Chatham’s Garrett VanDusen continues to follow his dreams
As one Chatham-Kent man’s film-production efforts continue to blossom, he has some words of wisdom for everyone.
“Kids don’t have to stop dreaming. Dreams don’t stop,” Garret VanDusen said in a recent interview with The Voice.
VanDusen, along with fellow producer Darren Robson, share a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best TV Movie for ‘The 13th Wife: Escaping Polygamy, Part 1.”
The movie is based on the real life of Rena Chenowyth, who was in a religious cult in Mexico and was married to its leader at the age of 16. Three years later, she was sent to kill the leader of another polygamist cult.
Also nominated for The 13th Wife is Olga Petsa, who is up for best leading role. She plays the young version of Rena.
High-profile actor Felicity Huffman plays the older Rena.
VanDusen, who calls the Vancouver area home these days, has been in the film industry for more than a decade. Still, he feels like this is his breakout year.
“The nomination, that makes me feel like I’m on the right track,” he said. It’s very humbling.”
The 13th Wife is a made-for-TV movie that was produced for Lifetime and broadcast in Canada by Corus Entertainment.
VanDusen is proud of the movie and the nomination.
“It’s a very unique story. I think it will set the standard for Lifetime moving forward,” he said. “And to be able to be nominated for this award is great. I cherish it a lot. It’s a great stepping stone.”
VanDusen continues to make ground as an independent producer. Despite a decade in the industry, VanDusen said only now does he feel the steps he takes are his own.
“It’s about ownership. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working for someone else,” he said. “This last year, I’ve focused on standing on my own.”
He has formed Nine Nights Studios, which is slated to produce a number of horror movies, which will be filmed in Windsor and Kelowna, B.C.
There are other projects in the can; some in development and some still in the planning stages. He said he’s been “following the boys around” – the boys being three Chatham student basketball players. Caleb Roberts, C.J. Roberts and Jaxen Baker recently won the National Prepatory Association’s basketball title in late March.
“I’m doing a documentary on them. We’re going on Day 110,” VanDusen said of the trio of students who attend Ridley College in St. Catharines.
With so many projects in the works, VanDusen could not be happier.
“This is just the door opening for me. I honestly feel like I’m just starting in my career,” he said. “I’m now pitching projects. Before, I was producing for people and making their projects come to life. This is a whole different experience.”
For now, VanDusen will continue to follow his dream.
“I’m 44 years old and I’m still acting like I’m in my 20s.”
The Canadian Screen Awards take place in Toronto in late May.
