The Frozen Goose at Hamilton Film Festival, 2017

The Frozen Goose - a film by M.L.Holton

It's OFFICIAL! ~ 

The Frozen Goose will be screening at Hamilton Film Festival.

Mark calendars for Nov. 8th, 7pm - 'Ontario Shorts!' program.
At wonderful theatre space - Cinestarz Burlington

Event listing:  https://www.facebook.com/HamiltonFilmFestival/posts/904118356412288

Ticket info:  https://www.bruha.com/event/2002

UPDATE: Sept.25th -  Tickets selling fast! Almost sold out!
UPDATE: Oct 18th - SECOND SCREENING set up. Nov. 9th.

Don't delay if you want to catch this Canadian classic WW1 family drama on the big screen! Fun for the whole family.

Also thrilled to report that this 25 minute film has been picked up by educational distributor,  McIntyre Media.  It is in their fall catalogue, available to rent or buy. (It has also been included in their Remembrance Day package.) And, #TheFrozenGoose will be broadcast on COGECO on Nov. 11th at 1pm & 7:30pm, and again on Nov. 12th at 1:30pm. Check your service provider's schedule for dates & show times.

UPDATE: Dec 12th - A special one-time Christmas airing is happening on CABLE 14, Dec. 17th, 6pm. Tune in then! Rogers and COGECO subscribers can live-stream. 

Or - Watch on-line through my secured portal: 

https://thefrozengoose.vhx.tv

The Frozen Goose, Canadian Film - One Year Later

One Year Later - Final scene location for The Frozen Goose film

 

 One year ago today, after nine months of rehearsals, the local cast & crew dove in for an intense 6 days of film-making in North Burlington, Milton and at Westfield Heritage Village in southern Ontario, Canada.

One year later, this completed 25 minute Canadian film, about the psychic devastation that World War One wrought on one rural family, is a Reel Keeper! - Thanks to a superb cast: Leslie Gray as 'Leslie', John Fort as 'Tom', Rod McTaggart as 'Uncle Harry' - with youngsters Hannah Ralph playing 'Bella' & Cameron Brindle as 'Charlie! - Plus, a shout-out to local film champion, Nathan Fleet for keeping me rolling in the right direction during all aspects of production.

Clockwise: Two young stars, Hannah Ralph as 'Bella' & Cameron Brindle as 'Charlie', ruby red mittens made for the shoot, Cover Shot from The View Magazine review in December, 2016, plus DVDs on display at Canadian library.

(Here are some additional  'behind-the-scenes' from the 1st Day of the shoot.)

Releasing on September 11th, 2016, with a World Premiere at the Art Gallery of Burlington, it was very gratifying to see & hear audience's reaction, (from 2 sold-out screenings), for all the hard work all had put in. Overall, since 2014, there have been 18 pieces of PRESS written about this film.  The First Edition DVDs also sold out within the first two weeks of release.

Slowly but surely, as Producer, Director and Writer, I am now planning the BEST way to carry this small, yet timely, project forward ... Two distributors have offered Contracts. But, in the current topsy-turvy world of internet broadcasting, their EXCLUSIVE 5 to 7-year terms may not be, in fact, the best way ahead ... While I weigh out the pros and cons of this aspect of production, this wonderful family-friendly film is now Available ON-LINE  - GIVE A GANDER!

Cameron Brindle, as 'Charlie', getting ready for Take 4 at another private location in Halton County.

 Watch & Share The FROZEN GOOSE on-line 

at: https://thefrozengoose.vhx.tv/

Terrific Review of The FROZEN GOOSE in The View!

Front Cover of The View - Current Edition, Dec 2016

 Thrilled by this review (with a  FRONT COVER!) by Canadian film critic, Rachel More. 

Very complimentary, perceptive & kind. 

What a Christmas gift! 

Having trouble reading? 

Try the on-line version - Swipe thru to PAGE 13. 
Back issue: Volume 22, Issue 49. Dec 15-22nd, 2016.) 

