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FILM DIARY - TYLER PEACOCK & ROBERT OGILVIE- STUNTS ON FILMS

NB FILM CO-OP: How did you get into martial arts?

TYLER: I began Martial Arts at the age of 4 year's old, I would go with my father to his Tae Kwon do class and watch, after class, some of the students would hold up pads for me and I would kick them the best I could, that is how it started for me.

ROBERT: My older cousins were in martial arts since they were quite young and I remember admiring what they could do.  I trained in a few martial arts since I was young, but I’ve always been a generalist- jack of all trades, master of none- so it’s a year in this, a couple years in that, and for the me, the real magic is how you bring it all together… given your needs, given the situation.  Professionally, I’m a Management Coach/Consultant, so the ability to learn fast, create a solution, and get some workable results is how I survive, so in this film industry stunt context, it just means understanding how this strike or that move will come together to craft an on-screen solution.

NB FILM CO-OP: How long have you been doing it and what has kept your interest to stay involved all these years?

TYLER: I have been studying martial arts on and off for the past 22 years, what kept me interested was learning new moves and new styles it was not just about learning for me though, I would study analyze each movement and style I would see the flaws in them and say there has to be a better way to accomplish  a different way to do  this, I think Bruce Lee said and did it best take what is useful, discard what is not and create your own style. But as far as the styles I have done are Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, Karate, Kick Boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA, Boxing and Hap Kido,  Gymnastics from an athletic standpoint and Parkour for 10 years.

ROBERT: I have a year in Judo and Tae Kwon Do (pretty far in the past), and more recently as an adult a year of Karate, just under 2 years of Boxing, several years of Iaido and Kyudo, and lots of other fitness training, so there are certainly better-trained people in any one of these arts.  I was an Engineering Officer for 3 years, which included group fitness training, and even now I’m finishing up certification in group fitness leadership, coaching boxing, and interval training, which I’m drawn to because (for my Management Coach/Consulting work) have a healthy body, the mental energy needed to think well, and sense of efficacy and capacity it instills is really priceless.  As you can perhaps guess, I’m not a dogmatist about any of these areas- I’m quite the pragmatist.

As an adult, what’s kept me interested is Mindfulness (through my meditation experience) and seeing how boosting your wellness and Energy level through good fitness can be so transformative to one’s life.  I got into and remain interested in Iaido and Kyudo precisely because they apply mindfulness- concentration, self and bodily awareness, emotional regulation, an intrinsic sense of doing something just for the sake of doing it well.  I still have tons to learn and explore, so combat arts- primarily Boxing and hopefully soon more time for Kickboxing- are great in that they demand both extreme fitness endurance and also mental and tactical elements.  Back to my Management Coach/Consulting practice, so many managers or tech startup types live imbalanced lives- no fitness, poor sleep, no balance of different activities, too much work, no sense of healthy meaning, etc- and they need to get this fitness stuff down if they are ever going to physically healthy but also feeling good, thinking well, and an experiential touchstone that allows lots of other great qualities to shine through.

NB FILM CO-OP: What is your long-term goal for utilizing this skill you have further (talk about how you want to incorporate it into stunts on film sets)

TYLER: My long term goal for this line of work is to show the beauty in a fight and action cinematography, we see nowadays with fight scenes a lot of them are shot with up close angles that you can't see what is going on at all and that is well not good if you look at the old  martial art films or the ones that are still being filmed in Asia they are using wide angles where you can see everything happening and can even see the styles they are using,  In the future I would like to see myself on the screen doing the fighting that way I can show the beauty of the martial arts in many different styles.

ROBERT: My long-term goals with the company Jade Dynasty is the hope that we can add value to the Atlantic entertainment industry, we’d both be happy.  Films are really a team endeavour; the more experts and engaged people you have on your side, the better your end result.  But the big potential I see is around Fighting and Stuntwork as a professional path for a whole segment of great people- athletes who realize “going pro” isn’t an option, martial artists, tons of amazing fitness and kinesiology experts, a niche area within media production.  Time and time again, I see amazing talent in New Brunswick that is just getting left on the table, and so the ability to self-generate opportunity for ourselves and grow new industries is both an economic imperative but also a personal talent imperative… perhaps even a spiritual one about finding a way for your skills to serve others and bringing out our best selves.  If there were more startups creating business/market opportunities around media content, they could generate the revenue and financial model to grow whole new segments of media creation- fighting and stuntwork being just one niche.  I was the see the great talent in this region showcased for what they can really do, so hopefully Jade Dynasty Fightworks will become a channel to have the best fighters and fitness experts in the region add value to the big screen (or any screen!).

