Reese explores creative journey in new exhibit
Mar 03, 2010 06:00 am | BY MARK WEBER
Local artist Larry Reese is gearing up to offer art lovers a fascinating glimpse into his craft and creative journey itself.
A new exhibit featuring exquisite examples of his work is about to be unveiled at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery. Mapping Creativity – a Journey of Transformations runs March 5 to April 11. An opening reception is set for March 5 from 7 to 9 p.m.
There will be an array of paintings, sketches and video components highlighting some of Reese’s remarkable creative journey over the years.
A film detailing the creative process Reese has been in the middle of as Mapping Creativity took shape will be screened this fall as well. In particular, the film focuses on the development of one of the key paintings in the exhibit called Guardians of the Sleeping Duck from initial sketching to the gorgeous finished product.
At this week’s opening of the exhibit, Reese said more footage will be shot for the film as well.
As for Guardians of the Sleeping Duck, viewers will be mesmerized by the enormous painting capturing the mystery and beauty of a secluded natural spot near Caroline.
“You go down this dirt road and all of a sudden you’re in this coniferous forest with thick, thick green moss. It’s just magical. There are also these great big ponds with the most pristine, clear water you’ve ever seen in your life,” he explains. “You’d swear there are little gnomes and fairies all over,” he adds with a laugh. “It looks other-worldly.”
Reese visited the place several times as the concept for the painting developed and was continually inspired by what he saw. “Every time I was there I felt a real spiritual connection. I can’t describe it any other way.” He sketched, took photos and painted a number of smaller portraits right on the spot.
The meticulous, shimmering Guardians of the Sleeping Duck obviously took comparatively more time.
“First, I do an under painting with a lot of soft edges,” he explains of his initial approach to the work. The harder edges of images are then applied, and step by careful step an overall picturesque portrait of nature emerges – bathed in a magical light that could be early morning or evening. “This isn’t a documentation of the location. This is a reaction to the location, so the painting starts to take over,” he explains. “Also, the scope and size of the painting was part of the challenge.”
Painting in oils also allows a certain latitude – it takes a while to dry so things can be altered to fit with the artist’s vision.
Reese’s amazing artistic talents aren’t just limited to painting – he is currently on sabbatical from the Motion Picture Arts program at Red Deer College. He’s also an actor, has taught theatre studies at RDC and directed many productions.
Folks can also catch Reese in such films as Brokeback Mountain as he plays the minister marrying the characters of the late Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams. He also appeared in the Academy Award winning Unforgiven directed by Clint Eastwood back in the early 1990s.
In 1974, Reese earned a Bachelor of Music in composition from the University of Alberta and has composed songs, stage musicals, and film scores. He also earned a Masters in Fine Arts in acting from Brandeis University in 1976. As an actor/director, he has also worked in major theatres across Canada.
Reese says his range of artistic ventures fuel his overall inspiration to create and explore new means of expression. “They’re very closely related,” he said of painting and filmmaking, for example. “They both include framing things, the composition aspect, colours and finding the right atmospheric depth. All these things are directly related to how you compose a shot and how you compose a painting.”
For more information about the exhibit, call the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery at 403-309-8405.
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RDC student emerging in Vancouver acting scene
Feb 04, 2009 06:00 am | By Mark Weber | Red Deer Express
Red Deer College alumni Ashley Chomik, 23, knew pretty much from the get-to what she wanted to do with her life.
Chomik, who now lives in Vancouver, grew up in Sherwood Park and pursued all kinds of acting opportunities at The Citadel in Edmonton as well as Artstrek Acting Camp at Red Deer College.
After high school, she launched into RDC’s theatre studies.
“I worked very hard for two long years, but all the while had my eye on film acting,” she says.
She later auditioned for RDC’s Motion Picture Arts program and found later that “it wasn’t until I actually got in front of the camera that I truly felt at home.”
The four-year program offered plenty of experiences and hands-on opportunities, offering students a powerful glimpse into the realities of the industry.
