It’s been a decade since David Jacombs graduated from Niagara College. Now, at 33, he not only has numerous short films under his belt, he has written and directed his first feature film, Ermon County, which was shot almost entirely in the Niagara region and is scheduled to be completed by the end of this summer. Jacombs and his wife Audra, who produced Ermon County (and is also former NC Broadcasting student!) have their own production company, Little Plastic Films Inc.
InsideNC caught up with Jacombs, who now lives in Toronto, to reminisce about his days at NC, progress of his career to date, and how NC helped get him to where he is today. Here is what he had to say:
What drew you to NC’s Broadcasting program?
A friend of mine was enrolled in the Broadcasting program when I decided to go back to school. I was split between Niagara College for Broadcasting and Humber for Theatre Arts. I had been accepted to both programs, but the deciding factor was the amount of hands-on experience my friend said he was receiving, both behind and in front of the camera. I was intrigued by how well-rounded the program sounded. And I wasn’t disappointed in my decision.
Had you always wanted to work in film or is this an interest that you developed while at NC?
Yes, I’ve always wanted to be part of the entertainment industry, but primarily in front of the camera. It wasn’t until I was at Niagara College and exposed to the multitude of positions behind the camera that I realized my true desire: writing/directing.
I had the pleasure of being introduced to film and TV at the very young age of six. My parents enrolled me in the Children’s Television Workshop. For a year, I auditioned and took classes, but my parents weren’t able to keep up with the expense of traveling back and forth between Hamilton and Toronto. From there, throughout school I participated in any drama programs I could, and continued to pursue theatre and acting roles. While I was applying to colleges, I was able to get on the set of a couple films as a production assistant, through some friends, and gained my first exposure to the behind-the-scenes.
What do you remember most fondly about your NC days?
Helping to organize and present the GRAFITI (Graphic Radio Film Television Image Arts) Awards, writing and directing my first short films, My Last Cigarette and Necrophile, being the last year of students to edit a project on the steenbecks, and spending hours upon hours in the editing suites.
How do you feel your education/experience at NC helped prepare you for your career path?
It helped me understand how to “be” on set. I fell naturally into the assistant director role and I enjoyed it. I took every opportunity I could to learn as much as possible about that role and made sure the class knew me as that. I actually didn’t have any desire to direct my own stuff until much later. Instead, I focused on the assistant directing and from that experience and education, it helped me springboard my career in Toronto in the Film/TV Industry. I definitely didn’t start assistant directing when I moved to Toronto, I spent many years struggling as a production assistant and craft assistant for numerous productions. However, as soon as an opportunity arose, I expressed my interest in the assistant directing department, until I finally got my opportunity.
What have been some of the highlights of your career since graduating from NC?
Since graduating, I have assistant directed Comedy, Inc., Comedy Now, Niki’s Funtime Show (TV Pilot), and associate directed So You Think You Can Dance: Canada Season 1. I worked as the second assistant director for the feature film, Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh, which is hitting select theatres across Canada on May 9, for a one night engagement. And finally, I have written, produced and directed numerous short films and my first feature, Ermon County.
Is there a particular dream/goal you aspire to?
I aspire to be an established writer and director for feature films and TV.
Was it challenging to launch your career after graduation?
Yes. I moved to Toronto with a couple other Broadcasting graduates and we had high hopes. Within a year, we all moved away from each other and lost some good friendships and none of us were in the industry the way we expected to be. There is a massive transition from school production to professional and it takes time to understand the nuances and adapt to them. I persevered; I took chances to make new contacts and gave my absolute all whenever an opportunity came up. While I would PA on larger sets, I constantly pursued other opportunities to get credits where I needed them.
It was with another Niagara College grad that I was able to get my first AD credits, Mark Montefiore. He graduated a year before me and we kept in touch when I moved to Toronto. He had just gotten into the CFC’s producer program and they were looking for assistant directors, so he asked me to come out. It was no pay, of course, but I was able to AD, and from the connections I made there, I received numerous other offers to AD with other people and productions and start building a solid CV.
You were recently in Niagara filming your first feature, Ermon County. Can you tell me a bit about this film and about your role in it?
Ermon County is a found footage style sci-fi thriller about an estranged brother and sister returning to their home town of Ermon County in search of their missing, younger brother. The film is an original screenplay I wrote and directed and my wife, Audra, produced through our production company, Little Plastic Films, Inc. Audra is actually an ex-student of Niagara College as well. She entered the Broadcasting program a few years earlier than I, but in her first year got an opportunity in Montreal to work on Heavy Metal 2000, an animated film. And, at the advice of one of her teachers, she left Niagara and pursued the opportunity. Years later, our paths crossed in Toronto, where we met on a film set.
How were NC Broadcasting students involved in Ermon County?
Audra produced the film and is from Welland, so we relied on our friends and family to help us. All of our cast and some key crew members were hired in Toronto, but we still had a lot of crew to fill. We talked with an old friend and indie producer and director in Welland, Chris Paco, about coming on board as our production manager. With him in place, we asked him to contact the school to see about getting some students to come out as production assistants for the shoot. We picked about eight students to come to set over the 10-day shooting schedule and help out with everything from craft services to grip/gaffer to camera operating. With this being a very low budget production, every person that came out needed to be ready to fill numerous roles and the students did this with unwavering enthusiasm and tenacity. It was a pleasure to see the quality of the NC students still proving exceptional.
Was it all filmed in Niagara?
Ninety-nine per cent of the film was shot in one house in Welland. We did some exterior pickups throughout Welland, Smithville and Toronto.
What is the current status of Ermon County?
The film is currently in post-production. We are planning for an end of summer completion and then festivals, festivals, festivals! We do plan to have a private screening in Welland, as an appreciation for all of the hard work our Welland team did.
What motivates/inspires you as a film director?
Telling a thought provoking story. I want people to question and contemplate not just my story but their own motives and desires. I am fascinated with taking ordinary people and challenging them in extraordinary circumstances. I hope that comes across in my first film.
What do you find most rewarding about your career so far?
Being able to take an original idea and watch it grow and transform at each production stage. And being able to collaborate with highly creative individuals to achieve a common goal.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently writing a sequel to Ermon County as well as developing my next original script, titled Breathe, as a co-production between Canada and Australia. I’m also co-writing a Fantasy Novella, called Ragna-Rok, as a springboard to a six-part fantasy series.
It’s been 10 years since you graduated. Do you have any advice you would give to NC Broadcasting students who hope to follow the same career path as you?
Take chances, build relationships and always develop your own projects. Get connected to any organizations you can. Find like-minded people and collaborate. And always be respectful and considerate. This industry is founded on who you know and anyone at any time could need your help, or you could need theirs.
