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  • Published on

    Brian Rowe & Desirée Van De Laar

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    What is your current job title?
    Special FX Make-up Artist, or Special FX Artist (if we're only providing non make-up related SPFX, like creatures, props or blood FX)
    What steps did you take to get where you are today? 
    Brian: I got divorced and basically restarted my whole life. I met someone just as crazy as I am, with a good sense of business and together we pursued my life long dream to become a professional Special FX artist. 
    Desirée: We focused on building up a portfolio and improving/expanding our skills, as well as a whole lot of networking.
    If you couldn’t do this job anymore, what would you want to do? 
    Desirée: I'd be doing something else creative in the film industry, like making miniatures or costumes. Or maybe I'd finally have the time to focus on my writing. 
    Brian: I would love to open a horror themed restaurant with a haunt attraction in it!
    If you could be a part of any film / tv show in history, what would it be, and why?
    Brian: Definitely Terminator 2, because of the incredible practical makeup FX on Arnold. And also because I would love to work with James Cameron.
    Desirée: Little Shop of Horrors! I just cannot believe that they made Audrey 2 look so amazing before digital effects were a thing. It's all practical! 

    What important thing have you learned while working in this industry?
    Desirée: You can never be too prepared.
    Brian: Check your ego at the door! Making a film is a group effort. 

    Any links to share?  
    www.lockedinthecellar.ca
    https://www.instagram.com/lockedinthecellar/
    http://www.facebook.com/lockedinthecellar
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    AVIVA ARMOUR-OSTROFF

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    What is your current job title?
    ACTOR/PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

    What steps did you take to get where you are today? 
    WENT TO THEATRE SCHOOL THEN STARTED MAKING MY OWN THINGS

    If you couldn’t do this job anymore, what would you want to do? 
    BE RICH, GARDEN, GIVE PEOPLE MONEY TO DO ART, CREATE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED IT. IF I COULDN'T BE RICH, GET INTO THERAPY: MASSAGE OR PSYCHOLOGY. 

    If you could be a part of any film / tv show in history, what would it be, and why?
    OOOO GREAT QUESTION. I’D LOVE TO BE A PART OF FLOWERS THE TV SHOW BECAUSE ITS INCREDIBLY CREATIVE, UNIQUE AND EXTREME. I’D LOVE TO BE IN THE SHOW ATLANTA BECAUSE EVERYONE IS SO COOL. I’D LOVE TO BE A PART OF MONTY PYTHON CAUSE ITS SUCH SILLY FUN. 

    What important thing have you learned while working in this industry?
    THE HIERARCHY THAT SEEMS TO EXIST IN THE FILM INDUSTRY DOESNT’T HAVE TO. WE CAN CREATE COMPANIES THAT FUNCTION WITH EQUALITY AND COLLABORATION. ALSO, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO FORSEE WHAT WILL OR WONT BE SUCCESSFUL, SO BEST TO MAKE WHAT YOU LOVE. 

    Any links to share? 
    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MY RECENT FILM, @lunethefilm/instagram
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    Harmony McKenzie - July Spotlight

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    Harmony McKenzie - Supervisor, Programming & Production

    What is your current job title? 
    Supervisor, Programming & Production

    What steps did you take to get where you are today? 
    I volunteered anywhere and everywhere I could early on in my career (and still do today when the opportunity arises). I once applied to a job that didn't end up hiring me, but followed up with an offer to volunteer on set. That led to more paid work down the road and a lot of great contacts! 

    If you couldn’t do this job anymore, what would you want to do? 
    Public/community relations. It's a trasnferable skill and I love people and interacting in the community so don't think I could stray away from that aspect of my current job. 

    If you could be a part of any film / tv show in history, what would it be, and why?  
    Friends. I can't imagine there was ever a day on set that wasn't fun! Who wouldn't want to get paid to laugh all day? 

    What important thing have you learned while working in this industry? 
    Making mistakes is part of growth. There are so many things that are easy to "mess up" but they're ultimately what make you better at your job and as a person. 

    Any links to share?
  • Published on

    CHER OBEDIAH - JUNE SPOTLIGHT

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    CHER OBEDIAH - Filmmaker, Writer, Speaker

    What steps did you take to get where you are today? 
    Moved to Hamilton to be a part of the rich creative community and sought out opportunities. 


    If you couldn’t do this job anymore, what would you want to do? 
    I'm a creative, I don't think I would run out of ways to express the rumblings of my spirit. I'd paint, draw, write and then go travelling!


    If you could be a part of any film / tv show in history, what would it be, and why? 
    Ohhh great question. I've always been a fan of the Titanic. It would have been mind blowing to be part of the team that got footage of the actual wreck.


    What important thing have you learned while working in this industry? 
    To keep going and to fiercely believe in myself. 


