A project debuting next week will combine film, music and history in an experience its organizers are calling “an interactive live documentary.”

“It’s exciting and it’s scary,” says film professor Kim Nelson, one of several UWindsor professors engaged in 130-Year Road Trip, which will premiere November 2 during the Windsor International Film Festival. “Like any live event, there is a frisson, because anything can happen.”

The work explores research by history professor Rob Nelson on the influence of Canadian settlement practices on Germany. He traces the 1883 journey of Max Sering, who was recruited to conduct a fact-finding mission on Canada’s settlement of its western territories.

Sering reported back to chancellor Otto von Bismarck that Canadian methods might be applicable to efforts to “Germanize” Slavic areas on the empire’s eastern borders — which became twisted by Nazi ideology into racial theories that culminated in the Holocaust.

To tell this story, the team assembled a film by Kim Nelson from visuals shot by film professor Min Bae and alumnus Eric Boucher, audiovisual event documentation by MFA student Svjetlana Oppen, narrated by Rob Nelson, with music and interactive programming in Max software by creative arts professor Brent Lee.

Following a screening, the live portion of the event comes into play, as questions from the audience will find response in additional footage, material and music both composed and improvised. It’s a “deconstructed documentary,” says Kim Nelson, with the discussion guiding the content and images.

“Instead of just answering the questions, we can crack open the film,” she says. “Instead of reading about how there are multiple perspectives, the audience will experience that.”

She says this new approach will result in a work that has never quite been done this way before and will never be performed quite the same way again.

“The hope is to engage the audience so that they are more than just viewers, but participants. It will allow people some agency, letting them into the editing phase of production.”

The live premiere of 130-Year Road Trip is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 2, in the Capitol’s Kelly Theatre, 121 University Avenue West. Find a trailer, details and ticket info on the festival’s website.

The Windsor International Film Festival will launch next week with a screening of Things to Do, a uniquely local movie produced by Mike Stasko, a professor in the Department of Communications, Media and Film. This years’ edition of WIFF coincides with the movie’s 10th anniversary.

“I'm really excited for the film to be experienced by a new generation, especially my students,” says Stasko. “Films kind of only exist when there is an audience watching them and reacting to them. So the screening is really giving new life to something.”

The movie recounts the adventures of a young man who quits his big city job and returns to his hometown.

“Things to Do was a purely Windsor production, shot here, made by Windsorites and a lot of U of Windsor alumni,” says Stasko, adding that his students are more familiar with his most recent film, The Birder. “It will be fun to see them react to something I made a while ago, when I was closer to their age.”

Things to Do will be screened at 8:30 p.m., November 1 at the Capitol Theatre. Admission is $14 for adults and $9 for students. For tickets and more information, visit WIFF’s website.

—Loren Mastracci

A breakfast reception Wednesday honoured 84 Lancer student-athletes selected as Academic all-Canadians by Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

Recognizing academic and athletic excellence, the honour requires varsity athletes to earn a minimum grade point average of 80 per cent. See a full list of this year’s recipients at goLancers.ca.

Students, staff and faculty will get one last chance this semester to patronize the campus farmers’ market. The final market of the season runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today — Thursday, October 27.

Vendors will sell fruits and vegetables, prepared foods and crafts in the Student Courtyard between Dillon and Memorial halls — relocating to the CAW Commons in the event of rain.

A donation of canned goods towards the Downtown Mission qualifies any member of the public to participate in a Zombie Walk being held Saturday to conclude the conference “Interdisciplinary Approaches to Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse.”

All ages are welcome to put on their most comfortable and creatively creepy costume for a walk along the riverfront. The event will proceed rain or shine, so organizers remind walkers to prepare for the worst weather.

Zombies will gather at 5:30 p.m. October 29 in Dieppe Gardens and lurch to Turtle Island Way in front of Chrysler Hall Tower. See detailed map here. The local group the Brandy Alexanders will provide music for a zombie party to follow from 7 to 9 p.m.

The children of UWindsor faculty and staff are invited to turn out tonight for Boo at the U, the annual evening of treats organized by residence staff and students.

University employees are invited to bring their children to Winclare room in Vanier Hall from 6 to 8 p.m., where volunteers will give little trick-or-treaters their own treat bag. Guests then make the rounds to each station for activities and candy in a spooky but safe environment.

All children must be accompanied by a parent. Admission to the event is free, but attendees are invited to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the student food bank.

Individuals or organizations interested in funding for projects to promote safety for women on campus have until Monday, October 31, to apply.

The Women’s Campus Safety Grant Committee invites creative, innovative proposals to support one of the following broad categories or objectives:

• Awareness or education (e.g., workshops, websites, awareness campaigns)
• Student services and supports (e.g., Campus-Walk safe programs, sexual assault prevention initiatives, volunteer training, resource materials)
• Facilities and equipment (e.g., lighting, mirrors, security cameras, emergency phones)

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities increased the University of Windsor’s annual allocation from $35,000 to $64,000 this year to further support efforts in addressing sexual violence.

Funded projects must be completed and invoices paid by March 15, 2017.

Applications for funding requests are available from the Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility at www.uwindsor.ca/ohrea/ohreaforms, www.uwindsor.ca/ohrea/womenssafety, e-mail ohrea@uwindsor.ca, or call 519-253-3000, ext. 2056.