2010 Filmmaking Teams
Cat Vs Man
When blocked writer Rory moves in with his girlfriend, he finds himself competing with her cat, Waffles, for her affections and Waffles won't give her up without a fight.
Writer/Director: Zia Marashi
Producers: Cole Hewlett & Mark MacDonald
Zia Marashi
Inventive Canadian film director/producer/writer/actor Zia Marashi first came to the attention of his film fans (a total of 12 people and 2 cats) with the dramatic, yet darkly humorous, low- budget student film ‘The Empty Room Club’ (2008). But Marashi does not consider ‘Empty Room Club’ as his directoral debut, for at the tender age of ten this Vancouver native already had many finished works under his belt with the help of his parents old video camera and his action figures.
Recently Marashi graduated from Capilano University's three year motion picture production program where he completed his most acclaimed work, ‘Tucker’ (2009) a dramedy which follows the misadventures of a rapidly aging child. ‘Tucker’ has played in many festivals internationally, including the Whistler Film Festival and Vancouver Short Film Festival.
After Crazy8's Marashi is slated to direct a pilot for an upcoming webseries entitled ‘Beach Ball P.I.’
Mark MacDonald
After getting a business degree at St. Francis Xavier University, Mark graduated from the two-year film program at Capilano University in 2009. He has worked on various short films such as ‘The Component’, ‘Catching Up’, and Crazy 8’s 2009 short film ‘The Mechanic.’
Mark is currently working with the production team of the acclaimed web-series ‘Riese.’
Sikat
It’s been many years since Sikat left the Philippines to come to Canada to care for other women’s children. Now the day has finally arrived for her own son and husband to rejoin her.
Writer/Director: Angelina L. Cantada
Producer: Ita Kane-Wilson & Olesia Shewchuk
Angelina Cantada
Angelina Cantada is a visual storyteller. She started out as a television and video producer in the Philippines, telling stories of various themes through her documentaries. Her full-length documentary ‘Mental’, a stark look at the poor state of mental health facilities in the Philippines, won a silver medal at the New York Festival for TV and Film in 1999. She also co-owned and managed a video production studio in Manila for 8 years where she produced over 200 videos for corporate, educational and non-profit clients.
Five years ago, Angelina moved to San Francisco to study photography at the Academy of Art University. She was fascinated by the power of photography to tell stories – and volumes of it – in a single frame. She hasn’t stopped shooting since.
In the fall of 2008, Angelina crossed the border and migrated to Canada. After a one-year stint working as a personal assistant to a person with a disability, Angelina is back to where she is most comfortable – filmmaking.
Last year, Angelina produced, directed and edited ‘Let’s Play Boccia!’, a documentary short film on the Canadian Paralympic Boccia Team. It premiered at the Vancouver Short Film Festival and won the Best Female Director award. The film also screened at the Independent Short Film, Music and Arts Festival in Long Beach, California, and is scheduled to play at the 5th Annual Women in Film Festival in Vancouver in April 2010.
Angelina immerses herself in life. And with over 15 years experience in the field of image-making, she knows she will always tell her stories in pictures.
Ita Kane-Wilson
Ita Kane-Wilson is from the west coast of Ireland and worked for the Irish national broadcasting organisation, RTE before moving to Canada. She now runs a boutique music management/booking agency and is also an independent radio documentary producer. She divides her time between Vancouver and Ireland.
Olesia Shewchuk
Olesia Shewchuk is an award-winning director and actress in Vancouver. Her film ‘Mime Vs. Junkie’ won Best Universal Language Film" at the Cambofest 2009 and she will be receiving a Rising Star Film Award at the Canadian International Film Festival later this month. She has been part of over 50 short film and 2 feature film teams as director, cinematographer (8mm, 16mm, digital), producer, editor, actor or composer. In theatre, she has had lead roles with United Players (Ivanov), Stage 43 (The Rainmaker), Metro Theatre (Ravenscroft), and North Shore Theatre for Children, produced the sold-out shows Chekhov at The Hycroft: The Bear and The Proposal, Four Dogs and A Bone, The Rockstar All-Star Series, and co-produced Matters Domestic (directed by X-Files’ William B. Davis, produced by Paul Armstrong). She graduated from the Seattle Film Institute Production Program, and has an honours degree in chemical physics from the University of Winnipeg.
