INTERVIEW • WORKING FOR FOOD // FOOD, ART, COMMUNITY
When a project comes along that really inspires me, I have to share it with others. Working for Food is one such project. Combining film, photography, and writing, Working for Food tells the story of the cycle of the food system, the seasons, and the people in the food industry in Ottawa through unique portraits of 6 people, photographed by 6 photographers, and filmed by one passionate filmmaker.
Food filmmaking is really hitting some high notes these days -- if you haven't watched Chef's Table, you need to drop everything now and binge. From Parts Unknown to The Mind of a Chef to Alberta-based Kevin Kossowan and his series From the Wild to Toronto-based Butternut Productions who are producing In the Weeds TV; food films, particularly documentaries, are telling deep, impactful, beautifully-shot stories. Films about food and the people who grow, cook, serve, and in Working for Food's case even those who deliver it, are exploring topics such as environmental sustainability, respect for indigenous cultures, the economics of the food system, and food as art.
Most of all what all of these food films have in common is that they focus on people.
“This is another side of me. I love Ottawa and the food culture, and my sister is a part of that; I really believe in the story -- the story of following where your food comes from.”
Mike McKay originally came up with the idea for Working for Food while brainstorming with his sister, Jessie Duffy, owner of Arlington Five and Wilf & Ada's here in Ottawa. The two had previously collaborated on a short film about Mariposa Farms, which gave them the impetus to take their storytelling further.
From workingforfood.ca,
Working For Food is a series that follows how food moves through the system from Farmer to Driver, from Gardener to Restaurant, from Brewer to Dairy. These connections show us that food is a major part of our community and the people who are working behind the scenes to bring it to us do so out of passion and commitment to their craft.
This is Mike's first film focused on food. Best known for his web series "Chaos Theory", he is known for his adventure filmmaking, shooting whitewater kayaking, scuba diving, and canyoning in places as far away as Norway and Hawaii. “This is another side of me. I love Ottawa and the food culture, and my sister is a part of that", says McKay. "I really believe in the story -- the story of following where your food comes from.”
With an accompanying series of articles written by Jessie and published in Edible Ottawa, Working for Food is a multimedia project that explores people in the food industry, and also the photographers taking their portraits. "It was very important that there was no direction", McKay says about the photography. His intent was for the photographers to go in with a clean slate and interpret it with their own distinct style. The result is a film series that is not just about the subject, but also about the artists themselves. Duffy and McKay are also present in the film series. First, Working for Food is about the subject, such as Ian Walker, and his story. Second, in more of a true documentary style, the films are about the photographers, the writer, and the director, as the film explores their reaction to, and interaction with, the subject. A unique approach to filmmaking, it had me wondering at times if Dylan wasn't the main subject of part one of the series. McKay is pulling back the curtain to show the photographers' reactions to the farmers, brewers, and cheesemakers, and I like it.
The six episodes in the series work together. They are linked and they move through a calendar year to show the food system at work and to document and celebrate the seasonality of our edible landscape. McKay recruited six photographers, most of whom were local: Remi Theriault, Lawrence Cook, Melissa Andrews, Jeremiah Soucie, Jamie Kronick, and Quebec City-based Dylan Page, who is featured in episode one.
“I'm glad it became a 2-year project because I felt like it gave us a second chance. I learned a lot about the food world.”
The six subjects "working for food" who were showcased include farmer Ian Walker of Mariposa Farm, driver Mitch Fowler, Chef Michael Radford of Whalesbone, urban gardener Courtney-Anne (“CA”) Craft, brewer Patrick Fiori of Clocktower Brewery, and cheesemaker and manager of Mariposa Farm, Suzanne Lavoie.
A challenging passion project done completely without funding, Working for Food's aim is simply to "share these people", McKay says humbly, and "to complete the project and do it right." He is currently seeking support through his crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. “I'm glad it became a 2-year project because I felt like it gave us a second chance", Mike says. "I learned a lot about the food world.”
In episode one, Ian Walker of Mariposa Farms is the focus. Ian's participation was a key jumping-off point to get the project going. "Ian is a catalyst for connections in the community", says Mike. "His approach to farming shouldn't be considered unique, but it is."
Please consider checking out the Indiegogo page where you can make a donation to help Mike finish all six films, in exchange for some really great perks! There is only a month left in this campaign - if you are a supporter of the local Ottawa food scene, please consider giving. This project could continue past these six episodes and expand to feature even more amazing people who are "working for food".
After the Harvest, 2016.