“Having talent is only 10 per cent of what is needed in an acting career,” she says. “Sheer determination, will, and hard work encompass the other 90 per cent - this I learned from the MPA program at RDC.”
The Bachelor of Applied Motion Picture Arts at RDC is the only program of its kind in post-secondary institutions in Western Canada.
“Many of our MPA grads make a successful career journey from the halls of RDC to film sets all over North America,” said Larry Reese, head of production.
“We have an excellent track record of grads making the leap all the way to Hollywood.
“It’s not an easy road, but a successful career in the film industry is certainly a tangible outcome of obtaining an Applied Degree in Motion Picture Arts from RDC.”
Since graduating from RDC in 2007, Chomik has completed an internship in Los Angeles with FilmColony which enabled her to work with Richard Gladstein, producer of numerous films including Pulp Fiction, The Cider House Rules, The Bourne Identity, Finding Neverland and Kills hot.
Chomik attended many casting workshops, read several scripts, auditioned whenever able, and starred in a few independent short films.
She was also recently granted a reoccurring role on the new CBC TV series Wild Roses as well as a role in Norah Roberts’ film High Noon.
“I know there will be days ahead when I will feel lost and will be unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But I also know that I am meant to be in this career and with a positive attitude, a hard working mentality, and a light heart, success will come my way.”
mweber@reddeer.greatwest.ca (403-309-5459)
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RDC film up for a Rosie award
By Advocate staff. Published: April 16, 2009 8:02 AM. Red Deer Advocate
A cross-cultural comedy created by Red Deer College students is up for two Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association awards.
The short film My Hubby Raj was nominated in two categories — for Best Student Production and Best Editing. “I’m very pleased — and I hope to win,” said Colin Gomez, who co-wrote the script with Julie Debeljak.
If the East-meets-West comedy does land a 2009 AMPIA Rosie Award, it will be the second winning collaboration for Debeljak and Gomez.
Debeljak wrote Caffeine Infidelity, which won last year’s Best Student Production Award, and Gomez produced the film.
My Hubby Raj is about a Canadian girl who marries into an eccentric East Indian family. A landlord of Chinese descent plays into the film’s plot — which is par for the course for Gomez, who comes from a multi-racial background.
Born in Singapore, Gomez is of East Indian and Portuguese ancestry and is married to a Chinese woman.
He said My Hubby Raj started out as his thesis project while he was in the Red Deer College’s Motion Picture Arts program, but has since gained some local popularity.
It was shown in the Reel Movie Mondays film series, and is expected to be aired on TV by Shaw Cable.
The AMPIA awards ceremony takes place on May 2 in Edmonton.
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RDC Film Students Light Up The House
By Lana Michelin Red Deer Advocate, Published: September 26, 2008 7:57 AM
The creativity of local film students will be splashed across the big screen when Film Works premieres at the Galaxy Cinemas.
About 10 films by Red Deer College Motion Picture Arts students and graduates will be shown on Thursday to the general public, as well as invited Alberta film industry representatives.
"We will be presenting our face to the community," said Larry Reese, head of performance in the Motion Picture Arts program, who's excited about the quality of his students' work.
Among this year's lineup of films is My Hubby Raj, a comedy about cultural differences. It's directed by Colin Gomez, who won an Alberta Motion Picture Industry Award last year for a previous effort.
James Wilson, an instructor with the program, calls Gomez's film his personal favourite, and said it will be shopped around to television networks as a pilot for a TV series.
"It's like a Little Mosque (on the Prairie) kind of thing. It's about Asian and East Indian cultures and is quite humorous."
Another film by Dustin Clark is called 8. It's about how the sole survivor of a plane crash reassesses and deals with his life.
Glory Years, by Marcin Sokolowski, is a fairly violent look at a Mafia family. Wilson believes Sokolowski is seeking a U.S. distributor for it. "It's shot in Edmonton, but takes place in Philadelphia."
Each film will be anywhere from a few moments to about 20 minutes long and will be shown in high-definition. Reese said RDC Motion Picture Arts students will be available to answer questions from the audience once all the films are shown.
"So far, we've had a great response from the public," said Reese, who estimates about 300 people attended past public screenings of student works.
