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Success Stories Archives
- Recording & Sound Design Grad Success Stories
- Broadcast Performing Arts Grad Success Stories
- Video & Film Production Grad Success Stories
Recording & Sound Design Grad Success Stories
Loren Aguey is doing live sound at the Buffalo Club in Vancouver.
Alex 'Condor' Aligizakis has been paying his dues since graduation, starting out as a studio runner working with producer Garth Richardson and others, rising to Assistant Engineer, and now Engineer/Mixer. Alex has worked with such big names as Nickleback, R.E.M. and Busta Rhymes.
Glen Allen has been producing music at various Vancouver studios, including Greenhouse Studios.
Nick Alsfeld has been hired on as an Audio Editor for eMedia Network in Vancouver.
Don Amundson has worked a number of venues with artists such as: Bryan Adams, Neil Diamond, Melissa Ethridge, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Crystal Gayle and many more. Don was hied on as a Stage Manager for Holland America cruise lines.
Shaun Barclay, along with recording grad, Shawn Clarke have started their own recording studio, After Six Studios in Vancouver.
Jeff Barkhouse has been working as a Live Sound Engineer.
Kevin Belen has been working steadily in audio post-production on feature films and television series for North Vancouver's Sharpe Sound. Kevin has worked as a Re-recording Mixer, a Foley Mixer, and an ADR recordist on such TV series as: Masters of Science Fiction, Men in Trees, Psych, Stargate Atlantis, Masters of Horror, The Dead Zone, and on features such as: Fido, White Noise 2, and Shake Hands with the Devil.
Erin Bogdanski hops aborad Celebrity Cruise Lines, a division of Royal Caribbean, as a Sound Technician for the cruise lines.
Clint Boire was hired by New Music Productions in Regina, Saskatchewan, as an engineer. New Music Productions specializes in radio and TV commercial production as well as film and music recording.
Andy Bowmer has worked as a producer and engineer for many acts, including Canadian legend, Randy Bachman. Andy helped build Randy Bachman's The Barn Studio studio on Saltspring Island, BC, where he serves as Chief Engineer and Studio Manager.
Harry Boyce is the western sales rep for TOA Canada, a professional audio systems manufacturer.
Chris Breau was touring the continent as Live Front of House Engineer for Platinum Productions' Roy Orbison/Elvis Presley
Laurie Bridger has been hired as an Assistant Engineer at Vancouver's The Factory recording studio.
Laurie Brown is the Studio Manager for North Vancouver, BC's busy audio post-production facility, Sharpe Sound. Sharpe works mainly on feature films and television series and has hired a number of Columbia Academy grads over the years.
Kevin Burton was hired on at Bryan Adams' Vancouver recording studio, The Warehouse.
Jeff Butterworth worked as a Special Effects Technician for the motion picture industry.
Steve Byers was hired by Royal Caribbean as part of the stage crew that travels the world on luxury liners.
Ed Canfield works for Laser Sound Industries in Toronto, Ontario.
Drew Carr has been hired as an Assistant Engineer at Richmond, BC's Matrix Sound Studio.
Dan Charbonneau has opened his own studio, Mountain Arts Music Studio, in BC's 100 Mile House area.
Qiu Chun is the Technical Director for the busy North Vancouver, BC post-production facility, Sharpe Sound.
Shawn Clarke, along with RSD grad, Shaun Barclay, have started their own recording studio, After Six Studios.
Kelly Cole is a Re-Recording Mixer at North Vancouver's Sharpe Sound. Kelly has worked on more than 100 television series and films, such as: Masters of Horror, 4400, Godiva's, Dead Like Me, Stargate Atlantis, The Dead Zone.
Mike Comey was hired on with Vancouver's Wave Studios.
Alexander Cox was hired by famed Canadian music producer, Garth Richardson to work at his Sunshine Coast studios.
Darren Culbert has been working as an Apprentice Engineer at Peacemaker Studios.
Sherry Dance has been hired as the Stage Manager for DuMaurier's International Jazz Festival in Vancouver.
Clint Davis is working with Sharpe Audio-Visual setting up sound and video for shows and conferences and also operates the gigs. "It can be very simple or very complex. It's cool to be in control of a huge show and having people depend on you to make things happen."
Matt Dawson has been hired on as a Tech in the computer room of North Vancouver's busy post production facility, Sharpe Sound. Matt hopes to move into the ADR area soon.
John de Vries is working in production for Vancouver's CFUN 1410 AM Radio. John's production and computer skills are combined as he uses ProTools, Dawn and the RCS Sequencer system to mix show beds and fills with satellite feeds to create intros & extros and commercial spots. When John's not working at CFUN, he's working at Vancouver's Ocean Sound Studios, recording and editing Foley effects and voice-overs for the many film and TV soundtracks being produced at Ocean.
Shawn Desjarlais was hired as a Monitor Mix Engineer for the touring company Ultrasound. Shawn was the 2001 winner of Columbia Academy's Audio Engineer of the Year Award.
Sam Dhaliwal is working for The Future Shop as their first full-time Acoustical Consultant. Sam travels to all Future Shop locations in the Lower Mainland to design, lay out and maintain the feature sound rooms where Future Shop displays their lines of high-end audio equipment.
Edward Du Crocq was hired as a staff engineer with Greengate Studios in Langley, British Columbia. Greengate was owned and operated by another Columbia Academy grad, Elliot Pister.
John Duncan has been hired as an Assistant Engineer by Westwood Media in Vancouver. Westwood Media is the post-production arm of The Factory Recording Studio.
C.J. Eiriksson has had a great career since graduation. He has recorded bands such as: Incubus, Hoobastank, LIVE, Jack's Mannequin, Alient Ant Farm, Something Corporate, Hanson, and many more. C.J. has worked as a Producer, Engineer, Mixer. He continues to work on Producing/Developing several new up-and-coming bands. Check out his discography at: http://www.worldsend.com
Jannene Elam works in the sound department on films and television series.
Chris Ellis was hired as a Live Sound Mixer for The Elvis Gold Tribute Show, traveling throughout BC.
Erin Empey-Baxter works in film in television as a Casting Associate, an assistant Production Coordinator, and as an Actor. She got her start working as an assistant to Garth Richardson at Vancouver's Warehouse Studios.
Tripp Ennis made the journey from his hometown Harrisonburg, Virginia to become a student of Columbia Academy. Now a grad, Tripp's back in his ol' stompin' grounds and is hosting the late night music shift at Q101 Harrisonburg. His considerable digital production skills should prove a benefit to the popular rock station.
Mr! Erik has taken his recording and sound design training and combined it with his musical talent to come up with Wiggler vs. Godzilla...a project of dedication, lots of hours and hard work.
Kris Fenske works as a Sound Designer and Sound Editor at North Vancouver's busy Sharpe Sound Studios, on television series and feature films, such as: Masters of Sci-Fi, Masters of Horror, White Noise 2, Jiminy Glick in Lalawood, Stargate Atlantis, Dead Like Me, Stargate SG-1, and dozens more. Kris was nominated for a Genie award in 2000 for Achievement in Sound Editing for his work on the featue film Here's to Life.
Benjie Finkleman turned a practicum into the real thing! Benjie's now doing Assistant Engineer duties at Vancouver's Blue Wave Studios.
Mike Fitzpatrick has been hired as a Sound Tech at Vancouver's Long & McQuade.
Sean Fitzpatrick has been hired as a Sound Tech at Vancouver's Long & McQuade. (And, no, you're not seeing double.)
James Fonnyadt got his start at Western Post Productions in Vancouver where he did his first sound edit. In 1997, he moved to North Vancouver's busy, Sharpe Sound Studios and began sound designing, which he has continued until now. He made a bit of a return to Western Post for half a year to edit the CBC series, DaVinci's Inquest, then to design DaVinci's City Hall. He is currently taking a hiatus from Sharpe Sound to do the sound design on a new video game with Radical Entertainment.
Gordy Forbes is in Professional Audio Sales for Commercial Electronics, Vancouver.
Trent Freimark has been hired as an Assistant ADR editor at Vancouver's Post Modern Sound.
Denis Garon is the IT Systems Manager for Vancouver's Sharpe Sound.
Corry Gatzke was hired as an Engineer for a new Vancouver-based music studio tentatively called Camillion. Corry has also worked with famed Vancouver producer, Joey Moi on projects at Vancouver's Greenhouse Studios. Corry is now pursuing a career as a songwriter and performer. Check out her debut album, "Weighed Down" on her website: http://www.corrygatzke.com/
Luis Giraldo is an accomplished songwriter, jazz vocalist and pianist who performs around the world. Check out his website at: http://www.luisgiraldo.com/
Amber Gliason was hired as a Production Assistant with Vancouver's legendary Mushroom Studios, now Hippowest Music.
Nacime Goian landed a job at the very busy Western Post facility in Vancouver. After a short stint interning at Western, they were so impressed with Nacime's work that they offered him a job.
Jeff Gonzales has returned home to New Mexico and was hired on at a brand new post-production studio in Albuquerque, NM.
Josh Gonzales (no, they're not brothers) has returned home to New Mexico and was also hired on at a brand new post-production studio in Albuquerque, NM. Way to go guys!
Tony Gort has been sound designing, sound editing, and mixing for television series and feature films since graduating from Columbia Academy. Tony works at Vancouver's extremely busy Post Modern Sound where he won a Daytime Emmy, for Sound Editing for the series, "Off Season". Tony has also won three Leo Awards for Best Overall Sound and Best Sound Editing. He was also nominated for a Genie Award for Best Achievement in Sound Editing for the feature film, "It's All Gone Pete Tong."
Walter Gossett has worked as a Live Sound Engineer.
