Quebec City Premiere of Samuel de Champlain Documentary Draws Acclaim
DATE: February 17, 2010
CONTACT: Joanna Cummings
PHONE: 518-563-9770 ext. 127
EMAIL: jcummings@mountainlake.org
Plans in the Works for French Language Versions of Film and Website
Plattsburgh, NY - Dead Reckoning ~ Champlain in America—a fully-animated documentary about Samuel de Champlain’s explorations in North America—was screened at a private gathering at the Auberge Saint-Antoine on January 22, and shown in public at the Musée de la Civilization on January 23, both in Quebec City, Quebec. The Mountain Lake PBS production that transforms 17th century history into ‘animated’ reality drew acclaim from both audiences for its accurate portrayal and unique interpretation of Champlain’s journeys in the New World.
The Quebec screenings were organized with the support of Evan Price of the Auberge Saint-Antoine and Hélène Page of the Musée de la Civilization. The goal of the private screening at the Auberge Saint-Antoine was to obtain funding to create a French-language version of the film for future distribution throughout Canada. The donations received from the Price Family Foundation and Le Centre de la Francophonie des Amériques will support the creation of a French-language version of the documentary’s website, champlaininamerica.org.
This was the second successful premiere of the documentary about the “Father of Quebec” in Canada. During December of 2009, Dead Reckoning was shown at Concordia University’s de Sève Cinema in Montreal. A discussion with the animators and producers of the film followed each premiere, detailing research and animation processes that resulted in the first historically accurate documentary about Champlain.
Like the subject of the media project, Dead Reckoning ~ Champlain in America explores new territory, drawing on current American and Canadian academic research and scholarship, and collaborating with cutting-edge animators and filmmakers on both sides of the border. Colin Powers, director of production at Mountain Lake PBS, conceived the project and recruited award-winning filmmaker Frank Christopher to write and produce Dead Reckoning. Marc Hall, president of Artifex Animation Studios, directed and supervised the creation of the animation, graphic and Web components of the production.
Powers saw an opportunity with animation to engage many audiences, young and old, in telling the story of this legendary northern explorer. But his production team needed to depict 17th century North America accurately, its environments and people with historical credibility, and animation gave them the flexibility to do that. When conceptualizing this state-of-the-art portrayal of Champlain in America, the goal was to create a regionally-significant educational media project, not just a documentary.
In consultation with local and New York State agencies and academic institutions, Mountain Lake PBS created educational content that meets state curriculum and K-12 educational needs. Interactive lesson plans and supportive Web-based content were created, suitable for a number of educational outlets. “The timing was right for a production that celebrates the 400th anniversary of Champlain’s journeys,” stated Mountain Lake PBS CEO and President Alice Recore, “but with interactive lesson plans and a website to accompany this documentary, it becomes a learning experience beyond entertainment.”
This media project was a result of partnerships between Mountain Lake PBS and the Lakes to Locks Passage and America’s Byways, the New York State Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial, Northline Utilities, the Province of Quebec, the Lake Champlain Basin Program and Clinton County, NY. For more information about the documentary contact Mountain Lake PBS at 1-518-563-9770.
Mountain Lake PBS reaches over 3.9 million viewers in New York, Vermont, Quebec and Ontario, and produces award-winning local programs and documentaries. Mountain Lake devotes at least eight hours a day to programming for children from preschool through school age.
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