Member Since: 2022
What has been your favorite role?
Huck Lawson in reckseidlerfilms/Road West Pictures’ The Ties That Bind. For a film about such difficult subject matter, the shoot was such a joy to be a part of. It was my first chance to explore a character of that scope and act on camera every day for about a month. I learned so much about acting onscreen and indie filmmaking. It was my introduction to the Alberta indie film community and I just liked all the cast and crew so much and was so impressed by everyone’s talents, work ethic and all around good vibes. I will be forever grateful to James and Joel for bringing me into the fold! And it’s been so inspiring to see how connections made on that set have gone on to shape other collaborations on different films since. Lawson fam forever!
What do you do when you are not performing?
I work with a number of theatre companies who provide programming for schools and families so I am either making short plays with kids (Quest Theatre, Evergreen Theatre, Theatre Calgary, CYPT), teaching improv as a French-language learning tool (Think Fast/Pense Vite) or facilitating arts programming at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium (JUBE School). I write plays and scripts so I am always looking for time to keep moving various unfinished projects forward. I play guitar with friends when I can. But these days, I am trying to spend as much time as I can at home with my wife and our first child who was born in September.
What organization / activity are you involved with or passionate about that people would find interesting?
I am on the board of the Canadian Academy of Mask and Puppetry (@maskandpuppet) – a theatre organization supporting and promoting puppet and mask arts in and around Calgary. (Check out their slate of upcoming workshops – one on making puppet films may be interest to some of you! https://www.maskandpuppet.com/classes/) I am also in post-production for my ACTRA MIP-funded directorial debut, Self-Tape, in association with Road West Pictures and Media Pop. I am so proud of the work of all of my collaborators on it and thrilled with how it’s coming together thanks to our wizard editor, Ryan Northcott. I’ll be posting about the film’s progress on Instagram @izzysmashfilms
What Director would you like to work with?
I have plenty of ‘pie-in-the-sky’ directors like Noah Baumbach, Paul Thomas Anderson, Greta Gerwig etc. but there are plenty of directors right here in Alberta who I am most interested in working with, special shoutout to Gary Burns whose Waydowntown, Kitchen Party and The Suburbanators made a huge impression on my 17-19 year old brain.
What is your favorite movie and/or TV show?
TV Show: I think probably Mad Men. My wife and I just re-watched a few episodes from Season 1 and it’s so layered, specific and visually stunning. And I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson deserves a mention for how it has fundamentally changed how I interact with a few friends. I have too many favourite movies to choose from but I will give an honourable mention to an all time fave and a bit of a sleeper: Stanley Tucci’s The Impostors.
As a Performer, what is one thing you wish you would have known sooner?
Don’t ask for permission. Just look around, follow your instincts and respond. And when talking about your character, don’t give directors or anyone else the opportunity to say no before you’ve taken your swing. Also, you have more time than you think.
SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
Insta: (@christopherduthie) • Instagram photos and videos