164th Rockton Worlds Fair - Thanksgiving Weekend 2016

The Rockton World's Fair, is a super family-friendly agricultural Fall Fair located on the large Rockton fairgrounds just off Hwy 8, between Cambridge & Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

From hamsters to horses, with 'live' judging of well-bred livestock and multiple food competitions (the 'biggest' pumpkin, best pies & pickled preservatives etc.), good-spirited competitive sportsmanship permeates the entire event. The local 4H farming community is heavily involved. Drawing from all around the area, youngsters & oldsters alike, get in on the act.

A small portion of the fair is devoted to a circus-type 'carnival' with typical circus rides, cotton candy & balloon-popping entertainments. Live music comes & goes.

Indoors, through the fair buildings, various displays of antiques, quilts, and unique clothing by the long-standing Woman's Institute entice with their superior skills, radiating with the common-sense of solid home-keeping.

There are also various levels of art & photography displays, ranging from children's concepts to adult executions. I am thrilled to have one of my paintings included in the 'Country Scene' Art Section of the Rockton World's Fair this year. The painting below effectively evokes the stillness of Dusk: when the skies are still & the wind drops down to a whisper, in the slow boat ride home ...

Dusk - by M.L.Holton / oil on board / framed -
Rockton Fair: Section 78, Class 19 - 'Country Scene'

   Come on Out with the Family! Wander the grounds, experience the sights & sounds of a proper country fall fair. (You may even be tempted grab a mustard-relish-smeared foot-long hot dog ...)

Admission prices, map & other vital info are listed below. Best to just pop over to their website for any other particulars.  Hope to see you there!

(I hope to be in attendance on Saturday for 4-5 hours, mid-day to dusk, weather permitting.)

Dress country, of course ... :)   

Come On Over!! 

The Rockton World's Fair LINK.

Rockton Worlds Fair - Between Cambridge & Hamilton, just off Hwy 8, in the village of Rockton.

Dropped off my piece yesterday - fairground is getting 'set up' ...

 Composite - Photography by M.L.Holton

UPDATE: Woohoo! - Won 2nd Prize, 'Open Art Class: Country Scene' 
(Posted a wee 3 min video of the fair on Saturday afternoon, on Facebook)

Plus, here's my ribbon!  woohoo!

 

Telling Tales Festival 2016, at Westfield Heritage Village

Main Stage Audience at Telling Tales Festival 2016 - Photo by M.L.Holton

I had the good fortune of attending my first Telling Tales Festival (now in it's 8th year) at Westfield Heritage Village this past Sunday. What a joy-filled & brilliant event this is!

The Festival convincingly engages & entertains on multiple levels, all geared towards developing and encouraging interest in literacy for youngsters. The focus is 'story-telling' at its very finest.

A 'Good Book' gives so much, much more then just 'a story'. Converting a child to read in this current age of 'screen dominance' is, seemingly, an up-hill battle. But, as the author, Dr.Daniel Coleman, rightly explains in this video, literacy can OPEN a child's IMAGINATION in ways unimaginable by just vision-based content. It creates complex synaptic associations that build the ground-work for future constructive & creative thinking. It envelops the MIND in worlds outside of one's own experience or knowledge. All told, a Good Book nurtures a profound love of the essential 'code' of language - WORDS. 

What follows are my own impressions from my first visit to this heart-warming Festival. It's like nothing I've ever seen or heard before.  I truly wish 'Telling Tales' would SPREAD nation-wide like wildfire ...

Much credit must go to the Festival founder, Susan Jasper: a woman with a clear & well-developed innate literate VISION ... KUDOS to the WHOLE 'Telling Tales' team!!

And, next year, For Sure, GO with your Children!

Impressions of Telling Tales Festival 2016 from canadada on Vimeo.

Footage from Premiere of The FROZEN GOOSE

NB: This is my first time posting with Bloggers innate video tool.
FYI,  it does NOT link to Youtube, so don't bother popping over there ...
(You can use the bracket tool on the lower right corner to enlarge the video to full-screen.
 Quality is not so hot when you do that. So far, it seems to work on PCs, but not on APPLE mobile products.)

