I’m taking a short break from doing screenplay breakdowns to bring you a brief post. Back in the mid 80s, after I my volunteer days at Cable Regina, I enrolled in the University of Regina’s Film Program. One of the films I did was a strange journey involving a ‘Driver’, ‘The Wheelchair Man’ and a character by the name of ‘Lindsay’. Though there is a linear plot about a killer on the road, driving a Ford Galaxy to destinations unknown, don’t ask me what it’s about. But there’s something about the film I still love, maybe because it’s a half-baked cocktail of ideas. Perhaps it’s my-then-art-school-nihilism combined with Ronald Reagan’s vague threats of a nuclear apocalypse. Mix those notions-up with a lot of hanging out at the University pub called ‘The Lazy Owl’ and you have this weird little number called ‘Outskirts’. It’s 19 minutes long, shot on 16mm black and white. As a matter of fact, it’s the only project of mine that I ever shot on actual film stock. Ever. And that was in 1987/88.
The other thing I remember was financing it myself after a car accident. You see I was driving a 1967 Monkey-shit brown Chevy Malibu that never let me down. On a winter day, a girl slid into the back of my car. The front end of her car crumpled and mine received a mere dent. Instead of fixing the bumper and a minor injury to my 400-dollar boat, I used the insurance money to make a film. Pretty stupid, but worth it to me in the end. How else was I going to buy film?
Anyway, long story short, I shot on film, had it transferred to ¾ inch tape and edited from there- cutting edge over 20 years ago The only remaining copy is now on VHS (so forgive the shoddy screen captures). Just thought I’d post this for a few friends out there since I’ve been on a bit of a nostalgia trip of late. A short ‘trailer’ is at the end for your viewing.
Cheers,
Trev

