02/03/2026
I didn’t want to be a director.
When I attended Sheridan College, I went in planning to become an editor. A teacher there completely crushed my confidence in my editing skills. I still love editing, but that experience pushed me toward producing, and I’m grateful it did.
What’s a producer? I get asked that a lot. A producer is the person or team behind the production who plans what the entire production needs. Equipment, locations, talent, crew, and even craft services. By the time a director calls “action,” a good producer has already planned, anticipated, and solved most of the problems. On set, their job is to keep everything running smoothly, put out fires in the background, and make sure all the pre production work actually pays off.
So why did I become a director too? Unlike most film students, I never set out to direct. When I got into the music video industry, I naturally stepped into that role and found I loved the balance of producing and directing. Taking a concept and watching it come to life.
I went on to produce and direct over 100 music videos during the heyday of MuchMusic, CMT, and MTV, working with a wide range of Canadian artists across every genre.
What those years taught me was how to work within budgets of all sizes, problem solve fast on set, and manage teams ranging from two people with an SUV full of gear to crews of twenty with eighteen wheelers packed with lighting and camera equipment. From shooting inside a house to shutting down the entire downtown core of my hometown.
Today, I still produce most of our projects and direct when needed. I’ve gone from large scale productions to days where it’s just me, a camera, and a lighting kit. I do miss the big music video sets, but if I’m honest, it’s the people I miss most.
