When the two year OMNI-TV series in Estonian, Telepeegel ended after a year’s extension, hostess Ellen Valter immediately switched to another OMNI-TV project, Independent Producers Initiative.

"Independent Producers Initiative provides the producer with all off their funding," said Paritosh Mehta, director. Valter adds, "It saves us, the producer, from shopping around for the money bit by bit."

The subject she picked was the most current version of the key event of the “Singing Revolution” that helped to restore Estonian independence - the Song Festival of 1989, where around 25,000 people, massed in one choir sang Estonia back to freedom. The Song Festival is an event that is attended by at least 1/5 of the Estonian population. This time around, in 2004, Estonia was singing to celebrate entering NATO and the European Union, thus safeguarding if not ensuring with the help of the world community her independence.

But Valter hadn't made a movie before. But then again she hadn't become a lawyer or a TV show host before either. Making a movie took a bit longer the first time, but OMNI wasn't pushing for a fast result.

The 25-minute-long production starts with a scene in Toronto after a small historical interlude. Reet Lindau-Voksepp, the conductor of the Toronto Estonian School Choir, is shown rehearsing with her charges.

There is also an interview with Dr. Roman Toi, an icon of the Estonian-Toronto music scene. Maestro Toi was also one of the main conductors of the Western component of the legendary 1989 Song Festival.

The choir and conductor now head for Estonia where they do some preliminary sightseeing and even meet with President Arnold Rüütel. "I would like you to come here to stay, “ Rüütel tells them.

Then comes the concert, the audience at the community screening at the Estonian House is silent. Watching the stage fill with 25,000 singers is a phenomenal sight. The camera is on the students, and to see them in their folk costume at such an event makes one proud. The conductors, the soloists, the choirs, all singing their hearts out. And then it was over, the stage emptied, the singers went home.

The filmakers now had their performance to work on as well. It is easy to see the secret to Valter's success - she simply brims with positive energy. "During the concert she had a thought and grabbed a camera, ran to stage and filmed a conductor in front of the super screen and of himself, " said Peter Siroishka, a cameraman. He adds, "It became a memorable shot. It was even more memorable in that Valter had never operated a camera before. She now has a cameraperson credit. "

They spent close to 1,000 hours editing the film. They went to Estonia with 4 production staff, Valter included.

At one point Siroishka, who was recording sound, realized that they did not have a wide angle shot of the entire concert. Siroishka told cameraman Ricky Roos what is needed. Roos made it from the sound booth near the stage to the back of the audience in 45 minutes (his family is into running too) and filmed the 25,000 singers. A shot that took everybody's breath away.

May 27 at Estonian House was a marvellous evening, two great performances to be very proud of.

The televised performances of 25,00 Sing are on OMNI-1 this Saturday,June 4 at 10 pm (in Estonian); Thursday,June 9 at 2 pm (in Estonian) and on OMNI-2 Saturday, June 18 at 7 pm (in English).

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