Cinematography in Canada Since 1957

#AaronBernakevitch #AssociateMemberCSC
@aaronbernakevitch_dp

That’s a Wrap

Hard to believe this guest hosting run is wrapping up. There were a few more projects I wanted to feature, but I’ll admit I’m also ready to take a step back from daily IG posts. Compiling these was no small task

I was talking with @416cw recently about how much I’ve enjoyed this experience. It’s not often we get to pause and look back, our industry is always so focused on what’s next.

You can’t capture a career in 2 weeks, but this window let me revisit some of the work I’m most proud of and reflect on the people, experiences, and films that helped shape it

I’ve found that the more time passes after a project, the clearer its meaning becomes. Revisiting these projects reminded me how grateful I am for the places, collaborations, and friendships that brought me here

For this final post, I’m sharing a collection of projects and images that are dear to me. These are the kinds of moments that remind me why I fell in love with this craft in the first place

Outside of work, I’ve been spending more time watercolor painting with my kids. It’s been a fun and refreshing way to stay creatively engaged, and it’s helped me reconnect with color and contrast in a new way. Being around my kids is a constant reminder of how powerful curiosity really is. The way they question everything, explore without hesitation, and see the world with fresh eyes, that energy is something I try to carry into all parts of my life and work

🙏 you to everyone who followed along and supported these posts. To the peers, friends, and collaborators I’ve worked with over the years, thank you for the trust. And to my wife @deitra_kalyn_costumes , who’s been in my corner for over a decade and continues to keep me grounded. I LOVE YOU

Fav Quotes.

The crew is the glue

PAs are the unsung heroes of any set

If we didn’t have writers, producers, and directors passionate about story, none of us would be doing this

If you’re ever in Calgary or anywhere in Alberta, please do reach out

And you happen to play chess, I’m on the Chess.com app under thebernak. Very average, always down for a game.

Here’s to the next 20 years.

#AaronBernakevitch | #AssociateMemberCSC
@aaronbernakevitch_dp

THE WORK – TV Series: Tales From the Rez

Oki. This show was a ride. Tales From the Rez gave us room to stretch creatively while still telling grounded, character-driven stories. I had the chance to shape the visuals across 6 episodes, each with its own look, all rooted in the unique beautiful world of Blackfoot folklore

Tales is a genre-mashing horror-comedy anthology series written and directed by @trevorthecreator @bnf.jpeg produced by @cvl.mov Each story lives in the same world, but we had the freedom to shape the tone and texture per episode, leaning into different moods, colours, and camera language while keeping things cohesive

We leaned into a dark, stylized look for much of the show. A few episodes let us go bigger on night exteriors, employing blue-green moonlight using @rosco_labs Aquamarine gel over large HMIs to wash the space in rich, surreal tones. It gave us just the right amount of tension without tipping into fantasy

Big thanks to gaffer @the_bailey_built for making it all sing and shaping the shadows with precision led with Key Grip @bluesmanwells Haze and fog became another key ingredient—easily #1 on the call sheet 😂. Our FX team nailed the levels through some wild and challenging setups. @playframe and his art team delivered on designing 6 unique worlds for our episodes. Also ❤️ love to @charelton_heston & her AD team for keeping us on track @tretonk for keeping everything sharp in some ambitious setups and longtime collaborator @charlesdhk for steadicam.

Stand out performances from
@shayla0h
@joel.oulette Gene Braverock @uncle.randolf @ghostkeepermusic and many more!

It’s rare to get a show that lets you play like this. Trevor trusted the process and gave each department space to push the creative. There’s a lot of love and craft baked into this one, and it was a pleasure to help shape the visual voice of these stories

Streaming now on @appletv Supported by @aptn_ca @aptnlumi

CONT`d in Comments

#TalesFromTheRez #APTN #AppleTV #Cinematography #TVSeries #horrormovie #Blackfoot #VisualStorytelling #Roscolux363 #Treaty7 #Trickster #Oki #DPWork #Siksika #siksikanation

#AaronBernakevitch | #AssociateMemberCSC
@aaronbernakevitch_dp

THE WORK – Feature Doc: True West The John Scott Story

What True West reinforced for us was the importance of patience. For the subject, the landscape, and the history. You don’t step onto a place like John Scott’s ranch and impose a narrative. You listen, you observe, and you let the visuals earn their place in the story

Director, producer, and visionary @vickimcfadyen had a clear intention from the start. She wanted strong visuals and gave us the space to craft each image with care. We were also fortunate to be supported by the original Camera Beauty himself @peaklinefilms on Bcam whose eyes for naturalism and honest composition brought a quiet strength to the overall visual language

