Decoys (2020) s01e01 Episode Script
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1
♪
My name is Mary Jane Olinyuk,
and I carve duck decoys.
Growing up, when other kids were
playing video games
or having friends, I was
studying mallards.
I was obsessed.
Um, I was, and still am
"the duck girl."
But if you search that on the
internet,
it's not me that comes up,
and what comes up
is quite graphic.
♪
♪
Phew! Well
We're already three months out,
so things are completely crazy.
I mean, formally we start the
planning process
about three months out, but
truth be told,
I woke up the morning after last
year's competition
already thinking about this.
Mm. This is our 10th competition
as planning committee
and if I have learned one thing,
it's that if you think you can
rest on your laurels
planning an event like this,
you're gonna be served a very,
very generous portion
- of humble pie.
- Yeah, a la mode.
But more importantly,
you're gonna let down those
artists.
Those magnificent artists.
Right, Dennis?
Yeah, I mean, anything less than
your maximum effort is
It's an insult to them.
♪
How'd I get into duck carving?
Well
Don't you mean "why on Earth did
he get into duck carving"?
My job is pretty repetitive, I'm
a small business loan officer.
So I figured it's important to
have hobbies
and a creative outlet, and I
have the tools, so why not?
A quarter life crisis.
What does it take to put
on the NACC?
It will make your head spin.
Oh, um, first you need to
book a venue.
Not too big, not too small.
- Cistern for coffee.
- And one for tea.
Cups.
Styrofoam, strictly Styrofoam.
Cash box for the entrance fee.
Tons of loonies and toonies.
What else?
♪
You don't just sit down
and start carving.
You have to find the art within
the art.
You have to
Create the environment within
which to create.
You know, you could have a well
paying job,
a partner who cares about you,
two beautiful kids who
adore you,
maybe like, a Cocker spaniel
named Worthington.
Or you could be a creator.
I mean, what would you choose?
♪
To me, being Canadian means
being a duck carver.
It's a little bit of a challenge
living in a condo,
but we're making it work.
Basically a requirement for us
Canadian guys.
A home workshop.
Doubles up as a pantry
sometimes.
It's a a sanctuary for me to
get away from it all.
Amu? Pass me a bag of rice.
Whoa, men at work here!
Oh, where do I start?
I had just come to Canada on my
visa before my wife had come,
so I was getting a bit lonely.
But I told myself
"Amandeep Singh, you are not
going to sit around"
"feeling sorry for yourself."
So I'd go feed the ducks
at the pond,
and one afternoon, I see this
guy, and he's sketching ducks.
And so we get around to talking
and chitting and chatting,
and all of a sudden he tells me
that's he's also carving ducks!
I mean, he carves ducks!
I couldn't believe it. My mind
got blasted into pieces,
and I was like
"Are you serious?"
So he suggests
"Let's go grab a beer."
Like, right then, right there.
Does it get any more Canadian
than that?
Let's be real here, yeah?
So we start to bro out about
duck carving
and my head is spinning.
I mean, the beer made me a
little light-headed too,
but more importantly, for the
first time in Canada,
I felt at home.
- Folding tables.
- Oh, yes, of course.
Now usually the venue provides
those for you,
but you need to let them know
how you want them arranged.
- Yeah.
- In advance.
You don't want to get the ones
that just, like,
fold up like that. I've cut my
fingers many times.
I actually broke one of my
fingers.
It's so dangerous.
Can't really bend it
that much anymore,
but it got caught in the middle
of one. Um
It was a pretty it was touch
and go. It was touch and go.
♪
There's nothing fun
about carving.
Nor should there be.
Difficult things build
character.
I carve with hand tools only.
The way the original
masters did.
Funny enough, I have never
actually taken home
the first place ribbon myself.
Let's just say that
pure technical ability
hasn't always been valued
as highly
as it should have been.
This year, my carving
will finally get the recognition
it deserves.
♪
I bookkeep on my folks' farm.
I live right next door.
Um, some people would say that
sounds a bit quiet,
but I wouldn't I wouldn't want
it any other way. Um
I have plenty of company.
And also just make sure that
there isn't some sort of,
you know, wrestling match the
week before,
'cause the tables I got after
that were all broken.
So imagine me having to glue a
bunch of tables
back together before ugh.
♪
My my mom sold the
family house,
so I kept some things from my
dad's workshop.
It's a bit of woodworking
humour.
I mean, it's just odds and
ends, really.
Looks like I was trying to
help out.
I don't have much free time
these days, you know.
I'm in my last year of my
fellowship,
and I'm about to transition into
full-time ER work.
But I love to go out.
Eat, dance,
leave the house.
I think I was just initially so
attracted to him
because he was so much fun.
He had the ability to turn any
situation into a party
or an adventure.
These days, he is perfectly
happy to stay home
and carve his ducks.
It's a dust collection system!
It's my own design!
It's a unique hobby.
Especially when performed
in such a thoughtfully decorated
apartment.
♪
Oh, Alberta
don't you cry, listen to me ♪
It'll be all right,
oh-oh-oh yeah ♪
Don't hate Saskatchewan, never
meant no harm to anyone ♪
Manitoba, don't you know
you're out where ♪
You won't make it home,
back to Ontario ♪
♪
♪
My name is Mary Jane Olinyuk,
and I carve duck decoys.
