"I Love You Over & Over" film commentary by the artist

Just three words...

Like many things in life, the end result is only a small part of the complete picture. The process of the video "I Love You Over & Over" was so much more than the final 10 minutes you are looking at.

This video includes family, friends, associates and absolutely complete strangers and asking them to simply say the words "I Love You" just three words. But no ordinary words, very personal, very vulnerable, very strong words. It was bold and perhaps a little intrusive. It took grounded presence to be able to ask so openly, to help me, to give this very personal expression for the purpose of ART.

I shot my friends and family in my Toronto studio but most of this video was shot at the Joy Bistro on Queen Street in lower Riverdale. The area is in "transition". The area has gone from industrial factories and low income housing to empty warehouse spaces full of artists, photographers and film makers to bobo yuppie wanna-be condos and the "cool" set. And in the days I spent at this cafe shooting, I came across every sector of this community, often pulling people from the streets.

There were students, teachers, real estate agents, and nurses. There were construction workers and waiters and artists, dancers, musicians, people in the "film industry". There was a woman who had been afflicted with polio and only had stubby arms and legs coming from a full sized body, she rode in an electric wheel chair. I got the mail-woman to say "I Love You" and the construction workers all egging each other on, finding it hard to say "no" to a woman, and then, spending the afternoon singing after saying "I Love You". There were people who would share with me the reason and the people they were saying "I Love You" to. A few people said "I Love You" to Jesus. Two of them gave me literature and congratulated me on my quest to find love and spread the word and to look toward the lord for love, one man asked me to participate in a new radio show called "Spread the Word" being pitched to CBC.

Many women said it to their children. Many people said "I Love You" with the desire for approval..."did they do it right?", "Was that OK?". There was a man who asked me to make sure this wasn't shown on TV because if his wife saw it she would get mad at him as he hardly ever said it to her and she constantly bugged him for the words. One woman was enjoying a meal on a sunny afternoon and agreed to help me out while her food was on order. She started to say "I Love You" and her face welled up with sadness and her eyes with tears, it took several tries but she persisted to get it out. Quickly she handed me the mic and rushed to the cashier and took her order to go. She could not speak and left abruptly holding back the tears.

In most cases, people would say "I Love You" and their face would change. They would glow, if just for a second, as if by saying the words "I Love You" was both love released and, love gained. Often the experience was a surprise and I was thanked over and over again.

Each person, child, male, female, has stories - fear, joy, heart break, innocence, hope, etc. most of all hope. And I am fortunate enough to have shared these personal profound moments with over 250 people in the passing of three month's time.

You could say it was a no-brainer, after all it is the one thing there really is too little of. Is it that we don't get enough love or is it that we just don't share enough? If there is one thing making this video made me realize, it was that people don't say "I Love You" nearly enough. Besides the shy ones and the man who thought I was spy trying to get something from him for the government, people were generally willing and eager to speak of love. It is arguable that perhaps the draw to the camera is the motivating force, but I believe we just want to share and often all it takes is someone asking.