We started filming just before COVID, a strange and uncertain time, but the hault it brought to the world became a gift. It gave us more time with our subject, the legendary John Scott, and space to truly observe his world. Visiting the ranch across all four seasons in Alberta. Spring, summer, golden fall light, and the stark quiet of winter. Each frame was shaped by time, patience, and proximity. That stretch of time gave the film its rhythm and visual identity. It never felt like we were chasing scenes. Instead, we were witnessing them unfold

Visually, we aimed for a sense of grounded elegance, something timeless but tactile

One of the tools we leaned on heavily was the @flowcine Blackarm, supported by key grip Jeff Delaney and 1st AC @airacemitch It allowed us to capture horses in motion over rugged terrain using @angenieuxlenses The remainder of the film was shot on Clavius primes @richardgaleopticsuk leaning into my fav the 38mm. With superb drone visuals @clearbluephoto & @raven.west.uav Color by @cosmonauticalpost

The film is now avail on @appletv and was featured in CSC magazine MAR 22 with an article by @never_make_a_sound and picked up an @yourampia Award for Best Cinematography which means a lot given how quietly this one was built

❤️ to the crew, John Scott for welcoming us into his world, his family & to everyone who helped bring this to life

#Documentary #Cinematography #appletv #cowboy #horse

#AaronBernakevitch | #AssociateMemberCSC
@aaronbernakevitch_dp

THE WORK – Feature Documentary: Leo Major "One Man Army"

Honoured to have served as cinematographer on Leo Major, a feature-length documentary that tells the remarkable true story of Leo Major, a one-eyed Canadian soldier who played a pivotal role in liberating the Dutch city of Zwolle during WWII.

Directed by longtime friend and gifted filmmaker @dreadnaughtyyc, the film is a striking blend of cinematic reenactments, compelling interviews, and stunning on-location work captured across Europe and Western & Eastern Canada

From visceral battle sequences to quiet, intimate portraiture, every frame was built with care and intention. The reenactments were ambitious, featuring vintage military vehicles, practical effects, and subtle VFX crafted to pull viewers into the tension and bravery of Leo’s journey.

Our unit shoot in the Netherlands brought a unique depth to the film. We shot on the very cobblestone streets Leo once walked, and there was something moving about capturing history in the exact place it happened. The local crew and community brought tremendous support and spirit to the process.

It is one of those projects you never forget as bring this story to life alongside a crew of dear filmmaking friends. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime project and one I’ll always hold close.

Leo’s story remains largely untold. He is the only Canadian to have received the Distinguished Conduct Medal in two separate wars, an extraordinary legacy that deserves the spotlight.

The film premieres this weekend to a sold out crowd in Zwolle on April 14, marking the 80th anniversary of the city`s liberation. It is a timely reminder of courage, sacrifice, and the lasting impact of one remarkable individual.

Gaff - @codymsouthgate
Steady - @k.robson_is_me
Arms - @moviepropman
Sharps - @mxpx.ca

Much ❤️ to all of the crew on this gem!

More on the film here:

👉 facebook.com/LeoMajorMovie

#LeoMajors #WWIIDocumentary #Cinematography #CanadianHistory #Zwolle #Liberation80 #DocumentaryFilm #FeatureDoc #JeremyPollock #BehindTheScenes #OnLocation #DPWork #HistoricalFilm #UntoldStories #WWIIHero #DCM

#AaronBernakevitch #AssociateMemberCSC
@aaronbernakevitch_dp

THE WORK – Feature Film: Everfall

Shot with longtime collaborator and dear friend @john_kissack for @everfallmovie was a creative process i`ll never forget. From the start, we were chasing a fractured emotional space, something between memory & reality.

John is one of the BEST at previs and prepro. He puts in the hours: story, shotdesign, blocking, locations and it shows

We spent months talking through every scene. We built visuals that could shift with the characters` headspace but never feel forced. Our lighting lived in shadow, always trying to keep the camera honest. Be there, don’t oversell.

Kubrick was a big influence. Not just visually, but in pacing. His patience with the camera, letting moments breathe, making space for unease, shaped how we approached this.

As the film moves forward, we shift from more traditional setups into slow zooms and then handheld. It helped stretch tension without breaking the world. The zooms especially gave us a way to slowly close in, like a thought forming, something unraveling.

John and I have built a strong shorthand over the years. We complement each other’s instincts in a way that keeps things moving. There were moments where a glance was enough. We had already landed on the same idea. That kind of rhythm makes a big difference when you`re chasing something subtle.

