NFB Collection
Through a Blue Lens
199952 min 8 secFilm: Documentary
Direction: Veronica Alice Mannix
Production: Gillian Darling KovanicGraydon McCrea
Script: Michelle Bjornson
Produced by the National Film Board of Canada with the participation of Odd Squad Productions Society.
This gripping documentary takes a powerful look at the lives of people with substance use disorder in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Filmmaker Veronica Alice Mannix follows Constable Al Arsenault and six other police officers on their daily beat, documenting their unique relationships with people who speak candidly about their painful past experiences, their drug addiction, and life on the street.
Availability
Other versions
Subject categories
- Health and Medicine > AIDSAlcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
- Social Issues > Community Projects and AssistanceCrime and DelinquencyHealth and IllnessSocial ProblemsSub-cultureSubstance AbuseUrban Life
- Law and Crime > Drug Traffic and Substance AbusePolice OperationsPortraitsSecurity forces
- Social Studies > Contemporary Issues
- Media Education > Documentary Film
- Health/Personal Development > Mental Health/Stress/SuicideSubstance Use and Abuse/Addiction
Credits
- participant
- Nicola
- Carlee
- John Bear Curtis
- Lana
- Serena
- Richard Todd
- Kevin Frank
- Randy
- Darlene
- Danièle Shannon
- Michelle
- Jean-Michel Henry
- Debra Karen
- Romana
- cinematography
- Toby Hinton
- Dave Kolb
- Dale Weidman
- Len Hollingsworth
- Al Arsenault
- Mark Steinkampf
- Walt McKay
- director
- Veronica Alice Mannix
- director of photography
- Daniel C. Mannix
- editor
- Shelly Hamer
- additional police cinematography
- Jim Mitchell
- Carla Webb
- Andy Tomec
- consultant
- Michelle Bjornson
- story editor
- Michelle Bjornson
- music composer
- Dennis Burke
- musician
- Jim Porter
- additional cinematography
- Rudolf Kovanic
- camera assistant
- Dave Lank
- location sound
- Jonathan Ritchie
- sound consultant
- Brent Marchenski
- stills
- Al Arsenault
- Toby Hinton
- production stills
- Bob Semeniuk
- Christopher Grabowski
- demo editing
- Christopher Keam
- sound design
- Orca Pacific Productions
- mix
- Orca Pacific Productions
- video post-production
- Rainmaker Digital Pictures
- motion control
- Carousel Video Transfers Ltd.
- production supervisor
- Kathryn Lynch
- program administrator
- Bruce Hagerman
- producer
- Gillian Darling Kovanic
- executive producer
- Graydon McCrea
Awards
- Award for Most Inspirational Short film or Video - given by the Youth Jury (Ages 13 +)Reel to Real International Film Festival for Youth and Families
- The Japan Prize - with a cash prize of $5,000USInternational Educational Program Contest Japan Prize
- The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Prize - Category: Adult Education - with a cash prize of $3,000USInternational Educational Program Contest Japan Prize
- Chris Award - Category: Social Issues International Film and Video Festival