Newman & Wright Productions

30/10/2024

30/10/2024

https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/424575638

06/10/2024

Sunday morning - Here is an updated video of the 70-83 Mile section of the Cariboo Waggon Road which we first rode in 2020. Through New Pathways to Gold Society one bypass section was built to avoid riding Highway 97. Only 2 km - but, one more link in the 640 km journey toward the Cariboo Gold Fields. Have look and share.

Cycling the Cariboo Waggon Road from 70-83 Mile - Update September 2024

23/09/2024

Found while surveying fire damage. Life is resilient. Can we be the same?

15/09/2024

Another cycling adventure with Richard! We traveled a wonderful circle route a few days ago, which included various sections of the Cariboo Waggon Road. We called it the McLeese Lake-Soda Creek-Edmunds Road Loop. We rode about 39 km, mostly on gravel roads, and included a fabulous stop at an old historic ranch which now offers U-pick corn and other vegetables from their beautiful property along Soda Creek. We were also able to cycle along what was until a couple of years ago, a completely impassable slide area from 2020. The locals fixed the road themselves! It's a fair weather road, but it makes the Soda Creek-Macalister Road passable for much of the year. Well done, local folks!! Thank you for making this road passable again.

10/09/2024

It's been a long time since Richard and I got on our ebikes and set out to "ground-truth" a few sections of the Cariboo Waggon Road (CWR). This week we are doing just that.

On Saturday (September 7) we cycled what they call an "out and back" from Quesnel to Kersley. (ie: you travel to a destination and then return to your starting point following the same route.) An RV site in Quesnel was our home base for a couple of days. It was a very hot day – along with some wildfire smoke – so not ideal, but we were determined to cycle this route! 51 km out and back.

The original route of the CWR in this area ran close to the Fraser River. The railway generally follows some of the route as it gets close to Quesnel. Richard and I came up with a route which I wrote about in our CWR guide a few years ago. Our main goal was to find an interesting cycling route to Quesnel, off Highway 97 as much as possible, and try to keep it in the general area of the original route of the CWR.

It was a fantastic, though hot and smoky ride. It's always great when you plan something and it works out. In plotting this route a few years ago, we found that there was an ATV track which follows Highway 97 for a while, and we cycled that. It was a perfect way to get off the highway.

The only couple of true CWR segments we cycled in this area were Edwards Road and Kersley Road, but it still gave us a feeling of following the historical steps of gold miners as they made their way to the gold fields in the Cariboo Mountains.

26/08/2024

In Cariboo History generally and Barkerville specifically ,there is a focus on built structures, the buildings, the roads and how important they are to our history. There is much less importance place on the people. The stories of only a few are told, Barker, Cameron, Florence Wilson, a dancer or two, a miner or five. But some 10,000 people lived here and we tend to forget that they all had lives before and after, and, that this rush for gold was at the same time as the US Civil War. The people are the important stories - not the board and batten reconstructed buildings. There is a new series on Netflix titled Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War. It takes place ,of course, around Tombstone, Arizona, a silver mining town as Barkerville was a gold mining town. The 6 episodes explore how the Tombstone "War" created divides, again, between North & South. The Gunfight at OK Corral was the centre of this. But who knows that a Cariboo miner, one of those untold sotries, played a part in this war. He is not mentioned in the series - but his killer is. Frank Stilwell. The story of John Van Houten, who lies in Tombstone's Boothill shows how connected our BC stories are with the US. The Bonepicker series tells the story of Van Houten. He was one of us. Learn his story here: The Avenger -

This film is about the murder of Barkerville, B.C. miner John Van Houten and his avenger, Wyatt Earp of Tombstone fame and legend.

23/08/2024

Long Road to Cariboo was a special film for me. Sometime a few years ago I vowed never to work with people I did not like or value. This film was proof of that concept. 90% were people from my past and present - most from the years at Barkerville and Theatre Royal. They include Theatre Royal alumni:
Amy Newman, (co-producer and actor)
Ross Douglas,
Brendan Bailey,
Edd Wright,
Jim Hodgkinson,
Allen Desnoyers,
Patrick Courtin,
Barkervillians:
Dave Karmyzyn;
Ron Young,
Mike Retasket,
Judy Campbell,
a few I've missed ...
and a bunch of sponsors.
The film is now dedicated to the Memory of Ross Douglas for the "Value of Gold" he brought to his audience and the TR. I hope he is listening. He did get to see the film before he passed. "Here's to the fools," Ross.

