Ahoy, comic fans! The story of the Maritimes’ beloved superhero Captain Newfoundland comes to the screen in a new documentary by Mike Feehan and Jamie Miller. Captain Newfoundland, premiering at the Atlantic International Film Festival in September, highlights the brainchild of Geoff Stirling, who gave Newfoundlanders someone to root for on late night TV.
People inspired by Captain Newfoundland tell how this alien astronaut broke ground for regional representation amid the mindless content field of 24-hour television and local broadcasting. The names inspired by Stirling’s creative vision include the film’s director, as Feehan became a comic book artist in his own right after seeing Captain Newfoundland light up the screen.
In this exclusive clip from Captain Newfoundland, fans share how the series helped to create local mythology by connecting audiences’ imaginations with the legend of the lost city of Atlantis. Is Newfoundland the portal to another world?
Watch a clip from Captain Newfoundland below. The film premieres at AIFF on Sept. 17.
Synopsis
Geoff Stirling isn’t just an “only in Canada” story, because he could only have come from one place – Newfoundland. When he set about pioneering 24-hour television broadcasting, he filled the late-night hours when other stations went off the air with his own fantastical creations – visions of crop circles, pyramids, and his own comic book superhero, Captain Newfoundland.
Hiring some of the medium’s most in-demand artists with his own money, he crafted books and animations that extolled the virtues of meditation and his belief that Newfoundland was the northern tip of ancient Atlantis, leaving his mark on traditional broadcasting while the images from his mind left an indelible mark on a generation of late night TV viewers – including a young Mike Feehan, who would go on to become a notable comic book artist influenced by Stirling’s legacy.
Mixing documentary-style interviews with dramatic and animated re-enactments of Stirling’s life and the mythical tales surrounding Captain Newfoundland, this documentary features insights from everyday citizens and famous Newfoundlanders alike, incorporating a mixed-media visual style reminiscent of NTV’s original broadcasting ethos.
Directed by Feehan and Canadian Screen Award nominee Jamie Miller, Captain Newfoundland aims to provide a deep, artistic insight into one man’s influence on generations of outside thinkers. By capturing the story of Geoff Stirling and the inspiration he provided to generations, the documentary seeks to preserve and celebrate a unique piece of Newfoundland’s media history, highlighting the broader relevance of Stirling’s life work in fostering a creative spirit that defies geographical and cultural boundaries. Through a blend of historical context and personal narrative, the documentary aims to immortalize an iconic figure whose life’s work continues to inspire artists and creators across the world.
The post Captain Newfoundland Explores the Lost Portal to Atlantis in New Clip from the Documentary appeared first on POV Magazine.