Reality Television
Canada Sings
Director • Six Episodes • Global TV • GOLDEN SHEAF AWARD Nomination
CANADA SINGS is one of my favourite shows I have directed. Each episode features two teams of people that work together (firefighters, Toronto Zoo, etc.). They have one week to prepare and perform a song and dance number for a panel of judges including Vanilla Ice and Jann Arden. The champion wins money for their favourite charity.
So much fun! And it was nominated for Best Music or Variety Series at the Canadian Screen Awards.
Bollywed
Editor / Associate Producer • 20 episodes • CBC
Bollywed is a docu-series centred around the Singh family business Chandan Fashion, which has specialized in traditional Indian bridal wear in Toronto’s Little India for 40 years.
I had a blast working on this show - it’s funny, heartwarming and shows off the best of Toronto’s multicultural scene. And in Season Three we did a lovely four episode arc in India with a giant wedding and a return to roots. You can watch full episodes on CBC Gem.
American Mystery
Director • Six episodes
It was a wonderful challenge to film a wide range of dramatic recreations including the Lindbergh kidnapping, Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance, the U.S. Civil War, Bermuda Triangle, Area 51, bank heists, alien abductions and more. Cool stuff!
We Bought a Funeral Home
Editor • Six episodes • Discovery+
The Blumberg family trade in their big city life to buy, renovate, and redecorate a 12,000-square-foot 1800's Victorian funeral home in small town Ontario.
The characters are quirky, the house is spooky and the renovations divine. From the flapper era speakeasy in the basement to the haunted dining room ‘chapel’, this place has it all.
Fun Home, as I like to call it, has quite a cult following with lots of 10 star reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB. You can watch full episodes on CityTV+
Party Mamas
Director - 17 Episodes • Editor - 9 Episodes
Canadian Screen Award Nominations: Best Director • Best editor
Outrageous parties thrown by larger than life women for their kids. As Oscar Wilde said, "Nothing succeeds like excess."
I was there from the beginning of this series, directing and editing the first episode to set the tone. It ended up lasting four seasons.
We filmed episodes with elephants, freaks, race cars, pirates, skateboard stars, world series winners, flash mobs, fashion shows and rock stars in Toronto, New York, Arizona, Texas and Florida. Crazy and fun!
Filming in Houston with Destiny’s Child member LeToya Luckett
Yukon Gold
Director - 2 episodes • History television
Working on this show was a real adventure - filming gold miners in the wilderness of the Yukon. Now I know why gold is worth so much money - it's a lot of hard work for just a few grains. But when the going is good - you get gold fever!
Style by Jury
Director • 46 episodes • W Network
A makeover series about making a great first impression. Funny, touching, crazy, emotional, inspirational, life-changing. And that was just behind the scenes! And the makeovers were amazing - physically and spiritually.
Made to Order
Director – 1 episode / Editor - 22 episodes • Food Network
Made to Order was a beautifully shot behind the scenes restaurant series featuring the master chef from the high-end restaurant Rain. Delicious!
The Transgender Project
Director • Four episodes
This wonderful series followed the personal lives of transgender women and men in Vancouver. Stories of struggle, of courage and of triumph. A really nice shoot with excellent people.
The Wilkinsons
Director - 2 episodes • Editor - 9 episodes
Canadian Screen Award Nomination: Best editor
The Wilkinsons was a comedy series that blurred the line between reality and the fictional lives of the award-winning family country band, a la Curb or The Larry Sanders Show. At one point things got Meta when we showed the family trying to run away from the reality TV crews trying to film them for the show!
Beastie Boys
Music Producer
I’m also a musician, playing in a punk band in high school and later composing music for TV and theatre featuring Helen Mirren, Catherine O’Hara, Ally Sheedy, Tom Hulce and many more.
As a teenager studying film at NYU my cousin Eric and I were some of the first people to buy a TR-808 drum machine and a four track Portastudio. We recorded music in our dorm room all the time. Two floors up our friend Rick Rubin was starting Def Jam Records.
This album contains two of the tracks I produced
When we got the call to record the unknown hardcore band The Beastie Boys we took our gear down to their loft and produced their very first recordings, which were later released on their album Some Old Bullshit.
Good times. The next time I see you, I’ll tell you more!
The Beastie Boys when I recorded them
My band The Yobs - I’m leaping on the left
This is me around the time I produced the Beasties
My House Your Money
Director • 33 episodes
The kids are finally moving out...but their parents are putting up the money and want their say. Hilarity, drama, tension and love ensue. As you can see by these crew photos, we managed to have some fun amidst all of the hard work.
Loving Spoonfuls
Director - 3 episodes • Editor - 30 episodes
Each week charming host David Gale cooks with lovable, quirky grandmothers in this funny and heartwarming show about character, culture and food. Every grandmother (and one drag queen) had wonderful stories. Working on this show was a delight!
Where 2 Next
Producer, Director, Editor, Creator
Watch the trailer here
Where 2 Next is a travel adventure web-series that I co-created, produced and directed. It follows two complete strangers from different countries on a seven day action-packed trip of a lifetime.
The two are winners of a worldwide contest, traveling to a series of mystery destinations across Canada, with no idea where they are going next.
Tons of non-stop action-packed fun and adrenaline shooting in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Algonquin Park, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City.
Lighthouse / Leonard Cohen
Director • Producer • Camera • Editor
I thoroughly enjoyed making this Lighthouse music video for their cover of Leonard Cohen's Tower of Song. Cohen himself makes an appearance, filmed not too long before he passed away. And it was a real treat to work with legendary producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd's The Wall, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Kiss, Peter Gabriel, and many more).
I have produced, directed and edited many music videos over the years, and have filmed almost one hundred concerts. Music is in my blood - it guides the spirit of my directing and the rhythm of my editing.
And Also …
Jorel Rocks his Bar Mitzvah
Producer • Director • Editor
You’re still here? Cool!!
I didn't expect to put the video of my son Jorel's Bar Mitzvah invitation on my webpage ... but it turned into a viral video smash! Over one million hits back when that was a lot, with major coverage in the Wall Street Journal, NBC’s Today Show, The Washington Post, Canada AM, CBC, Global, CityPulse, CP24 and much much more.
Today Jorel is 25 and a successful actor. I couldn’t be prouder!