What History Has Taught Me

Pierre Delacôte
Born in 1972, filmmaker and designer Pierre Delacôte lives on the Acadian coast, in a small town called Shediac, in New Brunswick, Canada. He is currently the creative director, editor and designer for the show Chasing Billy and for the Billy the Kid’s Historical Coalition.
​Cocagne de l’Acadie, his first feature documentary film, was produced and broadcast by ICI Radio-Canada.
On two occasions, his short films were selected in Telefilm Canada’s Canada, Not Short On Talent program (Cannes Shorts) for the films Jimmy (2014) and Le fils du Capitaine (2017).
Each film earned him an invitation to the Cannes Film Festival, where, on the Croisette, he had the privilege to present these films.
In 2018, he was nominated for the Éloizes for Artist of the Year in Media Arts.
The short films, in Super8 format, La vie en Rose and Vanité won first prize at the Festival International du Cinéma Fancophone en Acadie (FICFA), as part of Acadie Underground.
Other productions of short mockumentaries presented at L’acadie suit son court (FICFA), include Camp Acadie (2013),
Le Sintax Era (2015), Billy Bobby (2017).

 

For my money, the best Spaghetti Western ever made is Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West. Let’s face it: it’s simply a masterpiece. Every single camera shot was linked logically to the story in a way that was unprecedented in 1968. Each character has their own sound theme, with natural cuts and pans allowing the story to unfold at a stately pace, filled with visual reveals, and, of course, the haunting harmonica. ’’He’s the man!’’ (To quote Jack). In my opinion, this film deserves all the hype it can get.

 The biggest break I ever got was to my hip. I broke it at the age of 29 by falling down stairs with an amp and guitar at hand. The upside was having the time to sit still and write a first solo album.

 My next major challenge is creating an epic and historically accurate biographical Western that remains true to the entire story, regardless of its scope.

 If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t. I’m afraid of heights and I’m lactose intolerant. We’re probably too clean, anyway: going back to Tombstone, Arizona, or Lincoln, New Mexico, in the 1880s would cause our bodies to go into bacterial shock! 

 My parents taught me that our character was of far more importance than anything you could trade it for. They also taught me to work hard for that freedom. I think the history of the West teaches the same lessons.

 When I was a kid, I loved picturing how people and places were before my time. I would get along with elders and ask all sorts of questions about their lives back in the day. I guess I’ve always lived in the past that way. History has taught me to connect with the past, while those who remember it are still around.

 Growing up as a teenager, I had good friends who kept me in check. I learned the code of brotherhood in junior high. We even had a clubhouse with our own personalized member cards, and, yes, they were laminated by a guy we knew at Videotech. The rest is self-explanatory. History is full of ironclad brotherhoods.

 Most people don’t know I was ashamed of my resentment towards the barbaric culinary culture of lobster. You don’t understand, folks out here are crazy about it. Seeing them rip apart a bottom-of-the-ocean crustacean with ten tiny legs. I can still hear the cracking shellfish and slurping sounds. I had to hide that secret from the people I love for so long!

The greatest benefit of history is learning from it.

Billy the Kid’s Historical Coalition is a place where I found like-minded amigos, passionate about their craft. Through the Chasing Billy YouTube show, I discovered a place where I could feel connected with history and other history fans, and also contribute my expertise to better present the overall vision. 

My favorite historical site is a place I’ve not yet gone to. Lincoln County, New Mexico, and surrounding areas. Working with the BtK Coalition, I’ve traced, redrawn, measured, mapped out more than 40 Billy the Kid site maps, I’ve virtually fallen in love with the entire area. I look forward to seeing it!

When I’m on the road, I always forget to put the music on, and I drive for hours until the uncomfortable silence kicks in.

Wish I had a nickel for every time I think there’s an undo button, when I lock myself out of the house, or think, “I gotta get out more.”

What I love about history is that it allows me to escape from today’s crazy world.