“A Day in the Life” with Toronto film producer Alison Duke

February 16, 2019 Joel Levy Artist Profiles, Arts

Alison Duke is an artistic activist, award winning filmmaker and passionate producer committed to the Canadian visual art form. Since the early 90’s, she has remained in demand and consistent in illuminating Canada’s musical, documentary and dramatic content.

Alison Duke
This is a recent photo. I wasn’t really prepared for this it kinda just happened at a photo shoot we had organised for Winston LaRose the main subject in the documentary *Mr. Jane and Finch*. Photo credit is Wade Hudson.
Alison Duke
On the right is Ngardy Conteh George, director of the documentary *Mr. Jane and Finch* and co-founder of Oya Media Group. We are also developing Laurie Townshend’s (l) documentary *Mothering in the Movement* with the National Film Board of Canada.
Alison Duke
With *Mr. Jane and Finch* director Ngardy Conteh George and editor Sonia Godding Togobo. We are smiling because we just locked picture. This is my second film that I’ve worked on with Ngardy and my third film with Sonia. They are both really talented and I enjoy their energy.
Alison Duke
Winston LaRose is busy at work in his community office. He is the executive director of the Jane and Finch Concerned Citizens Organisation. It’s located in the Yorkgate Mall and is the longest running grassroots organization in that neighbourhood. Photo credit Yvanno Antonio
Alison Duke
This is our production office located in Leslieville. In addition to making films, we run Pathway2Industry (P2I), a program that provides mentorship, hands-on training and support to post-secondary graduated black youth who are pursuing careers in the film, television, and digital media industry.
Alison Duke
Last fall I went to Stanley Park with cinematographer Aiken Scherberger. We are about to film a time-lapse shot of the statue of Harry Jerome at magic hour against the Vancouver skyline. It appears in our opening sequence for the 2hr television special *The Cool Black North*.
Alison Duke
Working with cinematographer Aiken Scherberger and P2I participant Marcus Armstrong was a blast. Marcus worked as a PA and quickly learned how to set up Aiken’s camera rig and record sound.
Alison Duke
I’m with another team setting up for a series of interviews. My first documentary was almost 20 years ago. Telling stories about people of colour is still an uphill battle in Canada but I feel that things are getting better. I still enjoy talking to people and finding out their story. It’s the best way to explore who we are.

 

What ‘hood are you in?

I live in Leslieville with my partner, Notisha and our six-year-old daughter and Morkie (mixed breed Yorkie and Maltese) named Quincy.  Our house is on the same street of the world famous Egyptian restaurant called Mahas. It’s such a wonderful neighborhood with great schools, parks, lots of ma and pops shops, art space and diversity. We’ve been living in this area for over 15 years. 

What do you do?

I am a documentary writer, producer, director. Most of the films I work on are about social issues. Some are for television while others are for non-commercial/ educational use.  I am part owner of a new production called Oya Media Group with fellow filmmaker Ngardy Conteh George. We are located at 250 Carlaw Ave building.

What are you currently working on? 

I recently completed two films. Mr. Jane and Finch is a 44 minute documentary about Winston LaRose, an 80 year old activist in the Jane and Finch corridor. He is also an amateur documentarian who has over 6000 hours of footage about the community.  We follow his journey as he throws his hat in the ring for WARD 7 in the recent highly controversial municipal election.  I also directed The Cool Black North, which is a two hour TV special about past awardees of the Harry Jerome Awards that are annually held in Toronto. The documentary is a tribute to black Canadian excellence through the lens of people inspired by the legacy of the legendary Harry Jerome Award and features singer/song writer/Juno award winner, Jully Black, 1Bay St’s most powerful fixer, Wes Hall, the first Black female MP Jean Augustine, the first black female Bencher from Toronto, Tanya Walker, poet laureate of Toronto George Elliot Clark, poet laureate of Halifax Afua Cooper, physicists Kevin Hewitt and many more.

Where can we find your work?

Mr. Jane and Finch is directed by Ngardy and co-written and co-produced by myself. It will have its festival premiere at the Toronto Black Film Festival at Carlton theatre on Sun, February 17th @ 5 PM and television premiere on CBC POV on Feb 22, 2019 @ 9 PM/9:30 NFLD. It will also stream on CBC’s Gem platform in the morning.  With an unusual twist of fate, The Cool Black North will have its broadcast premiere on Rogers/City TV also on Feb 22 at 8pm. This is highly unusual for a Canadian filmmaker to have two films premiering on different networks on the same night. Good thing there is PVR.

 

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Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography
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