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WRIT TEN AND DIREC TED BY GILLI AN MCK ERCHER
LINKS
SYNOPSIS
Amidst a crash in oil and gas prices, chemical engineer Wendy
Fong (Chantelle Han) is new to Paloma North and unsure of the Website
future she worked so hard for. As rumors of layoffs begin to
circulate in her small, isolated team, her monotonous routine
crumbles, giving way to ambivalence. Long days in the field and
Stills
long nights alone begin to take their toll. With support, and
often-questionable guidance from her coworkers, Wendy must Poster
navigate personal ethics and corporate interest within Canada’s
most controversial industry. Trailer
A feature length dark comedy about personal
ethics in the face of corporate interest. What
does it really mean to work in Canada’s most
controversial industry: oil and gas production?
CIRCLE OF STEEL 2
DIRECTOR’S NOTE Circle of Steel is inspired by the time when I worked as a field engineer for the world’s largest upstream oil and gas company. The first-hand experiences of myself, my friends, and my colleagues are all mixed into Circle of Steel’s narrative. Although not everything in the film happened to me, everything is based on true events. In Circle of Steel, I committed to expressing field life in its fullest form: the loneliness and boredom, but also the camaraderie, humour, and compassion that its workers express. My main inspiration is the widespread practice of non-compliant engineering. In the Iron Ring Ceremony, Canada’s professional engineering initiation, engineers chant a pledge written by Rudyard Kipling that obliges them to Good Workmanship and the Honour of their Soul. In terms of Good Workmanship, I believe engineers are generally compliant; in terms of Honouring the Soul, I believe engineers are apathetic by necessity. It’s the only way to come to terms with the purpose of their work. This conflict between moral and physical action is of deep interest to me as a filmmaker. Circle of Steel is my response to this environment of existential crisis. CIRCLE OF STEEL 3
TEAM
GILLIAN GUILLAUME ROBYN AVI GARY BURNS
MCKERCHER CARLIER HO FEDERGREEN EXECUTIVE
PRODUCER
DIRECTOR PRODUCER PRODUCER EXECUTIVE
PRODUCER Gary Burns is a Canadian writer
Gillian is a Calgary-based filmmaker Guillaume was born in Montreal and Robyn is a Calgary-based producer
With over 20 years and over 50 films and director whose feature film
and an Alberta Foundation For the raised in Calgary. At an early age, he with a wide range of experience
as a producer in the Canadian film credits include A Problem with Fear
Arts Young Artist Prize winner. discovered film by working at The in short films, advertising, and
industry, Avi Federgreen’s career (2003), waydowntown (2000),
She completed a BSc in Chemical Uptown Theater and Casablanca television. Her work with agencies
features many highlights. His The Suburbanators (1997), Kitchen
Engineering at the University Video. His DIY sensibility is such as Critical Mass and Joe
producing credits include Kiss and Party (1997), and the feature
of Calgary while she practiced combined with commercial Media includes the Travel Alberta
Cry, Prisoner X, Still Mine, Score: documentaries Radiant City (2006)
filmmaking at the Calgary Society campaigns like Alberta Treasury campaign, the award winning short
A Hockey Musical, I’m Yours, Hungry and The Future is Now! (2011).
of Independent Filmmakers. After Branch’s A Seat at our Table and film No Face, and advertisements
Hills, One Week, and High Life to He has won numerous awards for
she worked concurrently in film and Unis TV’s Histoire de Chars. for BMW. In 2017, she was the
name a few. Federgreen also is his films including Best Canadian
engineering, she decided to focus Guillaume’s work includes music interim Programming Director for
the creator of the Indiecan10K & Feature Film at the Toronto
on cinema. She notably directed the videos, short narrative and the Calgary Society of Independent
Indiecan20K First Feature Initiatives International Film Festival for
two-season web series The Calgary documentary films, and his Filmmakers, and oversaw that year’s
that have now helped eight first waydowntown. Radiant City,
Collection, the short documentary forthcoming feature film debut $100 Film Festival. Circle of Steel
features get made in Canada. His which he co-directed with CBC
Where the Sage Brush Grows, and Everybody Altogether Now. is Robyn’s first feature film.
projects have received widespread journalist Jim Brown, won a Genie
music videos for folk-roots artist Most recently he shot Radio
recognition at international film for Best Documentary in 2008.
Amy Nelson. Her experimental film Canada’s biopic on Formula 1
work on Super 8 and 16mm film legend, Gilles Villeneuve. festivals, including the Toronto
is often incorporated into her International Film Festival, and
projects, and heavily informs nominations for a Gemini and the
her aesthetic. Circle of Steel is Directors Guild of Canada awards.
her first feature film as director.
