Vic Sarin - Director
A passionate and diverse filmmaker, Vic Sarin’s career includes award winning feature films, documentaries and television movies.
Vic Sarin was born in Kashmir and spent his teenage years in Australia where his father was a diplomat. It was there where his love for the cinema was born. Vic originally wanted to pursue a career as an actor but felt his accented English could stand in his way. Knowing his son’s passion for the cinema, his father fortuitously gave Vic a 16-mm camera for his 16th birthday and Vic found his niche. As he tells it “I fell in love with the visual side of storytelling, because movies transcend all barriers, pictures are understood in every language. I felt that as a storyteller, it was through images that I could create something unique that would touch people and move the heart or provoke a thought.”
Vic began his career in Australia making documentaries that he produced, wrote, directed and shot, while working for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a cameraman. He then emigrated to Canada and went on to become one of Canada’s most celebrated Directors of Photography, receiving numerous accolades including Genie, Gemini and Emmy nominations and awards amongst others. He is the recipient of the prestigious Kodak Lifetime Achievement Award for having created some of Canadian cinema’s most moving and memorable images. Vic’s outstanding work on feature films such as Margaret’s Museum, Whale Music, Bye Bye Blues, Dancing in the Dark and On My Own earned him world renown as one of Canada’s premier cinematographers.
Vic then turned his focus to directing where he often wears both hats as Director and Cinematographer, creating a distinct look and feel with breathtaking visuals and a unique storytelling style that seamlessly weaves together the emotional and visual aspects of his films. As a director, Vic has won recognition for a diverse range of films such as the feature Cold Comfort, starring Maury Chaykin and Paul Gross, which garnered five Genie (Canadian Academy Award) nominations including Best Picture. He has thrice received Emmy nominations for his family films for television: In His Father’s Shoes, starring Lou Gossett (five Emmy nominations including Best Direction and Best Picture), Sea Peoplestarring Hume Cronyn, (four Emmy nods including Best Direction and Best Picture) The Legend of Gatorface and Trial at Fortitude Bay starring Lolita Davidovitch and Henry Czerny which garnered both Emmy and Cable Ace nods. He received critical acclaim for the controversial television movie, “Murder Unveiled – A Love Story.” He also directed the smash hit Christian feature film “Left Behind, ” based on the popular book series.
Vic wrote his first feature film screenplay Partition, a story of love against all odds, set against the turmoil at the end of the British reign of India in 1947, based on events he had heard about and witnessed growing up in Kashmir. Partitionbecame a $10 million feature that Vic directed and shot in India and Canada in 2006 starring Jimi Mistry, Neve Campbell, Kristin Kreuk and Irfan Khan. It was released theatrically internationally in 2007 and has won numerous accolades.
Continuing to work with the themes of belonging, family, and what we leave behind, Vic co-wrote the screenplay adaptation for the feature film A Shine of Rainbows, based on the novel by Lillian Beckwith. Vic has just completed production on A Shine of Rainbows in Ireland starring Connie Nielsen, Aidan Quinn and newcomer John Bell.
Vic’s films, though unique in character and setting, share a common thread -- the exploration of the human need for connection, tolerance and opening the boundaries of the human heart. It is this quality that drew Vic to A Shine of Rainbows. “When I read the book, I knew that I wanted to translate it to film. I lovedthe simplicity with which the story unfolds, in contrast to the complexity of each of the three characters. I feel that whatever happens up on the screen must come from the behavior of the characters themselves, rather than being imposed upon them artificially by external forces. I was attracted to the dignity of the story, the way the layers are gently revealed little by little as these lives are interwoven and how the color of the human drama unfolds against the rugged starkness of the rural island setting. This film celebrates the human spirit and the journey of the heart and is a journey that I hope audiences the world over can identify with and embrace.”
Sarin is presently directing two feature length documentaries which further explore the human condition. He is also co-writing and will direct the epic feature film Jack of Diamonds, celebrating the journey of maverick Canadian geologist Jack Williamson.