Cody "Aalo" Guha has really been making a name for himself since graduation. He just released his fifth album, Underestimated Raindrops, with Chadio, creating some amazing sounds. The man's a virtuoso in Reason. Check out the website at: http://www.myspace.com/chadiotreetrunk
Tim Hamming was hired by the Elvis Gold Tribute Show as a Live Sound Mixer for the traveling road show.
Rich Hattenhauer works as a Field Engineer and AV Technician.
Luis Henao has been hired by the Royal Carribean Cruise Lines for audio and production assistance duties aboard their luxury cruise ships.
Mike Hendrix has been hired to do digital editing chores for Columbia Academy grad Kyle McLean at Vancouver's busy InfoChip Communications.
Dave Hibbert is a Sound Re-recording Mixer at North Vancouver's busy audio post-production facility,Sharpe Sound. Dave has worked on more than 68 feature films and TV series, such as: Psych, Stargate Atlantis, Masters of Sci-Fi, Fido, The Chronicles of Narnia, Masters of Horror, Dead Like Me, The 4400, Touching Evil, Cold Squad, and many more.
Stephanie Hill has worked as an Assistant Engineer at Vancouver's legendary Mushroom Studios and Hipposonic Studios with JUNO award winning producer, John Webster.
Matthew Hoffman was hired at Vancouver's The Toy Box audio facility as a Tape Op/Sound Sync Engineer.
Wayne Holt owns his own combination music store and recording studio in Red Deer, Alberta. Milestone Studio is an active recording studio, while Milestone Music is THE place to buy instruments galore in Central Alberta.
Ruth Huddleston is a Location Sound Mixer and has worked on projects such as: Battlestar Galactica, Touching Evil, Air Bud, Leaving Normal, Here's To Life, and more.
Steve Jassman has been hired as an audio editor at Vancouver's Infochip Communications.
Carolyn Dawn Johnson - this time it IS the country music singer/songwriter extraordinaire, got her start while still a student in Columbia Academy's recording program. As the story goes, a singer had been hired to track vocals on the songs Carolyn had written. When the singer didn't show, Carolyn stepped in and sang them herself. And the rest is history! Check out her website at: http:www.cdj.com
Trevor Jones was hired as an Engineer at Small World Studios in Kamloops British Columbia.
Greg Kahlberg has set sail with the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a stage tech for the entertainment venues onboard.
Yoh Kaneko returned to his native Japan after graduating and has secured employment at Omnibus Japan. Omnibus Japan does ADR, radio and television commercials and other sound design for industry.
Ricardo Khayatte was hired as a Sound Engineer for a new Vancouver-based music studio tentatively called Camillion.
Phil Kim dropped us an e-mail to say he's alive and well and back home in Korea, doing exactly what he wanted to do -- producing albums.
Jenn Kinloch has been hired by Vancouver's CFUN 1410 AM as a Production Operator. Jenn's job involves digital editing using RCS, ProTools and D-A-W-N editing systems to create show intros & extros and commercials. Jenn will also be engineering live and live-to-tape radio shows.
Moses Kostamo is busy running his own production company, Moko Productions. They have expanded their services to include video production, post-production, live sound, web and graphic design.
Marcel Leblanc has been hired as Assistant Engineer by a local production company to work on a major feature.
Randall Lee is working as a digital sound editor at Vancouver's Pinewood Sound.
Marty LeFort is working for Carnival Cruise Lines on sailings from New Orleans to Jamaica. He is responsible for sound mixing and equipment setup in the main show room.
Mario Loubert is working in Vancouver as a freelance Sound Designer and Mixer. He's currently spending most of his time at Vancouver's Airwaves Sound Studios.
Doug Lyngard is a Live Front of House Sound Engineer.
Paul MacCuish landed a position with Long & McQuade Music store in their North Vancouver location. Paul's interest as a guitar player combined with the audio training he received at Columbia Academy enabled him to step into the position with ease. Check him out at his myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/paulmaccuish
Sandra Maddox has been hired as a Production Coordinator at Vancouver's busy Kozmic Sound Studios.
Dean Maher has been working as an Assistant Engineer and Engineer at many Vancouver studios. Dean has engineered and/or mixed such bands as: Hedley, Aaron Pritchett, Nickelback, and Rise Against.
Kevin Marasco was hired as a stage and audio tech for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines cruising the azure blue waters of the Caribbean.
Aleksander Marinkovic has left the Vancouver area for California. He is now working with Futurity, an audio design company in Saratoga.
Greg Marshall was hired on as Live Sound Engineer for the Kim Mitchell Band.
Jake Marwood worked as a sound mixer for The Elvis Gold Tribute Show, traveling throughout BC.
Paul Masters makes the leap from Vancouver to Miami, Florida to begin his new job with the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Paul was hired as a Live Sound Engineer for one of the Vegas-style night clubs on board and will be traveling with the cruise between the Bahamas and Miami.
Matt McCarron has been hired by Mainframe Entertainment in Vancouver. Matt's working as a Dialogue Editor for the animated show Weird-Ohs. The new series from the creators of Reboot airs in Canada on YTV and in the U.S. on the Fox Kids Network.
Chris McIntosh is an award-winning Sound Re-recording Mixer and Sound Editor for film and television who has worked on such notable projects as: The Secret Miracle, Making the Cut 2: Last Man Standing, The Next Great Chef, Life and Times of Wayne Gretzky, Life and Times of Mario Lemieux, Lonesome Dove, North of 60, and animation series: What About Mimi, Action Man, and Weird-Ohs. Chris won a Gemini award in 2005 for Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Series for the series Bell: Making the Cut.
Damian McLaughlin writes, "As a graduate of Columbia Academy, I am proud to say I have successfully discovered a career in audio post-production. In addition to the usual cataloging and cutting of SFX, I have since worked as Assistant Music Editor on such episodic television series as Poltergeist and The Outer Limits.& In short, Columbia Academy has provided me with a fuller understanding of both the technology as well as the skills, without which I could not have achieved what I have today. Columbia Academy + Motivation = Success. Thanks, C.A."
Kyle McLean has been hired by Vancouver's Info-Chip Communications as a Producer/Engineer. Kyle will be putting his digital editing skills to use in producing multi-media presentations and audio for programmable IVR (Interactive Voice Response) telephone systems.
Bill Mellow is a Sound Re-recording Mixer at North Vancouver's busy post-production facility,Sharpe Sound. Bill has worked on over 150 projects for film and television, such as: Bloodrayne 2: Deliverance, Masters of Sci-Fi, Masters of Horror, The Butterfly Effect 2, Psych, The 4400, Godiva's, Dead Like Me, Jiming Glick in Lalawood, Stargate: Atlantis, The Dead Zone, Mysterious Ways, Mortal Kombat 2, Free Willy 3, Hard Core Logo and many, many more.
Michael Miller has been hired by Vancouver's Media Co. Media Co supplies major hotels in the Vancouver area with audio/visual services -- projection, public address, video conferencing, etc. Mike is also a Live Sound Engineer for the Backstage Lounge on Granville Island.
Pete Mills (aka Pete Bastard) is the man behind Flash Bastard. Motley Crue's, Nikki Sixx signed the group to his BMG-distributed Americoma label. Soon after, Flash Bastard hit the road on a wild and explosive tour with Motley Crue and legendary German metalheads, The Scorpions. Flash Bastard's debut album was recorded at The Factory studios in Vancouver.
Andrew Montgomerie-Whalen passed along this advice, "Don't take no for an answer, tenacity shows more than a resume ever could." He took his own advice and was hired on at Edmonton's BSCENE Studios.
Gerry Morigeau was hired as a Live Sound Mixer for the DJ Wood Band in Vancouver.
Kevin Morrison has been hired by Sound Express Mobile Music & Video. Sound Express' video dance parties are doing a booming business and Kevin's now part of the action, assisting with equipment set-up and operation.
Bryon Morrow is now working as an assistant Video Editor and Audio Producer for the Vancouver produced TV show, Electric Playground. Electric Playground provides 'electronic ramblings for the video game generation' and is now in its second season, syndicated across Canada and the western United States.
James Newhouse expands and hones his skills and talents with various engineering projects at Vancouver's Cooper Studios.
Alan Ng dropped us an e-mail, "After graduating the course of Digital/Analog Recording Arts, I got a job in Hong Kong. I am an exclusive songwriter of SONY MUSIC (Hong Kong Ltd.). Occasionally I need to work at major studios in Hong Kong. I would like to thank all the instructors helping me in this ten months, and all the skills that I learned in this course I totally make use of in my job now."
Paul Novokshonoff is a Location Sound Boom Operator in the motion picture industry in Vancouver, BC.
Aelred Oswald Nugara graduated from CA in 1991, with a 96% course average, no less. He first worked for the Audio Video Production Unit of the Metro Toronto Police. He then moved on to Sri Lanka and built his own recording studio. He's now in the process of building a large studio near Colombo, Sri Lanka with a facility for an audio school, called Q Audio, to open in 2009. Alered Oswald says, "Thank you very much for the knowledge I gained from your academy." Another part of CA's global family. We wish him the best of luck on his new venture.
Joe O'Reilly is putting his skills and talents to valuable use with Westwood Media, working at post-production editing.
Donald Painchaud is a Location Sound Mixer for feature films and television series in Vancouver. Among his notable credits are the TV series, Supernatural and the feature films, I-Robot, starring Will Smith and The Final Cut, starring Robin Williams. Don owns and operates his own location sound audio production company, Riverbank Sound, complete with a fully-equipped mobile ADR (Automatic Dialogue Replacement) studio. Check out his website at: http://www.riverbanksound.com
Alison Parker was hired by Vancouver's Pinewood Sound. Alison is working as PA and Foley artist for the busy post-production house.
Lee Parker was hired at North Vancouver's busy Sharpe Sound Studios
Iain Pattison is also a Sound Re-recording Mixer at Vancouver's Sharpe Sound. Iain has worked on more than 100 television series and films. Notable credits include: Masters of Sci-Fi, Stargate SG-1, Masters of Horror, Stargate Atlantis, White Noise 2, The 4400, Psych, The Dead Zone, Dead Like Me, Jeremiah, The Outer Limits, The X-Files.
