After years of simmering on the backburner, a Regina filmmaker is moving forward with plans to make a documentary about the life and death of her brother.
Dianne Ouellette was awarded funding in February from the Canada Council to produce a movie on her brother Guy Ouellette, who was killed in a workplace accident on Dec. 14, 2009 near Kisbey.
According to a report at the time of the accident, Guy was crushed beneath a drilling platform as a result of being unable to escape from the tubing board before the platform fell.
From the day Dianne learned of her brother's death, the idea of creating a documentary began to percolate in her mind. Still stinging from Guy's passing, she initially planned to focus on who was responsible and why it happened but now wants to tell the tale of her brother, who was living in Estevan at the time of his death.
"As time goes on you kind of think about things and the story I want to tell is more about who Guy was, what happened to him and the after effects with family and friends," Dianne said. "Guy's personality was very laid back, he liked his job."
Given the tragic nature of Guy's passing, Dianne admitted that committing to the documentary has been difficult for her. In an effort to get the needed funding and motivation to move forward with her project, Dianne applied to the Canada Council for funding in October and was fortunate to be selected from the long list of applicants.
"That kind of gives you the kick in the pants to get moving," she said. "The film has been in my mind since the day my brother died, but receiving a grant gives me that push to finally make this film, whereas I would probably be humming and hawing and shooting here and there for 10 more years if I didn't get the grant."
With her newfound motivation, Dianne said she is moving into the pre-production stage, which includes lining up interviews and an outline for the film. The accident will obviously be a key aspect but the film will also look into the important issue of workplace safety.
"The focus of the film is who was Guy, and I want people to remember him and think about their own lives and their own jobs and if they feel unsafe to be able to look at a situation and say 'it's not worth it.'
"You do have the right to refuse work, and if you feel unsafe, you should be able to leave. I'm hoping that it kind of opens people's eyes and gets to their heart, more than overplaying, why did this happen and who did this and who is responsible? I think that will affect people more, to make them realize that Guy was a person."
As excited as she is to begin, Dianne is also aware the project will be a difficult and emotional one.
"I really want to make it but I know how much it is going to hurt doing this film," she said. "Once you start talking to his friends, to his family, to some of the people who worked with him, it is going to be a really hard experience but I think somewhat therapeutic. It is going to be a sad but fulfilling journey."
Dianne anticipates the documentary, which she is calling Rigger, will be 40 minutes long. She plans to start shooting in July while her deadline is October 2015.
Once complete she plans to showcase the finished project on the film festival circuit and would also welcome the chance to have a showing in Estevan.