Having @colmfeore on set brought a different energy. He is one of those actors who elevates everything just by showing up. The weight he carries on screen is undeniable. Watching him work up close was a masterclass. His presence gave the film a kind of gravity we could not have created any other way.

Everfall is not a film for everyone. It is heady, quiet, and doesn’t hand you all the answers. We wanted something that lingers, that stays with you after the credits. It is more about atmosphere and internal shifts, and we were okay leaving space for the audience to lean in and connect the dots

Many thanks @panavisionofficial @thecsif

Actors @joewperry @jaysontherrien @itsjessmcleod
1st AD @kylefjcooper

#Cinematography #moodlighting #lowkey #IndieFilm #CanadianFilm #zoomlens #bts

#AaronBernakevitch | #AssociateMemberCSC @aaronbernakevitch_dp

THE WORK – Short Narrative: The Money Tree

In 2006, while sketching and writing with @donadancoffee in Australia, I began shaping what would become The Money Tree, crafting early drafts alongside @citizen79design It started as a simple children’s story, never intended to become a film. Just something I wanted to write. But like a lot of good stories, it grew. Years later, with the help of some incredible people, it became the most personal project of my career.

Premiering in 2015 at the @ciffcalgary Alberta Spirit Gala, The Money Tree is a whimsical, cautionary tale about innocence and greed. The world came to life through the brilliant illustrations of C. Crutchkey in the early 2010s. Her visual interpretation became the backbone of our storyboards and helped define the tone of the world.

From the beginning, I worked closely with VFX artist @blakelaingsmith @blake_laingsmith He was there from day one of pre-pre-production, hand-drawing every original storyboard and shaping the visual tone and shot design long before a camera ever rolled. Offering essential insight into what was and wasn’t possible, VFX-wise, based on our small budget and timeline. His creativity, thoughtfulness, friendship, and steady presence meant more to me than I can say.

What made this project so meaningful to me is that it was the only time I have ever stepped into the role of narrative director. I wrote, directed, shot, produced, edited, and composed the music. That process gave me a new perspective on storytelling, one I had not fully grasped before. I encourage other DPs to try directing something narrative at least once. It is challenging, humbling, incredibly valuable and NOT EASY. It gave me a deeper appreciation for what directors carry and shifted how I approach filmmaking as a cinematographer.

The film is also a love letter to my mom, @nancyjokerby who narrated the story. She was the voice behind so many of the books I grew up with. Having her be part of this project felt like the most natural and meaningful choice I could make.

I LOVE YOU ❤️ thx you for all you have given me and my career

cont`d in comments

#AaronBernakevitch | #AssociateMemberCSC @aaronbernakevitch_dp

THE WORK – Short Narrative "Hello World"

This film was a labour of love, directed by @olafblomerus and shaped by intention, restraint, and months of prep and testing. The visual language was quiet and moody, leaning into negative space, soft contrast, and a muted palette designed to strip everything down to the essentials: grief, memory, and connection. Shot on location gaffed by @warleo and operated by @nickthomas, every frame was a study in balance between light and shadow. @lighttools

We wanted the shadows to speak as much as the light. The textures were built from Red Pro Prime Lenses combined with Hollywood Black Magic Filters @schneideroptics, all with an eye toward subtlety. IMHO the RPP lenses are highly underrated, clean, sharp, and they handled skin beautifully in low light.

We ran extensive testing before the shoot to craft our look. and debated between the Red Epic, Sony F5, and Canon C500, each offering distinct capabilities that would shape the image’s character. In the end, we picked the Sony F5 for its superior dynamic range and unmatched lowlight performance at the time, which helped us capture the intimate mood we were after.

The VFX was a beast. @rawandrendered and Olaf spent months refining and compositing the robot. “The surface of the robot is metallic and our actors are soft skinned,” said Joey. “It was about really putting heart and texture into the robot.” That’s the part you feel in the finished piece, even if you don’t see it.

At its core, this story was about absence, how we fill it, how we remember, and how technology sits between connection and loneliness.

The film won Best Cinematography at the Alberta Motion Picture Awards and was featured in CSC Magazine, January 2016, with a thoughtful piece by @never_make_a_sound

Huge thanks to everyone who poured their hearts and passion into this story. Your fingerprints are in every frame. As well as @storyhive who funded the project.

🎥 Watch the film: [link in bio on my website]

#CanadianCinematographer #MutedPalette #DarkVisuals #LowKeyLighting #VFXProcess #RedProPrimes #cinematography #telus #telusstoryhive