Frederic-Pierre Picard sends along a letter of thanks, "I wish to express my gratitude to the school that not only gave me the tools and knowledge of my trade but that also taught me to endure, to have pride in my work and to strive for success".
Mike Rae was hired as a sound tech doing Much Music Video Flow Dance Parties working out of Vancouver.
Anjum Rahman was hired by NBC in their Vancouver production facility as an assistant to the Executive Producer/Director of a TV series called Cold Feet.
Marc Ramaer has produced and engineered for several high profile artists since graduation, including: k.d. Lang, Randy Bachman, Loverboy, Skinny Puppy, The Barenaked Ladies, and MC900 Ft. Jesus. He was a multiple Juno and Grammy award nominee for his work with k.d. Lang and The Barenaked Ladies.
Kent Regier, a shining example of professionalism and dedication while he was with us, excelled in all areas of the training program. On graduation, he returned to his home - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan -- and into a busy, challenging production job with Cyan Digital Media, a 'creative, developmental and technical multimedia service bureau'. Kent will be kept busy with the studio's recording/engineering work plus live sound gigs at a couple of Saskatoon nightclubs.
John Robertson was already busy working with JUNO-winning producer Rick Kilbourn at his Riverside Recording Studios in Burnaby, BC, but then put on the entrepreneur hat and started his own business. JNR MUSIC SERVICES provides professional music and PA systems to BC's Lower Mainland, doing weddings, corporate parties, church functions, school dances and community functions.
Luis Ronda joins the music department at Vancouver's eMEDIA Network, working as an Audio Editor.
Vlad Rozic is a sound tech for the Much Music Video Flow Dance Parties working out of Vancouver.
Sawami Saito is now working as an assistant with Hipposonic Recording Studios in Vancouver.
Dwayne Sands opened his own recording studio, LA North Recorders in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Shayne Sankar worked with Canada's national sports network, TSN. Shayne monitored the satellite audio feeds from Vancouver to Toronto for the nightly 'Sports Desk' show. He also worked on David Pratt's nightly talk/phone-in show, 'Vancouver Tonight'.
Sandra Schultz works as a freelance engineer. She served as an Assistant Engineer on a Randy Bachman DVD. Check out this website profile of women in recording engineering at: http://www.choixdecarrieres.org/careeroptions/co/sandraschultz.htm
Mike Sentner was hired as a sound tech for Rocky Mountain Sound and their sister-company, Backline Musician Services in Vancouver.
Chris Sharpe is busy doing freelance work in the bustling Alberta community of Fort McMurray. Chris says he's very busy working with lots of artists from all over Canada.
David Shea worked as an ADR mixer on numerous film and television projects at North Vancouver's busy post-production house, Sharpe Sound.
Robert Sitek was hired on at Vancouver's Airwaves Sound facility as a transfer engineer and ProTools editor.
Ryan Skeete is a dual program grad: Recording & Sound Design, and Digital Video Production. He's been putting all that Columbia Academy gained knowledge to work in a big way. First, in his home in Barbados, working on commercials, television, and video projects, and now back in Vancouver, newly married, and with his own multi-media production company - EARMARK Creative. EARMARK offers still photography, and audio and video production services - a true full service house. Way to go, Ryan! Check out their website at: http://www.earmarkcreative.com/
Maynard Smylie, a serious and dedicated student at Columbia Academy, is working at Vancouver's Tom Lee Music (Granville Store) as their Pro Recording Consultant.
Travis Smyth stopped by to update us on what he's been doing since graduation. Besides taking his mobile studio around British Columbia to record bands and artists like 'Velvet', 'Leigh Grisewood' and 'O'Kanagan' he's also been working as a sound tech and loader for Atomique Productions, one of Victoria and Vancouver's biggest promo companies. And if that's not keeping him busy enough, he's also a crew member for the 'Timebenders', the party band that's known world wide.
Wolfgang Solbach is another dual Columbia Academy program grad: Digital/Analog Recording and the Video/Television Production. Wolfgang worked with ICTV (Independent Community Television), filming for "East Side Story", a monthly newsmagazine show that covered news and cultural stories concerning East Vancouver for 18 years. He is now creating a new recording studio in the B.C. interior.
Isaac Strozberg has been working as a sound editor on various feature films and television series for many years. He was nominated for Gemini awards for Best Achievement in Sound Editing in 1995 and 1996 and won a Genie award in 1994 for Best Achievement in Sound Editing for the film Whale Music.
Dave Sumner was hired by Vancouver's Ocean Sound. Among Dave's responsibilities are digital editing, ADR work and sound effects placement.
Jamie Thirsk can be found spinning the Top-40 mix at Bunker Country Club in the hot little community of Tsawwassen, south of Vancouver. When not working as DJ, Jamie's busy organizing his own music group.
Terry Tran is an Independent Producer/Engineer working out of Edmonton, Alberta. He already has one gold record under his belt, "These Old Charms", with Canadian Idol runner-up, Theresa Sokyrka. Terry was just nominated for his second Canadian Juno award, this time for the album "Not Saying/Just Saying" from the popular Canadian dance band, Shout Out Out Out Out. Keep up with Terry through his MySpace page at: http://www.myspace.com/terrytran
Michael Tubbs was hired by Vancouver's Whitefoot Entertainments. Getting into the business side of the entertainment industry, Michael's working as a booking agent with Whitefoot, booking bands and comedians into clubs and other venues across Canada.
David VanBuskirk is the Rentals Manager for Commercial Electronics, Vancouver.
Alykhan Vellani formed his own record label, Dacrim Records Inc. in Vancouver. It originally started as a production company in March of 1997, encouraging the production of music by partner and producer B. Diamond. Dacrim is looking to expand its distribution throughout the United States and the UK providing global access to its talented artists.
Chad Wadds, a former Columbia Academy Recording & Sound Design instructor, has moved east to pursue new music opportunities and help out with the family business. Chad is a multi-instrumentalist, as well as being a skilled audio engineer and mixer. MIDI programming, Electronic Music Production, and equipment maintenance and troubleshooting are all specialties of Chad's. We wish him the best and hope to hear good things from him in the future.
Ric Walkington is a Props Master in the film and television industry. He has worked on productions such as: Painkiller Jane, Scary Movie 4, Traffic, Smallville, Dark Angel, MVP: Most Valuable Primate, Air Bud, Underworld and many more.
Kurt Wilkinson was hired by Vancouver's CFUN and QM-FM radio stations as an Board Operator - the person who keeps all those sounds you hear coming out of your radio speaker.
Chad Williams is employed as the P.A. Sales Manager at Vancouver's Long & McQuade Musical Instruments.
Sung "Johnson" Wong has been hired as an audio/stage tech with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
Jim Yakabuski worked as a Live Front of House Sound Engineer for seven years for rockers Van Halen. He has also toured with Aerosmith and most recently, Matchbox Twenty, and Avril Lavigne. You could say that Jim wrote the book on live sound - because he did! Jim's book, Professional Sound Reinforcement Techniques is a must-read for students of live sound. You can get in on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/PROFESSIONAL-SOUND-REINFORCEMENT-TECHNIQUES-Yakabuski/dp/1931140065
Kevin "Chief" Zaruk has had an AMAZING career since graduating Columbia Academy. He's now managing the incredible breakout band Hinder, but he's also Tour Manager and Front of House Engineer for Canadian super-rockers, Nickleback. In an interview with Total Production US, Chief tells how it all got started:
"I've been with them (Nickleback) for almost nine years. I went right out of high school into a recording curriculum (at Columbia Academy) for two years. Meanwhile, I was doing an internship at the studio where Nickelback was recording their first album. I had never done live sound before, but was being asked to do it and they were one of the bands I mixed. Frankly, I was getting more calls about live sound than studio work! We started doing weekend gigs, and that turned into two-week tours and into cross-Canada tours. I started tour managing at the same time, and it just kept growing. Fortunately, nine years later, I'm still tour managing and doing sound."
Broadcast Performing Arts Grad Success Stories
Tony Acland dropped us an e-mail: "I was suitably impressed with your web page as to make me scroll through the list of students. I was equally pleased to see my name on the list. If you are updating you could change my listing to read "Professional Rodeo Announcer and Auctioneer". Thanks to Columbia I have been able to realize my dream of being a pro. Thanks, Columbia!!"
Rubelyn Alcantara has been hired to work with Discovery Report as an International Correspondent Promotional Journalist. Ruby's role is to identify major business in European countries and interview executives for interesting articles. She'll also be working at promoting advertising. Her first posting is in Amsterdam. The Discovery Report Ruby is working for is a business supplement for the South China Morning Post.
Don Andrews can now be heard on the air on Vancouver's 96.9 JACK FM, playing what he wants, when he wants.
Steve Ayres is alive and well and rockin' in the Okanagan on-air at Kamloop's 98.3 CIFM. Steve's on the air weeknights and weekends, handling station prize patrols, remotes and most everything else.
Squire Barnes is a very familiar face as the long-time sports anchor for Vancouver's Global BC (formerly BCTV).
Bridget Bender can now be heard shepherding commuters through the Vancouver traffic maze daily on Z-95.3 FM.
Erin Berger is now a Talk Show Producer of The Brent Loucks morning show at Rawlco Radio's News 650 AM in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She's also co-host of Garden Talk every Sunday morning. Erin got her start at CJAV Radio, in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island.
Shane Bigham is a News/Reporter/Anchor at Vancouver's News 1130. He got his start at CFNI Radio in Port Hardy, BC, then was a News Reporter/Anchor for CFWB Radio in Campbell River, BC. Shane is one of several Columbia Academy grads working at News 1130, including Resmi Nair, Karen Thomson, Kari-Lynn Twidale, and Amanda Wawryk.
