Category: writing

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TIFF day 3

Oh my god, it’s hard to keep up. Even a slow day like today involves 3 parties or something. I actually had time to watch a film – Bobcat Goldthwait’s odd after-school special about a girl who blows a dog, called “Sleeping Dogs Lie.” So I’ll start slow with this picture from last night of an NDP sign in the local provincial by-election. No comment necessary.

This was on the same Parkdale corner where, during daylight hours, there was a cop standing around in a residential neighbourhood just leaning on a fence, waiting for something. I must admit, travelling the world far and wide I’ve never seen a cop just standing in a residential neighbourhood, doing nothing but wait, all alone. Odd. Continue reading “TIFF day 3”

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Georgia Straight interview with Flick

Forgot to blog this Georgia Straight interview back when it came out – so here it is.

I discuss the Big New Vancouver International Film Centre (VIFC) and its lack of Canadian programming.

This article was sparked (I believe) by an anonymous email that included me in the CC line. Apparently I am the go-to guy for independent cinema rabble-rousing in this town, which isn’t a bad thing. Pieta Wooley refused to interview the mystery person anonymously by email, but here’s what she got out of me, on the record:

It’s an interesting issue, this is the first time my attention’s been drawn to it. I’m interested to know why this Sam Sam entity chose me as the kaka-disturber… But I’ll take the bait!

Continue reading “Georgia Straight interview with Flick”

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Marie Tyrell Premiere – March 1 in Vancouver

marie tyrellHey Folks!

This is to let you know about the VANCOUVER PREMIERE screening of MARIE TYRELL, my latest production. All the info is below.

Check the website for images, trailer and so on…

1974 meets 2006: Underground Vancouver filmmaker Flick Harrison
adapts D.M. Fraser’s tour de force, Marie Tyrell

Marie Tyrell is a humanizing portrait of a woman on death row, from inquisitive teen to uncompromising revolutionary leader. Like the 1974 short story by legendary local author D.M Fraser, Harrison weaves multiple perspectives, splintered time and forceful poetic language into a startling examination of the politics of dissent.

*BEST NARRATIVE FILM – Northwest Film and Video Fest*
Continue reading “Marie Tyrell Premiere – March 1 in Vancouver”

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Why the Low-budget Filmmaking Glut will be Good

Some people complain that filmmaking is becoming too inexpensive, and now anyone thinks they can make a film. They say this will result in a glut of bad films.

Well, what did we have before? Too many good films?

Anyone who says this is an elitist arse. When they complain about too many people making films, they most certainly do not mean themselves. No, they have surpassed some mystical benchmark of divine birthright, involving a combination of ‘natural’ talent, intelligence, and insight combined with superior upbringing, and they therefore have a right to consider themselves an artist.

Bollocks!

Continue reading “Why the Low-budget Filmmaking Glut will be Good”

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REDEFINING THE HORSE RACE

[The following article was written shortly after I followed David Orchard on his Vancouver Island Tour in 1998, and while I was producing a promotional video for Orchard’s 1998 Progressive Conservative Party leadership campaign.]

David Orchard doesn’t need to convert the PC elite to stop globalization. He just needs to be heard by voters
by Patrick Harrison

The media believes in horse-race reporting, i.e. here comes Clark, Clark’s coming down, coming up behind it’s Segal, Segal moving up, Clark’s looking over his shoulder, here comes Segal as they move into the first turn… Say that out loud as fast as you can, and you’ll have a good idea what to expect out of the press in the months leading up to the PC leadership race.

That’s why you may get very little chance to hear what anyone, let alone David Orchard, actually has to say about anything.  But if you do, listen very carefully.  Orchard combines the analytical relentlessness of Noam Chomsky with the charisma and flair for realpolitik of Pierre Trudeau.  Stompin’ Tom Connors, on hearing of Orchard for the first time, immediately ordered all his writings and speeches (there’s a hefty whack of them) and pledged undying support.  It is this power of conversion Orchard is now focusing full-force on the Conservative Party of Canada.

Continue reading “REDEFINING THE HORSE RACE”