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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday July 30, 2008 - 23 Artscene Oakville Beaver ·WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008 Local filmmaker making a scene on festival circuit Oakville-raised Ryerson student has 30 films to his name fect opportunity to go over and say hello, but in all honesty I was terrified. The notion of being only 19 and expecting At only 19 years, Tyler Cowan has pro- someone of Corey's stature to take you duced 30 films, participated in several seriously was extremely intimidating," film festivals, and just recently had one of recalled Cowan. "However, after a few his documentaries -- Labour of Love: minutes, the impending regret of not sayThe Passion of Tony Karol -- share the ing anything outweighed my fear of screen with an Oscar-nominated film. breaking the ice and I ventured over to From August 14-21, the Abbey Park introduce myself." High School alumnus will also be taking His chats with industry professionals part in the YoungCuts Film Festival, have taught him that becoming a promiwhich sees 1,000 entries, of which only nent figure is not impossible. the top 100 films will be featured. "I saw this for the first time. That it is Cowan's Sock War will be one of those achievable, these people are real and 100. The film tells the because of that you see story of 22-year-old Rick "There's nothing more them as average people who is told to spend more satisfying than having not mystical," Cowan time with his younger explained, referring to someone watch somebrother, Stuart. Dragged the people whom he met into the middle of a poor- thing you did and they at MIFF -- the most ly-staged WWII reenact- really appreciate it." recent festival he particment, Rick not only finds ipated in, where his dochimself at war with the Filmmaker Tyler Cowan umentary, Labour of American military, but Love: The Passion of also at war with Stuart Tony Karol shared the himself. In the end, their screen along side Oscarbattle teaches them how to come togeth- nominated film, I Met The Walrus. er. The Labour of Love: The Passion of Cowan's secret for success: determina- Tony Karol documents the life of Tony tion to become a prominent figure in the Karol, a luthier, or guitar maker. For the industry he loves most -- filmmaking. past seven years, Karol has made a career His frequent participation with film from building custom guitars out of the festivals gives him the opportunity to basement of his Mississauga home. His meet with star names in the industry. craftsmanship is becoming so widely While Cowan describes himself as desired that even Canadian folk legend being a shy person, at the Mississauga Bruce Cockburn plays a custom six-string Independent Film Festival (MIFF), he Karol baritone. Cowan is able to capture knew that he needed to break the barrier Karol's life as a luthier in a unique way, by that stopped him from talking to impor- shooting the documentary on traditional tant figures like Nick Wilson, director of 16mm film run through a spring-wound the Prince of Pot: The U.S. vs. Marc Bolex motion picture camera. Emery documentary, and Corey Marr, The result, according to Cowan: a very producer of the independent feature film, reminiscent look of the documentary Who Loves the Sun. pieces shot during the late '50s and early "He (Marr) was standing alone at the '60s. bar and I knew that this would be the perHis film also ran for best documentary By Hiba Kesebi SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER SUBMITTED PHOTO DIRECTOR'S CUT: Tyler Cowan, 19, right, gives actor Nathan Gendron direction while filming Sock Wars last Novemeber in a rural part of Milton. The 19-year-old's film is being featured in two weeks at the YoungCuts Film Festival. at the MIFF. For a 19-year-old, who's only in his third year of image arts at Ryerson University, these achievements are big. But it's not just winning awards and nominations that puts a smile on Cowan's face. "There's nothing more satisfying than having someone watch something you did and they really appreciate it," he said. "Going into the festival I was certain I wasn't going into it getting a trophy," added Cowan. "When you have films backed by CBC, you know your chances are slim. But just getting to talk to these people about their films was enough." Cowan also said that participating in these festivals is a growing opportunity for him, and that he is hopeful that his participation will continue.