Oct
2
We are famous!
Oct 2012
By Doreen Marion Gee
I always knew that the James Bay Beacon would eventually be noticed by Hollywood! After all we are marvellous, aren't we (sorry Billy Crystal)? It turns out that your intrepid reporter was right - well, almost. Our (not so) little community newspaper and my writer's words have been definitely recognized by a Canadian Film Company and producer, The Mark Gordon Company, and Thunder Bay Film Inc. Productions.
In 2010, I interviewed the Vancouver director/producer/writer, Michael French, 
and the Vancouver actor, Jim Byrnes, about "Heart of a Dragon", a documentary movie about Rick Hansen's agonizing climb up the Great Wall of China in a wheelchair. The movie was an amazing study of human courage. It made me very proud of our own B.C. Man in Motion.
Here is the blog that I wrote for the Beacon in October 2010:
"On October 29, 2010, the Odeon Theatre in Victoria will be showing a spectacular new movie about the epic journey of Rick Hansen, our very own Man in Motion. Heart of a Dragon tells the gut-wrenching tale of Hansen's arduous climb up the Great Wall of China. You are there "up close" to see courage and tenacity played out against the exquisite beauty of a far eastern landscape. This movie will challenge every pre-conceived idea about people with disabilities and is a "must-see" event. Please see my full article in the December Beacon on this poignant movie that left an imprint on my heart and soul."
The publicity professionals promoting the movie liked my comments in the blog.
Fast forward to fall, 2012, and certain phrases of my review are on the cover of the newly released DVD of "Heart of a Dragon." It is all quite exciting! I feel honoured that they picked my words out of many media reviews and I am especially happy that our newspaper also gets the limelight.
It has been an interesting journey. Along the way, I was in contact with Blaise J. Noto, a USA marketing and publicity expert who promoted the movie. He put my Beacon article on their Face Book page, saying that it was "terrific." I was blushing after receiving an email from him saying that he thought my piece was "beautiful." I love to brag to my friends about my one and only - and extremely remote - real connection to Hollywood. Blaise Noto has worked with Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and other stars. He also designed the Academy Awards campaigns for huge movies like the Oscar-winning "Titanic." Come on readers, I can dream! Stop chuckling right now.
We can all be proud of the Beacon for our important role in the community. This just gives us one more reason to kick up our heels!
Here are the memorable words on the DVD cover: "Spectacular, a must see event. This movie left an imprint on my heart and soul. Doreen Marion Gee, James Bay Beacon."