Hot Docs - All The Time In The World
A documentary that chronicles life's natural unfolding when a family tries to live by the seasons instead of by the clock.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Suzanne Crocker
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
All The Time In the World is a very personal documentary that follows my own family’s journey as we searched for a new perspective by shrinking life to the basic needs of warmth, shelter, food and water and spent nine months living life dictated by the seasons rather than the clock.
The idea of living in the bush with our family came first. As parents, we always seemed to be distracted with work and to-do lists. We needed to reconnect as a family while our kids were still young. There is nothing like spending time in nature to help get your priorities back in order. So we packed up our kids, left our jobs and headed into the Yukon wilderness to spend nine months living in a small cabin with no electricity, no running water, no technology and not a single clock or watch. To get the freedom of time again, we had to free ourselves from the structure of time – and see what would happen.The idea of documenting it via film came shortly before we left for the bush, after I realized how intrigued people outside of the Yukon were with the concept of living off-grid in the wilderness.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
First of all, this is a ‘feel good’ film. It takes you on our journey as if you were there. Spending time away from hectic schedules and technology, time in nature, time with family is something that most of us crave, but very few have the opportunity to just pack up and go live in the bush. Here is a chance to do it vicariously and see what happens. David Suzuki said: “A magnificent film. It is an amazing idea, a remarkable family and a film with a powerful message to those of us who live busy urban lives. Anyone watching this will have to ask, what is life all about, why am I in such a hurry, what is it that gives us true happiness. Thank you for making a film that demands that we answer those questions."
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
They are intertwined: Reconnecting with nature, reconnecting with each other, reconnecting with ourselves. Sometimes you need to disconnect to reconnect.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
A documentary such as this, that documents a lived experience, is sculpted in the edit suite. With no easy way to review the footage as it was shot, I had to trust my instincts. My goal was to capture the emotion of the journey so that was what I focused on during the editing.
What type of feedback have you received so far? Excellent. All The Time In The World has won 22 awards from around the world including 9 Audience Choice Awards, 6 youth jury awards, 7 environmental awards, 4 best picture awards and one social justice award. One 8 year old girl came up to me after a screening and gave me a hug. She said “This film is going to change my life. I am going to spend more time outside and less time on my iPad.” This was an ‘academy award’ moment for me, as a filmmaker.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I was unsure how this film would go over in big cities, far removed from the concept of living in the wilderness, I was unsure how it would be received by teenagers and I was unsure how this film would go over in parts of the world where many folks live without electricity or modern conveniences - not by choice. I was surprised that All The Time In The World was received similarly by all - young and old, rich and poor, urban and rural. It seems that the themes of the importance of family and the importance of time in nature are universal values. I found this very reaffirming.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
All The Time In The World is both timely and timeless. My wish is to have the film reach as broad an audience as possible.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Mostly publicity as well as community screening distribution
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Remind people that we don’t have all the time in the world and therefore to make time for the things that matter most.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Does letting go of technology strengthen or compromise connection?
Would you like to add anything else?
“8/8 Stars. A heart-swellingly wonderful account of togetherness, ingenuity, creativity and invention, and a telling look at how letting go of technology can strengthen – not compromise –connection.”
- MoviePie Hot Docs Reviews, Toronto
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
First We Eat: Food Security North of 60. It’s the 100 mile diet - Arctic style. To inspire folks about the importance of being food secure on a local level, I have challenged myself to spend one year feeding my family of five only food that can be hunted, fished, gathered, grown or raised in Dawson City, Yukon in the far North of Canada. If it can be done here, it can be done almost anywhere. Check out a trailer and follow my journey at FirstWeEat.ca
Interview: May 2018
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, scifi, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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All The Time In The World
Disconnecting to reconnect.
Length: 87 or 52 min
Director: Suzanne Crocker
Producer: Suzanne Crocker
Writer: Suzanne Crocker
About the writer, director and producer:
Suzanne Crocker, a filmmaker from Canada’s North, switched careers from rural family physician to filmmaker in 2009. All The Time In The World has screened in over 25 countries around the world and won 22 awards. She is currently in production on a new documentary First We Eat.
Key cast: Suzanne Crocker, Gerard Parsons, Sam (aged 10), Kate (aged 8), Tess (aged 4)
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Journalists, broadcasters, film festival directors, community screening distributors
Social media handles: allthetimeintheworld.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-The-Time-In-The-World/1493545497578455
Twitter: https://twitter.com/allthetime92
Funders: Telefilm Canada, Canada Media Fund, Yukon Media Development, Super Channel
Made in association with: Telefilm Canada
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Home viewing on iTunes, Vimeo on Demand or via DVD or BluRay - http://allthetimeintheworld.ca/?page_id=843