There was a lot of Cochrane at the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) this year, thanks to the short film One Night in Aberdeen.
Filmed in Cochrane, the shooting for the movie took place over five days during September of 2013 and the film picked up both the Best Overall Short and the Embridge Alberta Spirit Award at CIFF.
Not only was the film shot in Cochrane, the director of photography for the film, Aaron Bernakevitch, is a former Cochranite.
Bernakevitch went to Manachaban Middle School and Cochrane High School and said even in high school he was always keen on having a camera in front of his eye. He described a desire to look at the world through a lens and recalled joining the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers while attending school.
Bernakevitch eventually went on to attend the Vancouver Film School in 2005 and soon started his own company, 4K Film Production. He pointed out that for One Night in Aberdeen he was hired solely as director of photography, separate from his film production company.
“For me, my passion is being behind the camera,” he said. “I love working with directors and people who have a strong vision for their story.”
This is the reason Bernakevitch said he enjoyed being a part of One Night in Aberdeen.
Bernakevitch said he had worked with the director of the film, Brett Ferster, in the past, and Fester had liked his work. They chatted about working on this film and Bernakevitch said he really connected with the story.
The 22-minute short movie is based on the play Super 8, written by Calgarian playwrights Mark Hopkins and Charles Elliot Netto. The story was adapted into a film and was renamed One Night In Aberdeen.
It takes place in Aberdeen, South Dakota and is the story of two strangers who come together in a Super 8 Motel bar and over the course of a night they slowly learn each other’s secrets.
Bernakevitch said that they had looked at a lot of Super 8 locations, but the one in Cochrane really worked for the story in terms of the layout of the hotel rooms.
He also added that that they had a shot coming down the big hill with the mountain vista in the background that really worked for the story. They also used the Cumbrian Arms Neighbourhood Pub for the bar scenes in the film, because of the nice, small town feel it had to it.
Another Cochrane connection Bernakevitch mentioned is that the colour grader for the film, Darren Bierman, has a studio in Cochrane and worked on the film.
“A lot of things worked out for Cochrane. Cochrane is really easy to shoot in, everybody is nice and it’s close to Calgary,” he said, adding that he and the director had both shot in Cochrane before and agreed that it would be a good fit for the film.
“Cochrane always has its charm and has always had a little special place in my heart. It was fun to come there professionally and work there on a film,” he said.
Bernakevitch has been shooting for the last 10 years and continues to run his video production company out of Calgary.
He said he originally started the company in Cochrane and couldn’t have done so without the Community Futures program, funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada.
There are 27 Community Futures’ offices in rural communities throughout Alberta, including Cochrane, and a total of 269 across the country. They offer a wide range of services to rural businesses, including low interest loans to help businesses get started.
“Without getting that loan and jumpstarting my company with being able to purchase some camera gear and getting out the door, starting my business wouldn’t have been possible,” Bernakevitch said. “I’m really thankful for that. “
Over the years Bernakevitch said he has had the opportunity to shoot in China, Taiwan, El Salvador, Australia and Vietnam, creating documentaries, commercial spots, music videos and dramatic features.
“I’ve definitely travelled a bit with my job, which is great, I’m super grateful,” he said.
For more information visit 4kfilmproduction.com.
