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INTERVIEW WITH ALUMNI MEMBER FILMMAKER TIM RAYNE

By Saint John based member Tim O'Neill

March 26, 2009

Tim O'Neill: You went away to Ottawa to study film theory and history…what is it like to return to this region, as a local filmmaker?

Tim Rayne: Ever since I was a kid, I always loved movies, more than most people around; but it was the NB Film Co-op in 1997-98 that made me believe what I had thought was an unattainable dream could be a reality. That is to make films. I never aspired to make "commercial films", making my own were always my first love. It was the creative artistic community at the NB Film Co-op that attracted me to filmmaking. Am I happy to be back? Yes, I am.

Tim O'Neill: How have things changed since you returned?

When I went away, I knew very little about film theory and history, other than the popular films that I grew up with. Taking a formal education in Film Studies helped me evolve as a filmmaker; in particular, my personal interest in regional filmmaking and identity…. Coming back to New Brunswick and being part of the Film Co-op has brought a renewed and…inspired creativity and strong appreciation of the filmmakers in the community, that I am proud to be a part of.

Tim O'Neill: Like who?

Tim Rayne: When I was away I continuously kept in contact with Tony Merzetti and Cat Leblanc, and enjoyed hearing about the member projects going on, and very much missed being away from home. I can't pin it to one person because everyone in the membership is so diverse. There is a synergy between artists and filmmakers. There is starting to be a scene, a film community, unlike anything I have seen across Canada. We're having our own Seattle Grunge Scene.

Tim O'Neill: How does our "scene" differ from the scenes in other communities?

Tim Rayne: What makes New Brunswick so neat is that such an eclectic, diverse group of individuals can come together and work toward making engaging films; for example, where else across Canada can you get such a cross section, a cross pollination, of artistic interests and styles?

Tim O'Neill: What do you see happening in the future for the NB Film Co-op and New Brunswick's independent filmmakers?

Tim Rayne: With the internet and the new way people are looking at films (through the internet, phones, etc.), the neglected short film format will be rediscovered, re-embraced as an important archival artifact and cultural contribution. I believe that it will be filmmakers that come through the NB Film Co-op that will inevitably gain the success that will bring national and international interest to New Brunswick's filmmakers. It will be a home grown filmmaker that will one day soon make people aware that there is a rich cinematic culture in New Brunswick. That, I already believe exists--and is just waiting to be discovered.