Just yesterday, I again worked with the guys at Parktown Productions. Funny enough, I had another topless shaving scene, just like when we did 2@2. Well not quite topless.. as we ended up using a towel over my shoulders this time. Yet I must say, I was amused at how Richard, the producer, was excited about me having my shirt off… Hahaha! It was all in good fun.

Anyway, before we even got to that part, we were over at an electronics store. There, we shot the first commercial which went quite well. Especially considering the store was kept open, and we had a few extras on set. Everyone did a really great job! I also had a friend and fellow actor, Andre Givogue, who I met on the set of Pascal Aka’s film “Jamie and Eddie: Souls of Strife”, came in to play a salesman in the background. My role was to pass this orange puck, to a customer.. and then happiness ensued.

The other commercial, which I had mentioned earlier, took place in a bathroom. As I’m shaving, some noise gets my attention. So, I look around for it’s source, then the girl in the bathtub hands me the orange puck. Suddenly, something extraordinary happens and everything becomes bright and cheery. These two 15 seconds spots for the Live 88.5 radio station actually follow each other. I first receive the puck in the washroom, then give it away at the electronics store. Thus the slogan “Pass It On”. Check out the previous “trilogy” also produced by Parktown: Walker, Bench and Office.

It was awesome shooting with Richard Towns and Kyle Connolly again, as well as Ben Walker (directed a music video I took part in) who was helping out on set. I also met Nick Lacelle, who did a great job too. Last but not least, the other actors involved were also a pleasure to work with!

A week ago, shooting for “The Comet” continued. We actually had to change locations and use another house. Thankfully the footage we covered from the last time had my character, along with Jess who plays my wife, walking into another room. This saved us from having to re-shoot that last bit. We ended by finishing up all of Jess’ scenes in time, which was our goal because it was a long commute for her. Despite her inexperience in acting, I felt Jess did very well.

Later that week on Friday, I worked mostly with Nancy’s daughter, who actually plays my daughter in the film. I think Rhiona was one of the youngest people I’ve had to act with. She was great for someone who’s never done film before, and made her mom proud. This day covered the rest of my required footage since the meat of the film is actually a visual narration of an experience in my character’s childhood. When the film is shot and partially edited, I will then need to add a voice over narration over those scenes.

It was great working on this film, having a lot of first time actors. This gave me the opportunity to guide them, which helped me grow well. I find that we tend to remind ourselves of what we’ve learned, and even learn new things, when it’s our turn to do the teaching.

I spent the most part of this last weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, doing ADR (basically, re-recording the dialogue on top of the original) and voiceovers for Raied Ghanam’s short film, “The Loyal Lucifers”. This project was formerly known as “The Portal”, which we shot close to a year ago.

Working with Raied again (along with soundman, Gareth Williams of course), was a great experience. Despite our occasional creative differences, I really appreciate Raied’s dedication to his project. His strong work ethic and desire to excel are qualities that I appreciate very much in a person, especially when it comes to someone I work with. It’s very encouraging and also makes it easier for my best to come out as well.

There’s still a lot of work left to be done to this film. More ADR with the other actors (as Raied wants all dialogue to be re-recorded), background environments for the green screen scenes, etc. I know this might seems like a long time, but within another year or so, it should be released and I’m sure the wait will be worth it. A reminder than this is an independent film project, and Raied is dedicating his free time, outside of work, to this movie!

Lately I haven’t been updating my website as often and I would want, so today I’m going to play catch up, in chronological order, from newest to oldest. I will also include stuff that I didn’t previously write about!

As you might have noticed, I’ve put a new picture up. This one is actually my own work. Not only did I shoot it, but the post/editing work is all done by yours truly. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if the picture is large enough to make an 8×12 print, since I cropped it quite a bit, but I might just try it. Regardless, I feel the shot serves to showcase a more intense (and creative) side of me. Make sure to click the shot or check out the pictures section for a bigger version!

Just last Friday, we had our first shooting day of Jeff Wood’s short film, “The Comet”. Here I play the main character, a workaholic father who shares a narrative from his childhood with his wife, when he realizes the importance of the day depicted in the story. We were able to shoot parts of the beginning, and I feel we got some good takes in. We actually had a read-through of the whole script a few days before this. Not to mention, I’ve been involved with this project for awhile, meeting with the rest of our little team behind this project, putting it all together. I even took part in casting an important role.. so it was nice to finally start shooting.

On the last day of August, I participated in an episode of a short TV Pilot currently named “FX Challenge”. Actually a friend and fellow actor, Daniel Lavigne, asked me if I was interested in having a small part in the show. Oddly enough, not only did I already meet director Kevin McMillan, but before I had left for Taiwan, I had given him a list of actors to help him out on a project. Well, Daniel reminded me about that, how he was on that list and that it was from there that he and Kevin started working together. I had forgotten about the whole thing!

So anyway, in the episode we shot, I played myself, but as a guns enthusiast/expert (which I’m not really.. although I do know a thing or two about them). Anyway, don’t want to say too much about it, but feel free to check out the director website at risevideo.org. Overall we had a great time!

Finally, I had the chance to work with a handful of local actors on “One Bathroom”, just at the end of September. This was directed by Lisa Meuser, who I had met on the set of another film, over a year ago, where she mostly worked as a script supervisor. What can I say; it’s a small world… Well at least a small Ottawa!