Setting it up (part 1)..

I like to think that I’ve been very fortunate over the years to earn a reasonably broad range of skills and experience.

Few of those experiences gained have been as rewarding as my time working in the film industry over the past decade. I owe many thanks to a good friend who introduced me to the business in 2001 (thank you, Matt).

Since that point, I’ve worked on about ten features, television series, shorts, commercials as well as independent productions. All of this work has seen me travel to Vancouver, where I have either lived or travelled to in order to work on productions. This has occurred at various points in my life since 1999.

These days I’m settling more into living permanently in Halifax, but the occasional project may lure me away for a few weeks…

My industry work has consisted of various roles within the Art / Construction Departments of productions. Mainly it has been as a Carpenter, but I’ve also worked as a Construction Driver, Welder, Crane Operator and Labourer.

I’m fortunate to have been able to apply myself at my highest levels to the various productions I’ve worked on, and to have earned responsibility and trust that’s proved to be invigorating.

Without hesitation, I’ll say that some of my very best work outputs – whether it’s in the quality and precision of pieces I’ve built, the performance in demanding environments and conditions, or the results when changes were needed (and fast..) during a shoot – have come from my industry work.

My time spent owning a small business for residential general contracting;  and currently working in commercial construction as a Carpenter and Glazier with a reputable Halifax company  – have been the other environments that have and will continue to push my limits.

The day we stood “The Wicker Man“, August 26th 2005 – 60 feet tall, two months to produce, transport to location on Bowen Island, B.C.  and assemble.

The head was large enough to house Nicolas Cage’s character before his ultimate sacrifice. I spent a week alone working on the interior of this, 63 feet above ground.. quite a view.

B.C. Place entrance, before our work to make it appear to be the entrance of a train station.

Production: The Butterfly

Building the pieces that will become the “Metro Link” station entrance, and installation work.

..and (below) you can see in this shot that the exterior appearance of the various sets is all business. This was taken at the main studio set build for Endgame (2011). I was waiting for my turn to rip some wall “skins” at the table saw. 

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These are just a few shots from various productions. My resume for the industry details exactly what work I’ve done, and now it’s time for me to see what I can generate in my hometown.

Thing is, Halifax has seen a boom in recent years in Film production, and I’m keen to get involved.

That will involve going through the motions with the IATSE local here (849), and possibly the CMG to gain membership and potentially work on maritime-based productions that involve those unions. The verified work I have already done in B.C. will qualify me as a member in one of them here. I hope the local production schedule will remain busy enough to allow me a shot at it.

The other avenue I’ll follow involves the CBC. I’m a huge fan of various CBC offerings – even if it’s more Radio One.

I’m ready to volunteer my time on either front to see what connections I can make here.

The results of which I will detail in part 2 of this post.. here’s hoping!

Thanks for reading.