THE SPIRIT OF CIRQUE DU SOLEIL By Sam Quo Vadis

Most of us who pursue a career in the movies do so because we see something magical in those images flickering across the silver screen. There is something compelling abut the worlds we see and what they communicate to us through motion, and words, and music - through story. And discovering these new worlds is addictive. When I came under the spell of the movies I watched everything I could on video, going right back to the dawn of the movies: The Great Train Robbery, The Keystone Cops, Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin, and Laurel and Hardy. I saw the great silent films Metropolis and Wings (the only silent film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards). I watched screwball comedies, musicals, gangster films, war movies, and westerns. I'd sit back in a darkened room and just let the magic unfold in front of me. It isn't often in one's life that one discovers, or rediscovers, magic. For me, the most recent experience was Cirque du Soleil. For several years I caught only glimpses of the magic of Cirque du Soleil in documentary-like programmes on Canadian TV that told the story of several Quebec street performers who reinvented the circus. But that was enough to bring me under the Cirque's spell. Finally, I had an opportunity to watch Quidam on TV. I was overwhelmed by the acrobatics, the costumes, the choreography, the songs, the music and the story of Quidam. I was inspired by the talent, dedication and magic that played across my TV screen as I viewed the taped copy I'd made over and over. When my mother was 17-years-old she was performing with a pair of acrobats in Europe. They wanted her to tour with them, but a confluence of circumstances prevented this. When my mother saw the Banquine (acrobats) in Quidam she said that that's what she would have wanted to do. She never had the opportunity to follow her dream. All over the world their are people who cannot follow their dreams because of war, or civil strife, or for reasons of racism or religion, or poverty. It is so incredibly difficult to make a career in the movie business. Everywhere you look you're faced with what appear to be insurmountable obstacles. And that's true for all of the arts. But when I get really discouraged about making a successful career as a writer I remind myself that at least I have the opportunity to try. I realize that no matter how many hurdles I face I am privileged in relation to most other people around the world. When I founded The Screenplayers I was inspired by the philosophy and culture of Cirque du Soleil. Theirs is a culture of generosity and teamwork - and these are qualities that I wished to instill in my organization. And I'm pleased to say that in this regard I've succeeded. I'm proud of this small troupe. I'm proud that I put it together. The degree of work and dedication that's been required is something that I couldn't even have imagined when the idea first took root in my imagination...but I'd do it all again. And that's the ultimate test, isn't it? I have yet to see a Cirque du Soleil performance live. I've seen Dralion on TV and I've seen several Cirque artists perform at the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards tribute to Cirque creator Guy Laliberté. It's difficult to imagine, but the magic must be so much bigger when viewed live and in person. I hope this will be the year that I will have the opportunity to experience a Cirque shows in the atmosphere of a live peformance rather than in the atmosphere of my living room. Until then I will continue to strive to, as is the Cirque slogan, Invoke the imagination, Provoke the senses, Evoke the emotions.

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Cirque du Soleil provides assistance to the underprivileged with programmes like Cirque du Monde (which inspired the documentary, Juggling Dreams). Find out more here. Wondering who were the Cirque artists who performed at the Oscars®? Click here to find out.

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Sam Quo Vadis is the founder and past president of The Screenplayers. Email this author. He has written the following feature length screenplays: Priceless - Drama/comedy/romance     104 pages The life of an American man involved in a divorce and a child custody dispute is turned upside down by the arrival of a beautiful, free-spirited, young woman who is on the run from the Serbian secret service. Red Mercury - Action/thriller/spy     118 pages An American spy's mission to retrieve a revolutionary neuro-psychological weapon stolen by the Russian Mafia is jeopardized when he falls in love with a beautiful, but deadly Russian circus artist. Spell Bound - Comedy/fantasy/family     99 pages When she inadvertently releases a 200-year-old warlock from his tomb, Bridget O'Shaughnessy discovers history is more than just what happens in books. Now Bridget will be eternally late for her first day of college unless she can overcome a bizarre curse, defeat a horde of evil minions, and return a spell casting lawyer to his resting place.