The Grasslands Project (Web Site)

In the summer of 2015, filmmaker Scott Parker travelled to the great plains of southern Saskatchewan to produce 10 short documentary films based on community-generated ideas. Subjects, themes, even interview questions were all selected using significant community input, and each film was screened with the participants for their feedback and final approval.

The Grasslands Project, as it became known, was conceived and designed by Parker in concert with NFB executive producer David Christensen. Parker then travelled to the area, headquartered himself in the small Saskatchewan town of Eastend, and began the extensive community engagement The Grasslands Project would require if it were to be successful either cinematically or as an outreach action.

As Parker was the primary face behind the engagement, it was decided that he would also be the only filmmaker to shoot the 10 short docs. Over several weeks, Scott managed to create strong, trusting relationships with many people who would be instrumental in creating the films, so the NFB team organized a camera and sound package uniquely suited to a single filmmaker operating in the field, and an edit suite was set up in Eastend. Parker would live in the town for six months while shooting and editing the films, and he spent about two months living out of his “mobile production unit.”