Ukjese (Artist and Man of Action)

I first met Ukjese Van Kampen (then Neil Smith) in Whitehorse Yukon in 1994.

I bought 2 large paintings from him and shot this film.

He is a pilot/soldier/marine/teacher/jail guard/photographer and artist. Quite the man of action.


In his spare time he is doing a PhD in Yukon Aboriginal Art History from Leiden University in Holland..


These are the paintings I bought.

When you have watched the video, check out his sites:
http://www.tutchoneart.com/ukjese1.htm
http://www.artreview.com/photo/album/show?id=1474022%3AAlbum%3A643245

Ukjese still lives in Whitehorse, but the world is his palette.

View the film...
[15' 10"]
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/0a94d5b7191feeca87?iid=switch_player_&type=hd

For MACS/Mov http://www.motionbox.com/videos/3097d0b31c18eccbbe

Tagish Elvis (Elvis is in the Yukon)

Yes folks, Elvis Aaron Presley lives in the Yukon in northern Canada.

Tookie Mercredi and I found him on the streets of Whitehorse and followed him to his cabin in the snowy woods of Tagish.

His name really is Elvis Presley as he legally changed it from Gilbert Nellis.

Be that as it may, he found his new calling when he was visited by a spacecraft.

This film gives you an idea of what 'Strange things are done in the Midnight Sun' (Robert Service).

Tookie shot and edited, and I made a rare appearance on camera, and directed...

THIS is the TRUE STORY OF ELVIS A. PRESLEY.
[7' 20"]
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/0a94d7b61a1ceccb87

For MACS: http://www.motionbox.com/videos/3097d3bc1418e7c4be

ON THE WATERFRONT, (Life in the Port of Vancouver)

In 1998 after the critical success of 'Streetfighter' we embarked on another voyage of discovery...The Port of Vancouver.

With its myriad businesses and economic spin-offs, the port is the heart and soul of Vancouver. Without the port, Vancouver would be just another Pacific backwater in a pretty location.

The port is the engine that drives the city through multi-billion dollar trade, as well as crime/drugs and other nefarious activity.

It also brings Vancouver much of its character and soul through the international influences and multi-culturalism that the port injects into the lifeblood of the city.

We spent about a month shooting this 'Week in the Life of the Port'. Although some of the people and things have changed in the last 10 years, nothing much has changed in the influence the port brings to Vancouver.

My old partner Tom Crighton produced and wrote. John Collins shot all the good bits, and I directed and co-produced. Richard Baker (Ex-Doug and the Slugs) wrote the music and Alec Willows narrated.

This documentary takes the viewer to places they would not normally be allowed to see.

(Roaring through Vancouver harbour in a Coast Guard hovercraft, exceeding the speed limit at 25 knots was a trip not many have experienced, but we did)

[46' 30"]
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/0a99d8b01e1be5c587

Racing Logger (Albert Rock)

Tookie Mercredi and I started shooting this documentary in 1995 just before I was laid off by CBC North. I continued the project with CBC Vancouver and it eventually went to air with a different soundtrack in the north because I had used a 'non-native' voiceover when I put it together down south.

Albert Rock is an inspiration to anyone that is impressed by a Native kid with no formal education that can baffle the greatest engineering minds in auto-racing and data-logging.
(He doesn't like formal 'Engineers')

Al Rock founded ACR Systems in 1982 to monitor and record temperature and humidity in HVAC systems for industry. He spent too much time sleeping next to boilers and having to wake up to take readings, so he invented DATA LOGGERS.

He took the company way beyond that, into auto racing with Formula One and Indy Cars; medical research; electronics; aerospace; manufacturing and any industry you can think of in over 100 countries.

All this from a Native kid who grew up between Alberta and BC, going to school wherever he ended up on the day.

Al is a man I really respect and this is the story of his life up to the point in 1995 when we shot this documentary.

He has gone a long way since then.
[23' 20"]
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/0a99dab9101de3c087?iid=switch_player_&type=hd

'Fiddler on the Loose' (Joe Loutchan)

In 1994 I was working for CBC in Whitehorse, Yukon.

A colourful local character in those parts was Joe Loutchan, trapper, electric motor re-winder, fiddle-fixer and musician...Also a helluva good guy.

This is his story, told in his own words...It was a pleasure to have worked with him and my trusty Indian side-kick Tookie Mercredi who is a legend in his own right in Canada's north.
(Actually I was Tookie's trusty token white-boy)

Joe gets married 'live' on this film!!

If you have never been to the Yukon, give it a shot. A down to earth people in a harsh and beautiful landscape.

Tookie shot it, co-directed and edited the documentary. Some of his photography of the north is magic.
Unfortunately the original tape was not in good shape but enjoy it anyway.
[28' 50"]
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/0a99ddb01411e7c287

The Legend of the Silver Raven

This is an old fashioned kids serial drama (1982) designed to be an on-going 'larger than life' corny melodrama, and it certainly was.

Silver Raven was the pilot for a weekly Saturday morning serial/series on CBC Vancouver and the CBC network.

It is supposed to be 'over the top' and a bit cartoony. Norm Grohman (Snag) became the weatherman on BCTV. He was a riot at wrap parties.

The network didn't go with the premise and it was shelved. (It wasn't very good).

One of the child actors, Andrew Sabiston became quite a star and played the lead in 'The Edison Twins' which the network chose to do instead of Silver Raven.
The Edison series was based in Toronto, the centre of the universe for CBC. (Still is I guess).

Andrew now does voices for movies and cartoons very successfully out of Vancouver, the centre of the universe for motion picture production (outside Hollywood).

Dale Wilson (Dr Connor) became 'The Man from Glad' on all the TV commercials and made more money than Croesus.

George Clutesi, the respected First Nations artist and actor (Dreamspeaker) played the elder.

I produced and directed this little film in 1982. My next gig was directing 'The Beachcombers'...and the rest so they say is.......?
[13' 50"]
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/0a99dfb21515e3c387

Diamonds and Dragons (Charlotte Diamond)

A half hour music program we did for CBC. It stars Charlotte Diamond, the legendary children's entertainer.

Dan Noon and I collaborated on a number of projects including some award winning documentaries. For this one Dan produced and I directed.

This show was the 2nd of two musical 'edu-tainment' programs that we did with Charlotte Diamond.

Our first one, '10 Carrot Diamond' won the NEW YORK FILM AND TV FESTIVAL medal for Best Children's Special.

'Diamonds and Dragons' was financed by Charlotte's company and was shot during some magical weather in Vancouver.

This show was the first one where I managed to focus on the directing, and leave most of the producing to Dan Noon. It was one of my best directing jobs as a result. (thanks Dan).

The shoot was 5 days and was a SINGLE CAMERA SHOOT, with even the first number, 'Slimey the Slug'. This looks like a multi-camera production but it wasn't. I am proud of directing that song.

As always, the CBC Vancouver production crew were exceptional. Unfortunately, many have since left CBC to work in the huge feature film industry around Vancouver.

We had hardly any budget and Jackson Davies, a well know actor in Canada, worked for scale as a favour to us. He added a lot and is a delight to direct.

My other favourite song is 'The Laundry', where Charlotte had to perform 'in synch' with the special effects that were happening behind her. No mean feat.

Charlotte Diamond is such a professional to work with, and a great person to boot.

[25 Mins]
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/8c93d8b91219e008

Fro MAC/Mov: http://www.motionbox.com/videos/3097d1b51f1ee4c1be?iid=switch_player_&type=hd