EAGLE AMONG THE SWARM WINS ‘BEST PICTURE’ IN VICTORIA

As of September 2010 – EAGLE AMONG THE SWARM took home a Golden Penguin award for BEST PICTURE at the ‘Ocean of Wings’ Film Festival in Victoria B.C.
Also, Eagle Among the Swarm has been accepted into the NEVADA CITY Wild and and Scenic FILM FESTIVAL. It will play there as well as tour Internationally over the next year throughout the U.S.
Eagle Among the Swarm is also regularly broadcasted on the Knowledge Network. Once in a while I receive emails from viewers in regards to this particular short film, and below is a quote that I couldn’t help but gloat about..

“I have to write to say how much I enjoy your film “Eagle Among the Swarm.” It comes up from time to time on Knowledge Network. Everytime I hear the music start, I recognize it immediately, stop what I am doing, turn it up, and just watch and absorb. It has the power to change how one feels. It separates what one thought before, from what one thinks after. More than beautiful, it shows the boundless limit of what art can achieve.”

EAGLE AMONG THE SWARM from Mike McKinlay on Vimeo.

WEST COAST CAMERAMAN FOR GREENPEACE CANADA

I have now been contracted as one of Greenpeace Canada’s west coast cameramen. An exciting opportunity for sure. The most recent project shoot was a protest on the streets of downtown Vancouver focused upon the ban on Enbridge’s pipeline proposal from Alberta’s tar sands to Kitimat in northern BC’s Great Bear Rainforest. The shoot was highly successful and well received.


‘THE GREAT BLUE HERON OF STANLEY PARK’ SLATED FOR KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

I completed “The Great Blue Heron of Stanley Park” in September of 2009. This has been an ongoing project for me and required time over and above my full time contract camera work. A labour of love, this six minute video portrait showcases the life of a bird species that has chosen to exist (and thrive) seconds from one of the busiest urban settings in Vancouver, BC. Another instalment in my urban nature repertoire, and the film is slated for broadcast on the Knowledge Network over the next few months.
Special thanks to Sarah Keenlyside for her dedication to the process of piecing this story together, Robyn Worchester of the Stanley Park Ecology Society for her commentary, and George Faulkner for his online editing contribution.

‘SIT ON IT’ PLAYS AT CONTAINR AND MAKES IT’S DEBUT ON BRAVO

Josh Dueck is a dedicated paralympic skier based out of Vernon B.C. Over the course of the winter I was involved in shooting a short documentary directed by Murray Siple and Christian Begin, about Josh’s life as a sit skier. Recently the film has been showcased during the popular event CONTAINR, and it will make it’s television debut on the BRAVO network.

‘THE HEALER’

This short film was directed by Jason Crowe of ‘Two Birds and a Stone Productions’, and I had the invaluable experience of working along side both Jason and 35 year television cameraman/ DOP Rick Smalley. Rick has shot hundreds of tv dramas and documentaries and so it was an incredible experience working under him as the sole cameraman. Special thanks to the cast and crew for making it all come together.

All footage was shot on a SONY XDCAM HD PDW-F350 shoulder mount camera.



“MAPPING AND MARKING” ARTWORKS VIDEO PORTRAITS FOR THE CITY OF VANCOUVER

I was contracted to shoot eight short films that preview the work of a number of Vancouver artists invited to showcase performances and installations throughout Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Artists were asked to explore the notion of “Mapping and Marking” as a way of encouraging exploration and involvement with the city, its inhabitants and the ecological, economic and social processes that shape Vancouver. In this preview, artists are asked to share their inspirations, the process of their art and their connection to the winter games.
A special thank you to Producer/director Sarah Keenlyside for the opportunity to capture these stories. The films will be shown on Vancouver’s Knowledge Network over the next few months.

CROWS ON THE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

I produced, directed and shot ‘Crows’ during the better part of 2006. Because I was employed in full time production at the time (during the day), filming meant nights and weekends spent following the life habits of a local roost of corvids in Burnaby, B.C. The short film produced from this shoot has now found its way to a number of international wildlife film festivals and college libraries.

On September 12, 2009, ‘Crows’ made its television debut on Vancouver’s Knowledge Network. Special thanks go out to 7th Art Releasing for their distribution support and to Nicole Audy at Knowledge Network for guiding me through the process involved in airing a short film for television.

CARTS OF DARKNESS NOMINATED FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Among the list of nominations including Best Director (Murray Siple) and Best Picture Editing (Michael Brockington), Carts of Darkness has received a nomination for Best Cinematography as well. As the second unit cinematographer on the film, I feel honored to be recognized along side of 1st unit cinematographer Kevin Shepit, and of course a huge congratulations goes to DOP Christian Begin for his dedication to the visual style of the film. A special thanks should also go to Christian for trusting me to shoot some of the crucial cutaways throughout the production. Thanks Christian – amazing work.
I feel privileged once again to have had the opportunity to help shoot such a special piece of work.