13/04: Skiing without the Snow
Skiing is one of my great loves and something I try to do when my schedule allows. I was invited to visit Toronto to sit in on the shooting of Mark Wahlberg’s film, Max Payne. Figuring it was close enough to the mountains, I had my ski gear packed on the plane just in case.
The film set was impressive. I am always impressed with how many moving parts there are on the set of a movie, from the lighting to makeup to even catering. A collection of freelancers and small businesses all working together for a common goal of making a major motion picture. Sure it can be a bit like watching sausage being made, but it always amazes me.
I was invited up by my dear friend Tie Domi. While Tie earned a justifiable reputation as an enforcer on the ice, he is a lot of fun off the ice. We were introduced to each other during my quest to get some hockey questions answered. I was helping coordinate a financing drive to build the a new hockey arena and wanted to know what amenities were needed to make the arena first rate for players. We wanted to attract an NHL hockey team through the creation of this stadium. The plan fell through, but my friendship with Tie remained.
Anyway, I’m walking through Toronto with Tie and Mark after the day’s shooting and our conversation turned to Skiing. All the years that Tie was in Canada, he was either contractually not allowed to ski or just not available to join me. I was pressing on him again, with Mark helping by telling Tie that he could find some snowboarders to fight with on the slopes.
As if on cue, we turn the corner to see an outstanding ad for skiing in Alberta. The took a park bench and dressed it up to make it look like a ski lift. There was a guy sitting on it that made it look perfect. I even asked him if he was part of the ad, which he wasnt.
Tie looked to me and said, “OK, you win, lets go.” I got the flight plan updated on the jet and started putting the plans together for Tie and I to head to Alberta for a few days of skiing!
The film set was impressive. I am always impressed with how many moving parts there are on the set of a movie, from the lighting to makeup to even catering. A collection of freelancers and small businesses all working together for a common goal of making a major motion picture. Sure it can be a bit like watching sausage being made, but it always amazes me.
I was invited up by my dear friend Tie Domi. While Tie earned a justifiable reputation as an enforcer on the ice, he is a lot of fun off the ice. We were introduced to each other during my quest to get some hockey questions answered. I was helping coordinate a financing drive to build the a new hockey arena and wanted to know what amenities were needed to make the arena first rate for players. We wanted to attract an NHL hockey team through the creation of this stadium. The plan fell through, but my friendship with Tie remained.
Anyway, I’m walking through Toronto with Tie and Mark after the day’s shooting and our conversation turned to Skiing. All the years that Tie was in Canada, he was either contractually not allowed to ski or just not available to join me. I was pressing on him again, with Mark helping by telling Tie that he could find some snowboarders to fight with on the slopes.
As if on cue, we turn the corner to see an outstanding ad for skiing in Alberta. The took a park bench and dressed it up to make it look like a ski lift. There was a guy sitting on it that made it look perfect. I even asked him if he was part of the ad, which he wasnt.
Tie looked to me and said, “OK, you win, lets go.” I got the flight plan updated on the jet and started putting the plans together for Tie and I to head to Alberta for a few days of skiing!
