Local Creative Jack of All Trades Takes Next Step in Directing Journey
Regina’s Aaron Sinclair is a well known commodity in Saskatchewan’s creative circles. Journalistic-style? Check. Music videos with well known local artists? Check. Narrative short films? Check. Commercial work? Check. However, just on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sinclair began to ponder which projects caught his eye as he continued working towards directing a feature film. What came of that thought experiment was The Wild, a micro budget project funded by Creative Saskatchewan.
Sinclair, owner of Aaron Sinclair Film Ltd., says that the film— which takes audiences through a tale that includes a series of small towns, a family, a friend, a mystery, and a possible curse—came front of mind because it fits with his already established style.
“I feel very strongly that this film is a great place for me to jump into the world of features because it contains so many of the things that have become a part of my aesthetic. There is a strong female lead with themes of empowerment. The story is surreal and mysterious but feels like it takes place in our world. There is a nostalgic element that incorporates my own life and story.”
Sinclair, with his aforementioned experience, says that Saskatchewan has a ready and willing talent pool that makes projects like The Wild possible.
“I believe there is a great resource of untapped potential here in Saskatchewan. I have been scouring for talent with every project we work on and what I’ve found is that every time people rise to the occasion. I have worked closely with several talent agencies and have also developed my own internal list of actors. We’ve also built our following to a point where we can put calls out for actors and receive a number of quality auditions.”
Sinclair has taken inspiration from filmmakers like David Lynch as he’s weaved his way between projects in the last ten years. His music videos have included working with other local artists, like Megan Nash, and his commercial work has included videography for Sheldon Williams collegiate. Through it all, as evidenced by his 2021 director reel, Sinclair’s style has evolved to be ephemeral, intimate, collaborative, and varied. Slightly away from the camera, he’s also worked on a magazine-style project entitled “Atmosphere”. It’s a creative product he describes in much the same way he does his films.
“ATMOSPHERE is a dreamy collection of photographs, words & collaborations by Aaron Sinclair and numerous other artists. This ethereal moodbook is about relationships, nostalgia, beauty, seasons of life and dreamscape aesthetic all brought together in beautiful high-quality magazine-style print.”
On the business side of his creativity, in addition to this plethora of creative output, Sinclair has worked on wedding photos and videos, started a Patreon, and is selling prints of his work. His YouTube channel also includes projects like a mini documentary with local artist Ava Wild. No matter your entry point into Aaron’s work, it’s obvious that he’s as focused on process as product. Here at Creative Saskatchewan, we’re glad that our film-centred funding is just as applicable to the path a project takes to its final form.
If you’re looking to get financial support for your feature film, take a look at our guidelines. If you receive the funding then you’ll be following in the footsteps of projects like Summer at Charlotte’s and Shadow of… Both the Feature Film and Television Production Grant and the SaskTel Max Equity Fund are part of a wider assortment of funding programs that include streams dedicated to music video creation and film and television development. The possibilities are endless.