com/kabaret/index.php?proj=2&film=automne#film

Presented during Montreal’s Festival du Nouveau Cinéma : http://www.nouveaucinema.ca/2009/fr/

With Christine Beaulieu and Félix Beaulieu-Duchesneau
Image : Anna Lupien
Editors : Jean-François Robichaud and Étienne Gagnon
Sound : Sonia Poirier
Sound edit and mix: François Lafrenière
Original Music: Jérémy Pétrus

The role of my life

.The role of my life from Alexandra Guité on Vimeo.

Mini DV. 10mins42
December 2009

Short film directed with humor and friendship as a Christmas gift for fellow Kino Film Movement member Alexandre Roy.

Every year, members of the Kino film collective* create a short film in homage of a colleague whose name they have drawn.  Films are projected at Kino’s Christmas party.

*Kino is a Montreal based collective of filmmakers who help each other make their films come true.

NB: “The role of my life¨ contains references known by friends of Alexandre Roy.

With Stéphane Moukarzel, André Nadeau, François Jacob, Jean-François Robichaud and Valérie Fortin

Written, directed and produced by Alexandra Guité
Image : Alexandra Guité, Anna Lupien and François Jacob
Editing : Étienne Gagnon

Extracts from Kino films by Alexandre Roy des films kino de Alexandre Roy
Decygne-moi un mouton
Héros Canadiens Français dans l’Espace
Film d’horeur cubiste

Music: Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, Saint-Louis Blues