Nano Clow
Nano Clow is a writer and director based out of Vancouver, known for the short films The Lion (2014) and Guts (2018). Since graduating from UBC, he has also worked as a personal shopper, a project manager, and a costume designer. For Ash (2019), which will receive its world premiere at VIFF 2019, he worked on the creative team through development and was head of the costume design department. His work has been screened across North America and he is currently in development of his first feature film.
What have you been up to since you graduated with your BFA in 2014?
When I graduated I knew that I wanted to direct. I had been a child actor before I went to film school, back in Toronto. That’s where I really got the bug to jump behind the camera.
I decided I wasn’t going to go the typical route of joining a local TV show as a production assistant and try to work my way up. I wanted to horseshoe around that in some way, so I just got a job that had nothing to do with film, just to have a 9 to 5 and not grow tired of film during my day job. So I became a fashion stylist based out of Topman Downtown and I used it as a networking tool. I started dressing a lot of people in the film and music industry. People have galas, they have events and concerts and stuff. I started meeting with them and getting to know them on a human level, building good relationships, until I started getting jobs out of it as a filmmaker, as a film director, or as a costume designer.
Why did you choose film production (at UBC) and what did you enjoy most about it?
I always wanted to be in the film industry. When I was a kid I thought that meant I wanted to be an actor. But as I said, I saw that there was something about being behind the camera that I was always attracted to. And I have always been an academic. I’ve always loved education and learning so when I finished high school I knew I wanted to go to an accredited university with a reputation.
I was definitely attracted to the prestigious-ness of it [UBC]. It truly is such an academic school, and I thrived in that. It was challenging and it was a lot of fun. That liberal arts degree, I really enjoyed receiving it. I think it’s important, as an artist or a storyteller, to experience the world, to experience different jobs or different things. And so the liberal arts degree was attractive to me in that way as well. I was able to take psychology courses, and biology courses, while still maintaining a focus on film production and screenwriting.
With film production at UBC specifically, I still swear by it compared to other film schools. Because 20 people get into the program a year, there’s competition, so once you’re in it’s very humbling. Ignoring the fact that I got into the program, I was now working with 19 other extremely talented young filmmakers who made it. I had three years of becoming friends and learning and digging into the art with future filmmakers, and really smart, talented people. So that part of the degree was amazing as well, just getting these relationships and building those connections.
You talked about being a child actor, you’ve worked in different roles, from editor, producer, to cinematographer, and you did some costume design. What roles have you enjoyed the most?
I would definitely say that my main thing is writing and directing and that’s what I truly enjoy the most, but I like dipping my toes in everything else.
Costume design—it’s funny because I fell into it since I had been a personal stylist on my way to being a director but I love it. We made Ash in the summer of 2017. At that time, that was where my work was coming from—costume design—and I did projects like that. But I had also been directing things for free while I was working as a personal shopper. Now my work is mainly writing or directing things like short films, music videos with grants through Creative BC, or projects that I get through local production companies or friends. I just did a piece with my friend who was also in the program, Mike Goldstein [BFA ’14]. I was directing some pieces for Lululemon. It’s kind of all over the place and I still really enjoy costume design, but it tends to be directing where I am getting most of my work these days. I’m just trying to narrow it into feature films going forward, that’s what I want to make my move towards.
What are the steps to get you towards working on feature films?
I know networking has worked for me in the past. In school: getting to know people, getting to know professors; in graduation: getting to know my clients and becoming friends with people. I know networking works for me so that’s what I’m doing. Everybody who meets me knows I’m a director. Maybe that’s annoying, but I’m making sure of that because I know I’m going to come across the right person who will fund my next project or will offer me this job or that or connect me to the right person or even just become a great friend.
Another thing that I’m doing right is getting back into acting for the first time in maybe ten years. I took a break to pursue directing, which is still number one, but I got an agent a couple of months ago and I’m starting to go out for auditions again because I think that’s a good way to get my foot in the door a little further. If I land a role on a local TV show or project, the connections would be invaluable. If anything can open the door I’m happy to give it a shot.
What advice would you give to current students or recent alumni looking to break into the industry?
I think the biggest tool in this industry, maybe in any industry, is networking. It’s talking to people, going to parties, becoming a familiar face. Because I know for myself if I’m hiring someone to be on my set, or if I, working as a stylist, was hiring an assistant, I would more likely hire someone I already know and I get along with than a resume from someone I’d never heard of.
