BIMIFF #4 - ENG

B I M I F F I N T E R V I E W 27
What are your biggest filmmaking influences in directing and
producing films?
The director James Anthony McElligott
In the beginning, films like “Born Into Brothels” and
“Supersize Me” had a tremendous influence on me. I thought
that these were wonderful stories that entertained and
taught people about different people and different ways of
living. These films made people think. I loved that. Recently,
‘My Octopus Teacher’ has really motivated me to raise my
storytelling skills. Who would have thought that a
relationship between a burned-out filmmaker and an
octopus from the other side of the world, would have such a
worldwide impact? On the sports side, Edris Toussaint
(YouTube channel “Beyond the Game”) and Peter Sarellas
(YouTube channel "Peter Sarellas".) These two professionals
are teaching the art of sports videography. Both have helped
me in my award-winning sports films.
How have "Ice Hockey Orphans" been received in film
festivals in Canada and around the world?
“Ice Hockey Orphans" has won 21 best short
documentary awards with four honorable mentions
from film festivals around the world. Together, to
date, I have five films, including one trailer, that has
been selected in 23 countries world wide.
Can you tell us more about your future projects after
the production and festival run of "Ice Hockey
Orphans"?
I’m constantly asked to enter ‘Ice Hockey Orphans”
into film festivals. So many film festivals like yours
have helped me in my career. I gladly enter them in
order to support them back in some way. I have a
long list of people who have helped me in my career
as a hockey goalie. I want to interview them
individually and put their stories on my JamesDocs
YouTube page. Some of the stories will likely turn
into short documentaries that are worthy of film
festival documentaries. I would like to take all these
short docs and make them into a feature film
tentatively called “Rusty Blades.” Finally, I want to
increase my skill in the Sports Videography field
and maybe one day work for a professional sports
team. I still have time. I turn 65 years old on April
1st, 2023.
"Ice Hockey Orphans" behind the scenes
What message would you like to leave for the readers of this
interview who have not yet seen your documentary, and who
somehow feel excluded in sports, social, and/or cultural
activities?
All my success in life has been from always following these
three principles. 1. Be persistent. 2. Be patient and 3. Stay
away from negative people. Far away.