Melvin and Tyler take on Sioux Lookout

Independent filmmaker and Confederation College graduate Tyler Angeconeb is making a feature-length film this summer, with production planned to start in Sioux Lookout on July 12.
“Melvin & Tyler is an ambitious project for a small town on a modest budget. What I’d like to do is bring feature filmmaking to Sioux Lookout,” said Angeconeb.
Angeconeb said his fascination with movies and acting began when he was a kid when his aunt showed him the Indiana Jones series.
“The first film I ever made was called Don Juan Debradley, and it’s just this ridiculous film that makes no sense,” said Angeconeb, chuckling.
He said that although the premise of the movie was silly, the filming process was something he enjoyed, and that it was a great learning experience.
“From there and throughout the duration of my high school years, I just made little short films,” he said.
Angeconeb began taking the art of film making more seriously in 2008 when he shot a 30 minute movie called ‘Melvin & Tyler: Journey to Subway’, a parody movie of the Harold & Kumar series.
His 2009 summer saw him shoot the sequel, ‘Melvin & Tyler: Escape from Kejick Bay’, which was based on the Harold and Kumar sequel, ‘Escape From Guantanamo Bay’.
Following that summer, Angeconeb went on to study film production at Confederation College.
“College was a great learning experience. What I learned there was structure, organization, and more importantly, adding production value,” said Angeconeb.
He said that part of his experience was dealing with stressful deadlines, having a crew working on lighting, doing camera work, or dealing with audio.
“That was definitely nice, but I think what was missing was the heart – something I felt with ‘Melvin & Tyler’, working with friends and just having a good time.”
Angeconeb made a film – Charlie’s Perfect Break-Up Song – for the inaugural Hub of the North Film Festival in Sioux Lookout in the summer of 2011 following his graduation.
“The only thing that stood out was that I used professional film equipment,” remarked Angeconeb. “Other than that, it had heart to it.”
Angeconeb has been working on his next film since he completed his last film over a year ago.
Angeconeb said he wants to make all his story ideas into productions and have them seen at festivals.
“What I want to do is acting, so once I get all these films made, I really want to start pursuing acting to see if I can get into the industry that way.”
He moved to Vancouver for a year to take a shot at the film industry there, but also to check out the acting agencies.
He said that one of the things that really struck him was how many casting agencies there are in Vancouver.
“It’s just a matter of picking one, there are literally dozens,” said Angeconeb.
“That’s where actors get discovered, in Vancouver,” said Angeconeb, who admitted to slacking off while he was there. “I just wrote my movie script, took in the city, and kind of just lived there.”
He said he doesn’t mind working behind the scenes, but that he is most comfortable in front of the camera.
Angeconeb said that he received a lot of criticism from his friends and family for his Melvin & Tyler movies.
“Everyone kept asking me, ‘Tyler, when are you going to do something original?’ So this time with Melvin & Tyler, I am doing something original,” said Angeconeb.
The new movie is about Melvin and Tyler - Melvin, a laidback slacker, is friends with Tyler, a straight-laced and uptight individual. The two go to a private resort to resolve Tyler’s troubles.
Angeconeb added that it felt nice to bring the story arc back in a different way.
Angeconeb said the troubles of a filmmaker are many: he has to worry about finances, marketing, public relations and transportation amongst a host of other concerns.
“One of the biggest challenges has been funding, I’ve tried doing Internet campaigns, and those were less than successful,” said Angeconeb.
Angeconeb said that getting people excited about the film has been difficult.
“I’ve been met with some resistance to my ideas,” said Angeconeb, who added that people have refused to let him use their equipment or services.
“It’s not the greatest feeling, but you just keep going with it. I have a love for this film, and I will make this movie,” said Angeconeb.
Angeconeb allocated $5,000 in funding to act as the budget for the film from an investor in B.C. named Sam Hill.
Hill is serving as the executive director for the movie.
His parents helped him out as well, putting $3,500 into the movie, which Angeconeb used to buy a professional grade video camera.
The rest of the funds for the movie come out of his pocket.
One of his actors is from from Kashechwan First Nation. Melvin Anderson, travelled over 1,000 km to be in the movie.
In terms of actors, Angeconeb said he has a full deck at over 10 actors, both main cast and smaller characters in the film.
Natasha Quequish, from Sioux Lookout, plays the role of Jessica in the film.
Quequish said she chose to be a part of the movie because it is fun being part of an independent movie.
“It’s a great experience, and I would like to go further into that area, acting and maybe some singing,” said Quequish. “If people see it and like it, maybe they’ll ask me to do other films – I wouldn’t mind doing that, it’s a fun experience.”
Angeconeb said that Sioux Lookout residents should keep an eye out for the production, as he will “be all over the place.”
“I’m certainly looking for help, and anyone who would be willing to help out with production would be great,” said Angeconeb.
Angeconeb releases his films under his personal production title, Infinitum Picture.
People interested in following the film’s progress can search “Melvin & Tyler” on Facebook, or reach Angeconeb at MT3production@hotmail.com.