In da beginnin’…

I made these two shorts in 1985. When I was finished with high school, I headed to Ontario and ended up in Barrie Ontario working as the assistant to the Technical Director at the Gryphon Theatre. Within the year I had headed back to Winnipeg where I worked in the same capacity for one season at the Prairie Theatre Exchange.

Then I played music in various bands from 1982 until 1985. It was after the bands that I ended up in film. I loved stage theatre, music and photography. Film encompassed all of these. I took a non-credit course at the University of Winnipeg with instructor Lionel Ditz.

It was great. I was the only one in the class to complete a film. 

It was ‘Doors & Faces’.

I ended up walking through the front door at 245 Main street. The National Film Board of Canada’s Winnipeg office, after being directed there during a 30 second conversation with film editor Lara Mazur.

When I arrived at the NFB, I was able to have a sit down with the executive producer, Ches Yetman. He liked ‘Doors & Faces’. Ches handed me a super 8 camera and a roll of film. Told me to go make another film.

And I did.

It was ‘A Day With Jay’.

It was during the mid 1980s at the NFB that I came to know Perry M. Stratychuk. Perry was originally running the shipping receiving of ALL the NFB films coming and going. In those days this was no small job. All of the films seen were on 16mm film. They all had to be checked coming in and before they went out again. Soon Perry was moved up to the position of technical coordinator. Perry had made a pile of his own films and very good ones. He made an epic film called ‘Savanah Electric’. It was quite brilliant. Perry was accomplished in all aspects of filmmaking. Especially with the camera and he was a skilled editor. A fine craftsman. Perry was my inspiration to learn all aspects of the craft of filmmaking. 

Perry ended up moving to China. I hope he’s doing ok!

I went onto to work as editor for many of John Paskievich’s films. 

And then - dumb as a post - I decided to start making my own…

um … films …