The Filmmakers
Meet the filmmaking team behind the three-part documentary series and feature film, Inside Disaster.
Nadine Pequeneza
Director, Writer, Producer
Nadine Pequeneza has over 15 years experience in the independent production industry: directing, writing and producing award-winning factual programs. Experienced in docudrama, process films and biography, she is accomplished in a wide variety of genres. Her work has appeared on CBC, CTV Travel + Escape, Discovery Channel, Global Television, History Television, A&E, National Geographic, TLC, and Sky.
In January 2007 Nadine approached the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (IFRC) to make an observational documentary on their disaster relief team, and the difficulties facing humanitarian organizations in a world of increasing natural calamity. Unable to know where, when or what disaster would be the focus of the film, the idea presented many challenges. After nearly a year of consultation, the Red Cross agreed to allow a camera crew to record their work. Inside Disaster is an unprecedented look at an international, large-scale relief effort.
Andrea Nemtin
Executive Producer
After several years as a freelance producer, Andrea became a Partner and Executive Producer at Toronto’s PTV Productions Inc., in 1997. Under her guidance, PTV has produced over 60 hours of television. Andrea has produced and executive-produced one-offs, limited series and series, and has worked on international co-productions with Europe and the UK. Andrea’s recent successes include the multi award-winning feature documentary Passage, and a biography on the Aga Khan. She also recently executive produced Star Portraits Canada, restoration series Saving Places for History Television, as well as Inside Disaster for TVO and ITV.
Andrea is a Director of the Abilities Arts Festival, and has been a board member of both Hot Docs and Documentary Organization of Canada and is currently a member of the CFTPA, WIFT and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
Ian Dunbar
Executive Producer
As co-owner of PTV Productions, Ian executive produces all of PTV’s projects.
Director of Creative Services, Ian is responsible for maintaining the high standard of design implementation for all PTV Productions. In addition to editing and visual effects, Ian is an experienced online supervisor and has directed two series for television: children’s animated series Grandpa’s Garden and the documentary series Letters to God.
Stefan Randström
DOP/2nd Unit Director
Stefan Randström (born 1963) has worked extensively all over the world as a filmmaker, both as a director and a D.O.P., as well as a host and journalist for TV, radio and print. He now shoots everything from high-end broadcast and commercial productions to episodic TV jobs and small independent docs.
Stefan has won numerous awards for his films and work, among them the most coveted broadcast award in his native Finland. He’s been nominated for a Gemini two years in a row, last year as director of photography for At The Table with… and this year for the travel series he shoots and field directs, Which Way To…
Stefan is the owner of two documentary production companies: Hoppa Films Inc. with his wife and partner Karen MacKenna in Toronto, and Ab Talking Heads Oy in Finland.
Tony Wannamaker (C.S.C.)
DOP
Tony Wannamaker (C.S.C.) is a multiple award-winning D.O.P. with peer recognition in Documentary, Commercial and Reality/Lifestyle productions.
With 25 years experience, Tony has traveled to 40 countries on six continents and worked with a wonderful diversity of characters; from the Maasai in the Serengeti to the Rolling Stones in the U.K.
As a renaissance D.O.P., with multiple avocations and certifications, Tony has tracked grizzly bears in the alpine regions of the Rocky Mountains and filmed sharks feeding at the bottom of the South Atlantic. He’s a professional who is always looking to convey the integrity of the scene he is documenting.
Paul Adlaf
Location Sound Operator
Paul is an award winning Location Sound Operator with extensive experience in documentaries,episodic television series and feature films. His sound work can be heard on CBC, Discovery Channel, Global Television, History Television, Arts & Entertainment , AMC and PBS.
Whether recording chanting yogic monks, singing South African school children, main battle tanks or cheering Zapatista rebels, Paul is always passionate about capturing the perfect sound for the project at hand.
Simon Paine
Location Sound Operator
For the past 15 years, Simon Paine has been a freelance production sound mixer based in Ottawa, Canada. This fully bilingual ‘sound guy’ has done countless productions in English and French including several productions that have taken him around the world.
His work has included productions with BBC, ABC News, CTV, CBC, Global TV and numerous independent production companies.
Recently, Simon took part in a grueling documentary across the isolated interior of British Columbia and Alberta for a reenactment of Alexander Mackenzie’s historic expedition, Destination Nor’Ouest. The production included a 400 km hike across the Rocky Mountains and 1500 km navigating on the rivers and lakes to make it to the Pacific Ocean.
When he isn’t “mixing things up” Simon enjoys a passion for mountain biking and spending time with his family. Find out more about Simon at www.soundguy.ca
Geoff Rayes
Editor (Episode One & Two)
Over the course of his career Geoffrey Rayes has been an editor, producer, director and writer in both TV and film. His television editing credits include a wide variety of programs, from Shark Family and Megabuilders on the Discovery Channel, to 72 Hours: True Crime, and Undercurrents on the CBC.
Last year he was nominated for Best Editor In A Documentary for the series Lives That Changed The World: The Nelson Mandela Story and for Best Live Action Film at HDFEST in Los Angeles for his short film Tunnel Vision.
His other films The Original Sin and The Urban Myth have toured the world festival circuit and he won the Silver Medal at the Summit International Awards for his directing of the Fundy Telecom commercial in 2002.
Steve Weslak
Editor
Steve Weslak has had a successful and varied career working in commercials, feature films (The Fly, Dead Ringers, The Last Chase), episodic television (War of the Worlds), and especially his first love, documentaries. He is a full member of the Canadian Cinema Editors and has worked on many films for Canadian and International broadcasters. His most rewarding collaborations have been with Rhombus Media (Concerto, The Planets) the NFB (Unwanted Soldiers, Bollywood Bound), the CBC (Witness, Doc Zone, The Nature of Things) and TVOntario (Empire of the Word).
He says that working on Inside Disaster: Haiti exemplifies the reasons why he works in documentary, they’re about real stories and real people… truth is much more interesting than fiction. His future plans include a relentless pursuit of that elusive first award.
Alex Khaskin
Composer
Alex Khaskin is an accomplished composer currently working in the North American film and television industry. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, his gift for piano and conducting led him to complete his undergraduate at Glinka’s School for the Musically Gifted. He then went on to study composition and conducting at The St. Petersburg State Conservatory where he was awarded a Masters with Distinction. He is also the winner of the St. Petersburg Young Composers’ Festival composition prize.
Alex has worked as a pianist, orchestrator, and arranger at Russia’s LenConcert state organization, and worked regularly as guest conductor for the Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra of St. Petersburg, the Lenfilm Stage Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory. Find out more about Alex at www.alexkhaskin.com.