Dave Biro is a self-confessed 'Long Lost Grad'. Dave happened to be websurfing when he came across the Columbia Academy site and clicked his way through to the thousands of names of Columbia grads and, lo & behold, there he was. Now an award-winning broadcast journalist/producer, Dave brought us up to date on his career from its earliest days after he left Columbia's broadcast training program. He worked radio news at CFVR Abbotsford, CJIB Vernon, CKIQ Kelowna and CKNW Vancouver before moving into the TV news field. Dave was News Assignment Editor at CKVU-TV before moving up to News Director at that station. That led to another couple of years in radio, as news director of Vancouver's CKWX which, in turn, led him to Vancouver Island and CHEK-TV. Today he is senior producer of the popular Judi Tyabji talk show, an hour-long open line program - an interesting, challenging and successful broadcast career.
Marsha Bismark has been hired right out of school and into a major market radio station by Vancouver's The Beat 94.5 FM.
Lori Bonang is the Administratvie Assistant and Community Relations person for the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club. Lori was previously the Mountain Patrol Coordinator at Mountain FM in Squamish/Whistler.
Jeanine Bornais has been hired as a copywriter by the creative department of CFCP Radio in Courtenay, British Columbia. And when she's not creating spots, Jeannine will be on the air along with fellow Columbia Academy grad, Monique Ingle.
Brad Bregani e-mailed to say, "18 months ago I moved across the hall to New Rock 94X (Prince George, BC) and took over the afternoon drive slot and Imaging Director duties. WELL...now I've just been promoted again...this time to the 94X morning show, and assistant program director. My goal when I graduated from Columbia Academy was to program a station someday, and just under 4 years later, here I am!! Couldn't have done it without Columbia Academy and the staff."
Ryan Briggs completed his first season as the primary play-by-play broadcaster for the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club. The Canadians are the Class 'A' affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Ryan handled a schedule of over 50 games in 60 days and was the primary voice heard on the Canadians internet broadcasts.
Tara Brown is working as an on-air anchor, reporter and producer at KNBN Channel 10, an NBC affiliate in South Dakota.
Sean Burke has been co-hosting the "Waking Crew" morning show with Bruce Bowie at Corus Radio's CISN Country in Edmonton since 2002. Sean got his start in radio doing mornings at 1210 CKWA in Slave Lake, Alberta. He must really love the cold, because soon after, Sean shipped up to Cold Lake, Alberta to warm up the mornings there. He arrived at CISN Country in Edmonton in 1997, started doing mornings five years later, and is still there.
Tim Butcher can now be seen nightly anchoring and reporting sports news for Global TV on Global Saskatoon.
Tim Calder has been hired by Vancouver's CKWX News 1130 Radio putting his training to great use, doing 'a bit of everything' at the station. On the air, he's doing traffic reports while, 'backstage', he's working at editing for the all-news outlet.
Brad Challoner joins fellow grad Candisha Story at CHUM's CFUN radio in Vancouver. Brad has been hired as a board operator.
Glen Chalmers is the General Sales Manager for Vancouver's #1 music station, Z 95.3. Z is one of the top-grossing stations in the country... and Glen's at the helm!
Jen Clarke hosts What's Going On, a feature that airs seen days a week throughout the day on Vancouver's CFUN 1040 AM.
Angie Clowry is now doing news for The Eagle in BC's Courtenay/Campbell River area. Angie joins former classmate, grad Adam Patrick in the newsroom there.
Jay Cochrane has been hired by CFCP Radio. Jay's on the air weekday evenings and spreading his infectious personality (that's a complement, by the way) around the Courtenay area with remote reports on the weekends.
Maggie Cox is now working in Kamloops, British Columbia at 98.3 CIFM and B-100 Radio, doing, as she puts it, "on-air stuff -- a little bit of everything -- and putting what I learned at Columbia to very good use!"
Terry Cyr is on the air afternoons and evenings in the high country of Mountain FM in Squamish/Whistler.
Dominic Daley joins the on-air crew at CFBV Radio in Smithers. British Columbia. If you're in the area you'll catch him doing the afternoon drive shift.
Steve Darling is another very familiar face to residents of the Lower Mainland. Steve is the morning news anchor for Global.
Whitney Deane has been quickly moving up the ranks since graduation. She is now co-host (with Phil Johnson) of the CKFR Early Edition morning show heard daily at AM 1150 News, Talk, Sports, a newly acquired Astral Media station in Kelowna, BC. Whitney continues on throughout the morning as News Anchor.
Jennifer Dolynchuk writes: "I got a job at Pyramid Productions in Calgary two years ago. I have been reporting for the National television show Inside Entertainment for a year now. The show is weekly and airs on Global. I am the music reporter and also attend movie junkets. I have interviewed tons of bands including, Audioslave, The Killers, Black Eyed Peas, The Queens of the Stone Age and Def Lepard. Some of the actors I have talked to include, Jared Leto, Dakota Fanning, Jamie Kennedy and Matthew Fox. I am having a blast and I just wanted to fill you in! I am also a monthly host for Starchoice and report for Entertainment Beat.
Tyler Donaghee (aka Doc Andrews) has made his first big leap to a medium market as the new Swing Announcer at Prince George's 94X.
Dan Duncan is on the air, 6 to Midnight at CHQB Radio in Powell River and we wish him every success!
Michael Duncan is now on the air at CKEK, Cranbrook, BC. Mike follows on the heels of fellow grad Sean Westphal who was also hired by CKEK.
Kate Dunlevy was hired by Vancouver's New Country 93.7 JRfm as a Traffic Reporter.
Sheila Dunn is the Promotions Director at Vancouver's New Country, 93.7 JRfm.
Brad Edwards, an alumnus from Columbia's early days, dropped a line recently to say that he is now the Program Director for 107.3 KOOL FM in Victoria, BC, a division of CHUM Radio. Brad hired another Columbia grad, Robin Farrell, right out of school. He writes, "Interestingly enough, it was Robin that I worked with in the later part in her (Columbia) program and now she's working for me in the Capital City. Very KOOL".
Erin Berger started her broadcasting career at CJAV radio in the small town of Port Alberni, BC, as the News Anchor, beat reporter, Sports and weather girl. Erin then made her way to Saskatoon, SK, where she is now a Talk Show Producer at News Talk 650 AM. "I run the show technically while we are on the air from 5:30 to 8:30 am and during, before and after I search the world for interesting show content and guests. Something I do every Sunday morning that I really enjoy is co-hosting a province wide call in show called Garden Talk alongside an expert greenhouse owner. I also am known as the “Mature” voice at the station so I voice ID’s, splitters and loads of spots."
Chris Fantini hit the airwaves in a major market even before he graduated. Congratulations to the talented Chris Fantini whose professional approach to broadcasting has led to his hiring by Vancouver's Oldie Station, 650 CISL.
Robin Farrell is now co-hosting the morning show on 107.3 KOOL FM, part of the CHUM Radio Group in Victoria, British Columbia. Robin also keeps busy as Host of the weekly KOOL Countdown, a music television show seen on A-Channel in Victoria.
Sam Ferraro graduated from the Broadcast Performing Arts program at Columbia Academy, landed his first job in Squamish, then, in only a matter of months, returned to the major market of Vancouver. Sam is on the air at Vancouver's 97 Kiss FM -- welcome back, Sam, and continued success!
Charlene Fitzpatrick is on the air each weekday morning as co-host and newscaster at CJAV Radio, Port Alberni, BC.
Scott French is working as a documentary filmmaker and videographer, in addition to promotional work for The Art Institute. Prior to this, Scott was heard doing the news on CFWB, Campbell River, British Columbia.
James Gallo is the new voice of the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League. James is responsible for calleing play-by-play for 72 regular season games throughout Western Canada as well as all playoff games.
Melissa Gauthier has been hired as a reporter for Bayshore Broadcasting in Owen Sound, Ontario.
Ashlee Gerlock works for Corus Entertainment doing promotions at Vancouver radio stations, Rock 101, C-FOX, and CKNW AM 980.
Jim GIlmore has been hired by CIGV radio, Penticton, to program to dhift workers, insomniacs and late night party people.
Dawn Godlonton is now part of the production department at Toronto's EZ Rock 97.3.
Trevor Gonzalez is on the air - and IN the air... Trevor's working with Skywards Traffic Network. Managed by Columbia Academy grad, Barry King, STN provides live traffic reports to Vancouver stations, their reports being heard on ten different stations in the Lower Mainland.
Jozefina Grabic has been hired by Port Alberni, BC's CJAV radio. Jozefina can be heard 6 - 10 pm on CJAV's Adult Contemporary format.
Carrie Gray and fellow BPA grad Michael Moore (no, not that Michael Moore) have been hired by Viavid Broadcasting, a Vancouver based company that provides up to date video coverage from North American financial markets. Carrie's weekly 'CEO Spotlight' features interviews with topical company executives.
Mike Hanson began his broadcast career following Columbia Academy training at CFCP Courtenay and now finds himself in the news department of Copper Island Broadcasting's CKXR 580 Radio in picturesque Salmon Arm, British Columbia.
Mike Hellinger got a job in radio in the final month of this training program. Mike's a news anchor for Roger's STAR FM in Chilliwack, BC, doing the 10-6 news run.
Marty Henwood Jr. has joined the production staff at the oldest radio station in Canada's Niagara region, Newstalk 610 CKTB.
Karen Herman was hired by Vancouver news-talk radio station, CFUN 1410, joining several other Columbia Academy grads). Karen Herman is the producer of the CFUN morning show.
Leah Hextall wasted no tiome in going from BPA student to grad to working. Leah had the honor of becoming the first female sportscaster at CKX-TV, the local A-Channel affiliate. She has now moved to Winnipeg, where Leah is a sports reporter/anchor for CTV Sports, Winnipeg.
