When Scott Winlaw started on his first animated feature film, his daughter was two years old.
Then, he was living in Anmore and was known on the Tri-CIties' arts scene for launching the 48-hour film contest, the Quick Flick Challenge. He was also working on reality television segments when a producer roped him in to being an assistant with Rainmaker Entertainment.
Winlaw signed up for the gig after a tour of the Rainmaker facilities and learning more about the Weinstein-produced movie. Over the course of seven years, Winlaw saw about 500 staff come and go, and he eventually rose to be the film editor. He was laid off, rehired and saw the writer/director fired and another one brought in from Toronto by the Weinstein company.
As well, Winlaw saw the script revised 17 times by various storyboard artists and writers.
Last month, the "labour of love for many people" finally came to fruition, Winlaw said, when Escape From Planet Earth was released. It is now showing at Coquitlam's SilverCity theatres.
"The movie is out and, to be honest, it's a bit of a relief," Winlaw told The Tri-City News last week. "And, for Vancouver, it's doing really well so I'm happy about that good news."
The movie tells the tale of astronaut Scorch Supernova, a hero to the blue aliens on Planet Baab. Scorch is accompanied on his missions by his straight-laced brother, Gary, the head of BASA. But when a dangerous assignment comes up, Scorch ignores Gary's warnings and finds himself caught up by the evil General Shanker; it's up to Gary to save Scorch and the planet.
The family-friendly flick includes the voices of many A-list Hollywood actors such as Canadians Brendan Fraser (Scorch) and William Shatner (Shanker). Winlaw said he met Jane Lynch, who portrays lo, and the heavy-weight Harvey Weinstein at the premiere in L.A. last month.
Winlaw, who got inspiration from his son, now 13, during the movie-making process, said he and his family are proud of the finished product. Now, the Pitt Meadows resident is back to working on T.V. "and hoping for another exciting challenge. Perhaps, not so many aliens."
