Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Good morning, Fort McMurry, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You have tuned into the Mac city morning show. I'm your host, Elliot Pierre. And we're going to start the show off the same way we start every show off with some gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you are spending with us truly does mean the world to me on that note, Tanner hit him with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:00:25 Oh, she caught me loves and you're listening to the next <inaudible>
Speaker 0 00:00:34 All right. We got a good one today. Cause this was impromptu. We have gentlemen drop off some gear for us and then we said, Hey, do you want to be on the show? And he right away just said, yes. So let's get into it as per usual. I do not introduce my guests because they can do a better job at that than I, so on that note, sir, can you please introduce yourself to the people out there?
Speaker 2 00:00:53 Sure. My name is Evan and I am from Edmonton and I'm here for a shoot and just, I just popped by, and now I'm on your show. So
Speaker 0 00:01:02 Evan from Edmonton, he, I like it. So yeah, you're up here doing a shoot for Greenlight creative, uh, you down at heritage park. So exactly. What does that shoot all about that you're doing? So
Speaker 2 00:01:15 We're doing, uh, a virtual tour of every little heritage, um, building our structure in there for, um, uh, for some elementary schools stuff. Um, it's really cool. I honestly had no idea that Fort Mac was so interesting because so before this, it was, it was, oh, it's, it's an oil town that, you know, that's four hours north. Uh, no, I, I had no idea that, um, there was just a dirt road going to Fort Mac just until like 30 years ago or that there was no electricity to the 1960s. It's crazy. I cannot believe it, but it's really cool. I'm glad that I came here.
Speaker 0 00:01:52 You know, when you go down to heritage park, even myself born and raised here, same with Tanner. Like you kind of forget how small it used to be, but I do remember back in the day that highway, uh, to Edmonton, that used to be treacherous. I don't remember it being a dirt road. My parents will tell the story about it being a dirt road, but it for years was only like two lanes when people hold that like the highway of death. Right. That's right. Yeah. I think it had like the highest death rate in all of Canada for a number of years because it was just treacherous. So, but yeah, the, the project that you do in at heritage village. Yeah. It's pretty neat. It's a pretty neat one. Especially if you like, I've been there before, but this is your first time going to the village.
Speaker 2 00:02:38 Yeah. It's like a mini Fort Edmonton park. That's right. Um, but I don't know. I've been a performs park a bunch of times. Um, but I've never taken the time to really indulge in like the history, uh, where I have here. And I don't know. It makes me want to go home and visit
Speaker 0 00:02:56 No doubt. Yeah. So you're up here. You're a videographer. Yeah. Let's talk about that. So first and foremost, you make some funny videos that I've seen. What's the, what's the channel that you have on YouTube and tell all the people at home a little bit about kind of your creations. Cause they're funny. You're a very, you're a really good creator.
Speaker 2 00:03:14 Thanks. Yeah. Um, yeah, so I have a YouTube channel that's called Evan tries. And so it started out, um, I was watching some, you have all this DIY videos, you know, people, uh, they show you how to make, I dunno, um, like a birthday cake or something like that, or, you know, make your own coffee table or whatever. And then it's always flawless. And those videos, they make it look so easy. So I wanted to do it. It was like a, almost like a parody of, um, of like DIY culture and how it's uh, it's, it, it seems like it's so easy to do that stuff and it's not, and I'm just not, I'm not that good at doing that stuff. And then it just evolved into, I don't know, something weirder, but, um, yeah, I, I really needed something to, uh, to kind of flex my creativity because I wasn't getting enough of that at work. So then I just, yeah, I just kind of now I just kind of shoot stuffing, dabbling, editing and stuff.
Speaker 0 00:04:10 So it's so good. So you got into, you were doing like videography work for a car company, correct?