Aaron Himmelson was hired at Mountain FM Radio in beautiful Squamish, BC. Aaron's on the air weekend evenings.
Leah Holiove's career is taking off - literally! She is now the Airborne Traffic Reporter for CTN (the Canadian Traffic Network) doing television traffic reports for Global BC (Early News with Deborah Hope) and radio traffic reports for Vancouver's AM 730. Leah got her start in the promotions department of Vancouver's JR/FM (a block from school - how cool is that?).
Ian Holmes is working for Island Radio's WOLF and WAVE in Nanaimo, BC.
Alan Jackson - nope, not the country music star ... Columbia Academy BPA grad Alan Jackson has been hired by the news department at Coast Radio's CFCP Radio in Courtenay. On the air weekday afternoons with the news, Alan will also be getting his reporter's feet wet, covering events in and around the Courtenay area.
Paul James (Holloway) got his start as a news reporter/anchor at CFCP Radio in Courtenay, BC. He then moved to CHNL in Kamloops, BC, before joining CKWX and CKNW in Vancouver. Further on his amazing career to date, Paul is now the host of People in the Know (PIK), working in China for China Radio International. PIK is China's only English language political current affair's program.
Shaun Johnson (Montague) is burning up the airwaves hosting evenings at Mountain FM, Castelgar, BC's rock authority. He is also part of the Trail Smoke Eaters hockey broadcast team.
Kuljeet Kaila has been on the air on both radio and television in Vancouver almost from the moment she graduated. Kuljeet has worked as a reporter/anchor for CKWX Radio; as a news anchor/producer for News 4 on Shaw TV; and as host of The Sustainable Region for Shaw TV & The Knowledge Network. Kuljeet currently does traffic for Vancouver's Z-95.3 FM Radio, as well as being a freelance reporter for The Province newspaper in Vancouver.
Mike Kershaw has packed up his breoadcast diploma and experience gained as a Board Operator at Vancouver's Classic Rock 101.1 FM and headed for an on-air gig at CKYX Radio in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Greg Kisser has been working in the Vancouver television industry since graduating from the Broadcast Performing Arts Program in 1998. Among other things, Greg directed the nightly Arts & Culture program ZeD on CBC for two seasons and is currently working as an Iso Director for Hockey Night in Canada. Other directing or associate director credits include Exposure, CFL on CBC, Living Vancouver, FIFA U-20 World Cup of Soccer, Canada Winter Games, Arctic Winter Games and CBC News Vancouver. Greg also directed a live, award-winning CBC North Television special on suicide prevention called A Living Hope.
Andrea Klein is the midday voice of Port Alberni, BC's, The PEAK Radio.
Casey Klein has been hired by KYX 97.9 FM Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Nicole Kothlow has landed a job as a DJ with The Wolf 106.9 FM in Nanaimo, BC.
Levana Rae Kruger has been hired by Vancouver Island's CJAV RADIO in Port Alberni. All of Ms. Kruger's intelligence, talent and training will be put to good use as she takes on the duties of Beat Reporter and afternoon News Announcer on AV1240.
Jennifer Laidlaw is now a News Reporter for Courtenay/Campbell River's Magic FM.
Lisa Lamb has made her way up the coast to the hub of Northern British Columbia commercial communications, Terrace. Lisa is the Creative/Traffic person at CFNR-FM.
Michael Langston was hired by CHLW 1310 RADIO in St. Paul, Alberta. CHLW is part of the NOR-net Communications, which operates 35 radio stations in Canada. Mike's on the air each afternoon.
Ron Larson is on the air at The Q in Victoria doing evenings and weekends. Ron got his start at CHQB Radio, Powell River, BC.
Shilo Lavallee is on the air evenings on Courtenay, BC's, Magic FM.
Dave Lavine is in charge of Tech Support for Miller Tripods, Canada.
Chris Lavis joins the dynamic crew at CJOK Fort McMurray Alberta, joining fellow Columbia-ite, Jason Lyons. Chris joins the 'OK production department as copywriter/producer.
Richard Lax has been hired for the afternoon drive slot at CFNI Radio, Port Hardy, BC.
Joe Leary has had a successful career on the air and in print in Vancouver and is currently back on the radio airwaves on the afternoon drive co-hosting the Jenn & Joe Show with Jennifer Thompson at 1410 CFUN in Vancouver.
Joe MacAulay has been hired by the creative department of CJOK/CKYX, sister stations in Fort McMurray Alberta ... and we wish him continued success
Joel MacDonald is on the air, hired by CFNI Radio Port Hardy, British Columbia. Joel joins Columbia Academy grad Richard Lax who was also recently hired by CFNI. Joel is the new morning drive personality at this active Adult Contemporary, 70's Gold radio station.
Neil MacRae is another well known Vancouver broadcast personality. He currently provides sports commentary mornings on Vancouver's Classic Rock 101 FM and writes a column for the Vancouver Province.
Natasha Matieschyn is involved in major market radio promotions -- working with both JR-FM and The Fox in Vancouver.
Mary Martin remains active with her program on Vancouver's Co-Op Radio.
Patrick McClorey is a copywriter/producer at one of Alberta's newest radio stations, KIX-106 FM, Peace River. CKKX-FM, as it's more properly called, is sister-station to Peace River's CKYL AM Radio.
Scott McCord has been hired by Vancouver's hit music radio station The Beat 94.5 FM. We understand that G. Scott McCord was selected from hundreds of applicants for the job -- copywriter at the urban beat station.
Chad McIntyre has been hired by the production department of CIBW 92.9 FM in Drayton Valley in the beautiful Brazeau area of Alberta. Almost a homecoming for Chad, Drayton Valley is just west of his hometown of Leduc.
Ryan McMillan proved that volunteering to get in the door really does pay off. He went to Vernon, British Columbia to help Sun FM out in an internship position and now he has been hired full time. Ryan was able to prove his worthiness by inputting shows, op'ing remotes, doing the logs and even voice tracking.
Sanden McNally is the new Creative Director of 99.9 FM The Lounge, an Island Radio station located in Parksville, BC, on beautiful Vancouver Island. The Lounge features Adult Standards music from the last 50 years featuring the classics like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand and todays adult stars such as Diana Krall, Michael Buble and Rod Stewart.
Erin McTaggart writes, "I'm now working at 97.3 The Wolf in Prince George, BC doing afternoons and weekends. I started my career at Peace FM in Chetwynd, BC and then moved to 99.3 The Drive in Prince George as a Swing Announcer and Producer for two years. I'm loving it on the air and encourage everybody to do whatever they need to to get where they want to be." Erin is joined at The Wolf by CA grad, Ashley Hinton, who is an Imaging Producer and on-air personality at the station.
Dean Merrick has had a fascinating career since graduating in 2000. His first job was in the U.S. as Director of Media Relations and Play-By-Play Announcer for the Border City Bandits of Texarkana, Texas in the Central Hockey League, where he had the thrill of working alongside former Edmonton Oiler and Stanley Cup Champion, Dave Lumley. He moved back to Canada to accept a position as Sports Director for Peace River Broadcasting's three Alberta radio stations. Following this, it was back to his hometown of Powell River, BC, where Dean was hired as Station Manager of CJMP-90.1 Jump FM and charged with the incredible challenge of building a radio station from scratch! He is currently the play-by-play announcer for the Powell River Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League. One of Dean's career highlight's so far has to be his involvement with the Powell River Regals hockey team, with which he has served in several capacities. After the Regals won the National Championship in 2006, they were invited to be Team Canada at the IIHF Polese Cup in Belarus, where they played a pro team from the Russian Super League as well as the National teams from Latvia and Belarus.
Dean writes, "Before my time at Columbia I couldn't even turn a computer on, now I consider myself a bit of a computer geek! Not only that, Columbia gave me the knowledge, confidence and ability to excel in media and broadcasting. Now my main focus is strictly hockey, which by the way doesn't seem like work at all!"
Chad Moffat has begun his broadcast career, putting his personality, voice and intelligence to work for the fine folk in Northern BC. Chad has been hired by CKRX-FM in Fort Nelson, BC.
Karla Mojica was hired at Vancouver's MOJO RADIO. Karla joins former classmates James Dean, Patrick Whittemore, Dana Foster and Rob Minhas operating at the station.
Michael Moore (no, not that Michael Moore) and fellow BPA grad Carrie Gray have been hired by Viavid Broadcasting, a Vancouver-based company that provides up to date video coverage from North American financial markets.
Reshmi Nair is on the air at Vancouver's NEWS 1130 as a news anchor and reporter, joining many Columbia grads: Shane Bigham, Kari Lyn-Twidale, Tara Jean Wilkin, Karen Thomson, Amanda Wawryk. Reshmi was Columbia Academy's 2005 Newscaster of the Year.
Chris Nelson has been hired by the active, busy radio station in Port Hardy, BC -- CFNI. Chris begins his broadcast career in the news department of CFNI.
Brian O'Connell's professional career in radio has spanned the past 31 years. A native Newfoundlander, and second-generation broadcaster who followed in his father's footsteps, Brian began his prolific broadcasting career following graduation from Columbia Academy in Alberta. Brian has worked in a variety of markets and formats, and has held both management and on-air positions. In addition to his on-air duties, Brian is the Station Manager and Program Director of OZ FM in St. John's, Newfoundland.
Roxanne Padmore was hired by 610 AM YL Country in Peace River, Alberta. Roxanne took on the swing slot, giving her plenty of experience doing plenty of things as she begins her broadcast career at YL Radio.
Roxanne Padmore was hired by 610 AM YL Country in Peace River, Alberta. Roxanne took on the swing slot, giving her plenty of experience doing plenty of things as she begins her broadcast career at YL Radio.
Adam Patrick was hired fresh out of school by the news department at CFBV Radio in Smithers, BC -- in the heart of the majestic Bulkley Valley region of British Columbia.
