If British Columbia was the magical land of Oz, and our film & TV industry was the Emerald City, then the venerable Wizard would be a composite of the tens of thousands of individuals who work behind the curtain – erm, the scenes – each day.
They don’t usually have the name recognition of an actor or a director. They're not often found on red carpets. They’re rarely seen on-screen – unless the production happens to be down a background performer and their body is required to fill an empty space.
And yet, without these artists – cinematographers, editors, sound designers, costumers, make-up artists, hairstylists, and VFX pros – most scripts would never move beyond the concept stage, and our local film industry would be stagnant and limp.
Homegrown technical superstars were celebrated on Saturday night at the Leo’s first Celebration Awards ceremony (the second Celebration ceremony takes place on July 13, and the hot-ticket Gala ceremony goes down on July 14).
The ceremony was hosted by Paul McGillion and Veena Sood. “You guys are the smoke and mirrors that make us actors look good," Sood told the capacity crowd seated around tables in a ballroom at the Westin Bayshore.
The big winner of the night was Eadweard. The locally shot dramatic feature – about eccentric 19th century photographer Eadweard Muybridge (portrayed by Michael Eklund) – took home a total of four Leos: Best Hairstyling, Best Make-up, Best Costume Design, and Production Design. Eadweard has been picking up awards on the festival circuit, and will finally screen for the hometown crowd in late August.
In the short drama category, Dead Hearts – in which a young mortician gives his heart away (literally) to find true love – led the pack with three Leos.
The complete list of winners from the June 6 Celebration Awards follows. Watch this space for Reel People's coverage of next weekend's two ceremonies.
MOTION PICTURE
Cinematography
Joseph Schweers, Violent
Picture Editing
Joseph Schweers, Violent
Visual Effects
Joseph Schweers, Marc Whitelaw, Violent
Overall Sound
Jarret Read, Brody Ratsoy, Eric J. Paul, Humberto Corte, Grace: The Possession
Sound Editing
Miguel Nunes, Gord Hiller, Jay Cheetham, Don Harrison, Ian Mackie, Black Fly
Production Design
Kyle Rideout, Eadweard
Costume Design
Florence Barrett, Eadweard
Make-Up
Kathy Howatt, Eadweard
“If anybody is talking to Josh [Epstein, Eadweard’s co-writer and producer], can you tell him he owes me therapy for all the merkins I had to apply?”
Hairstyling
Darcy Burns, Eadweard
TELEVISION MOVIE
Picture Editing
Richard Schwadel, Zapped
DRAMATIC SERIES
Cinematography
Bruce Worrall, Strange Empire - Confession
Picture Editing
Lisa Binkley, Motive - Bad Blonde
Visual Effects
Armen Kevorkian, James Baldanzi, Keith Hamakawa, Jeremy Jozwik, Andranik Taranyan, The Flash - Going Rogue
Production Design
Rachel O'Toole, Witches Of East End - Smells Like King Spirit
Costume Design
Susan De Laval, Witches Of East End - Poe Way Out
Make-Up
Juliana Vit, Andrea Manchur, Elisabeth Jolliffe, Once Upon A Time - The Snow Queen
Hairstyling
Lisa Leonard, Kerri Winter, Andrea Simpson, iZombie - Live And Let Clive
SHORT DRAMA
Cinematography
James Gill, One With The Devil
Picture Editing
Jennifer Mackie, Roar
Visual Effects
Craig Clarke, Earthlickers
Overall Sound
Kirby Jinnah
Sound Editing
Matt Drake, Luk'Luk'I: Mother
Production Design
Tony Devenyi, Dead Hearts
Costume Design
Sarah Steeves, Dead Hearts
Make-Up
Caitlin Groves, Dead Hearts
DOCUMENTARY
Cinematography
Jordan Paterson, Norm Li, Tricks On The Dead: The Story Of The Chinese Labour Corps In WWI
Picture Editing
Jordan Paterson, Tricks On The Dead: The Story Of The Chinese Labour Corps In WWI
Overall Sound
Christopher Kelly, Cayne Mckenzie, John Diemer, Brent Hodge, A Brony Tale
Sound Editing
Chris McIntosh, Brayden McCluskey, Aaron Tchir, Highway Thru Hell - New Hell Old Hell
INFORMATION, LIFESTYLE OR REALITY
Cinematography
Layne Bauer, Warrior Games - War Canoe
Picture Editing
Luis Lam, Love It Or List It Vancouver - Nicola And Michael
Overall Sound
Chris McIntosh, Brayden McCluskey, Aaron Tchir, Mom's a Medium - Horsing Around
Sound Editing
Chris McIntosh, Brayden McCluskey, Aaron Tchir, Mom's a Medium - Horsing Around
MUSIC, COMEDY OR VARIETY
Picture Editing
Charles Robichaud, Package Deal - The Imperfect Storm
ANIMATION
Overall Sound
Jonny Ludgate, Jeff Davis, Fanny Riguidel, Ewan Deane, Dean Giammarco, Slugterra: Return Of The Elementals
YOUTH OR CHILDREN'S
Picture Editing
Lisa Robison, Pants On Fire