Speaker 2 00:04:19 Yeah. Um, I don't know if I just say the name or not, but uh, it's up to you man. Oh yeah. So I worked for go auto, I think now on like 45 dealerships across Canada when I started in 2011, um, I think it was like 15 actually. Uh, so last month was my officially like 10th year of doing, um, videography of full-time like, um, gradually. So it's, I think that's, that's cool. I've come a long way every year. I think I'm like, I was always kind of full of myself. I mean, I'm not full of myself at all, but you know, you get, when you get comfortable doing something and you're confident yourself and you, and you see, I think I have a platform I'm not gonna get, I'm not gonna, you know, get any more skill or any better than I am now. And then I look back at the stuff from two years ago, it was like, I was terrible. And so it's yes. Constant growth. Yeah. It's crazy. Yeah. So
Speaker 0 00:05:06 You've made some really cool videos and some have gone viral for some of the, uh, car dealerships that you've worked for.
Speaker 2 00:05:12 Yeah. We made a, um, uh, cars. It was like the best cars for tall people. And I don't know for some reason, I guess there's a lot of tall people. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:05:23 Yes there is. Yeah. I appreciate you kind of car. Do you drive? I do not, but I just appreciate when the world is pegged to tell people,
Speaker 2 00:05:33 Oh well here's uh, so yeah, so the cars would tell people, I think it has almost 6 million views now, which is, I think that's decent. Um, interesting fact about cars, if you're really tall by a European car, for some reason, um, they're just way more headroom than then Japanese or American cars. So yeah, they're really unreliable, but no, yet you'll fit in Italy. That's
Speaker 0 00:05:57 Hilarious. It makes sense. Like the Japanese cars would kind of fit the demographic a little bit smaller. You'd assume American cars though, would fit like a bigger, yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 00:06:09 Um, I guess they, I mean maybe they fit more white people, but it's right. I don't know. It's uh, a lot of cars, they, they just don't have like a lot of cars, you know, they have a sloping headline, so, or slipping roof roofline so, uh, you know, if you sit in the back seat, your, your neck is, is, is craned. And I dunno, they just American cars and Japanese cars, they're just not made for tall people. I have a friend who was in our, he was in our cars, was hopping with the video. He's six foot five. And, um, and most cars, his head touches the, the, the roof. Yeah. And European car. He can fit in a, in a Porsche nine 11. Totally fine. Right. You know, surprises you, cause it's a small car, but that's right. Yeah. It's, uh, it's pretty interesting. Also you think that, um, the sunroof, you know, if you're tall, get a sunroof, but they actually have to lower the, the roof, uh, the interior of the roof by like two inches to fit the mechanism. So sunrooms actually give you less room. I don't know why this trend to like a conversation
Speaker 0 00:07:08 About, listen, I love it. That's what this show turns into. Just randomness. Yeah. Okay. Tanner, this is, I know Tanner's been listening like, yes, this whole time you were really into this colonization,
Speaker 3 00:07:19 Love the tall person conversation. So
Speaker 0 00:07:21 Long story short. Do you need to be saving your pennies for a Porsche if you ever decide to buy a car?
Speaker 3 00:07:27 Yeah, I guess so maybe BMW, maybe.
Speaker 0 00:07:31 So how did you get in to videography? Like, did you go to school for it? Did you just kind of find yourself in like falling into the career or how did that all work?
Speaker 2 00:07:40 So I was, uh, uh, so when I was in high school, I was, you know, I've always been kind of creative. Um, I really, really like, like animation, that kind of stuff. And so I was dabbling in animation when I was in grade 12, I moved to, um, to Salisbury, which is just north of Edmonton. And I had a really good contact teacher. And then she saw that I really enjoyed doing that kind of stuff. I was terrible in school. I had like, like I barely passed, you know, um, each or each class or each grade, but, uh, in contact, I was just, it was like my, like my, uh, as you go to the gym. Yeah. And so, um, yeah, I did a bunch of, uh, animation stuff then, and then I really wanted to become an animator and there's no jobs anatomy. I mean, there, there are, but it's, it's super competitive.
