Cameron Woykin, Mini-DV, 4:45 min, Calgary
The narrator of Cameron Woykin's Beech-Nut admits that he "loves two things." He then confesses "That's a lie. I desire two things: to fly an airplane and to make love with Amelia Earhart." Frustrated attempts for fulfilled desire are reflected in the viewer's downward perspective onto a wooden table top, as the narrator guides us through a five step process for crafting the perfect paper airplane. The two hands that demonstrate the deliberate folds required take intermittent breaks to reach for a glass of beer and a burning cigarette (bandaged wrists imply deliberate action of another kind). Woykin's economical approach to narrative comes full circle with Beech-Nut concluding as it began --- with a skyward perspective. Yet the meticulously engineered paper airplane remains in the grasp of thumb and forefinger in gestured flight; held, not released, thereby avoiding any 'unexpected circumstances.'
Born in Calgary, Cameron Woykin graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Lethbridge in 2003. He has completed 16 short films since graduating and has screened his work throughout Canada, France and South America. Cameron currently resides in Winnipeg where he maintains his practice as an independent artist, filmmaker and writer.