Paradise Found? (2017)

In 'Paradise Found?' a group of student filmmakers meet some of the permanent residents of three Gulf Islands while exploring the islands' natural beauty. It's an area famous in Canada for its vibrant culture and rich nature. The Gulf Islands are a draw for creative people seeking a less hectic lifestyle and a way of life deeply attuned to a sense of place. The peaceful beauty of the Islands has made them a target for real estate developers, vacationers, and the wealthy as a getaway destination. Is this unique experiment in slow and contemplative living in danger of being pulled into the maximum velocity lane of the 21st century? In Paradise Found? we set out to discover what it is about British Columbia's Gulf Islands that draws creative people to live and work there. We ask questions about sense of place and creativity and seek to explore the links between the two in our interviews with various inhabitants of the islands while documenting the exceptional physical beauty of this part of Canada. Our three film crews travel to Galiano, Pender, and Salt Spring Island to interview inhabitants with different backgrounds and interests. We explore the factors drawing them to the Gulf Islands, their particular area of creative expression, and what special something they feel their island brings to their projects and lives.