I’ve been passionate about filmmaking since childhood, drawn in by E.T. at the drive-in and countless VHS replays of Star Wars. After studying Media Arts at Sheridan College, I forged my own independent path — creating music videos, community films, and ultimately the feature documentary Start Local. Along the way, my work has earned recognition: winning Matthew Good’s 2007 “Born Losers” fan video contest (starring Noah Cappe), creating Haunted Huronia (picked up by Bell FibeOne in 2018), and writing/directing a series of award-winning shorts including Spoons, Dopplebagger, and Box Boy.
For as long as I can remember I’ve been captivated by the power of the moving image. Filmmaking, for me, is about more than just capturing light; it’s about crafting narratives, exploring perspectives, and evoking genuine emotion, one frame at a time.
My journey into the world of moving pictures started simply enough, as a kid completely captivated by the magic unfolding on screen in the 1980s. I still remember the wonder of seeing E.T. at the drive-in, the endless rewatches of a bootleg VHS of Star Wars, and the thrill of browsing the aisles of our local video rental stores, dreaming of the stories within.
High school was a turning point. Discovering the ‘Communications Technology’ class opened my eyes to the actual art of filmmaking. Suddenly, those dreams felt tangible. My friends and I would spend hours making silly movies and early music videos, just for the sheer joy of it. This passion led me to Sheridan College’s three-year Media Arts program in 1998, with a clear goal: to make music videos.
Life, however, often takes unexpected turns. A difficult work placement environment left me feeling pretty disillusioned with the industry. But instead of giving up, I returned to Midland, determined to forge my own path. I started small, filming community events, creating impactful films for local awards ceremonies, and diving back into making music videos for local artists. It was this grassroots hustle that eventually led me to embark on my feature-length documentary, “Start Local,” a project that, like any true odyssey, brought with it all kinds of ups and downs, but ultimately defined my commitment to independent filmmaking.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to see some of my work recognized on larger stages:
Winner of Matthew Good’s 2007 “Born Losers” fan video contest, starring Noah Cappe (Carnival Eats).
Co-Creator of Haunted Huronia (2018) ~ picked up for a full season by Bell FibeOne, following James Dalzell and Deanna Palazzo as they investigated local haunted sites.
Award-winning shorts including Spoons, Dopplebagger, and Box Boy ~ each of which I wrote, directed, shot, and edited.
These milestones are reminders that the independent path, while challenging, is also deeply rewarding.
Below is a selection of films I am proud to share. If you would like to help support my films click here to see the different options available.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been captivated by the moving image. Long before I ever touched a camera, I wore out the few VHS tapes in my collection – Superman, Star Wars, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I watched them over and over, not just for entertainment but to puzzle over how they worked, how these worlds came alive on screen.
By high school, the fascination had turned into action. I’d grab my video camera, round up friends, and run around town making music videos or improvised shorts. We even created “Action Figure Theatre,” repurposing old toys to recreate famous movie scenes. Looking back, those early projects were clumsy, funny, and chaotic, but they were also the first steps in discovering the thrill of storytelling.
Being “the film kid” wasn’t always easy. Making new friends was hard, fitting in was harder, but filmmaking gave me an outlet. That passion led me to Sheridan College’s Media Arts program, where I pursued my dream of making music videos.
But the industry hit me with a reality check. My work placement at Blackwalk Productions was a culture shock – big personalities, a competitive environment, and me, too green to navigate it. I left disillusioned, but not defeated.
Back in Midland, I set out to see what small-town filmmaking could look like. In the pre-YouTube era, opportunities were scarce, but I pieced together work: building a website for a software company in Markham, then editing videos at Renegade Digital in Barrie. After a few years, I went out on my own again, this time with YouTube as a tool to show clients that video wasn’t just for television, it was the future of the internet.
One of my most ambitious projects was the feature documentary Start Local. Raising money was tough, creative disagreements were tougher, but we finished it. The film didn’t travel far beyond my hometown, but the local community embraced it. For me, that mattered.
At the same time, I took on a recurring project that became a cornerstone of my early career: producing short films for the annual Women of Excellence Awards. Each year I’d interview nominees, condense their stories into one-minute portraits, and screen them at the ceremony. It was unpaid at first, a massive amount of work, but it taught me how to distill someone’s story with respect, clarity, and heart, and it introduced me to incredible people I might never have met otherwise.
Persistence eventually led to moments of recognition that reminded me why I do this.
In 2007, my favorite musician, Matthew Good, announced a fan-made video contest for his single Born Losers. I jumped at the chance, casting Erika’s friend and her actor boyfriend as leads. At the time, he was just starting out ~ years later, he became Noah Cappe, host of Carnival Eats. My video won, and having it chosen by an artist I admired was an unforgettable validation.
In 2018, I teamed up with James Dalzell and Deanna Palazzo to create Haunted Huronia. We pitched it to Bell FibeOne, produced a pilot, and they liked it enough to order eight more episodes. Traveling the region, chasing ghost stories at night while uncovering local history by day, we crafted a season that captured the fun of curiosity and exploration.
Film races pushed me in other ways. Spoons, made in 48 hours, was a drama that surprised even us. It went on to screen at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood, where my friends and I watched it on the big screen – a surreal, unforgettable trip. Box Boy, created with my family during a 72-hour horror race, cast my sons, my wife, and even me (as the monster) in a story of temptation and dread. Dopplebagger, another collaboration with James and Deanna (with family cameos), won the 2021 24-Hour Film Race – a victory born out of sleepless nights, adrenaline, and the joy of making something from nothing.
Looking back, I see a thread running through every step: VHS tapes rewound a hundred times, awkward teenage projects, sleepless film-race weekends, and the grind of independent features. The path has never been easy, but each twist has taught me something – about craft, resilience, and people.
What I’ve learned is this: stories matter. They connect us, whether told with action figures in a basement, broadcast on television, or screened in Hollywood. That’s why I keep making them.
“Dopplebagger” stars James Dalzell as an ordinary man whose life takes an unexpected turn when he’s consistently mistaken for a local superhero known as “Bag Man.” This case of mistaken identity leads to a series of comedic and challenging encounters, as he navigates public perception and struggles with his desire to be seen for who he truly is. Featuring cameos from my wife, Erika, and my kids, Tyler and Hayden, and co-starring Deanna Palazzo as the cab driver (James’ real-life wife), “Dopplebagger” explores the quirks of identity when an ordinary life gets a superhero twist.
BENT introduces us to a tenacious woman with an unconventional vision: starting her own UFO tour business. Armed with her unique perspective and a distinctive tinfoil hat, she bravely sets up shop in the local park. As she attempts to attract customers, she faces skepticism and disinterest, challenging her resolve. This quirky and heartfelt film, from Good Morning Apocalypse, explores themes of perseverance and the unexpected connections found when chasing an extraordinary dream in an ordinary world.
In this poignant and darkly comedic short from Good Morning Apocalypse, a family grapples with the recent loss of their mother. While his children try to navigate their grief, their father seems consumed by a singular, peculiar obsession. As his family attempts to help him move forward, they find themselves drawn into his strange fixation. “Spoons” explores themes of loss, family dynamics, and the unexpected ways we cope with grief, all while asking: can this family find their way back to each other?
When Tyler is entrusted with guarding a mysterious artifact, he never suspects that curiosity will become his undoing. What begins as a simple responsibility quickly twists into a descent of temptation, paranoia, and dread — proving that some boxes should never be opened. Created in just 72 hours for the 2019 Horror Film Race, Box Boy is a chilling tale of “forbidden fruit” that lingers long after the final stare.
