On a lighter note

I watched what must have been the oddest film ever made the other day. It's a Russian art-house movie called "Russian Ark." The story is not really a story at all; rather it's a conversation between a 18th-century French Marquis and the director of the movie, one Alexandre Sukurov, about Russian culture and history.
That's the barebones of the film. The novel thing is that it takes you through 300 yeas of history surrounding the Hermitage Museum, the castle in St. Petersbourg that was home to Catherine the Great, the Tsars, etc. So you see all of these various time periods depicted as the two characters - the Marquis and the camera, narrated by the director, wander throughout this gigantic castle/museum.
Now, if that were'nt odd enough, the entire film has no editing whatsoever. In other words, the entire movie is one long, intricate, sleep-inducing (at parts!) single take. So that means that there were 2000 actors sitting around in this castle waiting for the camera to get to them so they could do their part... and if anyone flubbed anything, the entire film would be ruined. And yet they pulled it off.

So, if you're into the artsy-type of movies, this one'll blow your mind.

Summit with 500 youth

Eh all. Last saturday I went to a Eucharistic Adoration event called "The Summit." I think I've mentioned it before. This month it was at St. Mary's in Vancouver, and let me tell you it was awesome. They combined the teenager and college-level events together, and the result was 500 kids, many of whom were in tears (at times, that included me). At these events, young people bring up a vigil candle and place it on the altar beside the Blessed Sacrament while praise and worship music is sung.

I had the opportunity to film the event for S+L TV; they're interested in the footage for a special they're doing on eucharistic adoration. Those from Vancouver might remember last March when the monstrance blessed by JP2 was here; they came out and filmed that for the same story.

And then just yesterday I got to interview one of our local priests on the history of the devotion, for the same project.

So my work for S+L is only slightly hindered by not actually being in Toronto!
Anyway. Tomorrow is the life chain. I would encourage everybody to go out to witness to the tragedy of abortion.

updating sporadically throughout the year

Eh to all three of my devoted readers. I will be updating every so often - some more, some less - and I will try to keep you up to date on such things as school, S+L stuff, some interesting tidbits from the classes I'm taking, and stuff in general.

Here's something to whet your appetite:

"To adore the Lord in the Eucharist is to participate in the life of the Saints in heaven."

Which Saint/Blessed whose biography I'm currently reading said this?

I'll give you a hint: it's a modern incorruptible.

I'm on tonight at 7:00 ET and 8:00 PT

Eh everybody. If you get S+L, watch at 7:00 ET and 8:00 PT and you'll see me doing the evening news. And by doing it, I mean I'm actually on camera.




Don't snicker.

A quick tour around the studio

Richmond street. This building is owned by the Gagliano family, who own St. Joseph Communications, Salt and Light Media Foundation, and several magazines including Toronto Life and Brides Today. They are all in the same building:

Salt and Light TV has the first floor:

The reception area is run by Flan, whose appartment we helped move mid-august (see the post "What a way to spend a Saturday"):

First room you run into is our studio. It currently has two permanent sets, with a third to be completed shortly. Please excuse the mess, that's my fault:

Exit the studio, and on your right is our workspace:

This one's mine:

Walk around to the back of the station and you'll find this charming picture of our boss with... the Boss.

Behind you is the chapel. The top of the altar is from the base of the one used at the final Mass at Downsview for WYD02. The chair at the top right is the one the Pope used:

On your right is the dining room. The table is from Strawberry Island, and JP2 ate lunch off of it during his time there. This is the busyest place in the office at any given time:

Well, that's your quick tour around the office. I'm leaving tomorrow (the b-day of Our Lady, and also my own birthday) for Vancouver to start my fourth year of Philosophy studies at the seminary.

And this is me pretending to look like I know what I'm doing:

Anyhow, ciao for now.