Don McKellar has a message for filmmakers who want to stay in Canada
'If you're going to do it, then you'd better do it on your own terms'
This weekend, Don McKellar's apocalyptic directorial debut Last Night continues 11 straight Saturdays of classic Canadian on the CBC. But before the big show, McKellar himself will sit down for an interview on the latest episode of The Filmmakers, CBC Arts' new film talk show. And in the above video, we're offering up a little tease, which includes some sound advice for any Canadians wanting to follow in McKellar's footsteps.
"If you want to just make money, then you should go to the States, because you're not going to do that here," McKellar says. "What you do have that to compensate for that is control, and the possibility to work with likeminded people and create a vision together that is distinctive."
McKellar has certainly worked with some incredible people. As an actor, writer and/or director, he's collaborated with the likes of David Cronenberg, Sarah Polley, Bruce McDonald, Mina Chum, Atom Egoyan, Rachel McAdams, Gordon Pinsent, Sandra Oh and the late, great Tracy Wright (to whom he was married). Collectively, they created so many visions that are absolutely distinct — something you can see for yourself when Last Night airs this Saturday after The Filmmakers.
Watch The Filmmakers on Saturday nights at 9pm (9:30pm NT) on CBC Television or stream it online at cbc.ca/watch, with a classic Canadian film following at 9:30pm (10pm NT).