Stupid Chainsaw Tricks
Facing yet another disappointing birthday, Karl inspires his friend Ted, two bored, suburban husbands, to realize the possibility of immortality through chainsaws.
Director: Kellie Ann Benz
Writer: Kris Elgstrand
Producer: Christopher Shyer
Kellie Ann Benz
Kellie Ann Benz wrote, directed and co-produced the short films; 'Awkward' in 2008, 'Cinderella; Single Again' in 2001 and 'The Second Coming' in 1997. She won the 2009 Writers Guild of Canada award for 'Awkward' which has been selected for over 25 international film festival competitions, and counting. She is a monthly columnist for the National Screen Institute and the publisher of The Shorts Report - an online resource about Canadian short films.
Kris Elgstrand
Kris Elgstrand's work as a screenwriter includes the feature-length comedy, ‘The Cabin Movie’, and several short films including, ‘Man Feel Pain’ and ‘Big Head’. He has also written and directed two short films, ‘Love Seat’ and ‘In Her Ear’. His feature-film script, ‘The Job’, an adaptation of his stage play of the same name, is currently being developed by The Whatever Institute.
Christopher Shyer
Christopher Shyer is a Leo Award Winning and Jessie-nominated actor best known for his co-starring roles with Diane Lane and Donald Sutherland in ‘Fierce People’, supporting Andy Garcia in ‘Lazarus Child’ and Angelina Jolie in ‘Life or Something Like It’, as well as his starring role in CTV's popular series ‘Whistler’ and currently in ABC's new hit show ‘V’. A long time contributing actor to Canada's independent film scene, Christopher has quietly built a producer career mainly in theatre but most recently in film as a co-producer of Shocking Buckwheat Pictures award winning short, ‘Awkward’. ‘Stupid Chainsaw Tricks’ marks his first time out as a lone producer of a film and is grateful to the Crazy 8s Film Festival panel for their support and encouragement.
The Education of Wendy Wisconsin
Wendy, a high school student, can't seem to figure out why life is so easy. Too easy… It takes a surprise visit to educate Wendy that, although boring, her life is part of a much bigger, important picture.
Writer/Director: Dwight Hartnett
Producer: Patrick Sayer
Dwight Hartnett
Dwight Hartnett has a degree in Philosophy from UBC and has spent the last 6 years working his way up through the ranks in the camera department. He is currently a Digital Imaging Technician on a popular and long running television series. His career has taken him all over Canada and the World. He enjoys being a "Corporate Shill."
Pat Sayer
Pat has certificates in marketing and business administration and has spent the last 10 years working up the ladder in Canadian film and television, from production assistant, lighting technician, screenplay writer and producer.
With a latest feature film, ‘Blood Brothers - Reign of Terror’, currently being viewed on Super Channel, Pat is also in pre-production of a new television talk show, ‘Better Than Chocolate’.
Tunnel
Esther’s world goes awry when she wakes to discover a dirt-covered and unresponsive man in pajamas on her front lawn, sending her into a downward spiral of fear and paranoia.
(adapted from “The Tunnel” by Mark Strand)
Writer/Director: Arianna McGregor
Producers: David Jevons
Arianna McGregor
An actor trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC and a graduate of Gastown Actor’s Studio in Vancouver, Arianna has turned her attentions to writing and subsequently directing. This is her third project with TerraMirabili Films, which she founded with Chris Dalton, and also her third turn as director.
David Jevons
Originally from England, David took a degree in Psychology from Manchester University and became an investment banker. After four years in the finance industry, he felt it was time for a change and took a radical shift into the London Metropolitan Police force, spending seven years as a detective in their vice squad. Moving to Canada in 2005, David began an all-new career in film production. David has Production credits on five short films, a commercial for Greenpeace, the second season of ‘Making the Cut’ and a series of industrial films, and is currently producing his first feature, ‘The Beast of Bottomless Lake.’