Canada has many talented actors, writers, directors, and other content creators. To help our industry grow, we would like to introduce you to some of those talented folks who have managed to capture that magic on screen.
This week, we spoke with Vancouver writer, producer, and instructor Cliff Hokanson.
HNMAG: Cliff, where are you originally from?
Cliff Hokanson: I’m originally from Winnipeg. Manitoba.
HNMAG: Were you always interested in film when you were growing up in Winnipeg?
Cliff Hokanson: Growing up in Winnipeg, I always liked playing with super eight cameras and different things. My dream was to save my money, go to film school and then my dad had a heart attack.
HNMAG: Sorry, that’s terrible.
Cliff Hokanson: My mom asked if I wanted to buy the family house so my brothers could still attend school. I was always working, and I didn’t go to film school. I was working in a battery factory.
HNMAG: Right in Winnipeg.
Cliff Hokanson: Yes, and then someone said I could take workshops because I really thought I had to go to university to work in film.
HNMAG: That’s a misconception that a lot of people pay dearly for.
Cliff Hokanson: Exactly! it was your typical Winnipeg day. There was a blizzard. The buses were out. I kept phoning them at every payphone that wasn’t frozen. I’m coming, I’m coming, and I got there at ten forty-five. It started at nine. I almost walked from the outskirts of Winnipeg all the way there. I was freezing my butt off, but I was determined. I got there and I took my first course at the Winnipeg Song Group. I was so happy. It was a two-day course. I said, Look, I really wanna thank you guys, can I buy you lunch? Years later, I was working as a cinematographer as my main living. I was a steady cam operator for most of my life.
HNMAG: That’s great.
Cliff Hokanson: When I started doing more director of photography (DOP) work, I found that I always needed a crew because it was so busy. I take these young kids off the street and friends of friends, actors’ sons, and I would just teach them. I find that by teaching people on-set, they really learn quickly. So someone said I should do workshops. I called it Vancouver Filmworkshop.com.
HNMAG: And you run that workshop?
Cliff Hokanson: Yes and I have a workshop coming up in July. We’re just posting the dates now.
HNMAG: Perfect.
Cliff Hokanson: The great thing about the workshop was that I had a big shoot last year with some big Hollywood stars, and I needed a crew, but everybody was busy. I ended up using five people from the workshop.
HNMAG: Nice.
Cliff Hokanson: I always like to bring people from my workshops on all my projects because that’s really how I learned.
And I really enjoyed that and they liked my style so much they wanted me to come onto a bigger part of the university however, at this time I still want to be on so I think my retirement will be working at university because it is fantastic. it is they do a good job. They
HNMAG: How does the workshop work?
Cliff Hokanson: We’ll go over our safety meeting in the intros and the rest of the workshop, we have a director, we have actors, and we film scenes with a camera operator.
On the second day, we have a steady cam operator and a gimbal operator. We have actors come in, and we do demo scenes. I discuss everything on the set, from how to frame, the politics of working in film, and how to get jobs. I really love giving back.
HNMAG: When did you move from Winnipeg to Vancouver? How did that happen?
Cliff Hokanson: I was working in Winnipeg, and one of my friends told me they needed a dolly grip in Vancouver. This must’ve been twenty-five years ago. I brought my steadicam and I would jump back-and-forth and do both jobs.
HNMAG: What kind of work did you get after that?
Cliff Hokanson: I just found myself working on documentaries. Being indigenous, I like working on that. By doing a lot of projects in film, I’m learning a lot about my heritage, which is great.
HNMAG: That’s perfect.
Cliff Hokanson: I enjoyed working on Bears’ Lair.
HNMAG: We spoke with Geena Jackson a couple of years ago.
Cliff Hokanson: I worked on the first season, and they loved me, so they asked me back for the second season.
I love helping, you get to go out and create beautiful images.
HNMAG: Last summer, the US unions went on strike, but the Canadian unions were still going. Since Vancouver is such a service town, production virtually stopped.
Cliff Hokanson: I kept busy then by doing short films and a concept project. After that, I went from two shows to nine.
HNMAG: What are you currently working on?
Cliff Hokanson: I have two big features that I’m working on right now. I also have a documentary starting next week about a local indigenous musician in Vancouver. There is always something coming down the pipeline. For our workshop last summer, we had fifteen indigenous spots sponsored and paid for. If people don’t have money, they can apply for help.
HNMAG: What are you most excited about right now?
Cliff Hokanson: I’m really looking forward to our next workshop. We are working with William F. White and professional studios. We have amazing equipment. We also have a full sound stage. These workshops are unique because they’re hands-on and we encourage students to get the camera moving
It was great to speak with such a diverse and driven talent as Cliff Hokanson. It seems like he has lived a few lives in this industry, but his story is only starting. He is passionate about film, cameras, and teaching others who want to share his drive. We look forward to enjoying his work on the big and small screens everywhere.
