The "ABCs of BBM": Round 965! (Rules in first post)

[memento]

Site Name: Fireworks Area
Location: Westwinds Baseball Area, Fort Macleod, AB

 

It takes more than a bit of searching to find this community baseball diamond located near an old airstrip south of Fort Macleod, but those who were energized by Ennis’ manly silhouette against a backdrop of patriotic fireworks, or moved by Alma’s reaction to her husband’s fury, will want to visit this place as part of their Fort Macleod pilgrimage.
FindingBrokeback.com

[Toast]

Ang Lee had to make decisions about adding or removing scenes to tell Annie Proulx's story, and how to use the beauty of Alberta to enhance the story; but Brokeback Mountain soars because of his xactitude with Annie's characters and events.

[Toast]

Round 523



Alberta's here
For all to see!

[Meryl]

One of the highlights of the Alberta Pilgrimage will be the ascension of Mount Inflexible, better known to Brokies as "Jack Ascending."

[memento]

Site Name: Trailer Window
Location: Town Dump, Beiseker, AB

Travel Directions:
Face the Beiseker Village Office, a former Canadian Pacific Railway station, at 1st Avenue and 6th Street, turn left on 1st Avenue and go .8 km. Turn right at the “Dump Gate” sign, go .3 km. The site is on the right, enclosed by a white wooden fence.

Remarks:
Viewing the image framed by the trailer window (often through tears), one wonders if the field and sky, with their assuring hues of green, yellow (a field of canola), and blue, are the real thing. Standing on the actual location, they seem to be. Never mind that it is next to a dump. It is the serene image that forms a fitting apostrophe to Jack and Ennis' love, which will endure for as long as the Brokeback story is told.

FindingBrokeback.com

[southendmd]

Travel Directions:
Hwy 24 at the intersection of Range Road 260, Carseland, facing east.

Remarks:
A complex story begins simply at this unassuming spot. A telephoto lens was used to bring the much discussed grouping of three utility poles, which are actually quite distant, into the image.

You'll find another familiar image from early in the film on the opposite side of the railroad tracks, immediately to the west. On the way, note the Quonset building at the corner. This building, formerly a service station, was the site of the (cut) Signal Gas Station scene.

[Toast]

Site Name: Sheep Staging #1

DVD Capture

Travel Directions:
From Hwy 1, take Morley Exit, north 3.6 km to Hwy 1A, turn left (west) on 1A, 12 km to “Buffalo Paddock” sign. Turn left (south) at the “Peacekeepers” building, 0.8 km to gate, 0.4 km to fork, take left branch of fork, go 0.1 km further. Turn right at green dumpster, proceed 750' to site.
.....
Remarks:
Both the Sheep Staging areas and the Sheep Tangle scene were shot on Stoney Native Reservation land. This vantage point is close to Buffalo Paddock near Morley, at the foot of imposing Yamnuska Mountain. Yamnuska is among Canada’s most famous mountains and has a special place in Stoney heritage and culture. The steep face is a favorite for experienced professional climbers, but intermediate hikers can access the summit along a trail that skirts the western slope.
.....
Quotation:
"You wanna watch it there. That horse has a low startle point."

[memento]

Site Name: Ennis’ Trailer

Travel Directions:
Face the Beiseker Village Office, a former Canadian Pacific Railway station, at 1st Avenue and 6th Street, turn left on 1st Avenue and go .8 km. Turn right at the “Dump Gate” sign, go .3 km. The site is on the right, enclosed by a white wooden fence.

Remarks:
The Brokeback Mountain story begins and ends in, of all places, trailers. What remains of Ennis’ trailer site is limited to a grassy clearing, the roadway, and the field we see at the film’s powerful conclusion. A white fence surrounds the trailer location to protect this special ground.

[Fran]

"Alberta's Film Commission has taken out full-colour ads in industry bibles including Variety and The Hollywood Reporter congratulating those involved in Brokeback and pointing out that Alberta provided the backdrop for the story."

--  Queerty:  "Get Your Brokeback Fix in the Land of the Mounties"

[Toast]

Location: Morley area, Stoney Native Reservation
Site Name: Sheep Tangle

Travel Directions:
From Hwy 1, take Morley Exit, north 3.6 km to Hwy 1A, turn left (west) on 1A, 12 km to “Buffalo Paddock” sign. Turn left (south) at the “Peacekeepers” building, 0.8 km to gate, 0.4 km to fork, take left branch of fork, go 1.5 km to site, which is to the right (south) of the road. Note: The last 1 km of this road is rough. Walk it if your vehicle can’t stand it.

The park is officially closed during wintertime though access by foot is feasible, weather permitting. You might want to contact Ron Stonier, (403) 813-1921, for access arrangements, which may require payment of a $5 fee. Security guards in the area have been known to save paperwork by collecting fees from visitors on the spot.

Remarks:
The Sheep Tangle, set near Buffalo Paddock on the Stoney Reservation near the Bow River, illustrates the observation contained in the story, “In a disquieting way everything seemed mixed.” (Never mind that 19-year-old Jack's use of the unexpected adjective “Chilean” is rather disquieting in itself!)

Important:
Always obtain appropriate permission before entering private property and native reserve lands.

Quotation:
“We gotta stick this out, Jack.”

[FindingBrokeback.Com]