UBC Theatre and Film welcomed our esteemed President of UBC, Professor Santa Ono, to tour with us through the five programs of UBC Theatre and Film on the soggy morning of Monday, January 30. Meeting the students, faculty and staff as well as visiting the various facilities, was a joy and a privilege engaging with such a lovely person who was genuinely curious about what we do and how we do it.
UBC President Santa Ono with Keith Smith, Jim Fergusson and Andrew Pye on stage at Theatre & Film’s Frederic Wood Theatre.
Starting in our Frederic Wood Theatre lobby, an umbrella-toting Professor Ono arrived with camera in tow precisely at 9:00 am. Greeted by Department Head Stephen Heatley, Communications Coordinator Andrea Rabinovitch, Theatre Production Manager Borja Brown, Theatre Design/Production’s Sammie Hatch who stage managed the event, and Student Ambassadors Kimira Bhikum (MFA Theatre Design and Production) and Edward Dawson (BFA Theatre Design and Production), we headed into the Frederic Wood Theatre where staff members Keith Smith and Jim Fergusson (Stage and Lighting Specialists) stood for their portrait with alumnus Andrew Pye who was in the theatre working on the co-production, with the PuSH International Arts Festival, of King Arthur’s Night, produced by Neworld Theatre.
President Santa Ono tours the Production Shop at UBC Theatre & Film.
The shop, where all the sets for our productions and some of UBC Opera’s as well, plus where our students learn about carpentry, welding, scenic painting, and other production skills, is made magical by pieces from past productions lining the walls to the ceiling. Flamingoes, giant fists, and immense Renaissance paintings abound.
President Ono visits the Theatre & Film Prop Shop with Samantha Lam and Lynn Burton.
Trouping up the back stairs we find the hole-in-the-wall that opens to one of the coolest places in our department: the Prop Shop. Staff Member and Properties Head Lynn Burton is working with Work/Learn student Samantha Lam on a repair from She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen. Professor Ono couldn’t resist lunging towards the camera with a double-headed axe; it’s made of plywood and foam so no injuries were sustained, thank goodness.
Jodi Jacyk shows President Ono a set of wings being repaired in Theatre & Film’s Costume Shop.
Through another labyrinth, we end up in the basement in the Costume Room where all the costumes for the shows are built, some are stored and where students learn design and sewing skills. Staff Member and Wardrobe Head, Jodi Jacyk, shows Professor Ono a set of wings from She Kills Monsters also in for repairs (She Kills Monsters is a highly physical show with fabulous fight choreography).
President Santa Ono tries on the wings!
We’re sure that Professor Ono could NOT play Evil Tina, the uber-mean-girl cheerleader with super destructive powers, but hard to resist putting the wings on.
Professor Santa Ono, President of UBC, pays a visit to Theatre & Film’s Visual Resource Centre with Stephen Heatley and Dmitri Lennikov.
We opened our umbrellas and were joined by Student Ambassadors: Film Studies MA Morgan Harper and Film Studies BA Jessica Yang, heading to the Visual Resource Centre staffed by Dmitri Lennikov. The Videomatica Collection as well as our own films are housed there so our students, Faculty and TA’s can watch films for their Film Studies courses. I think Professor Ono was a tad envious that Film Studies’ students get to watch movies with an analytical eye for their area of study.
Continuing President Ono’s tour with Theatre & Film: Eury Chang, Samuel Jing, Stephen Heatley and Professor Ono.
Our intrepid walkers were on the move again with PhD Theatre Studies student Eury Chang holding the baton that was passed to the next Student Ambassadors. Theatre Studies BA Honours’ Samuel Jing, Department Head Stephen Heatley and Professor Ono striding between raindrops.
Professor Santa Ono and Theresa Keliya Warbus chat about her upcoming film in the POV Film Festival film.
They met up with Student Ambassador and Film Production fourth year Theresa Keliya Warbus who chatted about her upcoming film in the POV Film Festival film, our emerging filmmakers’ film festival, while walking along east mall.
President Ono visited Theatre & Film’s Binnings Studio, where an second year acting class was underway with Professor Stephen Malloy. Student Ambassadors: Michelle Thorne and Gray Clark.
In the Binnings Studio, where classes and rehearsals occur, an acting class was underway with Professor Stephen Malloy and the second year BFA Actors. Student Ambassadors: Michelle Thorne (MFA Directing) and third year BFA Actor Gray Clark, to the left of Professor Ono, were flies-on-the-wall to an acting students’ process.
A question and answer period was a perfect way to end an inspiring morning spent with our President.
At this point, everyone was ready for a coffee, tea and a bow tie cookie while faculty were introduced to Professor Ono and much mingling ensued.
A question and answer period with close to one hundred people in the room, was a perfect way to end an inspiring morning spent with our President.
Come back any time, Professor Ono!
Photo credits: Film Studies student Syed Mustafa
To see Professor Ono’s photos of our tour follow him at:
Santa Ono Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/santa.ono.1
Santa Ono Twitter: https://twitter.com/ubcprez?lang=en
Santa Ono Instgram: https://www.instagram.com/ubcprez/
