~Night at the Indies~ was established in 2005 as a non-profit artist collective in Toronto. In 2008 we expanded to Vancouver.
~Night at the Indies~ Toronto
Gurbeen Bhasin, ~Night at the Indies~ Collective Director
For the past two decades, Gurbeen has dedicated her life to studying and practicing International Relations and Social Policy -- which led her to film and communications. Her first film was made as a policy piece to change the educational system in juvenile prisons. She pitched this film to Senate and eventually Congress and was able to receive enough funding to revamp the entire educational delivery mechanism within the juvenile system. This inspired her to continue creating films that raise social awareness and call viewers into action. She started Meow Films in 2005 and has helped create more than a dozen films that move, touch and inspire audiences. She has also produced the Festival of Storytelling and added theatre productions to her repertoire. Additionally, she has focused her efforts on creating supportive and collaborative community for independent artists through founding ~Night at the Indies~ which was launched in 2006 in Toronto and in 2008 in Vancouver. As an artist herself, she hopes that artists can work collectively to produce multiple revenue streams so they can continue to be independent as they create! Her belief is that healthy communication is the foundation for a happy and fulfilling life.
Rebecca Rodrigues, Graphic Designer
Rebecca Rodrigues is a student designer currently studying at the University of Toronto and Sheridan Institute of Technology. She has been working as a designer with Meow Films since September 2007. Rebecca wishes to pursue this career in graphic design and also hopes to expand her animation skills within the next few years. An avid photographer, Rebecca enjoys experimenting with different media and subject matter through the visual arts. As an activist for many environmental and social organizations, Rebecca hopes to use her talent for a greater cause than simply becoming well known.
Jamieson M. Eakin
Banging the drum and singing at the top of my lungs for SOY, PRIDE, PROUD FM, SEX City on CIUT, Buddies in Bad Times, Lab Cab at Factory Theatre, Fruit Market, Night at the Indies, Toronto Fringe and Producer of SNEAK ATTACK FOLK FESTIVAL 08 featuring la creme de la crop of local queer folk songwriters. I diva have busted out as creator/performer, songwriter, burlesque dancer and actor. In order to entertain with glitter, guitar and a soda pop, giving it all with a sweet vox.
Rozina Kazi - LAL
LAL is a musical ensemble that started in 1998. LAL is about music and social change. We are a collective that represent Uganda, Bangladesh, Barbados, India and everything in-between. We sound like everything, thus we sound like nothing. We love all kinds of music from jazz, hip hop, dub, soul, international folk music, experimental music, you name it, we've probably listened to it at some point and if not then we're eager to learn.
At best we describe the sound of LAL as international folk / electronic protest music. We are not about egos or class but we are about vibe. We are instinctive musicians and people and community means a whole lot. Some of us are activists, some of us are not, but we respect each others opinions and we love like family. We believe in creating a strong independent music movement and we will continue to make music as long as we can.
Sedina Fiati
Sedina is a Toronto based actor, singer and producer of Ghanaian and Trinidadian descent. A graduate of the University of Windsor's Music Theatre program and Etobicoke School of the Arts, she has been becoming a multi disciplinary artist and producer for a little while now. She works as the outreach/rAiz'n development coordinator at b current performing arts and produces film and theatre with her own production company, Sofina Productions. Most recently, she has two films which she acted in and produced currently on the film festival circuit (I Love You and A Clumsy Encounter) and has a film entitled, Caleb in preproduction, slated for completion at the end of 2009. She also produces theatre, including her own cabaret, The Sedina Show and was a part of two award winning productions, Rendezvous With Home (SummerWorks, Spotlight Award for Best Featured Female Performer) and Obsidian Theatre's Intimate Apparel (4 time Dora nominated and Dora Award for Best Set Design). She is excited to join the Indies team!
Sam Thompson
Currently working as a non Equity Stage Manager in Toronto, Sam has always had a passion and love of the arts and is thrilled to be part of such a unique event as Night At The Indies team. In high school she was involved in the Ontario High School Drama Festival and eventually out east to Mount Allison's Windsor Theatre where she stage managed and directed Babel Rap, among other things. After spending 2 years in Montreal at The National Theatre School, she came back to Toronto to work at Theatre Passe Muraille on Whitewash for Platform 9 Productions. She has also worked for The Canadian Indigenous Theatre and Festival Players of Prince Edwards County. From a young age, Sam was also highly involved with the Canadian Special Olympics and stage managed for their National Awards Evening and Sports Celebrity Gala this past December. Currently, Sam is Apprentice Stage Managing for Wise.Woman with BCurrent Theatre. Her other up coming shows include Production Managing the play Saint Bitch for Theatre Archipelago this coming spring and stage managing for the Fringe Festival show Little Red Ridinghood with Solar Stage Children's Theatre. A big thank you to everyone for supporting Night At The Indies.
~Night at the Indies~ Vancouver
David Maidman
David Maidman is an independent videographer and documentary filmmaker. He has been involved in the citizen journalism in Vancouver since 2001, first with Vancouver Indymedia and now as a member of the Board of Directors of the Vancouver Community Television Association, producers of "Global Justice" on Shaw Cable 4 and the Novus television networks.
He has also produced and directed, "Grenada: The Maroon Spirit" shot in Grenada in 2004 documenting the devastation Hurricane Ivan sowed on the Caribbean island of Grenada. Was part of the film crew on "The Five Ring Circus". And produced and released Think Peace: Portrait of a 21st Century Movement" in 2008. It was the screening of "Think Peace" at Night of the Indies in May 2008 that introduced Dave to the "Indies" ideal and he became determined to bring this concept to Vancouver.
"It is my dream to see 'Night at the Indies' help in the development and support of the Vancouver, independent arts community."
Jessica Suecroft
Jessica is an emerging painter working in acrylics and oils. As in the case of most independent artists, she supports herself by working as a cook and uses her artistic skills on presenting the wonderful food she cooks. Jessica's work was the first digital art exhibition that we presented at "Night at the Indies/Vancouver". She is also the first person you see when you come to "Night at the Indies/Vancouver" working the door with her usual cheerful disposition.
