Bill Reid
British Columbian Haida artist Bill Reid, jeweller and wood carver, works on a totem pole in the Haida tradition. The film shows the gradual transformation of a bare cedar trunk into a richly carved pole, a gift from the artist to the people of Skidegate on Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands). Particularly moving is the raising of the pole by the villagers, as Bill Reid stands by.
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directorJack Long
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producerPenni JacquesGeorge Johnson
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executive producerJohn Taylor
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cameraJack LongDavid GeddesRudy Pentisch
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soundRichard PattonRobert Young
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editingGeorge Johnson
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sound editingJohn Knight
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re-recordingBarry P. Jones
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animationSvend-Erik Eriksen
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musicFred StrideDave Robbins
Students could research a history of the Haida in British Columbia, especially the art of carving totem poles from the cedars. What do these poles represent for the Haida people? Consider the skills that are involved in making woodcarvings, especially something of this magnitude. Does the fact that the carver uses electrical tools diminish the authenticity of his work?
