Words Jo Barnes
Photo Sarah Hartley Photographer
Suddenly, on the border of the neutral zone, a Klingon ship appears on the viewing screen of the bridge of the Enterprise. “Captain, they’re powering up their weapons.”
For most of us, the image is clear in our minds, right down to the red alert sirens going off in that iconic starship. It is Star Trek, a wildly popular television show that entertained generations. For one local filmmaker and Star Trek fan, the show not only drew him into its world but ignited a desire to create immersive films himself.
“I have a vivid imagination. As a kid, I really liked Star Trek. I liked its optimistic tone,” shares Simon Rasmussen. “It offered an immersive world; you wanted to be a part of it. While there were danger and risk for people in it, there was a future for them too.”
His latest project, The Ballad of Sloth Shot, might not involve Klingons, phasers or photon torpedoes, but there’s plenty of tension, time travel and tremendous firepower. The film, a blend of science fiction and western, is described as “a sharp-shooting cowgirl must stop a time-travelling supervillain from destroying her town.”
The project involved extensive planning, creative energy and dedication. “Sloth Shot took five years to do from writing to final edited film,” says Simon. “But the genesis of the idea goes even further back in my life.”
The recent film was born out of other projects and life experiences. After completing an intense course at the Gulf Island Film and Television School on Galiano Island, Simon worked in radio production in Alberta. It was there he honed skills in recording and editing, and the experience gave impetus to further creative ideas. “After attending the film school, I wound up doing radio production work in southern Alberta for two years. I was involved in recording, digital editing and voice recording,” shares Simon. “I created a sci-fi film about a small-town election and a battle to save the earth from a super villain. It’s now in the City of Medicine Hat Archives. I resurrected elements of this earlier film project in creating Sloth Shot.”
Simon’ passion for filmmaking began when he was a teenager. His parents were quick to notice his enthusiasm. “I would use the forest and garage as backdrops. My family was and continues to be incredibly supportive. They bought me my first video camera, and I started creating short stories and sketches on video,” he relates, adding with a smile: “I really got the film bug!”
An opportunity to create a radio play in seventh grade captivated Simon’s interest. “I had been using tape recorders and loved making stories and bringing imaginative worlds to life,” he says. “It was great to go from using a tape recorder to doing it with a video camera!”
These days, with all the advancements in technology, Simon is enjoying the increased access to technical information and new software programs. “Nowadays, it is easier to find techniques on how to do specific things. For instance, there are lots of editing videos on YouTube,” relates Simon. “CineVic has been great in providing equipment
and resources.”
Simon is referring to the CineVic Society in Victoria, an artist-run non-profit group which supports independent filmmakers and media artists and offers a place of community, something that is fundamental to Simon’s love of making film. “I love the sense of community and family that film creates. I really like the nice bond between cast and crew; it is irreplaceable,” he shares.
While film is a collaborative form of art, it also brings challenges such as casting talent, sorting out location logistics, resolving technical problems, and dealing with weather conditions.
Tenacity is required. “You need patience. Often you need to work something over and over until you get it right. You need to have the willingness to persevere. It’s a level of obsessiveness I guess,” says Simon. “You also need to be willing to fail. Sometimes when things go wrong, it’s a learning opportunity!”
For Simon, at the heart of it is the chance to tell a good story. For him, this involves an interesting and satisfying plot with relatable characters who have impact. “Is it a good story? Are these characters that you care about?” he asks thoughtfully. “Maybe there’s a great antihero who is miserable, but is he compelling? At the end of a good film, you wish it wasn’t over.”
Bringing the process of making The Ballad of Sloth Shot to a close is both satisfying and bittersweet for Simon. “This kind of project is all immersive. Suddenly it is all over and there is a void,” he says.
While he enjoys savouring and celebrating success right now, undoubtedly, imagination calls. Simon will entertain with new stories, share his creativity with the community, and maybe his films will even “boldly go where no one has gone before.”