Tina Pehme - Producer
Tina Pehme is a creative partner in Sepia Films, committed to making feature films that engage, entertain and resonate with audiences the world over. For over seventeen years, Pehme has developed projects and relationships internationally through her extensive work on Canadian, American and International co-productions. Pehme’s background in line production and production management allows her to bring hands-on knowledge of physical production as well as the ability to anticipate production needs in a variety of budget ranges and co-production scenarios. As a partner in Sepia Films, Tina has developed, consulted and produced for both film and television in Canada, the US, India, Great Britain, China, South Africa, Ireland and Spain.
In 2003 Pehme joined forces with entertainment attorney Kim Roberts and Director Vic Sarin with a mandate to focus exclusively on feature film production under the Sepia Films banner. Dedicated to making films that speak to a global audience Pehme has produced such diverse theatrical features as the magical family drama A Shine Of Rainbows (2009), starring Connie Nielsen and Aidan Quinn that won the Audience Choice Award at this year’s Ibiza International Film Festival and had its North American premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival and has won numerous audience and jury awards as well as having the honor of opening the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2009; Partition (2007), an epic romance starring Jimi Mistry, Neve Campbell, Kristen Kreuk and Irrfan Khan; Civic Duty (2006) a psychological thriller which debuted at Tribeca international Film Festival, starring Peter Krause and Richard Schiff and Love on the Side (2004) a romantic comedy with a twist starring Marla Sokoloff, Jennifer Tilly and Barry Watson. Pehme and Roberts also established the development company, Honalee Productions to handle their growing development slate and to facilitate post-production in house.
Pehme recently completed production on the feature music documentary And The Beat Goes On… an insiders look at the evolution of the superstar DJ featuring David Guetta Paul Oakenfeld, Danny Tenaglia and more with a spin off TV series in the works. She also executive produced the one hour broadcast documentaries, The Making of Partition - A Journey of the Heart and So Many Colors, the Making of A Shine of Rainbows. Pehme is currently working on the feature documentary Hue in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada.
Pehme continues to oversee Sepia Films and its sister company, Honalee Productions’ feature film production and development slates, as well as mounting the Sepia brand television division, commencing with the television movie Road to Xibalba in 2010.
Kim C. Roberts - Producer
Kim C. Roberts brings two decades of entertainment law experience to Sepia Films, having provided legal advice on a wide range of film and television projects through his law firm Roberts & Stahl. At Sepia, Roberts oversees co-productions, production financing, contract negotiations, E&O insurance and tax credits for Canadian and foreign productions and certification for Canadian productions, as well as all aspects of production legal.
Roberts is also involved in the development and production of Sepia’s feature film slate, utilizing strong working relationships with financial institutions and federal agencies – both of which are necessary to finance and produce motion pictures in Canada – and providing input on the slate’s creative elements.
Together with Tina Pehme, Roberts has produced Sepia’s feature films A Shine Of Rainbows (2009), Partition (2007), Civic Duty (2006), Love on the Side (2004)and the feature music documentary And The Beat Goes On… (2009).Roberts also executive produced the award winning Canada/UK co-production It’s All Gone Pete Tong (2004).The pair also established the development company, Honalee Productions to handle their growing development slate and to facilitate post-production in house.
Roberts’ knowledge of the complexities of financing films in today’s marketplace and his ability to problem-solve the challenges that arise during production are a tremendous asset to Sepia.
James Flynn - Producer
James Flynn commenced his career in the Irish film industry with John Boorman’s Merlin Films International as Head of Development having previously worked for the Investment Bank of Ireland. James was head of Business affairs of BES/IFB (Irish Film Board) from 1993 to 1998.
James has been involved as co-producer/executive producer with the following projects through Octagon Films – Becoming Jane, Tristan And Isolde, Mickeybo and Me, The Return and Kitchen (TV Dramas), Cowboys and Angels, The Front Line, Dorothy Mills and My Boy Jackand as a producer/co-producer for World 2000 Entertainment on The Tudors, P.S. I Love You and Veronica Guerin among other projects.
Various roles he has held include the Chair Designate of Moonstone International, an affiliate of Sundance Institute and the Chair of IBEC Audio Visual Production Federation – Film Finance Committee 2000-2005 among others.