Speaker 2 00:08:31 And so I ended up, um, uh, looking, uh, I went to Nate, um, to take a, to video production, but there were no, uh, there really weren't any, you know, just video production courses. So I took a digital and interactive media, which was like web development, graphic design, uh, that kind of stuff. And, um, my parents were like, you should, you should definitely just, you know, be a graphic designer because there's, you'll find a job that way, but it's just not, not as fun. So, um, yeah. So then I, I took, there's a video pushing class in, you know, with this course. So I took that and, uh, I had a bad teacher and didn't learn anything, but, um, I was just kind of self-taught prior to that. So yeah. So, I mean, it was, I dunno, it was fine. Met a lot of awesome people that's right. For that. It's worth it as well. Yeah. And the thing is, you know, if you want something creative. Yeah. I think the only way to learn is to teach yourself that's right. Because everyone has their own way of learning and you can't teach, you can't really teach how to teach, how to be creative. That sounds so like pompous, but no, it's, it's true though.
Speaker 0 00:09:36 I'm not disagreeing with you for a second. Everybody has their own style too. Right. Like I know like the videos I make are very different from other creators, like in regards to, I like the sharp cuts. I like my camera to be off angle a little bit. I'm not into doing any form of like touch up or like messing around with like the color. Yeah. Um, and that's like my style. So when you see a video, that's mine, you're just like, oh, I know who did that. It's real. It's real. All right. But like, if I was to see my type of video in a theater, I'd be like, this is garbage, but for the platform I'm putting it in the condensed amount of time. Like you have your own thing, but like, like I'm 100%, a hundred percent, sorry. Self-taught yeah. And you just, I don't know, you make it work.
Speaker 0 00:10:25 And I dunno, I truly believe that schooling depending on what you're going to school for sometimes is necessary. I'm not saying don't go to school. However, there are certain things where, like you said, you just got to kind of figure it out. Yeah. But the one thing I will say, school has done for me more than anything else and not in this world. Cause I didn't go to school for this. Um, it does give you good connections and like you meet like people who become your colleagues and then they do different things and you can collaborate them with them. Like as your career. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:10:58 Connections are really important. Yeah. Yeah. How long have you been just making stuff for?
Speaker 0 00:11:03 Not for very long. Only for maybe four or five years. Yeah. So it hasn't been long. My, I actually went to school for human resources at grant MacEwan. And that's what I did for 11 years here in Fort McMurray. And I was the head of recruiting. I became HR manager for like a really big oil and gas company here in town, uh, called accurate nondestructive testing. Okay. So I was their HR manager for like seven years. And then, uh, kind of just by luck. Cause I call it luck because I love what I do. I found myself doing a media work and then the next thing you know, I own a, a media company called Greenlight creative and we got to like partner with cool people like yourself and do some work here and there. So the company's been in business for about four years now and it's been a great four years of, I don't know, trying out new stuff.
Speaker 0 00:11:56 So initially I was making like these one minute videos and putting them on Facebook and everybody thinks I was doing it to like get famous. But the reason I did it was I was working for a company and I was making videos for them. And then people started to notice the videos, but I was seriously making them with my phone. Yeah. And then other people started to call and be like, Hey, can you make me a video? I'm like, yeah, sure. And so people started paying me and I'm like, I better get good at this quick because people keep paying me, which is a good problem to have. However, not enough people were paying me that I can make videos regularly. So like I'm a big dream board type of guy. And so I put on my dream board that I'm going to make a video, like a job.
Speaker 0 00:12:42 So five days a week for one year, I'm just going to make a video. That's so cool. And so then I just, that's what I did. Michael Jordan said, you want to get good at something? God do it a thousand times over and over again. So for one year I made a video five days a week, every Monday, Friday, like a job made a video. And then after one year I was like, wow, I can keep doing this. So I did it for about two and a half years. And that is how those videos are, how my company gets all of our clients, people see the videos and they approach me. And they're just like, I don't know what you do, but I see you on the internet all the time. And I have a company and I would like to get exposure. Right. And then I say, actually I own a marketing company and I can definitely help you. So the one minute videos just turned into like our calling card on how people would approach us for business.
