Stand-off Not A Publicity Stunt: Film Director

Stand-off Not A Publicity Stunt: Film Director

Tuesday, June 02, 2009 at 13:45

 

 

An award-winning director, who filmed a police stand-off in Regina after a gang member called to tell say the gang had taken a family hostage, says he doesn’t believe he was being “played” for free publicity.

 

The night before Cory Generoux got that phone call from the gang member, a Regina hip-hop musician named Robin Favel, Favel was celebrating a major grant he’d received to promote and record his music.

 

Generoux thought he’d found his “happy ending” for “Dogz Lyfe: Burdens of a Gangsta Rapper”, his documentary about Favel.

 

Yet, less than 12 hours later, Generoux was out on the street surrounded by police, filming the events as they unfolded.

 

He says he doesn’t believe the hostage-taking was a publicity stunt, because if it was, it didn’t help Favel with his music career whatsoever.

 

While filming, Generoux stayed on the phone with Favel. He eventually convinced Favel to give himself up to police and let the hostages go.

 

Generoux says the stand-off serves as a tragic ending to the documentary, which was recently named best Aboriginal-produced film at the Yorkton Film Festival.

 

The documentary also convinced Favel to quit the gang.