What’s your “q” connection?

My mum went to high school with Dorothy. And then three years ago when I was going into school, they had a high school reunion, and they met. And my mum said “oh my son’s just going into film” and Dorothy said “oh that’s crazy I have a film company in Toronto”. And my mum knew I had an internship in third year, so she told Dorothy. And then third year rolls around and my mum suggested I call Dorothy. I did – and then my mum called her behind my back too. I guessed they liked me. And now I’m here. (laughs)

What do you like most about working at q?

It’s very laid back. I come in just like I’m coming from school, I’m not dressed-up or anything. They’re not strict about that kind of stuff. I come in later, because it’s easier for my drive, and I leave later, and I go for lunch whenever I can – there’s no one monitoring that. No strict rules about that stuff. It’s not regimented. It’s nice.

If you had a whole day free, just for yourself, how would you spend it?

What I’d want to do is be productive, clean my car and you know get everything done. And fix things. But I would probably do is loaf, go to the gym, go out and pretty much do nothing productive at all.

What did you like most from the 80s (ie the tunes, the TV, the clothes, ect)?

Probably not being born yet is my favorite thing from the 80s.

What is something quirky about yourself?

I say a lot of really pointless things I guess. A lot of my stories and jokes and stuff are just completely off topic.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

A lawyer, but I don’t know why. I don’t know, I always thought it didn’t seem that hard I guess, and then you’d have money, and then you could do the things you want. I mean you can’t win the lottery, let’s be realistic, so you’ve got to be a lawyer if you want to be rich. So I was like “I’m going to be a lawyer”. And then I end up in film – it’s pretty much the complete opposite. I think – I was a smart kid so I figured I could argue for a living. And then as I became older I became less smart, so I decided that arguing was not something I wanted to do anymore. (laughs)

You’ve just won an Academy Award.  What’s it for?

Cinematography, because I remember this one time I was watching something – and I didn’t even know the name for it – I had to ask ‘what’s a cinematographer?’ Someone explained it was the guy holding the camera and I thought ‘cool’.

And what would be the opening line of your acceptance speech?

“I’m not very good at public speaking.” And then I’ll just walk away, that will be the whole thing.

If you could live the life of character from a movie, who would it be? Why? 

I would live the life of Paul Rudd from I Love you Man. Because he gets to meet and be friends with Jason Segel. That or I’d be Ricky Bobby.

How would you describe life at q media solutions to someone interested in working here?

You get a chance to do everything – which is really key because in school we did everything and then they try and narrow it down, but at the same time you’ve found some interests, so it’s nice to have more time to figure out what’s right for you. Like I shoot and I do media, and then I do editing, and I do data management and I do DIT stuff. I get to keep my base knowledge quite broad as opposing to going and deciding to be a camera assistant, and just being a camera assistant. And then someone asks you if you can cut something, and you can’t – but you can put lenses on, you know? I can do more stuff – and I know that’s something my friends would really like too. Plus it’s just a cool place. AND you get lunches on Fridays, which is pretty awesome.