12/28/2019
A great profile about our Co-Founder, Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, and Writer Ryan Northcott
Meet ACTRA Alberta member Ryan Northcott - Actor, Producer, Director, Writer, & Editor was born and raised in Calgary. Ryan had the luxury of having two parents that were really supportive of the arts and acting. His dad was a part-time actor on top of his real-estate career; Ryan remembers his dad bringing him to the “Dead Bang” set when Ryan was a kid and being so awe-struck by the cast, crew, locations, equipment - it set the stage.
Q) How did you first get started in the business?
For Film and TV it’s a very “Hollywood” story. I randomly got an agent at 17 watching one of our high school basketball games, that led to a role in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and an audition for a bit part in Mystery, Alaska.
At the Mystery, Alaska audition the casting director from Los Angeles was there - she asked if I could skate (from Canada, of course!) and
after a cold read for the role of “Stevie Weeks” she asked if I would go to Canmore the next day and meet Director Jay Roach. I met and skated with Jay, hung around for a bunch of the day and went home. Few days later did an audition with all the producers and then waited, and waited, and waited…
Finally…got the call. The role was mine. Spent the next few months
in Canmore with some amazing cast and crew. That changed everything.
3) What do you love about the process of your craft or job?
A) Beyond doing the work of character study when you’ve got a role, I do love the process of finding the “voice” of the character I’m playing. Once you find that, go through hair, makeup, wardrobe - that character comes to life. What I’ve really come to love over the last few years is the camaraderie that you build with your fellow cast and crew, and that collaborative approach to making film and television. You spend so many hours, days, weeks with everyone you can’t help but make close connections and friendships.
Q) Any particularly interesting stories from your creative experiences?
A) I’ve had a few amazing experiences along the way, but playing a Beach Boy, Carl Wilson, in the Emmy-Nominated “The Beach Boys: An
American Family” is definitely up there. We met Brian Wilson and a few of the still-living Beach Boys as well as people who were around them. The whole production felt like we were Beach Boys.
This year, on “Let Him Go” was one of those Wow moments. There’s myself, Ravonna Dow, and a couple unknowns - Kevin Costner and
Diane Lane and you have to stop yourself from thinking “ohmygodohmygodohmygod”, but you focus and do it.
This year has been so awesome for me as an actor. “Tribal” was so
rewarding because it’s going to be a stellar show. On “They Who Surround Us” we had a bunch of time in the small town of Vegreville, so nothing better to do than go and explore the World’s Largest Sausage, Perogy, and Mallard. Lastly playing real-life investigative journalist “Julian Sher” in Chasing Justice - a film about Steven Truscott’s journey to exoneration. I had the fortune to chat with him on the phone and sit down with him when he visited set. It’s the second time I’ve played a living person and you want to do that person justice - thankfully he approved.
Q) Favourite things about Alberta living/shooting here?
A) One Hundred percent the people/crews. There’s no ego, everyone just loves making movies from whatever department they’re in. The community is big, but it feels small - I’m producing and directing as well with our company Mediapop Films - and so many of the people I’ve worked with behind the camera so there’s that immediate connection. Filming in Alberta from all sides of the camera is a family-like experience.
Q) What saying or quote do you try to live your life by?
A)This is especially true on set, but it’s a quote from Russell Crowe we used when filming - “Not above you, not below you, right with you - Black Ice!” The “Black Ice” part is a bit specific, but the first part of that speaks to the collaborative approach that Alberta cast and crews live by.
Q) What’s the best advice you can give to someone considering a job in the business?
A) It’s a great industry. If you come into it with an open mind and a willingness to learn you’ll make life-long friends, find a supportive community, and advance. I do everything - act, produce, direct, write, edit, shoot - almost everything you can think of and I have learned so much from people in the industry.
Q) What does it mean to your family for you to be able to work consistently in Alberta?
A) My life is very much rooted in Alberta. I co-founded two businesses here, started my career here, and have had my career re-energized here. I lived in Los Angeles for nearly 9 years after Mystery, Alaska and while that time was wonderful, the opportunity to work here in Alberta is so special.
I can’t stress enough how important the industry is to people who rely on it and who benefit from it directly or indirectly. We have a pool of some of the most creative and hard working people in the world that offer a glimpse to Alberta’s complete picture.
