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FEATURE FRIDAY - Lee Thorburn
This week`s rendition of FEATURE FRIDAY MTL Blog got to pick the mind of one of Montreal`s up and coming filmmakers Lee Thorburn whom is a unique, cool and very inspiring individual. He is at the head of his own production company "Thorco Productions" which filmed and produced most recently a video for musical talent Morbin called "Life Line" which is featured on his album "Metanoia" on Nostomania Records . Jess Abran provided the vocals in the "Life Line" video which Lee was able to portray fantastically on a visual level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJLEggK5eN4&feature=share
Now without further ado our in-depth interview with Lee Thorburn.
MTL Blog - Much appreciation for meeting up with us.
Lee - No problem my friend.
MTL Blog - When did it first hit you that being a filmmaker was THE thing you wanted to do?
Lee - When I was a child I could never get into the Walt Disney scene so I watched films such as Ridley Scott’s Alien or Alex Proyas’ The Crow…my world was turned upside down and it sparked something in me. I remember at the age of nine, I worked a whole summer and bought my very first black and white digital camera. I even edited my home movies right on VHS, no computer, just straight rewinding and fast-forwarding right there on my camera. Haha. Since then I don’t think my love for it has changed.
MTL Blog - Tell us what is your favorite aspect about shooting and editing something you created.
Lee - I don’t know, good question. We are so fortunate to have the tools and the abilities to “edit” and to “shoot” that sometimes I don’t think we (including me) truly ever take a step back and see how lucky we really are. Everything is at our fingertips these days. I mean it’s always so mind blowing to be filming on set one day and then to capture that same footage the next day. I guess I’m just happy to be doing what I love and if I stay humble to this whole experience I’ll never lose that drive and appreciation for the art I create.
MTL Blog - What genre of art inspires you the most when putting the pieces together for one your projects?
Lee - It depends on the actual project I’m doing or which genre I’m interested in at the moment but I try to tap into everything. Most of my ideas come from driving and listening to music, and if my inspirations for film is anything like my taste in music, it`s vast. Haha. That is the beauty of art. Sure there are genres and sub-genres but art is all about borrowing what inspires and molding it into something that reflects you. You couldn’t have Metallica without Elvis and if I were to answer your question I couldn’t be the filmmaker I am today without music. It’s always what inspires me the most when putting together a project.
MTL BLog - You must have several "Heroes" in the film industry. Can you let us know who they are and why they light a fire inside of you?
Lee - Guy Ritchie, Martin Scorsese, and most recently Jacques Audiard. Most people know Ritchie and Scorsese but if you haven’t heard of Audiard watch his film A Prophet. That movie rocks and probably stole the first place in my all time favorite crime films. It`s raw, gritty and it feels real. Audiard is amazing at making everything believable. Enough so that you not only forget that you are watching a movie but also relate to the characters and even connect with them. This is exactly what I am inspired by. The ability to connect with an audience and drag a sense of connection and emotion out of them while blurring those lines between reality and fiction.
MTL Blog - Does the near future have any big projects in store for you?
Lee - I am currently working on a feature-length script, but the ideas and story are under wraps. I wish I could talk more about it but I can’t. I’ll definitely give Mtl Blog the scoop once the project is in the works. Haha. All in all though, I have the best job, so whether there are big things or small things in my near future, it really doesn’t matter. I love what I do.
MTL Blog - Who do you one day hope to work with?
Lee - Audiard. That guy knows what’s up.
MTL Blog - Lee you`ve been great, now quick quick Team Jacob or Team Edward?
Lee - Ummmm…who? Haha.