John Murrell is a playwright, librettist and translator. In the alternate universe that Murrell escaped to at the age of 13, he exists with the characters that eventually appear in his literary creations, as well as with notable figures who inspire him. What is imaginary to us is his "real place."

Filmmaker Q&A

Introduce yourself:
For the last eight years, Cam has been the principal of Anlanda Digital Studio (web/new media, video production and animation). His work has won both national, and international design awards such as “Designer of the Year”, Digital Media Association of Alberta 2007 and two Ad Rodeo Awards 2007 and 2004. In 2008 he was named as one of Calgary Inc. magazines top 40 under 40. He has been included in the Venice Biennial of Architecture Exhibition in 1996. He has worked for Critical Mass clients; Dell, Mercedes Benz, and Rolex and has been a Guest Creative Director for Banff New Media Institute 2004 (and interactive screen scholarship recipient 2006). He has teaching experience as a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary Faculty of Environmental Design, lecturer at Medicine Hat College, Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers. In recent years Cam has been working with digital media and animation producing numerous short films notably for Bravo!FACT and the National Film Board of Canada. These animated shorts have been shown internationally to numerous festivals and had the distinction of having been accepted to The Sundance Film Festival in both 2008 and 2009 and was named one of the top 10 shorts at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. In 2009, Cam’s first film was short listed for an Academy award. Currently, Cam is on leave from the commercial side of his business and is focusing on the development of his first feature film.  

What inspired this film?   How did you find your subjects?
This film celebrates the life of John Murrell - Alberta Playwright, Librettist and Translator for his Governor General of Canada lifetime achievement award. It is an animated poetic look at his life and spirit. Created in conjunction with the National Arts Center and the National Film Board of Canada.  

Puccini’s famous aria from the opera Tosca, Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore (“I lived for art, I lived for love”) provides a fitting summation of playwright John Murrell’s life and work. Since the age of 13, Murrell has peopled his life with the creations of his own imaginings. “In opera and in Shakespeare, in locations that were both natural and supernatural, I have escaped the limitations of my own mind,” he says. Born in Lubbock, Texas, John Murrell became a playwright in, of all places, an Alberta high school. Caprice and serendipity have marked his work ever since. Animator Cam Christiansen gives Murrell’s imagination free rein, suspending the laws of time and space, to create a visual accompaniment to the playwright’s flights of poetic fancy. Despite its more fantastic elements, Murrell’s work is grounded in a profound appreciation for the real. History and place play a critical role in his work, where everyone from Sarah Bernhardt to Walt Whitman puts in an appearance. But behind the spectacle, the masque, and the play itself, is a man happily creating his own world.  

What were some of the biggest challenges/surprises?
This project was made under a tight timeline and I would say that was the biggest challenge. Quick deadlines and animation do not usually go together that well and this case was no exception.  I did feel it was a very worthy subject and a great event so made every effort to turn it around in short order.   

Who are some of your favorite filmmakers?
Francis Ford Coppola, Roman Polanski, Richard Linklater, Woody Allen, Pedro Almodóvar, Julian Schnabel    

What is your all time favorite documentary?
The BEST documentary in the history of mankind is ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL. It is the most positive movie on earth. If you want inspiration and heart in the face of all reason, check that movie out. Who knew aging rockers could be so profound?  

What other projects are in the pipeline? 
I am finishing one more short film.  I intend it to be my last short film and will be working on a full-length movie next.   

Why did you become a filmmaker? 
I think I was having a mid-life crisis to be honest and at one point I realized that my former work life was melting my soul. I started making animations for fun on the side and I became so passionate about it. It took over.  Then, much to my delight, I started receiving a lot of attention for them, which encouraged me to take it seriously.

Going to other film festivals and meeting other filmmakers demystifies it all and made it seem accessible. You start to think, " I can do that too! "  

What are some of your creative influences? 
In general my creative influences boil down to anything that was made with "love".  I love when someone goes that extra mile, be it a Parisian shop window, graffiti, music, history, architecture, film, food, or a kind word from a stranger.    

Did you go to film school?  
No   

What do you shoot on?
Typically I don't shoot too much. I have been working more with animation.  

What has been the most unexpected thing to happen since taking the film on the festival circuit? 
I didn’t think the film to be considered a documentary. In hindsight, it makes perfect sense but I didn’t expect it to go that way. Also, going to Sundance with it was fantastic.  

Why did you want to screen your film at SILVERDOCS?  
To spread the love.