NB FILM CO-OP: Have you taught a lot of people over the years in martial arts?

TYLER: I was an assistant instructor for karate at one point and would teach some people a few moves to defend themselves.

ROBERT: While I haven’t taught Martial Arts much (again, given I’m a generalist), I have great experience Teaching and Coaching.  That’s actually the piece that really excited me and plays to my professional background.  The opportunity to help bring out the best in a growing team plays to my own strengths- though, again, I’m the master of no discipline.  Once you can drop personal ideologies about you think things should be or “that’s just how you were taught”, that assensus towards results is the single best way to both personally learn but also serve your clients- in this case, the film industry.

NB FILM CO-OP: Have you ever seriously injured yourself doing your craft?

TYLER: I have injured myself a few times practicing my craft. I was at a tournament when I was 19 or 20 competing in the points fighting part of the tournament and I was up against a Tae Kwon Do practitioner when the ref said go I threw a punch and I was caught with a jump kick to the ribs, they were severely injured I was taken  to the  paramedics on scene I still went to fight my next fight and won actually. I did lose the first one, unfortunately, I have other injuries toes gone into my eyes, took a  knee in my mouth but it comes with the craft its something you get used to but it is funny what you can get used too.

ROBERT: I’ve never been seriously injured- yet!  I have punched Tyler in the face a few times.  Some of the areas I’m trying to grow in include further flexibility, rotation/spin work, and jumping or tumbling- acrobatic stuff.  Talk to me next summer if you want to hear about mishaps on this journey!

NB FILM CO-OP: Do people really hit each other when they are doing physical stunts in films? 

TYLER: People usually won't hit each other for real because they don't know how to do it properly and have no training in the martial art styles When taking martial arts you learn to do be very controlled and while doing demos for the public or judges you do hit each other because it has been rehearsed controlled the other person knows what to expect so in my case if I was doing a film and really wanted to hit people in the scenes I could without hurting them.

ROBERT: Do we really hit each when doing stunt fighting?  Not really, but yes.  Yes, we make contact.  No, it doesn’t hurt- or at least doesn’t do any harm.  Physically, it’s training the actors to “pull” their punch while looking good and “take”/exaggerate a punch while hurt… again, this is Acting work.  On the production end, great angle and shooting help conceal the controlled action and “sell” the shoots as real and dangerous.  On the post-production end, it’s the sound and other effects which amp things up to again appear worse than they are.  Like any piece of film work, use everything in your tool kit to enhance that part of the story.

NB FILM CO-OP: What is the most important thing to keep in mind when doing stunts?

TYLER: The most important thing while doing stunts is to be safe, practice practice practice, and stretching I can't stress this enough with martial arts focus on technique first, speed and power will come later focus on more than one style each system has its own pros and cons the classical styles are known for things like Tae Kwon Do is known for its kicks, Karate for its punch, Kung Fu for its defense and counters and Judo for its throws but they all have their flaws so study more than one style that is very important these are things I can not stress enough

ROBERT: I’d say there are two important things to remember:  first, as an artist or professional, keeping up your daily practice (of whatever it is you do) so you can keep growing and honing whatever it is you do.  This is especially true in the realms of fitness where conditioning results can fade quickly, but any skill can fade too; keep up your craft.  Second, while fighting and stuntwork seem be very fast and exciting, it’s just another realm of acting, so we’re creating the illusion of danger despite that behind the smoke and mirrors we actually have a deep regard for planning and safety.  It takes expertise to pull off anything fast and potent with a sense of control.

NB FILM CO-OP: Are you interested in helping co-op members with their stunts on their films?

TYLER: Helping co-op members is a must for me. I am always looking to help out people in my local area, to support the arts, support people's dreams, to expand my horizons as a member of the film community and it's a great way to make contacts.

ROBERT:  Yes, I’d love to help others.  Growing our base of talent here and creating (or finding) great projects for us to work on is how’ll we’ll excel over the long-term.  

Email Cat at: info@nbfilmcoop.com if you would like to talk to Tyler and Robert about stunts on films.

Robert Ogilvie

PAYPAL LINKS ARE UP FOR NBFC MEMBERSHIP AND RENEWALS FOR 2017 

It's time to renew your co-op membership for 2017, renewals are due annually in January for ongoing members. If you email Cat to ask for her help with anything filmic, the first thing she will ask you to do is renew as her focus is the co-op members in good standing. The paypal links for memberships for 2017 are up on the co-op website - http://nbfilmcoop.com/joining

Renewed and New Members: Devan Mahaney, Larisa Tamjidi, Ashley Sandford (Fredericton), Rebekah Johnson (Saint John), Pamela Gallant (Moncton).

