My First Directing Credit!

I was delighted to be asked by my friend and sometimes colleague Christine Estima to help direct and shoot her War Child Canada Challenge video submission.  We shot in the beautifully decorated Coffee & All That Jazz cafe in the Roncesvalles neighbourhood on a sunny Thursday a few weeks back, and I'm quite pleased with the way the short turned out!  I was also very happy to step into the director's chair, something I haven't done in the past, but always a role I have great respect for.  Good luck Chrissy!  And thanks for all your complimentary words!  And now, the vid, I hope you enjoy it!

"Corpses" by Cancelproof.com is top 10!

Corpses premiered last night during the Toronto Film Challenge screenings at the Bloor Cinema.  The challenge was to incorporate the following into a 6-8 minute finished film within 48 hour:

Prop: Skull Toy

Line: Don't look at me like that

Theme: Miscommunication

Location: The Mall

  

And now, a pictorial recounting of the evening:

The pre-party, across the street @ Paupers.  Our DOP, the talented Mr. Bruce William Harper (bottom right) is warming-up his face for an animated and engaging performance in his roll as unofficial MC and commentator of the event.

I heart holograms

The official batting-order, and viewer's choice ballot.

Our event in (a few) lights!

Eagerly anticipating the first film.

We received the encouraging news during last night's screening that our entry has been selected as part of the top 10 and will be eligible for awards at the gala on Saturday November 27th at the London Tap House.  Fingers crossed!

@Cancelproof's @ToFilmChallenge Submission Received!

Cancelproof's post-production team successfully submitted the completed entry to the Toronto Film Challenge selection committee before the 8pm deadline last night.  Now, we all cross our fingers to be picked for Wednesday's screening, and the awards gala on the 27th for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Writing, Audience Choice, and Online Winner.  Here are a few set stills and scenery shots that I would love to share!

Whatever Ash Catherwood and Jon Hyatt are carrying, it looks heavy...

...you've got your work cut out for you boys!

View of T-Dot from one of our locations

Mike's made a friend, Ash doesn't approve of the match.

Our tireless director Ryan Keller illustrating the romance and allure of riding the rails as an alternative to finishing the film.  We opted to finish the film.

An abandoned factory behind one of the locations.  10 points to Griffindor if someone can correctly identify the location...

Stay tuned for updates on our progress in the challenge.  Wish us luck!

Cancelproof's Toronto Film Challenge Shoot

Cancelproof's web-series: hugely popular Microwave Porn

As I write this, there is a small, talented and dedicated team is editing, colour correcting and designing sound for the footage Cancelproof shot yesterday from 8am to 11pm.   The clock is ticking for their entry to the Toronto Film Challenge.  Friday night, the writers picked up the production package and got right to work.  The time-stamp on the email sending out the script was 3:02 AM Saturday.  Just over four hours later, I hopped into the front-seat of a warm van (thanks gents!) containing half of the team as we rounded up the other members and headed off to make some film-magic.  The team shot just about non-stop throughout the day in a number of locations around the city.  Half of the group continued working through most of the night fueled by Starbucks coffee, Diamond Pizza and fleeting moments of sleep.  They have until 8pm tonight to submit the final cut.  The pressure is on, but these guys are pro's, and I've been getting Cancelproof's twitter updates about how great everything is turning out!  A selection of the films that make tonight's deadline will be featured at the Toronto Film Challenge's Screening, this coming Wednesday November 17th at the Bloor Cinema followed by an awards gala on Saturday November 27th at the London Tap House.  I have some set-stills to post once the film is submitted, so check-in tomorrow for a peek at some behind-the-scenes antics like only Cancelproof can!  T-minus 5 hours to go!  Keep up the great work boys!

Halloween Haunt a Wrap!

The front-gate gang!

It was great fun to be a part the Haunt again this year.  So much has changed since my first Wonderland experience in 2005 when it was Fear Fest and I was a mummy that popped out of a cut in the wall of a tomb.  I got to experience being an atmosphere performer at the front gate, watching thousands of people enter and leave the park either fully scared or fully entertained or a mix of the two.  The people I worked with were what made it great: Wonderland has put together a wonderful mix of people that work as a team to give each person coming through the gate their money's worth in experiences and then some.  The last night was the coldest Halloween in 10 years, but you wouldn't know it with the attitudes of the gang.  To keep warm, there was a rousing game of monster-tag followed by a version of duck-duck-goose being played by a restless group of front-gaters.  At the end of the night, a three-tiered pyramid of bodies was built! Originally started perhaps to generate body heat, but maintained out of sheer determination to achieve the largest and tallest monster pyramid in the history of the park!...following all safety guidelines of course!  Good show everyone!

Monkeyman Productions Presents...Monkey Sci-Fi Horror Theatre II!

Last night, Reg and I had the privilege of attending a performance of Monkeyman Productions Monkey Sci-Fi Horror Theatre II.  It proved to be an entertaining performance full of the best Star Trek, D&D, and LARP inside-jokes that are still funny to non-insiders.  Being a fan of Star Trek TNG helped me feel like Phoenix II - the first of the two one-act plays - was speaking directly to me.  And coming straight from Halloween Haunt gave me a great appreciation for the zombie theme in the second play, Dead Man's Party.  I attended to see my friend and website designer Phil strut his stuff as Sir Alec Guthrie/Qing'Caan in Pheonix II and as director of Dead Man's Party, and ended up falling in love with the rest of the cast's brilliant comic timing and D.J. Sylvis' witty writing.  There are still two shows left!  If you're looking to pay homage to your fandom in a theatre setting, head to the Palmerson Library Theatre Friday or Saturday night at 7:30.  You won't be disappointed!