CIRCLE OF STEEL 4
CAST
CHANTELLE DUNCAN TINA
HAN OLLRENSHAW LAMEMAN
WENDY FONG PRODUCER KIKI
Born and raised in Calgary, Duncan Ollrenshaw is a Canadian Tina Lameman is from the Beaver
Chantelle is an actor now based in actor based in Calgary. He has been Lake Cree Nation in Alberta and still
Toronto. She trained at Mount Royal a member of several established currently resides there. She has
University and has worked steadily theatre companies, including the been acting since she graduated
in film, television, theatre and Shaw Festival Ensemble (Niagara on from the Grant MacEwan Theatre
voice-over. Recent on-screen the Lake), Stratford Festival Young Arts Program in 1989. Her film and
credits: Everybody All Together Company, Necessary Angel Theatre television roles include Road to
Now; Heartland; Hell on Wheels as Company (Toronto) and Theatre Saddle River (1994), Fear Itself
well as national and international Junction ensemble (Calgary). He (2009) and Heartland (2009). In
commercial campaigns for Travel has been nominated for two Dora 2005, Tina received an AMPIA award
Alberta, Kleenex and McDonald’s. Mavor Moore awards, two Betty for Best Actress for her role in the
On stage: Chantelle is best known Mitchell Awards, and is a two-time APTN TV series Mixed Blessings
for her turn as Janet in Soulpepper’s recipient of a Tyrone Guthrie Award (2007-10). Tina has a passion for
national tour of the hit play, (Stratford). Duncan has appeared in acting and comedy; one of her
Kim’s Convenience. several television series including favourite sayings is “laughter
Prison Break, Van Helsing, and is healing”.
Strange Empire. In 2012 and 2013,
Duncan received an AMPIA award
for his role on the AMC series
Hell on Wheels.
CIRCLE OF STEEL 5
SOUNDTRACK
All the songs featured in Circle of Steel are by Canadian reservations. Sonically, The song’s writer, Amy
artists, and most are Albertan. McKercher blends the we went for modern and Nelson, is an old-time DEXTRESS THE SCORE: REBECCA
monotony of rural Albertan winters with the soul and depth of plugged in: “Show Me the banjoist, guitar player and Featured in several bar BRUTON
some of Canada’s most talented musicians. “It was important Mark” could absolutely play songwriter based in Calgary. scenes, Dextress is a heavy Rebecca Bruton has a
that the sonic palette represent the landscape of the film, in an Operator’s truck. McKercher has worked with hitting hair band based in diverse background in
Simone actually delivered to Nelson on several projects, Calgary. Drawing inspiration folk and avant-garde
says McKercher. “I’m fortunate that Alberta has an amazing
us a final mix of “Show Me including The Calgary from the 80’s, specifically composition, and McKercher
music scene and could source almost all of our songs from
The Mark” before we finished Collection web series about Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses, wanted to use both
homegrown talent. It also maintained the feeling of
production. I thought it was Albertan folk musicians, and and Mötley Crüe, their sound elements in the score.
community in the film. All the musicians were open and critical to receive a song has directed two of her is a raw juxtaposition to the Bruton enlisted the help of
enthusiastic about being involved, which made me even more in its final form while we music videos, How Long country crooners typical to folk musician Katie Streibel
proud to be part of the Alberta arts community.” finished production. “Show Blues and Educated Woman. rural Alberta. for the guitar, who helped to
Me The Mark” really guided find the tone and balance
Schmidt, as Fiver, wrote the me on the film’s attitude and between playfulness and
FIVER (SIMONE SCHMIDT) original song “Show Me the FAITH HEALER CARTER FELKER
point of view, and its melancholy. McKercher and
Toronto musician Simone Mark” for Circle of Steel, Two songs by Faith Healer Carter Felker has lived his
inclusion is much more Bruton were directly inspired
Schmidt is known for her embodying the prairie are featured in Circle of entire life in Alberta, from
balanced. My directorial by Bill Friesel’s Disfarmer
role as the front person and sensibilities in the film. Steel: “Sufferin’ Creature” the plains of the southeast,
choices were informed by album. “We rounded out the
songwriter for country act “Simone understands how to and “Might as Well” to the mountains of the far
“Show Me The Mark,” and score with an amazing
One Hundred Dollars, psych embody a voice and a point west and the dank muskeg
her songwriting was Based in Edmonton, roster of performers who
rock unit The Highest Order, of view other than her own of the north. After picking up
informed by my original Faith Healer has been a leaned in to Rebecca’s
and from her solo work as lived experience, and I have the guitar at seventeen, he
vision of the film. collaborative project fusion,” says McKercher.
