I have been involved in the Winnipeg Puppet Slam since it’s beginning in 2010 and have been it’s curator/producer since 2017.  Puppet Slams are puppet variety shows by and for grownups.  The Puppet Slam Network was started in part by Heather Henson (daughter of Jim Henson) who still helps to fund puppets slams through her…

Another Christmas another Christmas video!  This one is a music video about a smaller version of the bearded holiday icon who comes around to grant wishes to good adult humans at Christmas time. 

The feature film I began developing years ago is starting to pick up steam again.  The film is still a long way off from going into production but I have received some funding to once again begin work on it. 

The children’s book I have been working on for 2 years (see previous “Book Project” album) is done and printed!  Once a Wizard exists in the real world! 

This year’s Christmas video!  I decided to take on the classic “yule log” tradition.  Conceived and filmed during an 8 hour session at my studio.

I have been hired to write a book for children that could be a resource to help them process a loss in their lives. The images presented here are from a picture book I started to work on around 2010. 

“Wow, this guy sure does a lot of Christmas videos!”  It’s true! Why do I do it?  It’s a chance for me to keep up my film-making chops and exercise creativity by working within the limitations of a theme.  And it’s fun.

Another year, another Christmas video!  I really thought I wasn’t going to do it this time but I got this idea and it just wouldn’t go away. 

The annual Christmas video for 2016!  This one was a bit of a last-minute creation.  Over the past few years I have been experimenting with sculpting puppets using masking tape.  I had built Synthmaster Alan’s head awhile ago and I always loved his expression.  He looked like a real character. 

For over a year I have been involved in a documentary project titled: The Imperfectionist.  The doc, directed by Jonathan Le, is about me and my creative process focusing mainly on my attempt to bring the Thrift Shop Band to life.

The Thriftshop Band is an automated music machine meant to serve as a backup band for a live musical performance.  This project is designed to be the successor to my previous theatrical band The Secondhandpants.  I have been working on this for over two years. 

This year’s Christmas film stars my little tree character, Bome Gnomeski.

The result of a two week artist residency at Deep Bay Cabin in Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada in August, 2015. An exploration of characters, visual ideas and music regarding a feature film I hope to produce one day.

Queen Hazel and the If-Pigeons is a song novel (concept album) I conceived and created in the twilight of my 20’s.  A decade later, I rediscovered it and was inspired to continue work on the project. 

It is my tradition to make a short film every Christmas.  This past December (2014) I decided to give my puppet, Walter, his first real staring role in this short musical film.

A short film documenting a search for the obscure cowboy balladeer who inspired the music for Curtis L. Wiebe’s short film, Of Truth and Magic.

Trailer for the short film – Of Truth and Magic Released in June of 2014 in Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Stills from my short film project “Of Truth and Magic”. Release date: 2014.

Production on “Of Truth and Magic” took place between 2010 and 2011. Here are some behind the scenes photos of the production as well as a short video by Mr. M. Wiebe (my creative consultant, collaborator, go-to camera operator and brother Marlon).

Phantom Planet Production’s first film – 2005 (insert video here)