Keith Power - Composer
Keith Power is a Canadian born Composer of Music for Film, Television, and Video Games. Growing up less than a mile from the Atlantic Ocean, Keith’s early years as a student of music were immersed in the rich musical heritage of Newfoundland - a tradition heavily influenced by the Irish and French Folk music that arrived hundreds of years earlier with the first settlers of the province. Now decades later, Keith has collected and mastered almost a hundred different percussion, wind, and stringed instruments from around the world, however, the music and instruments of his home province are closest to his heart.
Keith’s most recent projects include arranging and programming for the Dreamworks movie Eagle Eye and the Sony Pictures film The Lazarus Project, composing for the Fox Television Series Drive, The CBC series Heartland, and the Xbox 360/ Playstation 3 video game Dark Sector. He has also scored the independent feature film Otis E. which was released in the fall of 2008. Continuing his association with Canada's most successful Celtic Band, Keith recently arranged the first single from Great Big Sea's latest album. Fortune's Favour debuted in the top 10 across Canada, thanks to radio and video play of the single "Walk on the Moon" Keith also recently co-scored the Mary Walsh directed, “Young Triffie’s Been Made Away With” with Alan Doyle from Great Big Sea, as well as the Lifetime movie Griffen And Phoenix with Roger Neill (King of the Hill).
In 2005, Keith moved to Los Angeles to work with A-List composer Brian Tyler. Since then, Keith has assisted in the score production of all of Brian’s films including Rambo for Lionsgate Films, Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift for Universal Pictures, Bug for Lionsgate Films, and Annaolis for Disney.
Prior to Los Angeles, Keith spent five years composing full time for Toronto based music production company Keen Music, where he composed and produced hundreds of advertising campaigns for such products as Visa, McDonalds, Rabat’s, Telus, and Sleeman. During this period Keith also wrote live production music for Disney World in Orlando Florida, and scored the Comedy Network series The Gavin Crawford Show.
While working in Toronto, Keith also had the great pleasure of working as an arranger for the Broadway superstar Colm Wilkinson. Additionally, he was Musical Director, Arranger, Composer, and Record Producer for Jaymz Bee and The Royal Jelly Orchestra, as well as for the award winning vocal group The Beehive Singers. In 2000 “The Beehives” were awarded “Best Vocal Group” by Jazz Report magazine, and had a memorable string of sold-out performances at Windows On The World bar/restaurant atop the World Trade Center. During that time Keith also held a faculty position at the University of Toronto, where he directed the Downbeat Magazine award winning U of T Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Keith’s commissions have been performed on stages around the globe from Carnegie Hall, NY, to the Papal Audience Hall, Vatican City, Rome.
Originally from Goulds, Newfoundland, Keith currently resides in Santa Monica, California with his wife Erin, and son Owen.
Dermot Shane - VFX Supervisor
Dermot Shanehas traveled the road from documentary and music videos to focus on postproduction and effects work. He has won three Much Music awards, two for director of the year, and one for editing. His documentary film Letters from Brazil, which he co-produced, directed, shot and edited, was nominated for a Gemini award. He shifted his focus in the early 90’s to being a part of the core team that created the groundbreaking 3D series ReBoot! – the first long form computer animation ever created. He helped form the tools and define the workflow that made this entire medium possible. This team has been given a place in the Smithsonian Institute in recognition of the role played in the invention of this new genre. He has since consulted, designed and built several high tech CGI facilities around the world in Seoul, Korea, Shanghai, China and Vancouver, BC. He has been highly involved with development of the tools we use, having completed beta site with many leading edge technologies and corporations. These corporations include Sony, Discreet Logic, Avid, Softimage, Alias Wavefront, among others, and has served on the CFTPA’s committee to define high definition broadcasting in Canada. Dermot has also had a hand in creating the workflow and technology for one of the first high definition shows – Please Don’t Eat The Kids. He was the Visual effects supervisor and high definition consultant on the series Flatlandshot and effects work done in Shanghai, China.
Dermot’s expertise and extensive knowledge of Sepia’s equipment and cutting edge technology give the company a considerable post production advantage, enabling Sepia to take a film through full video post production and color correction up to DI assembly and film-out ready. With our video post-production and visual effects in house, considerable savings and control over product quality are generated. All visual effects for Sepia's recent features Partition and Civic Duty were generated by Dermot in house.
Dermot rounds out the Sepia team by providing the technical and post production expertise vital to feature film production and delivery as well as overseeing the digital visual effects arm of the company and enabling the company to generate visual effects and 3D animation as well as many other post production functions in house.
