Cinematography in Canada Since 1957

#MikahSharkey #AssociateMemberCSC @cinema_shark

One of the things I wish I saw more of before taking the helm  is Cinematographers talking about their prep experiences. A well utilized prep can absolutely heighten what you’re able to do on a production through clear communication and discussion of priorities.

Of course, it is also extremely important to be able to bend to the whims of the day, but today I wanted to showcase some of the Brother prep.

Along with scouts and logistics meetings, a visual bible is one of the most important pieces of my prep. Whether that is a mood board to give my technical teams an idea of where to default or a full document detailing the intricacies of how I intend to approach the shoot. This document was put together after spending a great deal of time listening to the director’s priorities and absorbing references to make sure we were working towards a synergized goal.

With a document like this in hand, seen and approved by the creative team, it is incredibly easy to walk onto a set with confidence even before the first shot is in the can.

And since I`m in a room of Cinematographers: spot what`s special about the cover photo of this post ;)

#MikahSharkey #AssociateMemberCSC @cinema_shark

In 2024 I was sent a script that really caught my eye. Brother is a compelling drama told through the lens of psychological thriller. Speaking with writer/producer Rebecca Roberts, I knew that it was something I wanted to be a part of, given her philosophy on the approach to the craft of film making. Seeing it listed on the nominees for the 2026 Leo Awards made me so proud of our team.

Director Sam Fichtner and I spent a lot of time in prep developing the visual language for the film. We talked at length about the camera as a POV, about the family house as a character, about lighting motivation, lens plot, and really getting to know the characters in a way that let me use the light to help enhance what I knew they were going through (stellar performances also helped, which is no doubt why the film is also nominated for Best Casting!)

Having the opportunity to weave motivated cinematography into the foundation of the feature was something that I wasn’t always able to do with the financial restrictions of indie film making or the specifics of network television and it was an experience I will always be grateful for. I`m going to spend the next couple days talking about this film in more detail!

#MikahSharkey #AssociateMemberCSC @cinema_shark

Hello to the CSC members and followers, it is a great honor to be able to guest host this page for the next two weeks.

My name is Mikah Sharkey and I am a DP/operator based in Vancouver. My journey with cinematography first starts unexpectedly in the mid-2000s. I grew up mostly in Nanaimo and never expected a life in cinema to be a viable career path until I started working the camera for a hockey school I was instructing for.

After winning the gold medal in Skills Canada’s regional competition for film making in 2005 I pursued film school and entered ICG 669’s training program in 2009. At the time, my plan was to use the money from assisting to purchase a camera to jumpstart my own corporate video company. But I ended up falling in love with the craft of cinematography down to the core of assisting and would be a full time 2nd in 2010, then 1st AC while shooting my own projects on the side until 2021, using the opportunity to learn the craft of lighting from the incredible cinematographers I had the chance to work for. In 2013 I became our union`s first openly trans member.

My big opportunity came when Alwyn Kumst csc, sasc and I were talking in the woods on set on one rainy night. I told him the story of a short I had shot and he asked if I wanted the chance to shoot for one of our cast members. So, when Alwyn stepped away from Flash at the end of season 7, my work was already on the front of the mind of our producers who decided to first let me handle 2nd unit, and then the even episodes of the season.

It was a dream come true as someone who never thought a life in film was even something I could consider, and I hope to show my gratitude to my mentors and peers during my time as your host.

#TamarraCanu #AssociateMemberCSC @tamarracanu.dop

Ta-ta for now colleagues. Your Alberta rep is signing off. Come visit us, the prairie skies you’ve heard about are no joke… you might just like it! Becoming an associate member of the CSC has changed my perspective of our industry. It helped me come out of a very comfortable hole and granted me access to like-minded community. Friends who I could nerd out about the quality of light with. A reminder that we are our own worst critics- we don’t have to be. We can celebrate ourselves and each other. For getting to be the people who pick up a camera everyday and find beauty in every moment.

Thank you for reading. I leave you with a few final frames from Dawson City, YT and some celebratory BTS on a few sets. Have fun out there team. I believe in you.

#TamarraCanu #AssociateMemberCSC @tamarracanu.dop

Every meme has its story. @skoden.film is an impactful and important documentary that I’ll always be proud of participating in as a cinematographer. Director Damien Eagle Bear is patient, caring and informed, so it makes sense that this piece shares all of those same traits. A worthwhile watch and a perpetually relevant story.

#TamarraCanu #AssociateMemberCSC @tamarracanu.dop

The Sash Maker 2020 Filmed in Amiskwacîwâskahikan | Treaty No. 6 Territory
@resadowski brought me on to co-create a film adaptation of a continuously evolving stage performance that she and Naomi Mcllwraith had been collaborating on for years. With the help of @favacommunity we were able to light this massive facility filled with pieces of Edmonton’s colonial history. Our greatest challenge was adapting an originally linear performance into something that allowed our viewers an opportunity to experience much more emotion and intimacy up close. Both the original and the experimental film are both solidified with Rebecca’s ability to communicate so much through her stunning sporadic movement. Today, we have both grown so much as artists and as people. I look back on our first work together as collaborators and am proud of what we were able to accomplish together.

Новоприбулі | Newcomers 2024

#TamarraCanu #AssociateMemberCSC @tamarracanu.dop

Scroll to the next slide for the full trailer. Sony Fx9 / primary lens Canon 70-200 F2.8. No story from me for this post - just theirs.

@telusoriginals @stephenrobinson.52