Local Leader Spotlight: Jean-Philippe Marquis
Local Leader Spotlight
Jean-Philippe Marquis
Meet Jean-Philippe Marquis, an award-winning filmmaker who partnered with us on our recent seven-stop film tour across Vancouver Island. His visually captivating film ‘Silvicola’ profiles a wide range of people whose lives and livelihoods are deeply connected with the forest. The beauty of the film is that it asks the audience to reflect on what is truly needed for a healthy forestry sector and forest wellbeing in B.C.
Read on to learn more about Jean-Philippe and his inspiring work. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Meet Jean-Philippe Marquis, an award-winning filmmaker of the forest documentary ‘Silvicola’ who partnered with us on our recent seven-stop film tour across Vancouver Island. (Photo by Jean-Philippe Marquis).
Why did you make ‘Silvicola’?
I started tree planting in Alberta when I was 17 and people said, “you should really go to the West Coast.” The idea of the film came to me when I was planting in a place called Toba Inlet, where I saw my first massive stump — real old growth. I was wondering, what does it feel like to cut those big trees? I wanted to put myself in the shoes of the loggers. I wanted to talk with different forestry workers and get their perspective on the industry. Also, I had privileged access to all those landscapes. I wanted to use this and show the point of view of the workers.
How is this film making an impact on the forestry community or local communities?
It’s a film that raises more questions than answers. That’s important because we need to be asking questions about what is happening on the land and what it’s like day to day for the workers and First Nations communities. It’s hard to say what the impacts are but it’s part of the work that adds up. A drop in the bucket that opens people’s eyes.
Also, I really want it to become an educational tool. I want the film to be seen in forestry schools, in forestry departments and in universities. I hope it can inspire forestry students to do forestry in better ways. A tool for change.
Unlike a lot of other films about forests, you center the workers and their voices. Why is that important to you?
Because they work in the forest, they hold many of the solutions. Just like on the film tour we did with Sierra Club BC, we had forestry workers come to the screenings and share their knowledge. They’re not the bad guys. They can make things better.
What have you learned over the course of making this film about forests and forestry that you didn’t know when you started?
What surprised me is how few people work in the forest. You know, when we look at those timelapse maps on Google, and we see, year after year, the abundance of new cut blocks. When you’re out there, you realize there’s just a handful of guys in their machines. It was a shock to me to see how few people there were actually working in forestry.
When I did part of the shooting during the strikes on Vancouver Island, people were not happy with the way they were treated, and they felt that their jobs were at risk. They do the best they can with the rules that are out there, but many feel disposable. Not that many people work in the forest and those jobs are not guaranteed.
Jean-Philippe’s visually captivating film ‘Silvicola’ profiles a wide range of people whose lives and livelihoods are deeply connected with the forest. (Photo still from Silvicola).
We often hear that it’s a battle between loggers and environmentalists. Is that something that you heard from workers?
When a mill closes down that’s not the fault of the environmentalists. Talking with the people on strike and people that got laid off, they were mad at the company and the mismanagement. People were mad to see raw logs getting exported because they know that’s a job that doesn’t stay here. They’re also aware that because of the pine beetle and wildfires the fiber supply is low.
Also, when I was shooting it was during the Old Growth Strategic Panel. That was in their scope for sure.
How have environmental groups like Sierra Club BC been helpful in your work and promoting the message that you’re trying to get out there?
It’s a big deal for me that Sierra Club BC organized and paid for the tour to bring my film into forestry dependent communities. That’s always been the dream for me. That’s why I made the film, and this tour wouldn’t have happened without Sierra Club BC. Small independent films need a team and I’m grateful that SCBC helped bring this film to so many people and communities.
Also, I had SCBC on my mind during the project. I’m impressed with the work SCBC has done for the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement and thought it would be great to work together.
Are there other any other additional supports that you’re looking for from groups like Sierra Club BC or the environmental community?
Well, I’m always open to community screenings. So, if any other groups want to use the film in their communities or they want to organize a tour, they can reach out. People can also pitch the film to their college or university or institutions. That’s where I want the film to be. In high schools, in forestry towns. People can reach out to the distributor via the Cinema Politica website.
Is there anything else you would like to add, maybe a key message you’d like communities to take away and walk away with?
I would just say to people, get out in the forest, you know, because that’s how this issue became important for me. And get deep in there, deep in the forest, to really see how special it is and how it’s worth protecting.
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