Canadian artist/filmmaker, Margaret Lindsay Holton, introduces Mayor Rick Goldring at the World (!) Premiere of The FROZEN GOOSE at the Art Gallery of Burlington, (Ontario, Canada) on September 11th, 2016.  The Mayor offers up amusing insights into acting & local film production ... Missing is second speaker, CEO of the Art Gallery, Robert Steven. No footage of that.

Canadian Fiddler  David Clarence MacLean sets the pace for the 1st screening of classic Canadian short story The FROZEN GOOSE, during the World Premiere at the Art Gallery of Burlington (Ontario, Canada) on September 11th, 2016.

Between the two screenings of the FROZEN GOOSE, fab folk group Whiskey Epiphany - led by fiddler extraordinaire (and cast member) David Clarence MacLean - entertain with toe-tapping traditional rural reels. Excerpts of that fine performance are included in this final clip.

All footage generously supplied to MLH Productions by David's wonderful mum, Judy Holbrook.
THANKS JUDY!

FASM Fall Studio Tour, 2016! - M.L.Holton Pinhole Photos and Cameras, at Doris Treleaven's Metalworking Studio

Wow. Just got the snazzy looking brochures for the Fine Art Society of Milton Fall Studio Tour. 

36 artists at 26 different locations in and around the Escarpment area of Milton, Ontario.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

TWO DAY TOUR: 10am -5pm

Very please to announce that this year I will be showing as a 'Guest' of Doris Treleaven, a metal worker of both big and small projects. Her studio is HUGE! (Location 25, on above map.)  From my end, I'll be showcasing my pinhole photography  as well as giving small demos with my hand-made pinhole cameras, (no darkroom though!).

 AWARD WINNING Pinhole PHOTOGRAPHY

Copyright: ' Granny's Lounger'  by M.L.Holton (Canada)

Come check us out at LOCATION 25 on the map, 13016 5th Line. Just NORTH of Limehouse, EAST of Acton and WEST Georgetown. Very easy to find, SOUTH off Hwy 7.  The map/brochures are available around the area, starting this week, LOOK for them.

And/or download your own map/brochure, via FASM website in LATE AUGUST.

UPDATE, Oct 4th: A few quiet moments from this year's tour .... All in all, given the gray weather, it was surprisingly busy  - with people coming from as far afield as Toronto, Barrie and downtown. Oakville!  Doris's studio, just outside of Acton (as marked above, and seen below), is a treasure trove for eclectic 'metal-art' shoppers. She uses other materials too, like stain glass & wood etc., on commissions. If passing thru the area, make sure you do take 1/2 an hour to check out this truly unique artist & her busy workshop.

Short 12 minute documentary of Doris's metal-working 

studio now published on Raise the Hammer.

UPDATE: Nice bit of press from the Milton Champion. 
(Note -  tour has ALWAYS run for two days, that's nothing 'new'.) 
UPDATE: ha - who knew?!? Was also listed as a 'Culture Days' event, (listed by FASM.)

UPDATE, Jan, 2017.
Cleaning up the2016  desk top, came on this shot of my set-up.
Not the best shot, but hey, posterity! 

 

Get TICKETS to Canadian Premiere of The FROZEN GOOSE @ Art Gallery of Burlington

Please join the Cast & Director

at the Art Gallery of Burlington 

on Sunday, September 11th, 3-5pm.

Please note, there will be TWO screenings, (choose which one you prefer) at 3:15pm or 4pm, with a 'live' musical INTERLUDE by Whiskey Epiphany, and some fancy fiddling, before and aft, by fiddler extraordinaire, David Clarence MacLean. Surprise guests will head up the presentation. After the second screening, there will be a 15 min Q&A with the cast &  Director, Margaret Lindsay Holton.

TICKETS Now Available! - On-line ONLY -
via EVENTBRITE 

 LINK: Order yours HERE! 

