Vantropolis – Details, episodes & analysis

Darko Sikman is a Unit Stills Photographer in the BC Film industry. He captures those behind the scenes moments and killer images on set that are often the first glimpses you see when a new film or TV series is being promoted. As with many film folks, Darko Sikman’s journey to Unit Stills Photography wasn't exactly a straight line. Born and raised in Bosnia, he fled the Yugoslav Wars in the 90’s and settled in Canada, where he pursued his passion for photography. He worked his way through weddings and events and even spent time in the cruise industry, travelling to over 70 countries. And then, film. With credits including Alaska Daily, Allegiance, Big Sky, Family Law, and The Good Doctor, Darko's lens has captured the magic behind numerous productions. We delve into his experiences on set, his recent venture into documentary filmmaking, and the underlying theme of belonging that threads through his career trajectory. And who knows, we might just uncover a delightful anecdote involving none other than Bill Murray.

The 2023 WGA and SAG AFTRA strikes are now settled. It’s been a long wait, and there is a shared sigh of relief as film work slowly begins to ramp up again. How quickly is still to be determined. For many, this has been a very difficult chapter, and some collective collateral damage has been done, from people’s wallets to their mental health. Most will need months if not years to recover fully from this lapse. Some have sold assets, taken part-time jobs elsewhere or even left the industry altogether in the meantime. There is also a concern that production budgets will be reduced moving forward, adding to a future state stress. In the midst of these strikes, I reached out to four past Vantropolis guests to hear their thoughts, struggles and hopes for the industry as they navigated the uncertainty. A Production Manager, a Costume Designer, a Gaffer and a Director of Photography - varying points of view and experiences but throughout it all, a solidarity to each other and the craft. As we reflect on the rollercoaster of the 2023 strikes, I hope these strike stories provide a source of resilience and support for anyone who might need it.

Braden Haggerty is an underwater camera operator with 20 years of experience in coordinating and capturing compelling, high-quality underwater footage for film and television. She’s also a PADI certified instructor and has worked as a stunt performer and safety diver. A graduate of Concordia University’s prestigious Film Production program in the early 90’s, Braden went on to train and work as a camera assistant all the while still working towards underwater as her specialty. She now works exclusively in water environments, and has worked on multiple TV series such as Batwoman, Altered Carbon, Siren and the Haunting of Bly Manor and feature films such as Power Rangers, Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol and the Superman film Man of Steel. As you can imagine, shooting underwater comes with its own set of challenges, technological workarounds, and terminology. Braden and Colby discuss the specialized requirements for shooting an underwater set, what it’s like working in a water tank and the time she handed a pool noodle to Russell Crowe. You’ll never look at underwater scenes the same way again!

Roberta Cenedese is a self-proclaimed 'oceanoid' - a human that is drawn to spend much of their time and energy in the water. Born and raised in Vancouver and surrounded by water, Roberta started as a scuba diver and then became a Dive Master where she discovered freediving and pursued it both competitively and recreationally.  On the film side of things, she racked up over 20 years of experience as a Production Coordinator, but soon found herself leaping out of the production office and into water tanks on set, where she works as an underwater Stunt Performer and Water Training & Safety Diver. Roberta works alongside stunt coordinators and stunt performers to guide technical water shots on set. She also trains actors to safely extend their breath hold for work in front of the camera - with safety always being paramount. Unsurprisingly, Roberta’s qualifications and experience are as expansive as they are impressive. She’s worked on shows such as Altered Carbon, the TV series Siren and most recently, the Haunting of Bly Manor. We talk about what it's like to work underwater on set, how much the mind plays a role and why everyone should explore their own waters, wherever they live.

Assistant Director Mimi Crowe joins Vantropolis from quarantine in Miami, Florida for this next series of episodes we've lovingly coined The Covid Chronicles. Born in Mexico City, Mimi ditched a pre-med career path early on and instead moved up to Vancouver from Texas in 2006 to pursue her passion in the film industry - and ultimately a career in the Assistant Director Department. Since then, she’s worked on films including Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol, Alien vs Predator 2 and the 50 Shades of Grey series. She's spent the last few years working as a 1st and 2nd AD on the CW hit television series Supergirl. We discuss the pace of working on TV shows vs films (and the Assistant Director's role in each), the differences in American and Canadian on-set lingo and her own experiences as a woman working in film.

James McMurachy is a 20-year veteran in the Lighting Department. He moved west to BC at a young age and started his career in the film industry, quickly moving up the ranks into the role of Best Boy and then Gaffer. He’s worked on both CW television series Supernatural and Supergirl, along with feature films such as Star Trek Beyond and Tomorrowland. He sits down with Colby to discuss the concept of poor man’s process in film, what it was like shooting at NASA in Florida and the time he unknowingly carried a gun on set!

Director Gabriel Correa left his home in Sāo Paulo, Brazil as a young man and moved to Vancouver, BC to chase his dreams and pursue his love of film. He attended Vancouver Film School and bussed tables before finally breaking into the industry, where he hustled hard as a Production Assistant and then landed at Supernatural, another CW television show that would see him build out much of his film career. Since then he's literally climbed the ranks all the way to the top - where you can currently find him directing episodes for the CW hit television series Riverdale. We talk film school, his roles and experiences moving up through the Assistant Director Department and what it was like to direct Riverdale's Season 4 premiere episode - a tribute to the late Luke Perry.

Josh Blacker is a successful working actor with a multitude of film and TV credits to his name, including the television shows Stargate Atlantis and Travellers, the 2013 blockbuster film Elysium and most recently, the highly anticipated Apple TV series, See. He sits down with Colby to talk about his journey through film - which for him involved leaving behind a successful career in law to move to Vancouver and pursue his calling. We dig into the audition process and the choices you make in them, what it’s like working on a large A-list set and why you should pursue acting for the love of the craft and not for the money and fame. He also shares a great story about an encounter with Jason Momoa on the set of See.

BOOM! CRASH! POW! Colby sits down with Special Effects Supervisor Kurt Jackson to talk about the business of illusion in film. Kurt literally “makes it rain” on set - he also lights things on fire, launches them through the air and has them explode, with safety always being paramount. He’s carved out an illustrious career in Special Effects, working on films like Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Inception and Interstellar and most recently, multiple seasons as FX Set Supervisor on the CW television show Supergirl, where he shares a great story about the time Kevin Smith bought him a gift.

Colby sits down with Vancouver-based screenwriter Kraig Wenman to share his journey to becoming a working writer. With 63 feature script sales and 27 produced films to his name, Kraig opens up about the structure and formula to writing scripts, when and how to break into LA, and the time Van Halen’s David Lee Roth picked up his bar tab.