    Any links to share?
    How about my film trailer....https://vimeo.com/317168543

    Bryn Wilkinson was a co-op student at the Hamilton Film Festival.
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    JEFFERY SCOTT FOWLER - APRIL SPOTLIGHT

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    JEFFERY SCOTT FOWLER - Editor

    1 What originally inspired you to get in this line of work?

    Originally growing up, I always had an interest in media. Movies, TV, cartoons and comic books were my life. Up until high-school I had envisioned becoming a comic book artist, however i can to the conclusion in my last years of high-school that I couldn’t seem myself drawing every day etc. and my wonderful guidance councillor suggest a move to film and tv as I had done a couple of media co-op programs in my grade 11/12 years and I had a strong interest in movies/TV. I ended up at Humber college, gradating in 1999 with a focus on Cinematography (I am a terrible cedar operator btw) and Film editing…. From there I worked in a number of different positions ranging from work on a SPFX crew specializing in miniatures and motion control, to lighting and grip, only to find my place as a video editor in around 2002-03 and have been editing and occasionally directing ever since.


    2 What creative tools do you use to get your work done? 

    When I originally started editing, it was tape to tape and cutting on film ( I know I’m and old timer)… As I was leaving humber NLEs had started to become a bit more accessible. In my last year of college I learned to use Media100, but when I got back into editing I picked up Final Cut pro in version 2 and used that primarily for the next 10 or so years until FCPX hit and I had to return to Avid as most places drop FCP. That said now I use a combination of tools: Resolve, FCPX, AVID and a bit of After effects (I know premiere, however it is my last choice of editing software). I also still do illustration (mostly by hand), and do all of my flour work in photoshop.


    3 What film would you like to go back in time to be a part of?

    This is a tough question… and my first nerd response would be Star Wars / The Empire Strikes Back…my film nerd side would say something like The Shining or Blade Runner… but in reality I think it would be True Romance or Seven (i can’t decide)… True Romance because I love Tony Scott’s 80’s -90’s work, the cast was incredible, full of amazingly talented people and I still firmly believe it’s Tarantino’s best movie (IMO). And Seven because I’m a big Fincher fan, and that movie changed how I looked at filmmaking. 


    4 Where can people go to learn more about your projects? (website / social media)?
    IG: www.instagram.com/evil_genius_pro 
    FB: www.facefacebook.com/evilgeniusproductionscanada
    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdiNh7CGO5tMKQjE_rYS1kw
    Website: www.evilgeniusproductions.ca
    Bryn Wilkinson is a co-op student at the Hamilton Film Festival.
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    LAURA WALKER - MARCH SPOTLIGHT

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    LAURA WALKER - ASSISTANT LOCATION MANAGER

    What is your Job title? 

    I'm an Assistant Location Manager (ALM) working in Locations. This year I've worked on several TV series including The Handmaid's Tale - Season 4, Ruby and the Well - Season 1, and Departure - Season 3 and I'm currently working on a new TV series for CBS starring Sophia Bush entitled "Good Sam".

    What originally inspired you to get in this line of work?

    I took broadcasting in college and film/english in university. I was involved in a film co-op where I met someone who ultimately hired me at a documentary production company. That job led me to another job and so-on and so-on. I did try working in a non-film/TV place once but it wasn't a good fit -- I belong in entertainment. In more recent years, I was working in Business Development for a Hamilton studio. In that role, I met many Location Scouts /ALMs and Location Managers (LMs) and they encouraged me to consider joining the DGCs (Director's Guild of Canada) Location Caucus. The decision to join the DGC has led me to where I am today.

    How would you describe what you do to someone who is not in the industry?

    Filming on location (versus in a controlled studio) is basically "event management". ALMs take care of all of the logistics of filming on location -- permits, maps, parking, lunchroom, green rooms, BG (back group actors) processing, location protection, washrooms, PDOs (paid duty officers), ETF (emergency task force), security, etc. As the ALM, I bridge the gap between a "location" and the "production" making sure that while we are on location that we are following our permits and agreements. While filming on location my department and I are there to assist the shooting crew so that they get their filming day completed successfully. ALMs often work as Scouts finding and photographing possible filming locations.

    What film would you like to go back in time to be a part of?

    I think working on any Bond film would be great. Finding locations for those films would be exciting and challenging and working with talented and creative people would be so inspirational.

    What kind of steps did you take to get to where you are today?

    I didn't plan on a career in Locations -- I just ended up here. I got a Honours BA in Film & English and worked for a few production companies working in Distribution and Marketing. As I mentioned, I had a gig as a Business Development Manager which led me to working as an ALM. I've always been interested in behind-the-scenes work in film and television. This job requires people skills, being comfortable with paperwork, creativity, and an ability to make decisions under pressure. Working in Locations is very interesting and I'm always learning.

    Writer Bryn Wilkinson is a co-op student of the Hamilton Film Festival