Nikki Pena got her start in radio with Skywords Traffic. She is now doing traffic reporting for Vancouver's News 1130.
Willy Percy is one half of the hugely successful, long running, Larry & Willy Show heard mornings on 96.9 JACK FM in Vancouver, BC.
Eric Peterson has been the Creative Director for C95, Rawlco's station in Saskatoon, Sasktchewan since 2004. He got his start at CFFM The Max in the Quesnel-Williams Lake area of BC, then did a stint in Fort McMurray before moving on to his latest gig at C95 where he has been since 2001.
Brad Phillips is Regional Vice President of CHUM Television BC, responsible for CITY TV Vancouver as well as A-Channel in Victoria.
Chris Pizzacalla is now in Calgary with his own karaoke company, Pizza Man Entertainment. Chris's Columbia Academy career training paid off almost immediately. He got his start working in the news and programming departments at CJDC Radio, Dawson Creek, BC. After a stop in Kelowna where he hosted a morning show, Chris returned to Calgary to start his own business. Check out his website at: http://www,pizzaman.net
Stuart Poppy has been hired by the creative department at CKYL Radio, Peace River, Alberta A new writer/producer begins his broadcast career.
Martin Prior was hired at Roger's Mountain-FM Radio in beautiful Squamish, BC.
Samantha "Sam" Reimer has moved from The Q in Victoria to Standard Radio's 99.9 SUN FM in spectacular Kelowna, British Columbia. Sam's on the air Wedneday - Friday evenings and weekend afternoons.
Kyle Reynolds nailed his first radio job as a Sports Reporter at YL Country in Peace River, Alberta. Kyle joins another CA grad at YL, Thomas Dias (News Reporter/Anchor).
Nicole Richter has moved from the coast to the BC inland resort area. Nicole has been hired by 97 Magic FM in Penticton, BC -- she'll be busy with swing announcer duties and production.
Graham aka Vaughn Ripper, a CA grad from way back in the 1970's dropped us a line to say, "My first station was CJDC Dawson Creek, BC. I moved up and down the dial and ended up in Calgary at CFAC. The reason I am writing is that I wanted you guys to know that I owe so much to Columbia.... it changed my life and carried me in many directions throughout my life to where I am now.....and I will never forget the enjoyment of working in broadcasting. Some say I still have the pipes to continue on the air, and in many ways I still use my voice in our current business - we are now involved in the movie business and financing. I am very impressed with what you are doing now in the broadcasting industry. Again, thank you for all you have done for me in my life and all the best with your fab school in Vancouver."
Wayne Roberts got his career started at CFNR, the classic rock radio station in his home stomping ground of Terrace, BC. He has also worked as a Host and news writer for CBC Radio One in Prince George. Wayne has worked iun television as well with APTN (Aboriginal Peoples' Television Network) as a Video Journalist doing their national news and as a Producer for the CTV series, First Story. He has also produced some short films. Busy guy!
TJ Rodriguez was hired by 790 KFAN in Spokane, Washington. Our congratulations to TJ -- not only did he work diligently throughout his course, he also commuted to and from school across the American border each day - a fine reward for a fine effort.
Matthew Rowbotham began volunteering his time at Vancouver's TEAM 1040 Radio -- today he is Production Manager. A heads-up grad, going places.
Jasmina Sambol is at 94.5 The Beat, in Vancouver. She can be heard daily guiding us through Vancouver's maddening traffic with her regular reports.
Eve Savory is a multiple award-winning medicine, science, and technology reporter for CBC's National magazine. Her broadcasting career began in radio in 1974. A year later she made the leap to television has been with the CBC ever since.
Peter Schaad currently produces the very popular Terry & Tara Show on 103.5 QM-FM in Vancouver. He is also the play-by-play announcer for the Vancouver Whitecaps, heard on TEAM 1040 Sports Radio. Peter has been a popular instructor in the Broadcast Performing Arts program at Columbia Academy since 2001.
Bradley Schlenker (a.k.a. Fletch Manning) is now on the air with the mid-morning show at BVLD serving the Smithers-Bulkley Valley area of British Columbia.
Heidi Schrader is now on the air at CJAV Radio, Port Alberni BC, doing morning news.
Carey Sessoms - After several months serving as intern to the internationally renowned Howard Stern Show in New York City, Carey was been hired by WNYC as assistant to the Associate Producer. He has now returned to Vancouver to pursue new opportunites.
George Sherstobetov is now on the air in his native province of Saskatchewan. George has been hired by Golden West Radio's CKSW Radio in Swift Current.
Raman Sihota was hired by Rogers' Omni Television in Vancouver. She will be working in the promotions department, appearing at events throughout the Lower Mainland. She's even getting to do some on-camera reporting for Omni Television.
Peter Skrecek is now on the air, playing music, providing information and entertainment for listeners of CHQB Radio in Powell River, British Columbia.
Hideaki Soma is happily working for the Vancouver music promotion company, Freedom to Groove. He's also working with a Japanese record label and promoting Canadian artists in Japan.
Samantha Sowassey was hired by CFWB Radio in Campbell River, BC. Samantha now lends her talents and creativity as a business of broadcasting instructor at the Vancouver Film School.
Tamara Stanners has spent the past two decades enjoying a very successful and varied career in radio and television working on everything from serious journalism and documentaries to humor-packed morning shows. She most recently was the host of Healthy Home, a popular television series from Omni Film Productions.
Mike Starkes was hired on in the busy news department at Regina's CJME & Z99-FM.
Brenda Steele was hired by Mountain FM in beautiful Squamish, British Columbia. Brenda can be heard evenings and weekends making the music happen at Mountain FM.
Laura Stewart has moved from producing weekend shifts at Vancouver's AM1040 Radio to handling office and studio operations for the station.
Crystal Stoller was also hired by Vancouver's AM 1040 Radio, operating the overnight talk show.
Colin Stone is yet another CA grad hired by Vancouver's The TEAM 1040 Sports Radio.
Candisha Story has been hired as a Production Operator at Vancouver's CFUN Radio.
Bruce Strang landed the afternoon drive radio show at CKAY, Duncan on Vancouver Island.
Curtis Strange has moved from Z-95.3 in Vancouver to become the new Program Director at 107.3 Kool FM in Victoria, BC. He joins fellow grad Robin Farrell who co-hosts the morning show at Kool FM as well as hosting the weekly television show, the Kool Countdown on A-Channel.
Jeff Superle was interning at Vancouver's The Team 1040 Sports Radio, and also doing some work over at the University of British Columbia's station CiTR 101.9 FM working in the sports department. Jeff is also involved with BC Lions Football marketing. Jeff was Columbia Academy's 2003 Sportscaster of the Year.
James Sutton is now the Music Director at The Zone @ 91.3 in Victoria, BC. James landed his first on-air job at CKYX Radio, Fort MacMurray, Alberta. An exemplary student, James gained practical broadcast experience here in Vancouver, working in the production department of CFUN.
Wes Swales has been hired by Vancouver's busy KOKO/8th Avenue Sound Studios. And when he's not doing production work there, Wes is over at Vancouver radio station AM 1040 where he works in the production department.
Don Taylor is well known to Vancouver sports fans. Don co-hosts the popular daily sports talk show, Pratt & Taylor, heard afternoons on the TEAM 1040 Sports Radio in Vancouver. And that's just his day job. Don can also be seen nightly anchoring the Rogers Sportsnet Pacific telecast.
Natalee Taylor has worked at X-FM, Mountain FM, Sun FM, All Hit KBS and more. And now she's the afternoon drive host at 91.7 The Bounce in Edmonton, Alberta. Natalee says, "Guess what? I love it here! I thought I'd miss the mountains and Starbucks, but it's a refreshing change. Thanks to Columbia Academy for helping me get my start!"
C.J. (Carman) Thiessen has switched gears somewhat and now is a freelance writer for Canadian magazines. She also publishes her own online magazine called Smudge. Check it out at http://www.smudgemagazine.ca. CJ started her media career providing urban traffic reports on Vancouver's NW2, the all-news arm of CKNW.
Nathan Thomas is an Account Manager with 99.3 The Fox in Vancouver as well as on-air doing traffic with Vancouver's all traffic station, AM730 .
Darrin Thompson was the voice of the Kindersley Jr. Klippers of the SJHL and News/Sports personality for CJYM Radio. He is currently working in Sales in High Level, Alberta.
Karen Thomson has been hired at Vancouver's NEWS 1130 as the overnight news anchor. She'll hopefully soon be on the sports beat, her first love. Karen was honored as Columbia Academy's 2005 Sportscaster of the Year.
Shaun Tomko dropped us an e-mail bringing us up to date on what's happened with him since completing his training at Columbia Academy. Shaun writes: "Columbia Academy has led me on an extremely interesting path in life. Following graduation in 1997 I became an announcer for CHQB in Powell River. After about a year and a half it was time for a change. I joined Celebrity Cruise Lines as a DJ/Emcee. In 3 years with the company I travelled to almost 60 countries throughout Europe, South America and the Caribbean. I recently married a dancer from one of my ships and have since relocated to New York City. The oppurtunities are endless here. I just finished a contract with ESPN as an interviewer. The network had a few road teams travel the U.S. to various sports events to interview sports fans for upcoming TV spots for ESPN's major ad campaign of 2004 called Season Of The Fan. It's a celebration for ESPN's 25th anniversary. The job even included an appearance on Good Morning America. Once again thank you to Columbia Academy for giving me the capabilities to work these dream jobs. Hopefully I'll have more updates for you in the future."
Chad Tuftin is one of several Columbia Academy grads and current students working at CHUM Radio's promotions department in Vancouver.
Adam Turner was hired to produce the morning show at Vancouver's MOJO Sports Radio.