Nano Clow
Nano Clow is a writer and director based out of Vancouver, known for the short films The Lion (2014) and Guts (2018). Since graduating from UBC, he has also worked as a personal shopper, a project manager, and a costume designer. For Ash (2019), which will receive its world premiere at VIFF 2019, he worked on the creative team through development and was head of the costume design department. His work has been screened across North America and he is currently in development of his first feature film.
What have you been up to since you graduated with your BFA in 2014?
When I graduated I knew that I wanted to direct. I had been a child actor before I went to film school, back in Toronto. That’s where I really got the bug to jump behind the camera.
I decided I wasn’t going to go the typical route of joining a local TV show as a production assistant and try to work my way up. I wanted to horseshoe around that in some way, so I just got a job that had nothing to do with film, just to have a 9 to 5 and not grow tired of film during my day job. So I became a fashion stylist based out of Topman Downtown and I used it as a networking tool. I started dressing a lot of people in the film and music industry. People have galas, they have events and concerts and stuff. I started meeting with them and getting to know them on a human level, building good relationships, until I started getting jobs out of it as a filmmaker, as a film director, or as a costume designer.
Why did you choose film production (at UBC) and what did you enjoy most about it?
I always wanted to be in the film industry. When I was a kid I thought that meant I wanted to be an actor. But as I said, I saw that there was something about being behind the camera that I was always attracted to. And I have always been an academic. I’ve always loved education and learning so when I finished high school I knew I wanted to go to an accredited university with a reputation.
I was definitely attracted to the prestigious-ness of it [UBC]. It truly is such an academic school, and I thrived in that. It was challenging and it was a lot of fun. That liberal arts degree, I really enjoyed receiving it. I think it’s important, as an artist or a storyteller, to experience the world, to experience different jobs or different things. And so the liberal arts degree was attractive to me in that way as well. I was able to take psychology courses, and biology courses, while still maintaining a focus on film production and screenwriting.
With film production at UBC specifically, I still swear by it compared to other film schools. Because 20 people get into the program a year, there’s competition, so once you’re in it’s very humbling. Ignoring the fact that I got into the program, I was now working with 19 other extremely talented young filmmakers who made it. I had three years of becoming friends and learning and digging into the art with future filmmakers, and really smart, talented people. So that part of the degree was amazing as well, just getting these relationships and building those connections.
You talked about being a child actor, you’ve worked in different roles, from editor, producer, to cinematographer, and you did some costume design. What roles have you enjoyed the most?
I would definitely say that my main thing is writing and directing and that’s what I truly enjoy the most, but I like dipping my toes in everything else.
Costume design—it’s funny because I fell into it since I had been a personal stylist on my way to being a director but I love it. We made Ash in the summer of 2017. At that time, that was where my work was coming from—costume design—and I did projects like that. But I had also been directing things for free while I was working as a personal shopper. Now my work is mainly writing or directing things like short films, music videos with grants through Creative BC, or projects that I get through local production companies or friends. I just did a piece with my friend who was also in the program, Mike Goldstein [BFA ’14]. I was directing some pieces for Lululemon. It’s kind of all over the place and I still really enjoy costume design, but it tends to be directing where I am getting most of my work these days. I’m just trying to narrow it into feature films going forward, that’s what I want to make my move towards.
What are the steps to get you towards working on feature films?
I know networking has worked for me in the past. In school: getting to know people, getting to know professors; in graduation: getting to know my clients and becoming friends with people. I know networking works for me so that’s what I’m doing. Everybody who meets me knows I’m a director. Maybe that’s annoying, but I’m making sure of that because I know I’m going to come across the right person who will fund my next project or will offer me this job or that or connect me to the right person or even just become a great friend.
Another thing that I’m doing right is getting back into acting for the first time in maybe ten years. I took a break to pursue directing, which is still number one, but I got an agent a couple of months ago and I’m starting to go out for auditions again because I think that’s a good way to get my foot in the door a little further. If I land a role on a local TV show or project, the connections would be invaluable. If anything can open the door I’m happy to give it a shot.
What advice would you give to current students or recent alumni looking to break into the industry?
I think the biggest tool in this industry, maybe in any industry, is networking. It’s talking to people, going to parties, becoming a familiar face. Because I know for myself if I’m hiring someone to be on my set, or if I, working as a stylist, was hiring an assistant, I would more likely hire someone I already know and I get along with than a resume from someone I’d never heard of.