21/08/2024

If you happen to be in or near Wells, B.C. (not Nevada) this weekend drop by the Sunset Theatre for the Moonrise Film Festival. Two of my films: "The Pond", and "Long Road to Cariboo", are showing on Saturday Aug 24 about 3pm. Both are previous award winners and I am stoked to have them show at Moonrise. Thanks Daniel.

25/07/2024

Those of us who have lived, loved and embraced Barkerville and Wells we are hopeful, maybe even optimistic, that good winds, wet weather and strong fire crews will turn the tide and save a site that is the very essence of the beginning of colonial history in B.C. – like it or not. The gold of Cariboo brought the Cariboo Waggon Road to the colony – which brought the wheel to the interior of the region. The resulting gold brought British Columbia into Confederation with Canada. All this we know.
Hopefully this will be saved.
But let us not forget that as we hope and pray much of Cariboo and goldrush history is being lost, all well we hope for Barkerville and Wells to be saved.
Some rural homes are gone – lives damaged. The Antler City ruins are gone. Grouse Creek town and cabins gone. The graves of AJK and Royal Engineer Goskirk have been swept over. Ditchlines are denuded by flames, mine sites are swept over. If the FIRMS thermal maps are accurate the graves and history of Racetrack Flats are literally toast. They are all part of many of our collective memories. Pleasant Valley is burned; Beggs Gulch, Stevens Gulch, likely Whisky Flats and the old dredge, Quartz Gulch and California Gulch – and on and on. So many memories gone, so much history lost. It will take years of reparations by groups such as Friends of Barkerville and New Pathways to Gold to restore or remediate even a fraction of the losses. A history lost that was so rich that there was a nascent movement back in the mid 80s toward a Goldfields National Historic Park. So much is lost, so much at risk. Add to that the First Nations history and resources scorched – but that is for someone else to talk about.

It is ironic but not surprising to a few of us that this fire swept in. Last winter Winter Quarters Productions cast and crew were successful in applying to the BC Wildfire Service for permission to film a documentary, the story of fires in Cariboo, past and we hoped not, present. We wanted to look in depth at how fire shaped and is shaping our history. Our proposal was accepted with alacrity and enthusiasm by BCWS. We had a crew, a plan, and as it turns out, a prescient script. But, with travel and crew costs, safety gear, specialized camera gear and so on it was an expensive endeavor – our most ambitious to date. Had it come to fruition we would have been in Barkerville and Wells, Williams Lake and other sites documenting these events. Unfortunately, despite the enthusiasm, we were unable to raise any funds - nada, zilch, not a penny in our gold poke. So, we watch our script go up in smoke along with so many heritage resources. Perhaps it would have been too hard anyway.

Cariboo has survived fires in the past and we will again. Let us hope that at end of summer major resources still welcome us.

23/07/2024

CBC quoted me briefly today in terms of Barkerville's history - but due to new govt regs I cannot post a news item. But, if you are interested search on: "Residents fear losing historic Barkerville to wildfire" and add CBC and you might get there. Fortunately things are looking a little better today.

23/07/2024

This seems like a good time to post this as a shout out to all our Barkerville and Wells friends. This is what we enjoyed the most, reaching out to people to make them feel a bit better in tough times. This was always done with the support of a lot of others. Stay strong Wellsites and Barkervillians. (BTW the wrong clip got posted previous so pls ignore it.
100 Mile Cariboo Strong Tour
August 9th 2017

Theatre Royal tour to 100 Mile House

13/07/2024

A blast from the past. Hard to realize it is 6 years ago and miles away. A country called Cariboo
https://vimeo.com/255671079

09/06/2024

Hard to remember this was filmed back in about 2006. Watch this:

This video is about the 1862 goldrush town of Barkerville in B.C's

08/05/2024

We are finally home after 25 days and 6900 kms on the road.
It was a fantastic journey which accomplished most of our goals for our new film "Message in a Tin Can". This despite a few maintenance issues like a trailer tire blow out, new tires and a replacement jack, oh, and a broken toe for Richard which meant hiking in slippers for a few days. And we came in on budget.