This year's Film Works will start at 7 p.m. instead of in the afternoon, so he expects even more people will attend.
"We're using this as an initial marketing tool for our students, and to get our name out into the big, wide world."
Besides industry representatives, local film buffs, and the student's own friends and family members, Reese believes city residents who noticed the films being shot around the community will be curious to see the final product.
Other young filmmakers are planning to attend the screening — Reese said 33 high school filmmakers from Rocky Mountain House are excited to see what the college filmmakers have come up with.
The total running time for Film Works is two hours. Because of some bad language and depicted violence, children under 14 should be accompanied by an adult.
What: RDC Motion Picture Arts presents Film Works, The Best Student Films of the Year
When: 7 p.m. on Thursday
Where: Galaxy Cinemas in Gasoline Alley
Tickets: $10 at the box office
Contact Lana Michelin at lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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RDC Filmmakers Honoured
Penny Caster Red Deer Advocate April 29, 2008
A quirky film written and directed by RDC student Julie Debeljak and co-produced and co-edited by her along with fellow student Colin Gomez won an award Saturday.
Caffeine Infidelity was one of six films, including another by an RDC film student, up for Best Student Production at the Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association awards night held in Edmonton.
Feature films and short films by students or faculty of the college's motion picture arts program have been often been nominated for AMPIA awards in the past.
One win for a joint college and film program undertaking won in the education category has previously been notched.
But the most recent win is a first for a student production from the motion arts program, said Larry Reese, a founder and instructor of the program.
"The staff are extremely proud, of course," said Reese on Monday.
"It goes a long way not only for the students but for the program to promote the excellence of what we do here."
He said more than a 1,000 people attended the event, including top brass in the Alberta film industry, government ministers and celebrities.
Reached in Edmonton, Debeljak said she also arranged the music for the short film.
In all, she said, she and Gomez edited three hours of film down to the final 15-minute movie.
"It felt a little surreal," said Debeljak, of the feeling when she heard the film announced as the winner.
"It was neat. I was excited and nervous to go up there."
She said she calls the movie a film about divine intervention. It's a dark comedy, she said.
"It's about a religious man who walks into a home and has to convince (a man in the home) not to kill his wife and her lover."
While some may not think it a place for humour, Debeljak said she thinks that in a lot of strategic situations you have to use a little humour.
For now she has taken the semester off and is in fact working for AMPIA and co-ordinated Saturday nights gala event.
Debeljak will return to RDC in September to complete the motion picture arts program, then will look towards Toronto, Vancouver or even the United States for the next step in her chosen career, primarily to write and direct feature films, she said.
Gomez said the role of producer entails being the "big boss."
The producer is responsible for everything from getting equipment to ensuring the film crew is where it needs to be and on time and also, for ensuring that all locations, such as people's private homes, are left exactly as they were found.
Gomez said he is still excited about the success of Caffeine Infidelity on Saturday night.
"I couldn’t sleep after hearing we won."
He was so nervous that he didn’t say as much as he would have liked to during the acceptance speech period.
"When you go up you are shaking. I was literally shaking. I should have said this, I should have said that."
Gomez is a mature student who came to Red Deer from Singapore to attend the college's film program.
He graduates at the end of the current semester and hopes the award-winning short will help launch his career.
Wherever that takes him, he plans to make Red Deer home base for himself, his wife and two boys, who, along with his mom, have been very supportive, he said.
Gomez, who also just won the student of the year award at RDC, has set himself some lofty goals.
"The next goal should be the Oscars, I guess."
Contact Penny Caster at pcaster@reddeeradvocate.com
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RDC Students and Alumni Nominated for Provincial Film Awards
March 2008
RDC Motion Picture Arts students and alumni have received nine nominations for the 2008 Alberta Film and Television Awards.
AMPIA, the Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association, recently announced the nominations. The winners will be honoured during the 34th Annual Alberta Film and Television Awards gala, to be held on April 26, 2008 in Edmonton.
