Iv broadcast tonight _by Betty Barton Project Squeeze is not over yet. What is Project Squeeze? Coordinator Stephanie Wiebe describes it as a community-based " project to involve teens in looking at alcohol use and make them _think about what they’re doing with their lives. Brian Koven, director of the Theatre Arts pro- gram at Skeena Junior Secondary School, and Dr. David Bowering, _ Chief medical health officer for the Skeena Health Unit, came up with the inspiration for a play deve- loped by youth for youth. Bowering submitted a letter of intent to the Skeena Union Board of Health in July 1988. The result — Project Squeeze — was sponsored by the Skeena Union Board of Health, with fund Taising and administration under a Steering Committee (uniquely made up of health unit and: school ‘board people) and overseen by coordinator Gail Murray. Gail’s successor, Stephanie Wiebe, was hired in May to complete the. final phase of Project Squeeze. Initially, 40 Grade 9 and 10° ” theatre arts students and peer coun- sellors from the high school attended two weekend workshops. The first provided information on aleohol abuse and advertising. At the second workshop, three weeks later, participants discussed and dramatized their own experiences related to. alcohol and alcohol abuse. The students were involved in. group therapy, experimental drama and peer counselling throughout the process. This experience was well received and. concluded in some dramatic skits, written by the students themselves, under the -guidance of Brian Koven. Koven explains, "I believe in real emotions on stage. It promoted confidence in the students them- selves. To change altitudes, you have to do it at a personal, emo- tional level." Brian also felt the topic and the process by which Project Squeeze came about were powerful vehicles for theatre deve- lopment. "It’s part of a process of opening doors, of exploring new _ideas within the security of a role in a play. It gave them a reason ‘not to hold back. Kids need to learn to give as well as to get." CFTK television’s John Dando recorded the process on videotape from beginning to end. Brian Koven realized the importance of the project and knew that without the video many people would not have the opportunity to see it. As a teacher, he realized too the value of being able to view it over and “over again, as a learning tool. Under Brian’s direction, the stu- dents developed the workshop skits into. two productions simul- tancously. Juice is a two-hour play for general audiences based on a scripted play, but with refinements. Squeeze is a series of short skits aimed at Grades 5-7, The plays focus on peer, family and media pressures and the conformity pat- terns that may lead to alcohol abuse. They were produced in the spring of 1989. - Not content to perform Squeeze and Juice only for local audiences, the group took to the road for a week, visiting Kitimat, Prince Rupert and Smithers. Question and answer ‘periods between the cast and the audience following the presentations demonstrated the plays’ success in dramatizing experiences common to many young people. CFTK made three videos of the project, one of each of the plays and a documentary of the process. Koven explains that the documen- tary was the ’seed’ for future productions and ideas, cither locally or elsewhere. Those involved were pleased to share their‘experiences, hoping the pro-— ject may touch the lives of people ‘throughout the. northwest of the The Terrace Inn ¢Gigi’s - "Wanted Alive" CFTK - TV7_ artifacts 1 Brazil ‘Northwest Arts and Entertainment Calendar R.E.M. Lee Theatre “Sept. 28, 8 p.m. -—— "inside Tracks", B. C. Music Project Tour, with Valdy, Karin Ljungh, Mark Perry and Doug Phair. *Sept.30 - Northem B.C. Winter Games telethon, hosted by Laurie Thain and ‘Doug Smith. Call 635-1991 for more information. Terrace Public Art Gallery | *Until Sept.30 - Queen Charlotte Islands Masketeers - an exhibit of creative masks, costumes and adornments by 12 Queen Charlotte Islands creators. School tours welcome. Call ahead. eAugie’s - Karin Ljungh and Glen Fossum -*Sept.29 - Benefit buffet dinner/concert with Laurie Thain. Tickets at Terrace Realty and Kelly’s Stereo Mart. Support the Northern B.C. Winter Games! Northern Motor Inn *George’s Pub - Harvest Moon, until Sept. 22nd .| Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 13 *Sept.21 - Northern Pride *Sept.22 - Grafitti Night, with finger food and ities music! «Sept.19, 6 p.m. - Project Squeeze, behind the scenes | ‘Sept.22, 5 p.m. - Juice, the drama Prince Rupert Performing Arts Centre ‘Sept.19th, 8 p.m. - RCMP Concert Band *Sept.24, 8 p.m. - Long John Baldry ‘) Sept. 29th, 8 p.m. - Alberta Ballet Kitimat Centennial Museum | Until Oct.12 - Kitamaat: "Old Town". and "New Town", historical photos & ; *Until Oct.13 - Our Native Languages, circulated by the Royal B.C. Museum | K’san Exhibition Centre, Old Hazelton | *For the month of September —_— etchings and engravings ed Lida Watson of province, as well as other parts of the world. Since Stephanie Wiebe began working’ on Project Squeeze in May, she has worked closely with Bowering and a local advertising consultant to develop a brochure to promote and distribute the videos to school boards and health units throughout the province. Requests are still coming in from throughout B.C., eastem Canada and the United States. Tonight on TV7 at 6 p.m., for the first ‘time, a documentary will be aired highlighting the process of developing and producing the set of skits called "Squeeze". This Saturday evening at 5 p.m. (also on TV7) Juice, the drama, will be aired from 5 to 7 p.m. As a grand finale to Project. Squeeze, and to re-iterate the mes- sage it imparts, a local advertising agency is now creating a commer- cial to be aired on TV7, and pos- sibly other. stations around the province at a later date. Registration starts for . art marketing workshop Contributed by Frieda Dams Northwest Community Col- lege and Emily Carr College of ‘Art and Design (ECCAD) Out- reach Program will present a ‘special art marketing workshop in Terrace Oct. 13-14, instructed by noted educator and consul- tant Deborah Shakleton of Van- couver, Shakleton will teach both beginners and those with an established interest in art marketing. Registration and workshop location are being arranged by Frieda Dams of Northwest Community College, who can be reached at 635-6511 for infor- mation. Up to 20 participants will be accommodated, provided ‘a minimum of 12 participants are enroled. by Oct. 3. This October 13-14 work- shop in Terrace ‘is part of our continuing commitment to pro- vide a varied program of high caliber visual art and design in- struction throughout the pro- vince,’’ said Judith O’Keeffe, ECCAD Outreach Program Dir- ector. ‘‘We are delighted to be working with Northwest Com- munity College to bring Deb- orah Shakleton in from Van- couver for the benefit of anyone in Terrace who would like to further their interest in art marketing.’’ ECCAD arranges some 70 visual arts workshops around B.C. each year, at the request of local sponsors. Any community group or individual may apply to host a workshop, taught by one of some 90 professional artist-teachers available through the College. Several other services are also available as part of ECCAD’s mandate to provide access to professional visual art and design ‘instruction to all British Columbians. An Artist-in- Residence program will bring -professional instruction to the community for a one week period or longer. Pre-Art- College programs are available by special arrangement. And visual arts telecourses are of- fered across the province through facilities of the Know- ledge Network. When is enough enough? © | CFTK 7 presents Wednesday, Sept.19 from 6- 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept.22 from 5 - 7 p.m. Both productions are commercial-free PROJECT SQUEEZE, *. behind the scenes, on | “and JUICE, the drama The project was designed to examine the pressures surrounding the use of alcohol by today's youth and telis an inspiring story of young Theatre Arts students and their success in taking on this project. Project Squeeze Ie a community development program — of the Skeena Union Board of Health. Script developed by Skeena Theatre Arte, Directed by Brian Koven. a Cisise alata er 7 enough? | Pe ee ee a ee, ee Le ee)