We met some wonderful people, from our guide Fred Blackburn and his wife Victoria Atkins, to Ute elders (who choose to remain anonymous) and Sylvia Taylor from the Bears Ears Partnership. We saw some fantastic sites, learned a depth of knowledge of Ancestral Peubloans, much of which we can transfer to our own culture and B.C. situations. The ethos of Visit with Respect, and the concept of an Outdoor Museum begun by Fred decades ago, is alive and well. He showed us several examples of how it is working. In one case we are now two of eight people who know of a particular site - and the film will protect the identify and integrity of the location - “somewhere in the Four Corners country.” Again, Fred left a message, but his time in a rock, not a tin can.

In some ways it took us back to discussions we have had in past lives, such as the integrity mentors such as Art Downs of Heritage House and BC Outdoors taught, and folks we worked with at CBC, Barkerville and other stages, that began this continuing journey.

We were also excited to have friends Dave Jorgenson and Cheryl McCarthy, of Historic Stays and The Frog on the Bog in Wells, join us for a few days in Utah to explore some old and new sites and add their valuable perspective.

We shot 6 Terabytes of digital film. We figure the film is about half complete, as we now have a couple of Zoom calls to organize, a long edit to begin and some film in B.C. to shoot, to round out the story.
The completion dates is targeted for the fall of 2024.

Thanks to all of you for your support. Without it the film would still be a dream.

Here is Richard's favorite shot from the month. Maybe not a scene for the Message film, but lighting we cannot replicate and Richard’s favorite subject.

04/04/2024

Two surprises today. One great one and one, well...Loading camera gear when we find our trailer needs the axles adjusted! Typical. Then in the mail a Supporter Donation from Friends of Barkerville - Cariboo Goldfields Historical Society! They have come on board as a donor. for the "Message in a Tin Can" film. The FOB are major supporters of Cariboo History and in particular Barkerville Historic Town & Park - and have been since 1984. Their donations to Barkerville are in the Millions. A hard working group! Many thanks. We are still needing additional supporters so even if you just want to buy us a 'coffee on the road' you can participate and be a credited supporter. Join in.

01/04/2024

Just a week before we head south to film the southern half of our new film "Message in a Tin Can," and we have picked up a major new sponsor: Historic Stay in Well, B.C. Dave and Cheryl operate some lovely houses and rooms in this town and have always been strong supporters of the BonePicker project and Newman and Wright. You can find them on Facebook, AirBnB or through the Mountain Thyme Getaway - which gets 5 star reviews on Google Reviews. Supporters like these folks keep our films rolling. And there is a rumour they might join us in Utah!

14/03/2024

Another blast from the past. Just got this note from friend Carrie: "I'm in Vancouver listening to co-op radio station, he is reading out " Overlanders" - has all kinds of things to say between passages. Doing a great job. Mentioned your name several times." Unfortunately I was too late to catch it but rather cool that it is still on someone's radar. Still have a few cartons to leave to my kids ;-)).

11/03/2024

A film from a few years ago that we produced for New Pathways to Gold Society. Nam Sing: A man for Gold Country.
Nam Sing - A Man for Gold Mountain.

The story of Nam Sing of Quesnel and the NPTGS expedition to recreate his treks to Barkerville in British Columbia's Cariboo country.

01/09/2023

Some great news! While Monty Downs, Amy Newman and I were out at Churn Creek on Tuesday to film the returned petroglyph site I had a cell call - which of course did not get through.
Yesterday we connected. It was Fred Blackburn of “Message in Can”, the gentleman who wrote the "Message in the can", the story told by Dave Roberts which became the premise of our film proposal.
Fred Blackburn loves the film concept and is anxious to work with us in any way he can, including being interviewed when we get down to Utah!
This takes the film to a whole other level. We are excited. Join us. See the proposal in the previous post.

21/08/2023

What can an old tin can laying in the sand teach us today? It can speak volumes – especially if it’s left where it’s found.

That’s a key theme of the Message in a Can video project currently being developed by Winter Quarters Productions. Filmmakers Richard Wright and Amy Newman recently received $4,600 from the New Pathways to Gold Society’s (NPTGS) Small Projects Grant Program to help finance the video.