BUZZ

NB FILM CO-OP ANNOUNCES RECIPIENT FOR 2017 ERROL WILLIAMS FILMMAKER AWARD

FREDERICTON - NB Film Co-op member Glendon McKinney is the recipient of the 2017 Errol Williams Filmmaker Award this year for his project The True Tale of Henry Moon, The Lunar Rogue. Along with a $700 cash grant, Glendon will have access to a pool of equipment resources through the NB Film Co-op. Glendon also recently found out that he received an artsnb grant for the project.

"We need to continually support promising filmmakers in New Brunswick in order to support the film community," New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative Executive Director Tony Merzetti says. "These ongoing Film Co-op programs assist new generation and mid-career filmmakers to create works that help their creative careers."

The Recipient:

GLENDON MCKINNEY studied film at York University, but delved into many other disciplines : he practiced Decorative Painting for many years in Toronto and pursued studies in history, design and film. In 2000, he returned to his homeprovince, New Brunswick.

A member of the New Brunswick Filmmaker's Co-op, he has worked as Production Designer and Costume Designer on numerous independent productions and won two awards for Production Design, as well as Best Drama for his film They Only Come Out at Night and Best New Brunswick Comedy for Curtain Call. Glendon’s short film we two boys together clinging was commissioned and streamed online by the Struts Gallery in Sackville, NB. He was one of the filmmakers chosen for the 2009 Cultural Capitols project with his film The Apostles of Beauty depicting the impact on 1882 Fredericton of Oscar Wilde, and his subsequent and influential meeting with writer Charles G. D. Roberts. He has also worked on the documentaries Sitansisk and Anthony Flower - The Life and Work of a Country Painter.

Glendon has taught courses in film history, design and production at the DaVinci College since 2007 as well as developing further film projects of his own. 

The Winning Story:

The True Tale of Henry Moon, The Lunar Rogue.

For one year, Sherriff Walter Bates holds the strange and eccentric Henry Moon - thief, provocateur, and trickster - in his jail cell, with astonishing results. 

About This Award Program:

Purpose: To support the production of a short documentary film. 

Background: Errol Williams was a pioneer filmmaker who was introduced to filmmaking at the NB Film Co-op in the late 1980’s. His dramatic and documentary films were screened at festivals around the world, and his international success helped shine a spotlight on the NB Film Co-op. He had a particular gift for documentary filmmaking and after his successful production of Echoes in the Rink: The Willie O’Ree Story (1997), he went on to produce two successful and influential documentary feature films in Bermuda When Voices Rise and Walking on a Sea of Glass. After his untimely death in 2007, a special award was set up in his honour and was presented to the winner of the Best low-budget NB Documentary film at the Silver Wave Film Festival. After the 2011 Silver Wave Awards, it was decided to use the award to help fund a short documentary project and hence the creation of this award. Sponsors: New Brunswick Filmmaker’s Co-op & Errol Williams Fund.

NB FILM CO-OP WORKSHOPS ACROSS NEW BRUNSWICK 

Check out all our workshops: http://nbfilmcoop.com/workshops

(there is a paypal link on each workshop page title you click on to register for each workshop, see below).Moncton and Saint John workshops start up in April and registration for for them is now OPEN.

Email: info@nbfilmcoop.com to get a pdf of the workshop programs emailed to you.

Through this annual provincial training programme, you can learn from qualified, specialized instructors.

By participating, you acquire new, incredibly interesting skills, and enjoy the camaraderie of the film community in New Brunswick.

The NB Film Co-op workshop series provides hands-on practical film and video training for members and non-members alike. Formally registering and paying in advance is the only way to ensure you will have a seat in any of the offered courses. Register in person at the NB Film Co-op (call or email to make an appointment first please!) (Cash, Cheque or Money Order) or by mail (Cheques and Money Orders only). Pay Pal is now an option as well. There are always limited spots available for all workshops so please call or email staff to see if there are available spots before you send your payment. You can put your name on the waiting list for workshops already full. 

Workshops and Courses

The Majority of the workshops are held at the NB Film Co-op at 732 Charlotte Street, Fredericton, NB beginning in early February annually. Instructors and workshop times are subject to change. There are separate workshop programs and schedules for workshops happening in Moncton and Saint John beginning in March annually. All participants will be notified by email/telephone of any changes with the workshop for which they have registered. For all day workshops, we recommend that you bring your own lunch.