Neal Scanlan - Animatronics Expert
Neal Scanlan began his career at the age of nineteen as a Stop Motion Designer for Cosgrove Hall, on their production of Wind in the Willows (1981). Three years later he moved to London and began his Animatronics career on Walt Disney's Return to Oz (1984).
Forming a working relationship with designer Lyle Conway, he freelanced as the Chief Mechanical Designer on films such as Dennis Potter's Dream Child (1984), Jim Henson's Labyrinth (1985) and the 1986 film version of Little Shop of Horrors, which was nominated for a Visual Effects Academy Award. Neal became a founder member of the Jim Henson Creature Shop with whom he enjoyed a successful eight-year relationship, first as an Animatronics Supervisor, then as Creative Supervisor. Some of the projects that Neal was directly involved with include, The Storyteller (1987), Witches (1988), Greek Myths (1989) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 & 2 (1988 & 90) and Dinosaurs (1991). In 1995 Neal Scanlan won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, for his work on Babe, A Gallant Pig (Kennedy Miller).
Over the next few years Neal and his team produced the Animatronic Effects for Walt Disney's 101 Dalmatians (1995) and the Special Make-Up Effects for Anthony Minghella's Academy Award winner, The English Patient (1994). In 1996, Neal left the Jim Henson Organization to form the Neal Scanlan Studio. The Studio has, over the last 12 years, gone from strength to strength, providing the Animatronic and Prosthetic Effects for Fred Claus (2006-7) Warner Bros, Designs & Maquettes for The Golden Compass (New Line Cinema), Prosthetic effects for Steven Spielberg’s Munich (2005), Tim Burton’s Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (2004), George Miller’s Babe, Pig in the City (1998) (BAFTA Nominated Visual Effects), 102 Dalmatians, Kangaroo Jack and the Animatronic Costume and Puppet Characters for the hugely successful Children’s TV series; The Tweenies, The Fimbles and Lazytown, to name but a few.
In 2007 the Neal Scanlan Studio worked once again with Tim Burton, providing the slit throat effects and prosthetic dummies for his production of Sweeney Todd. His latest work involved making the animatronic versions of the seal pup ‘Smudge’ for A Shine of Rainbows.
Brendan Gunn - Dialogue Coach
Brendan Gunn holds an MA and a PhD in Linguistics. He began working as a dialogue and dialect coach in 1986 after leaving the University of Ulster where he was a lecturer in linguistics. From the initial project A Prayer for the Dying with Mickey Bourke, Brendan has gone on to become one of the most ‘in demand’ vocal coaches around, especially after his work on the Jim Sheridan film In The Name of the Father which earned Oscar nominations for Daniel Day-Lewis and Pete Posthlethwaite in their leading roles.
Since beginning his career in film, TV and Theatre, Brendan has worked with some of the world’s most well-known and talented actors and is constantly asked back to work with them again and again, as evidenced by Brad Pitt’s request for his help on The Devil’s Own, Meet Joe Black and Snatch. Similarly Edward Norton insisted Brendan be the one to construct voices for him in Kingdom of Heaven, The Illusionist and The Painted Veil. Brendan has also ended up supplying lines in different dialects in his appearances in various projects, ranging from Irish to English to American to Austrian and, basically, whatever is necessary.
After twenty years experience Brendan has tackled regional voices from all over the world and given them to his clients, so from the Americas to Asia he has used his linguistic skills to analyze and create vocal styles for the Hollywood ‘A’ list and the favorite doyens of theatre in the British Isles.
Born in Chicago, Aidan started his acting career on the Chicago stage and went on to play the title role in a modern day Hamlet directed by Robert Falls. In New York, he starred on Broadway in A Streetcar Named Desire and Off Broadway in Sam Shepherd’s Fool For Love and Lie Of The Mind. More recently Aidan was seen Off Broadway in The Exonerated and Salome directed by Estelle Parsons with Al Pacino. Aidan also performed The Exonerated at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival, and in Dublin and on London’s West End. Recently he starred at the Public Theater as Brutus alongside David Strathairn and Brian Dennehy in Richard Nelson’s Conversation in Tusculum.