Kari-Lynn Twidale is at Vancouver's all news station, News 1130, joining several Columbia Academy grads working there.
Anne Villebeuve got her start in broadcasting joining former classmates Natalee Taylor, Lori Bonang, Tiffany Sekora as well as other Columbia Academy grads Frank Schettler and Aaron Himelson on the Mountain Patrol at MOUNTAIN FM, doing road and weather reports for the Squamish/Whistler area.
John Webster was hired on at 100.7 Giant FM in Penticton, doing weekend afternoons and other public appearances for the station and doing, as he put it, everything possible - including news, weather, road reports, ski reports, entertainment.
Sean Westphal is a producer for Kelowna's best rock, Power 104 FM.
Jason White began his broadcast career in the spots department of KVBC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tara Jean Wilkin has made the move to Astral Radio's 95 Crave FM in Vancouver as a producer/writer/performer. She is also continuing her work as a playwright and actress. Tara Jean got her start at Mountain FM in Squamish, BC. She worked for many years at Z95.3 FM doing traffic and performing on the Z Morning Crew. During 2006, she also enjoyed doing traffic & weather for Rogers' NEWS 1130.
Tamara Wolf has been hired by Wild Country in her hometown of Quesnel, BC and can be heard making the music weekday evenings.
Lianne Young is now hosting middays and serving as Assistant Music Director for The New 103.1 Fresh FM in London, Ontario.
Derek Zabel was hired as the morning show host in Terrace, BC, along with doing various voice tracking and TV weather duties within the chain.
Video & Film Production Grad Success Stories
Hussain Abboud and other VFP grads launched Sahara Pictures Video Productions, producing television shows, special events, and even an Arab language newspaper.
Phil Adams has combined two of his favorite pastimes into one successful career. An avid diver and talented video producer, Phil works as an underwater videographer with Manta Marine Productions.
Shwan Ahmad was producing his own weekly television series, Kurd TV, even while he was going to school. Shwan is now in Sweden. He writes, "Right now I work for a Kurdish satellite TV in Sweden doing both editing and some outside camera work . I enjoy working in the field but, at the same time, I miss Vancouver. It's cold here and there is lots of snow on the ground ".
Michelle Anderson is now working with Vancouver area casting agents Michelle Allan & Tami Nasu.
Evelyn Aranda has been hired by Norwegian Cruise Lines as a Production Assistant to work on one of their many fine cruise ships.
Steve Baird has formed his own production company. Baird Productions produces sports-related videos and TV productions for clients such as Sports BC and KVOS-TV.
Scott Barnes is working as a Production Assistant for television commercials.
Merril Barreca is working with children in Thailand. She hopes to begin work soon on an educational video series.
Angela Barsotti has been hired as Program Director of Saugeen Telecable, an aggressive, busy production center located in Hanover, Ontario -- just north of Toronto.
Chris Bernabei has been working as a Production Assistant on many local film projects.
Juan Sebtastian Caicedo is now working as an editor at Vancouver's busy Ocean Sound Productions on an overseas-based television cartoon project.
Trevor Carroll is working as a Camera Operator and Editor at Vancouver's Shoreline Studios.
Tracy Coburn works as a freelance television writer, having worked on projects for the YTV Network and others.
Nelson Cortez is working as a Lead Editor and Tape Operator for KBCI TV, the CBS affiliate in Boise, Idaho.
Jeff Cowan dropped us a line recently to update us on his career since graduating the program in 1989. Fresh out of school, he worked on a couple of documentaries and education videos before moving to Australia shortly afterwards. During his 10 years "Down Under", he used the skills obtained at Columbia Academy to begin a long career in the corporate Audio/Visual industry, recording, editing, and operating thousands of product launches, conferences, and seminars. In 2004, Jeff returned to Canada to start his own company and has since worked on feature films and documentaries. In the fall of 2007, he was hired on as a Producer of local community events, sports, and public awareness shows at Channel 7, Access Communications in Regina,Saskatchewan, where he has the opportunity to make a difference in his community while still expressing himself creatively. Jeff says, "This industry has gone through many exciting changes over the years. It has been very rewarding to me personally and financially. I have travelled around the world nine times and have shaken the hands of Presidents and Kings. I thank Columbia Academy for giving me this start many years ago and would love to catch up with my old classmates again."
Michael De Los Santos is employed as a Camera Operator and Editor at Vancouver's Shoreline Studios.
Alain de Zilva is being kept busier than he ever thought possible, managing what's billed as 'Canada's Largest Casting Facility', Shoreline Studios in Vancouver.
Aziz Dhamani returned to his native Bangladesh after his 10-month stay here in Vancouver. Aziz is working as a video editor with a multicultural TV channel.
James Erasmus headed south on graduation -- across the border, in fact, to accept a job with world-famous INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC in San Rafael, California.
Levan Fernandez is working in San Francisco as a Master Control Operator for the Spanish language network, UNIVISION 14, San Francisco.
Andrew Forrester works with ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINES as a videographer and video programmer.
Nathan Funk has been hired as 2nd Camera Operator at Vancouver's busy production house, The Studio video facilities. The Studio is one of Vancouver's oldest video production companies, specializing in wedding and corporate video production work.
Jonathan Galbraith, along with fellow video grads Jeff Pelletier and Thomas Marchand have formed their own Vancouver-based production company, Basetwo Media. They are extremely busy, working on predominantly corporate video projects.
Rafael Gamboa lives and works in Mexico City for Sky, a pay television system owned by Televisa, the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world. He does five shows a day on the sports channel as Assistant Director and also fills in Directing when needed. Rafel also works as a Producer for EWTN, a catholic channel based in Birmingham, Alabama.
Rafael writes, "The trainining I received studying at Columbia Academy and then on my internship with Shaw TV was just great. I am still applying the knowledge I received from you guys."
Jenny Garrett has her permittee status now from ACFC and has worked on a TV series -- Romeo. She is now actively pursuing entry into the IATSE guilds. Oh, did we mention that Jenny is a bona fide Trailer Park Boys fanatic?
Gary Goode is taking the entrepreneurial route, making good things happen with his new production company, Digatrek, based in the Fernie, BC area. He is currently working on a documentary close to his heart.
Philip Gorman is now working for himself (can there be any better boss?), having set up his own company, Island Time Video Productions.
Mike Granek has his own busy Vancouver production company, Granek Productions, producing and servicing corporate client's video and audio needs for large conventions and shows.
Jason Gray was hired by T-120 Productions in Vancouver to work as a Production Assistant but then got even busier, working as a Location Scout and Assistant Locations Manager, learning location agreements, securing locations, organizing traffic, signs, crew & cast.
Marlon Guinto dropped us a note to let us know what he's been up to since graduating as an International Student of Columbia Academy: "Because of the training I learned at Columbia Academy, I am now directing and editing CMV's (Christian Music Videos) in Quezon City, Philippines for the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ). I am also studying to become a minister in the College of Evangelical Ministry at New Era University in the Philippines."
Volkan Gurcu has been very busy running his own video production company in Vancouver, Forge of Volkan Productions, specializing in corporate and wedding videos.
Tyler Hall returned to his more familiar Eastern Canada and got straight to work. He's now running his own successful production company in Montreal. T-Bone Productions does TV commercials and corporate videos.
John Harkin is working as a Key Grip (head of the Grip department) in film and television production.
Hiroshi Hayano returned to his native Japan and is now working with SEP Inc., a large production facility specializing in, among other things, music videos.
Scott Hayes is working in Seattle, Washington in post-production with Peter Lewis' Audisee Sound and Video.
Bart Hildebrand has been working the high seas lately as a video programmer on cruise ships in the Caribbean. When he's back on dry land, he keeps busy producing videos and commercials at his own production company, Heat Films.
Pat Hobbis has taken the entrepreneur route and formed his own production company. Action Video Inc.. does a variety of video production work, but Pat concentrates mostly on corporate commercials.
Tony Jenks is alive and well and working in his home state of Pennsylvania, USA. He writes: "I learned a lot from you when I was there at school, and I can honestly say there are still many things I use and apply today at my job. Right now I'm working as a grip/production assistant for a production company in Harrisburg, PA."
Darren Jones has been hired by the Vancouver casting house, Second Avenue Studios where he performs camera operator functions.
Anand Kanna is working for 20th Century Fox as a Location Scout for various television series.
Patrick King has been working on corporate and wedding video projects with his own paddycake productions. Patrick has also been shooting for Forge of Vulkan Productions, with another CA grad, Volkan Gurcu.
Dawn Knight works as a Post-Production Coordinator and Producer for Canadian-filmed television series and films, such as: Whistler, Fallen, Dating, Romeo, Mermaid, Out of Time, Stargate SG-1, Dead Man's Gun, SK8, The Immortal, Just Deal, So Weird, and First Wave.
Mike Kronstein has been working steadily since graduation as a Production Assistant on commercials, films, and corporate projects.
Dominic Lachance was hired as the manager of CIMDI Montreal, which is a corporate and governmental training centre in multimedia. As Dominic says, he's "a good example of what (Columbia Academy) grads can do."
Arthur (Ho) Le has developed a new television series, VOT1 (Vietnamese Overseas Television), for Vancouver's Channel M Multivision Television. The show airs twice a week. VOT1 is a television magazine program about Vietnamese culture, and the Vietnamese Canadian community's harmonious way of life. Eacy show runs includes cover stories about local community events such as festivals and concerts, discussions with local professionals about Vancouver Vietnamese life and economic development and each show will also have a music segment.
John Lee returned to his home country of South Korea and landed a job in commercial film production with a firm called Seoul Vision.
Stephanie Lehman is working with one of biggest Canada's sports television networks, TSN. Stephanie is a Story Editor with Sportcentre and That's Hockey on TSN, taking advantage of her love and knowledge of hockey.