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SAINT JOHN - HOW TO WRITE AND DIRECT A SHORT FILM - FULL!

http://nbfilmcoop.com/workshops/how-write-and-direct-short-film-1

(Intro – Theory)

June 10 Saturday, 10:30 am  – 4 pm

Instructor: Paul Erskine

Location: Saint John Free Public Library, 1 Market Sq, Saint John, New Brunswick, ROOM #2 

Fee: $25 For Film Co-op Members/$35 For Non-Members 

Class Limit: 8

(Film Co-op Members are required to take this workshop before they direct/produce their own projects through the Film Co-op)

This workshop will teach you the essentials of short filmmaking. Topics to be covered will include screenwriting, pre-production (costs/budgets/financing, gear, casting, essential crew, locations), cinematography, how to direct, capturing good audio, editing and post-production.

The workshop will include filmmaking videos and clips from award winning short films. 

All participants will be provided a 10+ page workshop guide.

INSTRUCTOR'S BIOGRAPHY

Paul Erskine is an award winning Director, DOP and screenwriter.  He has directed six shorts, produced nine and been the DOP on ten.  His shorts have screened at over forty festivals in Canada and internationally including Silver Wave, Canada International Film Festival, Toronto Short Film Festival, SoCal Film Festival and Los Angeles Cinefest.

He is also an avid screenwriter having penned six feature screenplays and numerous shorts. His latest screenplay placed in the top 1% of the Nicholl Fellowship screenwriting contest run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 

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SAINT JOHN - DOCUMENTARY: TELLING PERSONAL STORIES THAT MATTER

http://nbfilmcoop.com/workshops/documentary-telling-personal-stories-matter

(Intro – Theory)

June 24, Saturday, 10:30 am - 4 pm

Instructor: Matt Brown and Andrey Blanco 

Location: Saint John Free Public Library, 1 Market Sq, Saint John, New Brunswick, ROOM #2

Fee: $25 For Film Co-op Members/$35 For Non-Members 

Class Limit: 8 

This full day workshop is designed to provide the participants with the necessary theory to make documentaries that are intriguing, demanding and challenging. 

The workshop will cover the four basic steps of documentary filmmaking step-by-step. At the end, participants will be able to take away invaluable insights to incorporate into their projects.

INSTRUCTOR'S BIOGRAPHY

Matt is an award-winning writer, director, filmmaker and photographer. To date he has five short films to his credit. In 2006, his short film “Cold Day in Hell” won three awards at the Silver Wave Film Festival including: Best Short Drama, Best Sound Design and Best Art Direction. The film was also nominated in the Best Short Action Sequence in the prestigious Action on Film Festival in LA. His short film “Mountaindale" was selected for CBC’s national Internet 

competition “Roots Challenge” in 2010.

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FREDERICTON - PRACTICAL MAGIC - PRACTICAL EFFECTS ON A SHOESTRING 

http://nbfilmcoop.com/workshops/practical-magic-practical-effects-shoest...

(Intro – Theory and Hands-on)

June 25, Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm 

Instructor: Tim Tracey

Location: New Brunswick Film Co-op, 732 Charlotte Street, basement resource centre, Fredericton 

Fee: $35 For Film Co-op Members/$45 For Non-Members

Class Limit: 10

In this workshop award-winning filmmaker Tim Tracey will explore the world of affordable practical effects.  Tim will delve into his own experiences creating practical effects on micro budget films, demonstrate how he has crafted some amazing props and provide some of the tricks and tips he has picked up over the years. Tim will be happy to provide guidance for any concerns or question you may encounter on your own project so come with some ideas! 

INSTRUCTOR'S BIOGRAPHY

Halifax based Tim Tracey is a small town boy, who dreamed of one day being a fisherman, unfortunately a crippling fear of boats ended that dream before it could start.  

Tim's next dream involved becoming a radioactive turtle, with his Ninja Turtle action figures in tow young Tim wandered around karate chopping everything in sight. Nothing was safe from this seven-year-old reptile wanna be. Soon the karate chops become boring and little Tim wanted a sai and nunchaku, in the time before the internet this would be a difficult purchase so the decision to make these instruments of carnage out of Styrofoam was an obvious one. This began his passion for practical effects and he has been creating his own practical effects since.  

Tim is currently editing his latest feature film 'Canadian Ninja'.