Hamilton Film

I was curious how this pandemic is effecting our local cinemas, so I chatted with Dan Fournier, General Manager of the Westdale Theatre, to find out how they are adapting, keeping film fans connected, and staying engaged with the Hamilton community.  The Westdale screens art and indie films, and provides an intimate cultural space for public performances and exhibitions.  It was Hamilton’s first theatre, in 1935, and went through a major renovation before reopening in 2019.  I recorded a Skype call with Dan, so excuse the audio quality. 

You can find film clubs to join, Live Facebook talks, and other virtual events at thewestdale.ca

Theme music: chrisaltmann.com

Graphic design: balladcreative.ca

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Hey it’s Season 2 of the Hamilton Film podcast!  Every episode explores an exciting role of movie making; from producing, to acting, content creation, to film scoring.  Join me for an intimate conversation with a unique guest connected to the thriving film industry of Hamilton Ontario.  

 

Actor Jim Watson plays Dr. Theo Hunter on the new CTV medical drama, “Transplant”. He’s originally from North Bay, and over the past decade he’s had roles on many TV series filmed in Canada,  including SLASHER, THE STRAIN, and BETWEEN.  We chat about the process of landing a role on a network series, the perils of auditioning, the perks of being based in Hamilton, and what you need to know to play a Doctor on TV.  

 

Transplant airs Wednesdays on CTV, and you can stream it on the CTV app.  You can follow Jim Watson on Instagram and Twitter @realjimwatson

Theme music: chrisaltmann.com

Graphic design: balladcreative.ca

Recording space: facebook.com/themulespinner

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Welcome to Season 2 of the Hamilton Film podcast!  I’m your host Alysha Main.  Every episode explores an exciting role of movie making; from producing, to acting, content creation, to film scoring.  Join me for an intimate conversation with a unique guest connected to the thriving film industry of Hamilton Ontario.  

 

This season kicks off big, with two award winning actors: Juno Rinaldi currently stars as “Frankie” on the hit CBC show, Workin’ Moms, and has recently released a short film called SUCH A SMALL THING.  Shaun Smyth has performed at nearly every major Theatre across Canada, and in  the US and internationally.  He has appeared in numerous TV series and films, including the ABC show “Once Upon A Time In Wonderland”.  Together they teach acting for the camera at the Hamilton Film Centre.  We talk about the demand for educational opportunities locally, acting tips, and their favourite roles to play.  The conversation begins with Shaun telling us how he & Juno met. 

 

Since recording this chat in February 2020, the Hamilton Film Centre has temporarily closed down due to COVID-19 restrictions.  You can find more info on Juno and Shaun’s courses and when they will be back up and running at https://www.hamiltonfilmcentre.com/

Theme music: chrisaltmann.com

Graphic design: balladcreative.ca

Recording space: facebook.com/themulespinner

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David Hayman was the head of the sonic branding company Supergroup, and VP of the Guild of Music Supervisors Canada.  His enviable job as Music Supervisor had him collaborating with top directors, producer and brands to realize their visions for the soundtracks to their films, TV shows and advertisements.   

In the summer of 2019 I stopped by the Supergroup office in Liberty Village, Toronto for a very insightful conversation with David about his many exciting recent soundtrack projects, including the Robbie Robertson & The Band documentary, Once Were Brothers.  There’s a strong Hamilton connection to his work:  The bank scenes in the film Stockholm starring Ethan Hawke, take place in Liuna Station, and the new sci-fi series Utopia Falls, saw him facing harsh elements in Hamilton’s conservation area. 

Theme music: chrisaltmann.com

Graphic design: balladcreative.ca

Recording space: facebook.com/themulespinner

Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram

In 2018 a legendary east end Hamilton theatre was revived, thanks to the Tutt family. Jacob Tutt tells me what it was like literally growing up in a movie theatre, how films are selected to screen, how technology has changed, and some of the highlights in their 1st year.

Jeffery Scott Fowler is a Director, Producer and Artist, but today’s chat focuses around his work in Film Editing. We talk about his work on the reality TV show Masters of Flip, directing vs editing, and the evolution of editing technology.

Susan Curran is the VP of Corporate Development for A71 Distribution, which recently opened a Hamilton office. if you’re a film fan who wants to understand why your favourite movies aren’t on Netflix Canada, or a new filmmaker curious how to distribute your first feature, you’ll want to listen in on my chat with Susan.

Carlos and Ryan, from the appropriately named special FX studio The Butcher Shop, have been designing award winning specialty props, prosthetics and gore effects for nearly 20 years. We talk about creating safe and tasty fake blood, the process of making severed heads, current FX trends, our favourite horror film scores, and some recent Hamilton productions they’ve worked on.

Terrance Odette is an award-winning filmmaker. His four feature films have screened at the biggest festivals around the world. We chat about the role of festivals for film makers, the art of curating films; making great cinema in spite of budget constraints, and his newest project, a documentary on country legend Conway Twitty.

From the film networking group Lights Camera Hamilton, to Hamilton Film Festival, to Kids Can Film camp, to his own company, Blue Pick Media, Nathan Fleet is Hamilton Film.