Speaker 2 00:13:31 So do you still do one minute videos? No, I
Speaker 0 00:13:33 Stopped because of COVID cause like creatively, I'm just like, what am I going to do? And I, I work out a lot, but I didn't want to make workout videos. Yeah. So, uh, actually that's kind of how this podcast started in regards to, I needed a creative outlet. And so the podcast allows me to make a video a day just like how it was before. And I have somebody awesome Tanner doing the editing of that content. So this is just me shifting. But from time to time, like I will still make a video here and there because I like to, but this V I just need a creative outlet and this show has given me that a creative outlet. That's really cool. Oh man. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. So on that note though, we have come to the show. We have a segment called the Mac city minute. Okay. Tanner is going to hit you with five questions. I have no idea what they are, right? Best of luck to you. Tana hit him with the max any minute
Speaker 3 00:14:29 Question number one. What is your favorite thing you've ever filmed?
Speaker 2 00:14:33 Oh, that's a really good question. Um, I have to think, I have to think that I've done. I've made like, I bet, I don't know. 5,000 videos. Uh, favorite thing I've ever filmed. I love shooting so much. I love shooting cars and um, just getting to drive like a, like a Porsche or like a, I dunno like a Jaguar I'm like F type or something like that. Uh, I'm just shooting that stuff. That's so much fun. I think that's amazing.
Speaker 0 00:15:07 So very expensive cars. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:15:09 Question number two. If you could film one event, what would that event be? I feel like I'm supposed to answer these really quickly, but I'm not take your time. Um,
Speaker 2 00:15:22 I get from one event, what would that event be? Yes. I don't know. Um, I get from one event, I think that event would be, I don't know. I don't, I don't like filling events. That's the thing though is I, I, I really actually hate shooting events. I hate it.
Speaker 3 00:15:42 Oh, events or anything though? Like a family dinner is an event or you can go to car shows and events like
Speaker 2 00:15:50 Yeah. Yeah. I've already done those things. So, um, I don't know. I guess I don't mind shooting music videos if that's an event. I think those are fun. Okay. Um, I don't know. I honestly like just shooting stuff by myself. I don't like, uh, if I could just shoot something by myself, I would do that like a hundred percent of the time. Um, I dunno. Yeah. I like working by myself. So there you go. Yeah. A loner,
Speaker 3 00:16:18 Right? Question number three. What is the most shocking part of Fort McMurray for you?
Speaker 2 00:16:23 Um, the bowling. Oh, I shouldn't not, I don't want to. Okay. So I, I was here for work last year, right? Uh, it was pre COVID, um, I guess maybe late 2019 and I really liked bowling, so I really wanted to go bowling. And so then I was like, oh, there's a bowling alley here. I'm going to, I'm going to go there. And I went there and uh, and so I had walked from my hotel and I was like, can I reserve a lane? And they said, sure. Um, you can reserve by the hour. And I said, okay, cool. And I bought, you know, probably 10 bucks an hour to $85 an hour. And then I already walked there. So I was like, well, I mean, I guess I'll just bowling for an hour. And then I was the only person because no one in there, no one who's sane would spend $85 an hour to go bowling right by themselves. Um, so it's like, there's all these big parties. There's like one lane with like six people drinking, having fun. And I'm just completely by myself, just bowling. It was so weird and very uncomfortable. But yeah, I guess that's, I was surprised that it's $85.
Speaker 0 00:17:35 Okay. Yeah. Question number
Speaker 3 00:17:37 Four. What has been the weirdest shoot you've ever done?
Speaker 2 00:17:41 Uh, so I've done some really weird weddings. My first wedding I ever shot, it was in the middle of nowhere outside of Edmonton and the ceremony was, was fine. But then the reception got really weird because there were people, um, they were singing in their motor homes outside of this, like, um, this venue in the middle of the country. And they were doing cocaine on the side, their motor homes, which maybe is normal. I don't know if that's weird or not. Um, and then the, so I was shooting like the dance first dance and stuff. And then this person, um, the, the bride's mom came up to me, accused me of filming the, the bride, lifting up her dress or something. Cause apparently she was lifting at, I don't know. Yeah, she was in it. You know what? No, no, no. Okay. I'm going to scratch that.