Aaron Li is working with Chinese Entertainment Television of Canada. Their music program, Asian Golden Songs airs on SMC (Shaw Multicultural Channel). The program is a weekly show, introducing Asian pop music, concerts, singers, interviews, etc.
Kevin Lott has been working steadily since graduation as a Production Assistant on commercials, films, and corporate projects.
Dan MacDonald took his training all the way across the continent, back to Nova Scotia where he's now working with Northwoodcare Inc., Atlantic Canada's largest Long Term Care Facility. Dan's a 'Print/Media Specialist' with Northwoodcare, doing graphic design and photography. He also constructed and maintains their web site (http://www.nwood.ns.ca) and consults with the in-house radio station and community TV broadcasting network.
Awoba Bob Manuel-Wallace is back in her native Nigeria and immediately became involved in directing a new stage play in Lagos and working toward the betterment of the video production industry in her country. Awoba has been extremely busy since returning, working on many projects, including international commercials.
Thomas Marchand along with fellow video grads Jeff Pelletier and Jon Galbraith have formed their own Vancouver-based production company, Basetwo Media. They are extremely busy, working on predominantly corporate video projects. Check out their website at: http://www.basetwomedia.com
Daryl Martin was hired as a video producer with a local production company, STARNET.
Purabi Matin has been very busy as one of two Columbia grads working as video editors on The Creative Native, a weekly television series shown on APTN (Aboriginal People's Television Network). This year, Purabi will be also working as an Associate Producer and Editor on a new talk show called, First Talk for APTN.
Tyler McLeod is the other Columbia Academy video grad working as an Editor on a weekly television series. He and Purabi Matin cut for The Creative Native seen weekly on APTN. Tyler also shoots for the Canadian Rally Championships tv series.
Keith Montgomery was hired on with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a Videographer and Video Programmer for the line.
Justin Nearon was hired by Vancouver's Shoreline Studios as a Camera Operator, joining two other Columbia Academy grads, Matt Craig & Trevor Carroll.
Pavel Novy was hired by Vancouver's Pacific Vocational College to put together hundreds of hours of training videos for the school's programs. Pavel credits his early success to his training at Columbia Academy, "When I started the Digital Video Production program at Columbia Academy I did not know anything about video, in fact I did not even know how to log into a computer. Ten months later I was completely prepared to work in the video production. Great instructors, fun atmosphere and an excellent program that not only teaches all necessary technical skills and knowledge, but also enhances creativity, teamwork attitude and ethics. Through Columbia, I met Mr. Rob Bradbury, president of Pacific Vocational College, where I have worked since graduation, producing training and educational videos. It is the best job I ever had. Thank you Columbia Academy, I enjoyed every minute spent there."
Adrian Patterson has been hired in the Set Dec department of Vancouver's hugely busy Brightlight Pictures. Brightlight has quickly become a major player in the Vancouver film industry.
Peter Pederson was hired to work with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Hired aboard Royal's numerous beautiful cruise ships, Peter works as a videographer and video programmer for the line.
Jeff Pelletier along with fellow video grads Jon Galbraith and Tom Marchand, have formed their own Vancouver-based production company, Basetwo Media. They are extremely busy, working on predominantly corporate video projects.
Stephanie Peters recently starred in a music video which, once ready, will be mass released in the UK and Canada. Stephanie and the artist are on their way to making some music tracks together. She has also been promoting local music concerts at various Vancouver clubs and will producing a music video for the band in the near future.
Zelimir Prso has been hired to work the video production facilities with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
Kelly Ranta has made the move from Red Deer, Alberta to the hustle-n-bustle of Calgary to take on duties as Production Coordinator for RMDI, a video duplication company.
Davy Rantuuci has been busier than even he expected operating his own video production company in his own hometown of Leduc, Alberta. On a side note, Davy is a boxer and was flown to Las Vegas to appear as an extra in Rocky VI with Sylvester Stallone. He tells us, The Rocky shoot went good. I got my picture taken with Burt Young (Pauly), Apollo's trainer Duke, and Antonio Tarver, he's the current Light Heavyweight boxing champion. He's playing Rockys big opponent. Couldn't get my picture with Rocky though, he was pretty busy, staring in it and directing it."
Army Sahebjam worked as Camera Trainee on an independent feature film called 'Tight'. The contacts Army gained from working with 'Tight' led to a paying job as a Dolly Grip on the Paramount TV series, So Weird.
Angela Schneider has been busy working as a Segment Producer on the TV series, First Story, for CTV Vancouver.
Pierre Sioui was hired by Vancouver's Triad Communications, a video production company specializing in corporate videos. Pierre is working as a camera and VTR operator with the firm.
Wolfgang Solbach is another dual Columbia Academy program grad: Video & Film Production and Digital/Analog Recording Arts. Wolfgang worked with ICTV (Independent Community Television), filming for "East Side Story", a monthly newsmagazine show that covered news and cultural stories concerning East Vancouver for 18 years. He is now creating a recording studio in the B.C. interior.
Nathan Storness-Bliss was hired on with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a videographer and video programmer for the line.
Troy Street has been working steadily on film and commercial sets since graduation as a Production Assistant and in Locations.
Jonathan Stringer has been getting lots of time behind the camera these days. Jon landed a job with Orca Bay Broadcast covering Vancouver Canucks NHL hockey games. Says Jon, "This is a dream gig, shooting hand-held behind the goal. It's tough shooting such a fast game, but it's always a thrill." Jon has also been shooting for the Vancouver Giants hockey team and on a variety of sports remotes for Shaw TV in Vancouver.
Kevin Stumborg was hired by Edward Lee Productions Inc., a full-service, award-winning video production company in Surrey, BC. He is now an expert in Flash ActionScript and animation, PHP, JavaScript, and Photoshop.
Kathryn Thiessen returned to her hometown, Winnipeg Manitoba, after graduating and immediately found herself in the thick of things with the PanAm Games. Winnipeg's Videon Cable put her to work doing audio for its live coverage of the games (which Kathryn says 'were pretty cool'). Once the games were over, Videon hired Kathryn full-time to work a variety of jobs for the cable outlet -- going out on shoots, editing audio, creating shot sheets and EDL lists as well as working as the volunteer coordinator for the station. Kathryn says she's 'having a blast'.
Paul Trudel has served as a Camera Operator and Producer on numerous music and corporate video projects, such as the Molson Indy and the Randy Bachman DVD. He was most recently involved with video production of the Zappa Plays Zappa tour with Dweezil Zappa and amazing band. Watch for the concert DVD.
Alex Truong has been working with Arthur (Ho) Le on a new television series, VOT1 (Vietnamese Overseas Television), on Vancouver's Channel M Multivision Television. The show airs twice a week. VOT1 is a television magazine program about Vietnamese culture, and the Vietnamese Canadian community's harmonious way of life.
Fernando Ulloa dropped us a line to update us on his activities, "In 2004, I was on tour with Mexican singer, Alejandro Fernandez. I was camera for the show, and editor for promotional videos and commercials. We went all across the US including, Miami, Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta. I would love to do it again. Before that I was an extra in Touchtone's feature, The Alamo with Billy Bob Thornton. The most exciting part was running around in a soldier's uniform shooting at everybody and blowing things up. Recently I have been working on my little projects. I did a short trailer for the Austin Film Festival entitled, "Austin City", where we make fun of Robert Rodriguez's Sin City. I also did a short film for the 48 Hour Film Festival, where you make a movie in 48 hours. Right now I'm an Assistant Production Manager for ISEN TV. ISEN is a cable channel that is starting out in Chicago and Atlanta. The mission of this channel is to bring cultural programming, sports, fashion, entertainment, cooking, and other stuff from the African Culture to the US and other countries .
Steve Upton is doing digital editing work with an established animation, graphic design, digital post-production studio in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Perkins & Associates. In his spare time, Steve is 'Camera For Hire', filming such events as fashion shows, weddings and graduation ceremonies.
Matt Viklund is working as a Senior Editor with Vancouver's Hot Hit Productions, working on corporate and wedding video productions. In his spare time, Matt continues to create innovative, award-winning short films.
Chieko Wada is off to pursue new, exciting challenges in Los Angeles. Chieko has been hired by an L.A. graphic design firm to work in their interactive entertainment department.
Ian Whittlesey has been hired by showantell.com, a new Internet advertising company specializing in streaming video. Ian's working as a Camera Operator and will be doing some editing as well. The site, based in Vancouver, will shoot, produce and host streaming video ads for all sorts of advertisers.
Samantha Witala dropped us a line to let us know that she is now working as a Post Production Assistant for Psych, a comedy/mystery series on the USA Network.
Mike Wollin is working for Online Film Services as their House Video Technician. He is also Technical Support for the Casting Department at 20th Century Fox storing audition clips for their website (castingwookbook.com), developing their website wavenetworx.com and creating manuals for editing, shooting etc.
Takashi Yoshizawa dropped us an e-mail to say, "I just want to let you know that I am doing very well in the industry where I really wanted to work from the bottom of my heart. Ive never forgotten the kindness that you guys did for me. Things around me changed a lot since I had left Canada. Now, I work for GONZO K.K., a Japanese animation studio based in Tokyo. GONZO is known for producing high-quality animations, mostly with 2D and 3DCG composite, and most include TV animation series, OVA, etc, which are also appreciated in the market outside of Japan. Besides these cutting-edge type of animations, we are also expanding our business into wide range of works, such as kids animation, family-targeted movie, live action film, etc.".
Jin Young-Lee has been hired by the Korean Cable Television company in Seoul, South Korea.
Columbia Academy
" Vancouver Broadcasting School - Music Recording Schools in Canada - Vancouver Sound Design School -
Vancouver Video Production School - Film & Video Training Schools in Vancouver"
1295 West Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3X8
Call Toll Free in North America: 1.800.665.9283
Telephone: 604.736.3316 Fax: 604.731.5458
E-mail: administration@columbia-academy.com
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