Wright says the project will look at the “Outdoor Museum” concept used in Utah’s Cedar Mesa, the land of the Ancestral Puebloans. Wright and Newman will advocate for a similar approach to artifacts found along the Cariboo Waggon Road Route.

“The Cariboo historic landscape is a mirror for the Cedar Mesa Outdoor Museum concept, both of which have incredible Indigenous values and other stories from different periods,” says Wright.

“The goal is to begin a conversation toward a similar concept of non-collecting in the Cariboo.
The video won’t chastise or criticize the avid collector, but rather through example promote the idea of an Outdoor Museum of the Cariboo.”

The project takes its name from the story of writer/explorer David Roberts, who while out for a hike in 1993 reached for a tin can hidden in a cubbyhole beneath a boulder in Grand Gulch on the Cedar Mesa. Inside was a scrap of paper with a message.

“This can may have belonged to Richard Wetherill (a rancher/cowboy who located some of the earliest cliff dwellings). The solder at the bottom dictates to the late 1890s. Please leave as an important piece of the Outdoor Museum of Grand Gulch. Fred Blackburn, May 6, 1985.”

Blackburn, a former Bureau of Land Management Ranger, championed the idea of the Open Museum in the 1980s.

Wright says the Open Museum concept will be presented through interviews and re-enactments, by exploring ruins, roads, trails and tracks and by visiting museums, collections and Visitor Centres in both Cedar Mesa and the Cariboo. Each will build a case for protecting our collective heritage.

“NPTGS is very excited to provide funding to this project, which poses important questions and an alternative vision to our traditional way of thinking about artifacts,” says NPTGS Co-Chair Brent Rutherford.

“It’s our hope this will give visitors a new view of and appreciation for the ancient landscapes they travel upon, not just in the Cariboo, but all along the Gold Rush/Spirit Trails corridor from Hope to Barkerville.”

Prolific filmmakers, Wright and Newman have worked with NPTGS on a series of video projects, including popular productions like Weary Miner, Nam Sing – A Man for Gold Country (which won two international awards) and The Long Road to Cariboo, which has to date received eight film festival awards, including Best Editing from the Hong Kong Indie Film Festival. They can be viewed at: Vimeo.com/richardtwright.

Wright says the funding from NPTGS is welcome, but Winter Quarters is still looking for additional financing to complete the project.

“We’re willing to partner with organizations, businesses and individuals – anyone who has a passion for our shared history and wants to tell these very human stories, often found in the most modest of objects,” says Wright.

NPTGS is a non-profit organization dedicated to Indigenous Reconciliation, Multiculturalism and building local economies in the Hope-Barkerville corridor via heritage tourism and cultural expression. The Society gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada via the Community Services Recovery Fund.

10/06/2023

If they keep this up, Richard Wright and Amy Newman will have won as many awards as Mel Brooks did for the Broadway version of The Producers. Richard has won the award for Best Editing from the Hong Kong Indie Film Festival for Long Road to Cariboo. This up-and-coming festival has judges from four countries assessing entries from around the globe. This in the ninth award this outstanding video has garnered and it’s up for one more this month. Here’s the list of laurels:

Hong Kong Indie Film Festival - Best Editing (Richard Wright)
Vancouver Movie Awards - Semi Finalist
Indie Short Fest - Outstanding Achievement - Production Design
Independent Shorts Awards - Silver Award - Best Short Documentary
Canada Shorts - Canadian & International and Short Film Fest - Honorable Mention
Top Shorts Film Festival - Honorable Mention: Documentary
Los Angeles Film Awards - Honorable Mention: Documentary Short
Indie Short Fest - Best Short Documentary

The video is dedicated to the memory of former New Pathways to Gold Society Co-Chair Terry Raymond, who was recently posthumously honoured with a B.C. Heritage Award for lifetime volunteer service. Richard adds on a poignant note he will be adding an In Memory line for Ross Douglas who wrote “Value of Gold” 9used in the video) and who passed away in April.

09/04/2023

We gave a shout out to John van Houten the Cariboo miner who lies in Tombstone's Boot Hill as we drove by yesterday. His story is told here: https://vimeo.com/161261932
The Avenger Redux

This film is about the murder of Barkerville, B.C. miner John Van Houten and his avenger, Wyatt Earp of Tombstone fame and legend.