Northbound Studios : Olsen working on a feature film

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The Leader-Post
December 8, 2004

Olsen working on a feature film
by Veronica Rhodes

Deadly assassins, secret agents and high-tech hackers will make their home in Regina this summer, as a new feature length movie gets set for filmming in the city.

Deric Olsen is the mastermind behind The Phoenix Agenda, the espionage thriller he has written and will direct this summer. While he is currently pursuing his master's degree in fine arts from the University of Regina, Olsen is perfecting the script, setting up casting calls and preparing for the production ahead of him.

He started his own company, Northbound Studios, in 1999 while pursuing his undergraduate degree. His first film, a 30-minute short titled The Haven, was well received and garnered Olsen a few award nominations in his home province of Alberta.

Now using equipment from the U of R and volunteer actors and crew, he is creating his first feature film - an exhausting task that will require long hours and hard work. "It's a pretty big undertaking and some people are questioning my sanity a little bit at trying to make a feature-length film. Having done a 30-minute film in The Haven, I know that we can get it done," said Olsen.

He has been writing the script for the past eight months, collaborating with a writer in Scotland over the Internet. Olsen said instructors at the U of R have helped him work through the script and refine it. Filming will take place for three to four weeks this summer, with the majority being done in Regina and the rest being shot in Alberta. "By the time we get it all finished and ready for exhibition and showing it and having a premiere sort of screening, it will probably be about 2 1/2 years," said Olsen.

The subject of his latest project is similar to his last - exploring the world of espionage. Olsen said it is a genre he enjoys working in and is appealing to audiences. "Sort of the resurgence fo espionage films in the last five or six years, its really sort of got me fired up about thing and its a genre that people are familiar with. And also, you're trying to get something that people are going to watch so it has a broad appeal." said Olsen

He will be holding open auditions for the movie on Saturday and is looking to fill the 13 principal roles in the film. Olsen said everyone is invited to audition because the roles available to adults are for a wide range of physical types, nationalities and ages. "I'm looking for people that are just passionate about being in a movie and working with me to get something done and created," said Olsen.

There will be an open audition session for The Phoenix Agenda on Dec. 11 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Saskatchewan Filmpool Co-operative. Actors can call 569-8657 to set up a time to audition.