Aaron Lam is an accomplished author, director, and producer. His passion is storytelling and his guilty pleasure is all things connected to movies about Superman. He has written three books, numerous articles, and television and documentary scripts. He also works as the Marketing and Communication Officer for Hamilton Health Sciences.
Aaron began by sharing that he always wanted to be a writer, and since the age of six he has been enthralled by the Christopher Reeves’ Superman movies. The remarkable thing is that Aaron found a way to marry his two loves.
Aaron began by sharing that he always wanted to be a writer, and since the age of six he has been enthralled by the Christopher Reeves’ Superman movies. The remarkable thing is that Aaron found a way to marry his two loves.
After studying radio and television at Ryerson and film production at Sheridan, Aaron was able to get a variety of freelance jobs in writing, editing and directing for TVO, PBS, and other local organizations. Ten years ago, Aaron directed “Behind the Curtain” a documentary about two plays at the Shaw Festival beginning with the first directorial vision and working all the way through to final production. The documentary presents a thoughtful consideration of life in the theatre.
Aaron began by sharing that he always wanted to be a writer, and since the age of six he has been enthralled by the Christopher Reeves’ Superman movies. The remarkable thing is that Aaron found a way to marry his two loves.
After studying radio and television at Ryerson and film production at Sheridan, Aaron was able to get a variety of freelance jobs in writing, editing and directing for TVO, PBS, and other local organizations. Ten years ago, Aaron directed “Behind the Curtain” a documentary about two plays at the Shaw Festival beginning with the first directorial vision and working all the way through to final production. The documentary presents a thoughtful consideration of life in the theatre.Aaron’s professional story is filled with random encounters that lead to fruitful opportunities. One suspects he is both fortunate and open to the universe – and he is able to make connections where others may not.
An example of this serendipity occurs when he was working on a television show about cooking. The set was in Niagara College as was the equipment and crew. During the production Aaron confided to one of the Niagara instructors that he had a lifelong love of all things “Superman”. The instructor countered with the information that Colin Chilvers, an Academy Award winner for Special Effects (SFX) for “Superman”, lived in nearby Ridgeway.
Aaron seized the opportunity, made a call to Mr. Chilvers, and offered to write a book about his life. Thus began an 8 year relationship that culminated in the book, “Believing a Man Can Fly”. Mr. Chilvers was not only instrumental in the making of the “Superman” movies, but also in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, the “Pink Panther” movies, and even Michael Jackson videos (“Smooth Criminal”).
And continuing the theme that life can be random and joyous, Aaron relayed how Mr. Chilvers came to reside in Ridgeway.
While working on “Superman II”, Chilvers was involved in a scene set at the Horseshoe Falls. There he saw a “pretty” employee of the Niagara Parks Commission. This led to a date, a wedding, and over 40 years of happy marriage! (The story of Mr. Chilvers settling in the Niagara region reads like a script itself.)
Celebrating the life of those integral to the movies but perhaps not commonly thought of, seems to be a raison d’etre for Aaron. He has recently published “Composing Adventure: Conversations with Composers about Great Adventure Scores”. In it, he recounts his casual conversations with 15 composers who have created some of the most memorable music for motion pictures in the last 60 years. Most of these composers are now over 60; and three were in their 90’s. What a thoughtful way to pay tribute to their life’s work.
Aaron thanked his wife and daughter for supporting his movie “addiction”. He has acquired a collection of film props, storyboards, and memorabilia that now decorate their home.
Most of all, Aaron’s talk today illustrated how having perseverance, and working on things one loves can lead to an enriched life – even if he has to have a “day job”.
He reminded us that everyone has a story!