In this two-part article, we are chatting with young Canadian independent film maker, Jeffrey W. Pike.
Photo by Bruce M. Walker
His debut as a director came with his first "official" project. A short film called Love and Defiance.
Jailar Tabugay
He used his friend Jailar Tabugay for the lead actor. Jeff and Jay ran into each on a production they both happened to be working on, and a friendship began. They began working together.
When we met Jay a few months ago he was bubbling over with enthusiasm for working with Jeff. He had been given the lead in Jeff's first film, Love and Defiance, and a small part in his second project, Minatory.
Love and Defiance was put together on a really shoestring budget, but although a little rough around the edges, it is really well done and one is drawn into the story. Jeff wrote the script, as well as directed, produced and filmed it. He had friends who starred in it, Jailar Tabugay and Bobbi Jaye, so he didn't have to pay actors, and they did "guerilla" style shooting, in different areas around town, so no set-building was needed. Jeff used a Canon 70 for this project.
This short film subsequently won a MARTY award. (This is an award which is given out by the Mississauga Arts Council to deserving artists in different disciplines.)
Minatory, Jeff's second movie was also pulled together on a slim budget - $800! He said that most of that was for the $2 Million worth of liability insurance for the location, with the rest going for lighting and sound. They filmed at the home of a friend's mother, but they needed to have that liability insurance in case of accidental damage to the house and grounds during shooting. Once again, in this short movie, the budget was greatly helped because Jeff had friends who were the actors - Cody Schindermann and Jordan Williams, he himself along with his friend, Wiliam Andrews, played the role of cinematographers using a Canon T4I. His only other expenses were for his sound guy, Mike Zdero. Wil and Jeff did the lighting and electrical between them.
Jeff submitted Minatory to a number of film festivals including the prestigious Sundance Festival, TIFF (Toronto Independent Film Festival) and MIFF (Mississauga Independent film Festival). It was accepted to MIFF and he hopes to get into Buffalo-Niagara Film Festival which will screen in early 2013. Jeff will continue to submit Minatory to other festivals in the coming year.
So who are some of Jeff's influences? He cites Frances Ford Coppola, Paul Verhoeven, Alfred Hitchcock (he mentions Vertigo and Psycho in particular), and his fave - James Cameron. Jeff developed a huge admiration for Canadian born James Cameron at an early age. He loves the fact that Cameron is basically a Canadian small town boy who made it in film. And, of course, he feels that Cameron is a master film maker and would love to be able to emulate his skill.
Photo by Bruce M. Walker
Jeff is already working on this next project, which is going to be feature length film. He hopes to start filming in early 2013. Without revealing too much, Jeff says the basis for the story is, succinctly put, Divine intervention through Paranoid Psychosis.
He was able to get a grant to help him get going on this new film, but admits that he will be looking to raise extra money. He feels that his experiences with Love and Defiance and Minatory have helped him to figure out ways of cutting corners and reducing the budget required.
We are looking forward to seeing what this talented young film maker will offer film viewers in the next year or so.
