In 1999 I was a resident at the Canadian Film Centre (now CFC)'s New Media Lab (formerly called H@bitat). At that time Apple Inc. previewed a hot new digital video editing program called Final Cut Pro. I was very excited about working with this new program and quickly jumped into editing action.

My process creating "Awakening" involved a few stages and some experimentation. I wanted to create a digital experience that would be personal and meaningful. Having had prior experience working in film and theatre I was excited to play with these new tools and tell a story that would be completely my own, so I drew from some old diary entries to relate my experience with cancer in 1993.

The second step was to collect my media. I digitally captured some old VHS transfers of my Dad's Super 8 movies and then used FCP to cut them together with some random video samples supplied with QuickTime. I then recorded an audio narration and edited that into the mix. (I have since digitized the old Super 8's via telecine, achieving a much better quality transfer).

This is digital storytelling, circa '99. Enjoy. :)