Growing up, when other kids were
playing video games
or having friends, I was
studying mallards.
I was obsessed.
Um, I was, and still am
"the duck girl."
But if you search that on the
internet,
it's not me that comes up,
and what comes up
is quite graphic.
♪
♪
Phew! Well
We're already three months out,
so things are completely crazy.
I mean, formally we start the
planning process
about three months out, but
truth be told,
I woke up the morning after last
year's competition
already thinking about this.
Mm. This is our 10th competition
as planning committee
and if I have learned one thing,
it's that if you think you can
rest on your laurels
planning an event like this,
you're gonna be served a very,
very generous portion
- of humble pie.
- Yeah, a la mode.
But more importantly,
you're gonna let down those
artists.
Those magnificent artists.
Right, Dennis?
Yeah, I mean, anything less than
your maximum effort is
It's an insult to them.
♪
How'd I get into duck carving?
Well
Don't you mean "why on Earth did
he get into duck carving"?
My job is pretty repetitive, I'm
a small business loan officer.
So I figured it's important to
have hobbies
and a creative outlet, and I
have the tools, so why not?
A quarter life crisis.
What does it take to put
on the NACC?
It will make your head spin.
Oh, um, first you need to
book a venue.
Not too big, not too small.
- Cistern for coffee.
- And one for tea.
Cups.
Styrofoam, strictly Styrofoam.
Cash box for the entrance fee.
Tons of loonies and toonies.
What else?
♪
You don't just sit down
and start carving.
You have to find the art within
the art.
You have to
Create the environment within
which to create.
You know, you could have a well
paying job,
a partner who cares about you,
two beautiful kids who
adore you,
maybe like, a Cocker spaniel
named Worthington.
Or you could be a creator.
I mean, what would you choose?
♪
To me, being Canadian means
being a duck carver.
It's a little bit of a challenge
living in a condo,
but we're making it work.
Basically a requirement for us
Canadian guys.
A home workshop.
Doubles up as a pantry
sometimes.
It's a a sanctuary for me to
get away from it all.
Amu? Pass me a bag of rice.
Whoa, men at work here!
Oh, where do I start?
I had just come to Canada on my
visa before my wife had come,
so I was getting a bit lonely.
But I told myself
"Amandeep Singh, you are not
going to sit around"
"feeling sorry for yourself."
So I'd go feed the ducks
at the pond,
and one afternoon, I see this
guy, and he's sketching ducks.
And so we get around to talking
and chitting and chatting,
and all of a sudden he tells me
that's he's also carving ducks!
I mean, he carves ducks!
I couldn't believe it. My mind
got blasted into pieces,
and I was like
"Are you serious?"
So he suggests
"Let's go grab a beer."
Like, right then, right there.
Does it get any more Canadian
than that?
Let's be real here, yeah?
So we start to bro out about
duck carving
and my head is spinning.
I mean, the beer made me a
little light-headed too,
but more importantly, for the
first time in Canada,
I felt at home.
- Folding tables.
- Oh, yes, of course.
Now usually the venue provides
those for you,
but you need to let them know
how you want them arranged.
- Yeah.
- In advance.
You don't want to get the ones
that just, like,
fold up like that. I've cut my
fingers many times.
I actually broke one of my
fingers.
It's so dangerous.
Can't really bend it
that much anymore,
but it got caught in the middle
of one. Um
It was a pretty it was touch
and go. It was touch and go.
♪
There's nothing fun
about carving.
Nor should there be.
Difficult things build
character.
I carve with hand tools only.
The way the original
masters did.
Funny enough, I have never
actually taken home
the first place ribbon myself.
Let's just say that
pure technical ability
hasn't always been valued
as highly
as it should have been.
This year, my carving
will finally get the recognition
it deserves.
♪
I bookkeep on my folks' farm.
I live right next door.
Um, some people would say that
sounds a bit quiet,
but I wouldn't I wouldn't want
it any other way. Um
I have plenty of company.
And also just make sure that
there isn't some sort of,
you know, wrestling match the
week before,
'cause the tables I got after
that were all broken.
So imagine me having to glue a
bunch of tables
back together before ugh.
♪
My my mom sold the
family house,
so I kept some things from my
dad's workshop.
It's a bit of woodworking
humour.
I mean, it's just odds and
ends, really.
Looks like I was trying to
help out.
I don't have much free time
these days, you know.
I'm in my last year of my
fellowship,
and I'm about to transition into
full-time ER work.
But I love to go out.
Eat, dance,
leave the house.
I think I was just initially so
attracted to him
because he was so much fun.
He had the ability to turn any
situation into a party
or an adventure.
These days, he is perfectly
happy to stay home
and carve his ducks.
It's a dust collection system!
It's my own design!
It's a unique hobby.
Especially when performed
in such a thoughtfully decorated
apartment.
♪
Oh, Alberta
don't you cry, listen to me ♪
It'll be all right,
oh-oh-oh yeah ♪
Don't hate Saskatchewan, never
meant no harm to anyone ♪
Manitoba, don't you know
you're out where ♪
You won't make it home,
back to Ontario ♪
♪