Fiver. Schmidt has six LP’s to always trusted her vision,” was introduced to folk and
between lyricist and “We also had the opportunity
her writing credit, along with says McKercher. alternative country music by
AMY NELSON songwriter Jessica Jalbert to work with interns at the
a range of singles, a co-worker and began to
Even though she isn’t an and producer/multi- Banff Centre, who recorded
collaborations with artists In a disorienting dream, write his own songs. Carter
engineer, she writes instrumentalist Renny our score. This was one
as wide ranging as hardcore Wendy finds herself believes a life spent in
professional disillusionment Wilson since 2015. of the most rewarding
punk phenomenon Fucked performing “The Mountain Alberta has shaped him into
in a poetic and accessible Represented by Vancouver’s elements of the film’s
Up, to the inimitable USGirls, Song” at the Silver Point Pub the songwriter he is today.
way. We spoke a lot about Mint Records, the psych-pop creation. Everything felt
and Old Time and Bluegrass with a perfect country Two of Felker’s songs are
inheriting the “sins of the duo have released two collaborative and inclusive
veteran Chris Coole. twang. “Today would be a featured in Circle of Steel,
father”, the challenges to critically praised full and I hope to work with
good day to die,” she croons perfectly illustrating the
break an outdated cycle, length albums. Rebecca again.”
– fitting for Wendy as she bleakness of Wendy’s time
the pull of the mainstream
sleeps off a night of in the field.
against personal
CIRCLE OF STEEL debauchery in rural Alberta. 6
A CONVERSATION replaceable. When I was to a mile of an emotional range in oil and gas where my own experiences. As creative and directorial
WITH DIRECTOR, doing rotation at Surmont, crack. We both knew she was multiple generations work the story progressed, she skills. A lot of those
GILLIAN MCKERCHER I read an article posted by getting laid off. The ambiance and clash together. There’s became an amalgamation opportunities are
the UN that said that the of hopelessness, dread, and a new female engineering of many women whom experimentally specific –
world could feasibly be off anticipation was a reality stereotype that Wendy’s I know in the industry. since I don’t have a
fossil fuels in 100 years, at right up until I got laid off. based off: she’s fashionable, Wendy and I both come from professional background in
You used to work in least on an industrial level. I was frustrated that unabashedly feminine, and families where a professional film, most of my education
Alberta’s oil and gas I felt so dejected – why was the rest of Canada self righteous in her skills. job in oil and gas is a given. is DIY. I’ve done at least
industry. What was I applying my degree and seemed ambivalent, Kiki and Bobby come from Wendy’s curiosity of a five one-eight challenges
your experience like? skills towards an antiquated even sanctimonious, a different generation than “what if” life outside of the through the Calgary Society
I grew up in oil and gas. system? I was laid off about that brutal layoffs were Wendy. Kiki is contemptuous petroleum industry is weaker of Independent Filmmakers!
When I was in my early two years later. happening. Perhaps we of Wendy. To Kiki, everything’s than my own. Wendy is At this point, my experimental
teens, my mom was a “deserved” to be laid been handed to Wendy on satisfied with a job that background is part of my
contract geologist and I off from the dirty and a silver platter. For Bobby, results in a paycheque. language. There’s no other
What motivated you to
would help her with menial controversial petroleum Wendy is the daughter that There’s a comfort in no need way that I could’ve told the
make a film about it?
tasks. After summer jobs industry. he wishes he raised. I’ve met to ask big questions. People prologue of Circle of Steel. I
I was frustrated. When a lot of operators who adore are oftentimes disappointed have more confidence in my
doing data entry for multiple I wanted to show that
layoffs first started their daughters, push them by the answers to “why do I ability to express myself via
petroleum companies, I got the people who work in
happening in 2016, the into white-collar jobs, and do this, what meaning do I 16mm experiments than VFX.
a 16 month student resource industries deserve
atmosphere at work was are vocally proud of their derive from work?” Simply, In pitching this project,
engineering internship compassion and respect.
horrible. One of many days accomplishments. For all the I’m more misanthropic and people were prohibitively
for ConocoPhillips which I also wanted to show that
of layoffs, I waited patiently sexism that does occur in more optimistic than Wendy. hesitant and uncertain
ended in a full-time job. amidst the loneliness and
at my desk for a few hours the field, there are a lot of about my desire to
On one hand, the best depression, there’s also lots
and assumed that our team really great guys who I want incorporate experimental
professional experience of camaraderie and humour. How did you blend your
was safe. I asked my co- to honour and celebrate. analogue film. I’m proud that
of my life was in oil and stylistic background in
worker, a super talented I stayed true to my roots.
gas – the most impactful experimental and
Project Engineer in her 40’s, How did you develop
mentorship I’ve received What are some of the independent film with a
if she wanted to get coffee. your characters? What
is from a Project Engineer parallels between Wendy more traditional narrative?
