COMMUNITY PROFILES

Heroes of East Hants: The Mariner of Minasville

Shawn Scott is not your typical filmmaker. A lawyer with offices in Bedford and Kennetcook, he is an unlikely candidate to have in entry in the Atlantic Film Festival (AFF). But not only does he have a successful entry, he also has mission to tell the stories of East Hants.

Scott’s entry and acceptance in the AFF was a self-professed “lark” as The Mariner from Minasville: Battle for Richmond was his first effort in creating his own film. Based on the life of his Great Great Grandfather, Captain William Stuart Scott (Captain Bill as referred to by Scott), the short film incorporates still frame photos, narration by David Evan Murray, and music by Mendelsshon: The Scottish Symphony. The elements have been combined beautifully to immerse the viewer into a forgotten era of shipbuilding and seafarers that once dominated Noel Shore and impacted the development of the modern world.

About Shawn Scott

Shawn Scott was raised in St Margaret’s Bay area of Halifax County but spent his summers in Noel Shore with his grandparents and family. Like most local children, he swam in the muddy waters of the Bay of Fundy and heard the stories of the glory days of shipbuilding in the region. As he and his brother Tod grew older, they began to have an appreciation that the area they spent their summers was more than a place – it had “its own emotion.” Roughly quoting something he had once heard about the United States not being a geographic location but rather a story, he felt the same could be said for the Noel Shore region. Scott feels strongly that the area residents have “a sense of history (and) a unique sense of attachment” that is rarely found elsewhere.

Scott’s first introduction to film was editing a three-hour film by Cyril Parks, Hants County Beautiful, to a 30 minute short depicting life in Hants County in the early 1940s. The original 16mm film was created by Parks to promote tourism in Hants County during the post World War II boom and was shown at Province House. Sixty years later, the film has been restored to DVD and continues its role in the promotion of Hants County tourism.

The appreciation for the history and the ancestral connection felt by the Scott brothers lead to a dual tribute to the region. Shawn Scott was interested in telling the stories of East Hants in a way that would keep history alive by connecting modern day landscapes with yesteryear’s events and Tod Scott was interested in developing a monument to the shipbuilders in East Hants. Together, they decided that one goal could support the other --and the seven part documentary film Captain William Stuart Scott, A Master Mariner form Minasville, Nova Scotia was created and sold to fund the development of a monument in Noel.

The Mariner of Minasville: Battle for Richmond at The Atlantic Film Festival

The Mariner of Minasville: Battle for Richmond was one of over 1,300 films submitted for review by the three film critics in charge of selection for the Atlantic Film Festival. Scott’s first film was edited down to a six-minute pocket documentary and was accepted by the critics for viewing at Park Lane 4, Spring Garden Road, Halifax on September 20th, 2005 at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $10.00 and includes feature film Hard Rock & Water (56 minutes) and The Last Weir (22 minutes).

Reviewing The Mariner of Minasville in its entirety will leave the viewer quietly amazed at the level of emotion produced by the fusion of historic photographs, music, and narrative. The harmonious flow of fading frames combined with the voiceover leading into each makes the viewer feel as though he or she is watching a motion film without losing authenticity in the translation of reenactments.

Skillfully narrated by Murray, the viewer becomes absorbed in the emotion of the events in Captain Scott’s life and connects with the imagery of Hants County. Those having stood on the same places these events happened will be chilled by the ease at which one’s mind will go back in time to a stormy day in December on the windy shores of the Cobequid Bay.

Hants County viewers will marvel at the impact that our ship-building past has had on the development of international trade today. True to regional work ethics, Captain Scott continually pushed himself and his crew to break new speed records and overcome seemingly insurmountable oceanic obstacles. Captain Scott built a solid reputation for both the vessels and men of Noel Shore by successfully navigating his ships around Cape Hope in South Africa twenty-five times, a route still feared by modern day captains with steel vessels and modern navigational systems.

The Mariner of Minasville is worth the drive to Halifax to see and feel this film in an environment that only a large screen and surround system can provide. So gather your friends and family and make the trip – Captain William Stuart Scott wouldn’t hesitate!

Looking to the Future, Fostering the Past

With such phenomenal success in the coupling of one art form with another, the brothers have embarked on a new mission in East Hants. They plan to continue building tributes to the seafarers along Noel Shore and fund their projects through the continued development and sale of the Heroes of East Hants films.

Scott, still surprised by the success of his venture, is also considering being involved with other film related events within Hants County. He has discussed the possibility of a film showing at Hants North Rural High School in Kennetcook and the possibility of involvement with the Video Awards Night held at this school. Also on the table is talk about an East Hants Film Festival that will focus on telling the stories of our region. Scott says that with such fine advancements in technology, anyone with an interest in filmmaking can become involved with little or no training, and he is the perfect example.

Copies of the film are available at Jim Connolly’s store in Noel, Shawn Scott’s Law Office in Kennetcook, or by calling Leona Ross at (902) 362-2342. All proceeds of the DVD sales are donated to the monument’s development, located along Route 215 halfway between the Noel United Church and Wood & Lace Crafts & Antiques, to be unveiled on October 2, 2005. The unveiling is open to everyone and will feature a bagpiper and drummer marching through the village to the monument site where the film will be shown.