Speaker 2 00:18:36 I have a better one. I'm better than that. No, no, it was stupid. Okay. So this, this guy in Edmonton bought a Porsche 19 spider, which is like a $2 million car, really expensive car. I was hired to go photograph the, um, the delivery of the car. Uh, and of course, you know, if you can afford a $2 million car, then you obviously, you know, you can afford other cars and stuff. So he had like 10 Porsches in his, in his garage. His son had like a new Porsche, like crazy amounts of money. So, um, they it's also catered because of course it is. Right,
Speaker 0 00:19:09 Right. It just makes sense when you spend that kind of. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:19:12 And so they they're giving me these big glass Voss water bottles. And so I really like, like free merch or just restock. So then I took my, and put them at Cameron bay. And so there's all these like executives from Porsche. There's so many important people there. And then I hear the car coming. And so I thought, oh, I'll turn around. Step four of the car coming up. The guys, Robert Robert was the first time I swung around. I forgot to close my bag. The glass bottle fell out, shattered on their cobblestone driveway. And so the, uh, the tires on the porch of 19, I, I guarantee they're worth at least five or 10 grand a piece. So as soon as the, um, the glass smashed, the, the, the portion was just getting the driveway. So then everyone in the family started screaming and waving the car off, telling it to stop, like stop. So, um, so the car stopped and then everyone like the family, the, the Porsche executives, they all had to get down on their hands and knees and we're picking up little tiny pieces of glass off the driveway for like 10 minutes. And it was the, it was so uncomfortable because I did that. And so I basically ruined some guys like $2 million car delivery because yeah. Yo, what's another question.
Speaker 3 00:20:29 And your final question. What is one restaurant in Fort McMurray you like to eat at?
Speaker 2 00:20:34 So I actually asked, uh, the person I was shooting with today where I can go to get food because I've, I think I went to a regional jewelry store once and then I, it Freshy today. So I really don't eat anywhere. So that's a good question. Where would you recommend that? I should eat that. I don't know. You
Speaker 3 00:20:52 Had original Joe's so that is the best place in town.
Speaker 0 00:20:55 That's Tanner's go-to Jack to go. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a good place. Yeah. Original Joe's is good. I'm not going to bash it. I like it
Speaker 3 00:21:02 There. I would try one of our local pizza places. Oh, hands down. Do you like pizza? Yeah. Everyone likes pizza.
Speaker 2 00:21:10 Yeah. Simon said it's like table 45 or something. Like, is that a thing table 45 gentlemen,
Speaker 0 00:21:20 If we don't know it. Sorry if there's a table 45, I'm sorry,
Speaker 2 00:21:23 42. But then it was a 40 something. So, oh,
Speaker 0 00:21:28 We went to a north 57 57 north today.
Speaker 2 00:21:32 Maybe that's uh, maybe. Yeah, yeah. Anyways.
Speaker 0 00:21:37 Yeah. I've never heard, but yeah. Joan was pizza. Definitely a banger. Oh yeah. You drove here. So there's some other restaurants here for sure. Like you got EVP east side village. It's a bar, but they have amazing food if you go there. Yeah. The wings, the Mac and cheese. Uh, they they've got some, some good choices. Uh, I should know this, but I don't. Which hotel do we have? You stay staying in? Uh, it is the
Speaker 2 00:22:04 It's like mirror. Yeah. I forget. It's just on the south side of Fort Mac when you get into the city. Oh,
Speaker 0 00:22:11 Okay. So you're you're downtown then. Is that downtown? I think so. You're like close to the village that you filled out, right? Yeah. Yeah. That's downtown. So like you're at the end of the downtown core. I'd say original Joseph. Yup. Original. Joe's cool. Yeah. And on that, we've went over our 20 minute mark and that's the show. My man. All right. So thank you very much for showing up to you. Appreciate it. It was super random. Thank you. I thought it was cool as well. Um, other than that, before you leave one more time, tell people who you are, what you're about, and then we'll be good to go. All right. I
Speaker 2 00:22:43 Am Evan. I am a videographer and just all around weird person and yeah, I don't know. I'm just about to, I don't know. I just doing stuff. I guess the,
Speaker 0 00:22:54 Here you go. Okay. Well, this has been a pleasure, everybody at home. Once again, thank you for tuning in. Really do appreciate it. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you spending with us does mean the world to me, have a great day and we'll see you peace.
Speaker 4 00:23:28 Talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
