It all started at a Toronto open mic last December when Cathy Vance witnessed the compelling voice, music and story of Maria Kasstan. The woman’s tale would haunt Cathy so much it would awaken a decade’s old passion for filmmaking.
For the past 14 years, Cathy has been a Public Health Nurse with the Region of Peel. She is a lactation consultant on the Breastfeeding Team dedicated to helping new mothers learn to properly breastfeed their babies.
Cathy’s interest in filmmaking began in the late seventies when she volunteered with Rogers Cable community channel for eight years, helping to create and host local shows.
“I loved the concept of filming real people and never knowing what they would say next,” says Cathy. “The best part was weaving the footage into a story.”
What may have become a full time pursuit took a backburner role for some years as Cathy devoted her time to being a wife, mother and nurse for the Region. Then came that fateful night in December 2005.
Maria Kasstan stood on stage, sorrowfully singing the details of her husband’s tragic death. Jim Calvert, a gardener on his way to a gardening conference passed away in October 2004 at the age of 57 on a bench outside of Toronto Police Headquarters. His old gardening garb seemed to have repelled passers by, who kept their distance. The only help offered was a call to 911 to report the collapse of “an older street person.” By the time help arrived, Jim had already taken his last breath.
As Cathy sat in the audience, she knew Maria’s story needed to be told. It was a story of how deep-seated stereotypes, social inequity, fear and discrimination can kill people we care about.
“In my work as a nurse, I’ve learned that economic status is a determinant of health. This example of social inequity and discrimination – however unwitting – contributed to a person’s death,” shares Cathy.
After that night, Cathy was motivated to make Maria the subject of a documentary. She talked to a number of contacts she had in the media when friend Trish Kerr, a writer, became deeply interested in the project. Together, they were able to connect with a documentary filmmaker who offered the use of his operator and video editor for a reasonable price.
The cold winter months of February and March saw Cathy and Trish follow Maria from venue to venue, collecting hours of video footage that would be compressed into a 25-minute documentary, Maria and Jim – Love Songs for the Homeless Guy.
Cathy embraces the medium of film for its appeal to both visual and auditory senses and views herself as a chronicler of events and issues. “I thrive when I’m being creative and I have a real interest in using media to bring awareness to social injustices,” says Cathy.
Maria and Jim is an important story. Cathy and Trish have pursued film festivals and television options, knowing very well the stiff competition they face. But for Cathy, the purpose of this film is much deeper than finding success at the box office.
“If after watching our documentary, one person encounters a homeless person and sees the person, not their status, I will feel all the effort involved in this venture was worth it.”
What’s next for Cathy? In addition to continuing her role on Peel Public Health’s Breastfeeding Team, she’s planning to finish writing a book that’s been in the works for some time. She also has plans to make another documentary and she’s already got a few ideas. |
