BC filmmaker filming for CBC historical documentary

Mr. The Emmy-winning Canadian filmmaker, who worked on Dressup and The Friendly Giant, is planning a documentary for the CBC and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB).

Vic Sarin, who started working at CBC in 1963, credits much of his success as a filmmaker to the public broadcaster.

“It’s not money, it’s not that famous life experience that makes life rich, right?” said Sarin.

“And I can’t say enough how amazing that was. And thanks to CBC, I was there at the right time. They were so good to me. They let me do all the best shows.”

He believes the NFB is uniquely positioned to tell the stories of Canadians and that its work makes its brand recognizable around the world.

Now he wants to return this gift by documenting the history of the organization. He told Glacier Media that CBC holds together a large country with a diverse population and tells the country’s stories in a way no other local organization can.

“I would love to do this little documentary,” Sarin said, sitting on the couch in his Vancouver office beneath a heart wall sculpture by local artist 12 Midnite, also known as Shon Franks.

“I want to congratulate the CBC and the Film Board; I think these two organizations contribute a lot to Canada’s so-called creative field.”

Catherine O’Hara, Andrea Martin

What’s more, the 2022 Order of Canada recipient hopes to join luminaries he’s worked with in the past, such as William Shatner; former CBC journalist, host and former governor general Adrienne Clarkson; Dan Ackroyd; Catherine O’Hara and Andrea Martin.

“In this feature-length documentary, Moving Images, we will introduce generations old and new to the post-war golden years of the CBC and NFB, illuminating five specific breakthroughs pioneered by these institutions, and revealing how publicly funded media lent and aided cinematic and embrace cultural innovation,” he said in the film’s pitch.

“CBC has been instrumental in setting the bar high for investigative journalism around the world, advancing such developments as re-editing interviews, hidden cameras, and ‘gotcha journalism’ visits to an investigative subject’s home or office,” he said in the presentation.

Sarin compared the CBC to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the British Broadcasting Corporation.

“The same models, CBC, appeal to different segments of society. “It wasn’t just about numbers and ratings,” he said, noting that the broadcaster connected a vast country as Canadians told each other their stories.

“In my experience, they were amazing events,” he said. “They were not pressured for ratings.”

‘Broadly educated public’

He despairs of prostitutes monitoring page views for news.

“I see a lot of managers watching bean counters every day, and to agree, editors who have to respond to them by looking at page views are like, ‘Oh, that’s driving page views, too. “We need more of this,” he said.

“And I say, ‘No, no…’ . . Democracy depends on a broadly educated population. Ten people read the story, okay.”

Sarin, who was born in Kashmir, came to Canada via Australia, where his diplomat father was working.

“He bought me a camera very cheaply because I didn’t have to maintain it,” Sarin said. “I started making my own movies and I had no training, no training whatsoever. So I was completely self-taught.

He tried film school in Los Angeles but was unimpressed and moved on.

“I never liked education. “There is no patience,” he said.

Once at CBC, Sarin appeared in legendary programs such as The Fifth Estate, the Telescope documentary series (1963-1973) and This Hour Has Seven Days (1964-1966).

‘There’s a lot of pressure on me’

His tenure at CBC lasted until 1987, when he said he saw the Americanization of the network.

“They don’t care about good or bad. “We want people to watch,” he said.

“I remember struggling with this for about a year about whether to stay or go. I decided to leave. There was a lot of pressure on me from people I used to work with. And I said, ‘No, I think CBC is going to change.’ And I was right, CBC has since started to decline.

Still, Sarin thinks the CBC and NFB have had many bright years. And he thinks that’s worth celebrating.

He said audiences will see legendary Canadian artists and journalists in the film.

“What all these ‘creative people’ brought to this country was a rich body of stories that are uniquely Canadian, bringing our own national sense of excellence to the world stage,” Sahada said.

“Their unwavering commitment to journalism, entertainment and science has contributed to our enduring spirit of creative innovation.”

But as Sarin moves forward with his documentary dream, he still needs a place to release it. But he is patient and will wait for the publisher to speak.

He knows what movie he wants to release.