The Bachelor of Applied Motion Picture Arts at RDC offers intensive post-diploma training for college graduates and industry professionals. This dual-stream program attracts actors and production students from across Canada and overseas and boasts state-of-the-art facilities, extensive guest workshops, and pitching sessions with top industry producers.
Following is a list of nominated RDC students and alumni:
Baby Blues
RDC Motion Picture Arts students and alumni have received nine nominations for the 2008 Alberta Film and Television Awards. AMPIA, the Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association, recently announced the nominations. The winners will be honoured during the 34th Annual Alberta Film and Television Awards gala, to be held on April 26, 2008 in Edmonton. The Bachelor of Applied Motion Picture Arts at RDC offers intensive post-diploma training for college graduates and industry professionals. This dual-stream program attracts actors and production students from across Canada and overseas and boasts state-of-the-art facilities, extensive guest workshops, and pitching sessions with top industry producers.
Best Feature Film Darren Arsenault, Andrew Scholotiuk and Trona Lee Garvie, Producers
Best Screenwriter, Drama Lewaa Ryan Nasserdeen
Best Cinematographer, Drama Andrew Scholotiuk
Wait Time
Best Short Lewaa Nasserdeen and Julie Debeljak, Producers
Best Performance by an Alberta Actress Jessica Moradkhan
Best Cinematographer, Drama Christopher Alexander
Caffeine Infidelity
Best Student Production Julie Debeljak and Colin Gomez, Producers
Colony
Best Short Michael Olson and Michelle Graff, Producers
The Jungle
Best Student Production Crispin Hoggarth, Producer
For more information about the Alberta Film and Television Awards contact Alan Brooks, AMPIA Executive Director, at 780.944.0707 or check out their website at http://ampia.org/
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Strong Cast Makes Baby Blues work
By Lana Michelin Red Deer Advocate March 24, 2008
Baby Blues is a film about how a troubled woman deals with a tragic mistake in her life and rediscovers hope.
You could say hope is the running thread through this indie production, since Baby Blues is a school thesis project that was spun into a feature film largely because of the aspirations of two RDC students.
Dylan Pearce and Andrew Scholotiuk shopped the script for Baby Blues on the Internet and hooked actress Jenny Levine of the TV series 24, who signed on to play the lead.
As a result, the film was professionally shot with a union crew in Pearce’s hometown of Windsor, Ont., in 2006. And instead of airing in a college classroom, Baby Blues will now open to the public on Friday (March 21, 2008) at the new Galaxy Theatre in Gasoline Alley.
It’s clear from the start that Baby Blues is well beyond a student effort, based on the calibre of acting and production design alone.
One upside of having a talented cast and empathetic direction by Pearce is that viewers can be distracted momentarily from significant flaws in the story-line.
Baby Blues starts off with the main character Josie, subtly played by Levine, trying to restart her life with the help of a therapist, played by local actor and the film’s producer, Darren Arsenault.
We learn from brief flashbacks that Josie once had children.
What happened to them is the mystery that drives the film's plot and is gradually revealed through visual clues cleverly dropped by Pearce.
Levine delivers a sensitive performance that brings the audience on side with her as the mystery unravels.
Unfortunately, Josie's role in the tragedy turns out to be far less dramatic than the build-up and her legal problems would suggest.
This creates an anti-climax that seems unnecessary since the audience is ready to forgive Josie for more complex crimes than are revealed.
Among Baby Blues' positives are its insightful direction and sharp editing, including luminous shots of the Windsor skyline.
The film has a strong supporting cast that includes Brantford actor Sean O'Neill as a homeless songwriter fleeing his own demons, and Melanie Scrofano, of Toronto, as a waitress who befriends Josie.
These are the first major film roles for both actors O'Neill's television credits include an appearance on Queer as Folks, and Scrofano previously had a recurring role on the Comedy Network series Jeff Ltd.
Canadian hip-hop singer Michie Mee also makes an appearance as a character whose role becomes clear later in the film.
Baby Blues can be viewed on two levels as the story of a woman who learns to live again, or as what can happen when two film students follow their dreams.
