I have grieved my loss of opportunities due to being a woman, a woman in Canada and a woman before her time….
I have had my permit applications rejected by the local DGC, been told my feature film script (which won at Praxis) – was not suitable for Telefilm financing and that women didn’t direct action… and now find myself in a ‘no woman’s land’ between being an emerging filmmaker and employed Director. Sometimes the best move is to move – fresh starts are often the only way to be viewed in a different light.
I am making a move to another country in hopes of finding a place for myself.
PATTI HENDERSON is an innovative Canadian filmmaker who has been involved in a career of communications and entertainment since the age of five.
At the age of five, Patti made her first TV guest appearance on THE BUCKSHOT SHOW, a children’s program produced at CFCN, in Calgary, Alberta. By the age of ten, she had become a regular in local theater productions, but, since winning her first province-wide writing competition at the age of 12, Patti has continued to explore communicating through words and images from behind the scenes.
A double-major (Print/Broadcast) graduate of Communication Arts, and with studies in Fine Arts from the University of Lethbridge, Alberta; Patti began her journalism career as a newspaper and magazine writer/photographer for hometown and national publications. An adventurer at heart, she has worked ‘behind the iron curtain’ rewriting wire copy at the MTI News Service Centre, in Budapest, Hungary, and spent five winters as a features stringer writer for the BANGKOK POST in South East Asia.
Patti moved to Vancouver to work as a writer, researcher guest interviewer and assistant editor for producer and on-air host, for the shows MUCHMUSIC/MUCHWEST and Co-Producer of MOVIETV West.
One of her first MOVIETV assignments was covering the opening of The North Shore Studies, Vancouver’s first independent film and television studio lot. This introduction to film was to be the start of Patti’s film career, one of which has been increasing in responsibility ever since.
Patti is also a member of I.A.T.S.E. Local 891’s Script Supervision Department and Editing Department. A few select credits as Script Supervisor include feature films RV and LEMONY SNICKET – A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS for Director Barry Sonnenfeld, EIGHT BELOW and BFG (Live action unit) for Director Frank Marshal, TV Series; FRINGE, SUPERNATURAL, SMALLVILLE, DARK ANGEL, DEAD LIKE ME, DA VINCI’S INQUEST, MOTIVE, X FILES and select credits as Editor; TV Series, NIGHTMAN, Feature Film DREAMING OF JULIA with Harvey Keitel, as well as many award winning short films including; THE SPACE BETWEEN, Directed by Chad Lowe, starring Hilary Swank.
Patti is also dedicated to working with other Canadian, independent filmmakers and appreciates the opportunity to help them realize their visions, not only through working as a crew member, but also through her involvement as a partner in the post production facility, Comet Post Production. Comet was well know across Canada for its’ support of independent filmmakers, offering the opportunity to post their projects, large or small, in an accommodating and creative environment. Credits include such projects as, Hard Core Logo, Kitchen Party, Taillights Fade, Twighlight of the Ice Nymphs…plus many, many more!
As a result, she brings creativity and understanding of all aspects of production to all her positions.
Patti’s first feature length script, BENEATH THE SURFACE, won one of three prizes given through the Praxis Screenwriters and I.A.T.S.E. local 891-script competition.
Her first drama, UP THE WALL, was the FIRST Digital Video – 35mm project to be shot in Canada and financed by Sony Canada and B.C. Film. Her Art Video entitled, FEAR NO ART – An Inquisition, has had rotation on BRAVO TV and she has directed ‘sizzle reels’ for factual/lifestyle series, including the project ‘Dark Passages’ picked up by Make Believe Media Inc. For CBC, Patti directed and edited, SALMON CHANTED EVENING. A magic realism drama with a ‘touch of reality’ selected from over 350 scripts and produced in association with CBC and British Columbia Film; the film aired on CBC’s ZED program and was nominated for seven LEO FILM AWARDS, winning for Best Editor and Best Sound Design.
She has Directed and Co-Produced a variety of dramas, comedies and a dance short film for the Portfolio Shorts Program at VFS, including: STELLA’S BIRTHDAY, CHESS MATES, THE NEW BEGINNING, I’M GOING HOME, HAPPINESS SCHOOL, NEVERLAND, JOHN AND MELISSA, DRINK LIKE A FISH, MY IRISH BARMITZVAH and MISS PEARLMAN” of which, was nominated for Outstanding Emotional Impact at the VFF Fall Impact Awards and recently aired on KTCS 9’s PIE program, showcasing Pacific Northwest films.
Her work has played at festivals internationally and broadcast on CBC, CTV, Bravo!, Knowledge, SCN and KTCS 9.
Through her production company, WHARF PRODUCTIONS, Patti Produces, Writes, Directs and Edits projects that range from Lifestyle/Reality to Commercials. A few select writing/directing/editing credits to date include: a 9 x 1/2 hour Home Improvement, Factual TV Series CBTV for ROGERS, HOMES EXPOSED for Global Television, PSA for OvCare Cancer Research, Field Directing for Keen Eye Productions – Ride To Conquer Cancer, :30 spots for SIGNATURE VACATIONS and in store loops for JACQUELINE CONOIR STUDIO and Vancouver clothing designer AWEAR.
Patti is also an alumna of WOMEN IN THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR (WIDC) Program at The Banff Centre, one of eight emerging women directors selected from across Canada.
Patti is currently taking time to adapt her feature script …. TROUBLE WILL FIND ME into a young adult novel.
