LILA PINE, PhD.
Primary Thesis Supervisor, Ryerson University
I first studied under Lila in 2007 when I enrolled in a new media course
on interactive theory at Ryerson University. As a new media artist and
theorist, Lila introduced me to a world where art and existentialism meet
technology on a shifting creative ground that challenges every keystroke.
It was a profound learning experience, which defied the restrictive boundaries
of new media that defined the commercial world I had previously traversed.
Lila was the first to encourage me to apply to the Masters of Documentary
Media program at Ryerson, and in 2009 I was fortunate to have her as my
primary supervisor for the blakout project. During earlier consults, Lila
assisted me in creating the larger framework for the work, into which
would fit two years of research and filming. She has always encouraged
me to surmount personal and/or social inhibitions and seek out the circumstances
of every situation in order to gain a fair and balanced perspective. Lila
has challenged this work to examine critical socio-political issues by
referencing a foundation based on ethics, equality and respect.
ALEX ANDERSON, MA
Secondary Thesis Supervisor, Ryerson University
Alex is an advisor and critic of this work in areas of film technique,
editing and structure. As a seasoned documentary filmmaker and editor,
Alex’ instruction has been instrumental to this project – both in the
classroom as a teacher of documentary theory, and as a hands-on advisor
on filmmaking. In the summer of 2010, Alex led Ryerson’s Canadian contingent
to Cuba for a summer documentary workshop taught by Cuban filmmaker and
critic Enrique Colina. With Alex and Colina’s guidance, I scaled a learning
curve from new media to film, while gaining extraordinary insight into
the oppression, and subsequent desperation, of a country silenced by fear.
Alex’ in-depth knowledge on Cuban cinema also inspired me to research
important Cuban filmmakers and social critics such as T.G. Alea and Julio
García Espinosa, whose writings and work have had a significant influence
on my approach to documentary and the blakout project. Alex challenges
the film in this work to be well edited, truthful, educational and entertaining.
spectrum of witness stories. Licensed professionals, with years of hands-on
experience, inform, educate and offer critical observations and recommendations.
Elected politicians are put to task in areas of competence and proposed
solutions.