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From the Black Board to the Silver Screen
Nov 14, 2007 City TV Your City~ watch the video
A group of RDC students turn a class assignment into a Hollywood movie. Click on the City TV link to watch video for a true Hollywood rags to riches story. Baby Blues opens across North America January 18th. A star studded private screening and Hollywood-style dinner for the cast and crew lights Red Deer up Thursday November 15, 2007. For more information, log on to http://www.rockymountainpictures.ca/.
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Grad Stories
Shaun Koren is a graduate of RDC that has recently been cast in a TV series pilot with a pivotal roll. The working title is called Ordinary Decent Criminal, adapted from "The Benevenutti Family" by Marureen Cooper.
Danielle Kremeniuk is a graduate of RDC and appears on TV series like True Pulp Murder, The L Word and Kyle XY.
Travis Milne is a 4th year student that recently appeared on the Bionic Woman and can be seen in the upcoming films Cornered and Holidays in Handcuffs.
Lewaa Nasserdeen is nominated for a 2008 AMPIA Award and is currently living in Hollywood. His fourth year screenplay "Fall" is being produced as a multi-million dollar feature film by Nomadic Pictures in Calgary.
Dylan Pierce and Andrew Scholotiuk have finished post production on their feature film "Baby Blues" which stars Jenny Levine from the TV series "24". The film is in theatres now.
Vern Wutzke was awarded a $130,000 grant to finish his feature film "Dreamers" which he shot during his fourth year.
Les Mouly completed his feature-length horror film "Demento" in 2007 with a $40,000 grant.
Will Belcourt is now an Associate Producer at the National Film Board of Canada.
Michael Olson is nominated this year for an AMPIA Award for Best Short film and is an editor with Darklight Productions Inc.
Erin Bounds works at Panacea Entertainment.
Adrian Young is a professional stunt coordinator working in Western Canada.
Carey Feehan played Wayne Gretzky's brother in Waking Up Wally: The Walter Gretzky Story, and has had other movie roles as well as voice work for the video game "Jade Empire".
James Higuchi acted in the MOW "Merry Christmas" with actors Jenny McCarthy and George Wendt ("Norm" from Cheers). And can now be seen on the APTN show MIXED BLESSINGS.
Josh Emerson is a professional actor in Vancouver. His production credits include For the Love of the Child, Comeback Season, Aliens in America and Yeti: Curse of the Snow Demon.
Bradlee Clouston is a promo producer/ editor for Book Television.
Jenn Vincent is a PA working in Edmonton. Production credits include Christmas in Wonderland, Mixed Blessings and Burn Up.
Richard Meen is a local professional actor and can be seen in various theatre and film productions in Alberta.
Matt Grue founded Ignition Theatre, a professional theatre company, and directed a feature film which is currently in postproduction. www.ignitiontheatre.ca
Stephanie Ridge is a co-founder of Ignition Theatre and runs the Matchbox theatre.
James Wilson worked at A-channel, Access Television, various corporate and live productions and now works at RDC as an instructor/ technician in the MPA program.
Danielle Bernard Wilson is a union camera assistant and has worked on numerous feature films and television productions including Heartland, Cow Girls, Broken Trail and Santa Baby.
Brett Manyluk is a graduate of RDC that is now a noted camera operator having worked on productions such as Christmas in Wonderland.
Aaron Moseson is an independent filmmaker in Calgary and Central Alberta.
Reagan Dale Neis is a graduate of RDC that broke out with a lead roll in Naked Frailties. Since then she has gone on to Malcom in the Middle, A Minute with Stan Hooper, Joey, and was the lead on the WB series Maybe It's Me.
Kari Matchett is a graduate of RDC who's production credits include: Blue Murder, Men with Brooms, Nero Wolfe Mystery, Invasion, 24, Studio 60, Heartland.
Jade Carter is a graduate of RDC who's production credits include: Malcolm in the Middle, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, JAG, Navy NCIS, Passions and The Waterhole.
We also have graduates in New Zealand, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Toronto, etc.
Are you a graduate with a story? Let us know what you are doing now! Email james.wilson@rdc.ab.ca