Some filler scenes shot in Elmira may be included in a locally produced feature film, the goal of a small crew seen filming along the side of the road last week on Arthur Street.
Writer and director Jonathan Steckley was with a five-man crew in Elmira to shoot some B-roll footage – supplemental or alternate footage in between important scenes in a film – of the view across from Paleshi Motors at 39 Arthur St.
“It’s just some B-roll footage. We’re shooting a feature-length film, like a guerilla film” Steckley, part of a creative threesome that runs Waterloo Region independent film company Rosco Films, explained on the scene.
Steckley, producer Ken Ogasawara and creative producer Trevor Hunsberger have been working on the 90-minute film for the past year.
Revolving around the story of a young man in a new city, the film follows Ken, a youth worker who does a favour for a young girl at the youth centre where he volunteers. In part, The Volunteer explores Ken’s role in the lives of the young girl, Amy, her unstable father and his girlfriend.
Rosco Films has created a short documentary-style promotional video for the film with footage of the creative process narrated by Ogasawara.
“I want to make a film that people care about and the types of films that I care about are about relationships and about real life,” he says in the clip as the camera sweeps through a warmly-lit room filled with members of the film crew. The house in the video was donated for the film and will serve as the backdrop to a set.
“I want to make something that everybody can relate to. Our story is about a guy with good intensions and wants to help out but he ends up being burned,” Ogasawara continued. The film is currently in the pre-production phase according to the filmmakers’ website, which means the crew is interviewing potential actors and building a set.
According to Steckley, in addition to the feature-length film the company creates commercial videos for companies all over Waterloo Region. Their work includes shorts with NHL hockey player Nick Spaling called Mennonites Everywhere and videos for organizations like the Mennonite Central Committee Ontario.
For more information about The Volunteer and Rosco Films, visit www.roscofilms.com. The company’s website features biographies, examples of their work and promotional video for the film.