Low Resolution OFFICIAL TRAILER below:

The FROZEN GOOSE - TeaserTrailer 2 -with PRE-ORDER Link

Releasing SEPTEMBER, 2016. 

Pre-Order your Home-Use DVD Today! 

The Frozen Goose - Teaser Trailer 1 - with PRE-ORDER LINK

Releasing SEPTEMBER, 2016. 

Pre-Order your Home-Use DVD Today! 

#TheFrozenGoose CANADIAN SHORT FILM Update

As some of you know, I'm doing a short film, The Frozen Goose, based on a published short story of mine of the same name. We've found some astounding private locations, as seen below, but we NEED Mother Nature to co-operate. We NEED below freezing temps for 2 weeks SOLID, to insure safety on the lake. (And we could use a bit more snow ...)  But, overall, SWEET!  - All coming together nicely. We SHOOT from February 6th to the 12th. Aiming for Release FALL 2016.

Follow along with cast & crew during pre-production via Facebook, Twitter or via dedicated website.

 

10th Annual Hamilton Film Festival - m.l.holton

Thrilled to announce that my short documentary about David Lambert: The Fastest Knot Tyer in Canada has been officially selected for the Documentary Short program for the 10th Annual Hamilton Film Festival. Running for one week during the early part of November this festival is WIDE-RANGING with over 200 films, a film expo, and entertainment throughout.

More info here: http://www.hamiltonfilmfestival.com/ 

My effort will be showing with a few other short great films - 
WEDNESDAY November 4th, 7pm - $10
STAIRCASE THEATRE, 27 Dundurn Street N. 
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada 

Originally produced as an embed for a published article on Raise the Hammer in 2014, it's going to be a thrill to see it on the BIG SCREEN - Don't Miss It!

 

 

Director, Margaret LIndsay Holton, 

photo by A. Hornby, from Snapd Hamilton

Launch of THE FROZEN GOOSE - Part 3. INDIEGOGO LINK

It's OFFICIAL!! Join Us!!  Indiegogo campaign is now LIVE - 
NEW perks & Updates added - Sept 11th, 2015

So thrilled to have such great support from those in the arts & film community.  Keep 'em coming folks - only 22 days to go!!  

UPDATE: 6 days to go! It would appear that we've not done so well on the Indiegogo campaign, but thanks to 'private' contributions, like arts impresario Robert Missen and famed Canadian artist, Charles Pachter, we're much closer to a 'start point'. Thanks be to everyone who has pitched in to help make this happen! Your pennies do count! Please do chip in what you can before October 5th. Cheers!   

UPDATE, October 7th: DONE. Well, we didn't get anywhere NEAR what we'd hoped. STILL - because of other generous 'outside' contributions, we do have 'Lift Off'. This production is now fully in 'pre-production'. Aiming for - Release - in the September of 2016.  

Follow along on our Facebook 'fanpage', The Frozen Goose, or on Twitter, @TheFrozenGoose. Thanks everyone!  Lots of 'serious fun'! On & UP!

Sounds of Summer - VIDEO

Ambient sound is the single most important element in any film ... It is the backdrop for all dialogue and action. Get it right, and the 'texture' goes unnoticed, get it wrong and the entire film can be jeopardized. Be sure, when on location, to record the ESSENTIAL sounds of place ...Offered here on my two channels: canadada on VIMEO & MLH Productions on YouTube. It is the same video. - Which format do you prefer?  (UPDATE: Consensus is in. VIMEO for better quality, but YouTube for efficiency & better public reach ... )

Actor Jens Hansen as Canadian poet, Robert W. Service

Robert W. Service, Courtesy of Wikipedia CC.

Local actor Jens Hansen performs a spell-binding rendition of Robert Sevice's 'The Cremation of Sam McGee' ~ in the persona of the poet. This short film below has been made as a video embed for a review that I'm doing of the poet's life & major works for Brick Books of Canada: 'In Celebration of Canadian Poetry'. To be published in October, 2015.

UPDATE: October 29th, 2015 - NOW UP on Brick Books of Canada, in 'Celebration of Canadian Poetry'.