by Jonathan Willcocks I am an experiential educator, facilitator, coach, speaker, adventurer and serial entrepreneur. My focus lies in building positive relationships and empowering people to tap into their innate strengths, passions, and creative potential.
I also love to travel to different communities and do things slightly differently.
One of my recent projects is learning to use film as a medium to convey my message and share my beliefs and inspirations—update my website, get on the social media bandwagon and so forth—and so far, it’s been one wild journey.
It started when I was invited to do the keynote for the Vancouver Island Leadership Conference at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. My topic was Adventures in Leadership: finding balance in life, work and play. I thought “Great, this is it, this is my opportunity.” I knew I needed the technical film expertise to make it happen, so I called my friend Tony Papa in Powell River, a wonderful filmmaker and teacher. He had done some filming with me at a summer adventure-learning camp for youth that I was leading and I thought this may just be up his alley. After a brief phone call I found out Papa was up for the challenge. So he came over to Nanaimo to shoot my keynote, work together and interview me.
That all took place a few weeks ago, so what about the final cut for these film projects?
Well, recently I travelled to Powell River to Papa’s home and spent three days with him immersed in his incredible world of creativity, filming and editing. Between editing sessions, we went for walks, shared stories and dreams, did some photography, and checked out the infamous barking sea lions.
Of course it couldn’t be a true visit to Powell River without cultural education, so Papa introduced me to many wonderful local characters in the town, the shops, restaurants, evening festivities. (I may have even checked out some real estate.) Jay Yule, superintendent of schools for School District 47, was able to sneak in a last-minute meeting with me. We shared visions and views on education and discussed alternative means to earning school credits for the more hands-on experiential youth; what a breath of fresh air when it comes to the educational visioning, the entrepreneurial spirit, and sustainability.
And when it was time to get back to work with Papa it was 100 per cent focus: I was in awe as we/he so naturally went through hours of interview and film footage to create our final masterpiece.
All in all, it was an incredible trip to Powell River. And out of three films I want to develop, the first one is now complete. It combines my interview with Papa with live footage from one of our unique nature-based summer camps.
Jonathan Willcocks is the founder and chief visionary for Pinnacle Pursuits Inc. For further information, readers can call 604.876.7535 or visit www.pinnaclepursuits.com.