She looked at me with a face makes them tick?
named Greg Welland, who and yourself?
full of tears and croaked My goal has always been to
The characters are based off
was my boss for about 18 that she got “called to an When I first began to write make narrative feature films.
of archetypes that I met in
months. On the other hand, office” – I’d never seen my Circle of Steel, Wendy was To get here, I’ve taken any
the field. There’s a great age
I’ve never felt so guilty and co-worker come even close undeniably based off of opportunity to develop my
CIRCLE OF STEEL 7
This is a comedy, but can How would you describe This is your first time in one of the most selfish
also be quite heavy and the look and feel of Circle making a feature film. endeavors of my life, my
dark. How did you juggle of Steel in terms of the What are some of your family was by my side. I’m
the tone? camera work? most memorable moments? thankful and would not be
answering this question
I juggled the tone through Grant Cooper and I worked Ask me in a few years. This
without them.
drafts and drafts of the hard at developing a entire experience has been
script! I’d felt pressure to deterministic camera style. a blur of stress and
hit a mark politically and We wanted the camera to heartache. Undeniably, I’ve
emotionally, but the stress always be one step ahead never been more satisfied
didn’t result in good writing. of the action – it knows professionally, and my soul
I wrote what was true to where the characters are feels whole and healthy.
my experience. The entire going to turn, it knows
I’m sentimental that I made
oil and gas industry is where to capture the action.
this film with the support of
absurd. We extract a heavily We didn’t want a hand held
my family. No one on either
politicized resource from look, and we also leaned into
side has ever worked in the
steel straws in the ground. the unreal-ness of the film.
arts. For Circle of Steel, my
That’s funny and sad Circle of Steel is meant to
family fully assisted me.
(at least to me)! This be representative of field
My mom was the caterer,
environment only brings out life, not a true-to-life
our accountant, and voice-
the extremes of people. In representation. For that
over actress. My dad allowed
one second, people joke reason, Grant and I felt free
us to shoot in his office
about gaining 15 lbs at to push environments to be
and also did voice-over. My
Site and in the next they’re more evocative of moods
brother and sister read and
crying about their 14-year- and feelings than overt
watched numerous drafts of
old daughter who’s naturalism.
the film. I won’t forget that
doped up.
CIRCLE OF STEEL 8STILLS CIRCLE OF STEEL 9
SPECS CAST CREW
TITLE Circle of Steel Chantelle Han Wendy Fong DIRECTOR, WRITER Gillian McKercher
RUNNING TIME 85 minutes Duncan Ollreneshaw Bobby PRODUCER Robyn Ho, Guillaume Carlier,
GENRE Drama Tina Lameman Kiki and Gillian McKercher
FORMAT DCP Andréa Perry Kristen EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Avi Federgreen & Gary Burns
ASPECT RATIO 2:1 Cliff Liknes Chris DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Grant Cooper
LANGUAGE English Brent Zulyniak Joe EDITOR Erin St.Clair & Gillian McKercher
SUBTITLES AVAILABLE English and French Peter Skagen Ian ORIGINAL MUSIC Rebecca Bruton & Katie Streibel
PRODUCTION COUNTRY Canada Meg Farhall Waitress ORIGINAL SONG Simone Schmidt
Bernard Starlight Taxi Driver COSTUME DESIGN Caleigh Kansas
Katey Doucette Mother CASTING Jason Long
Christian Goutsis Phil FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Emily Renner Wallace
Dawn Van De Schoot Lorna ON-LOCATION SOUND Alex Mitchell
HAIR & MAKEUP Ana Georgina Ortiz
CIRCLE OF STEEL 10CIRCLEOFSTEEL.CA
DISTRIBUTION PRODUCTION #CIRCLEOFSTEEL
CONTACT COMPANY
IndieCan Entertainment Kino Sum Productions
info@indiecanent.com info@kinosum.com
416.898.3456 403.869.1290
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