Welland filmmaker brings fantasy world to life
David Nordquist says it’s surreal that his latest creative exploit will finally see the light of day.
For three years he has been working on “The Rangers: Bloodstone,” a film of his own creation.
Back in summer 2014 Nordquist, who co-owns the Wellandbased fantasy gaming business MiniWarGaming, acted in the independent fantasy film “The Rangers,” building on his passion for fantasy as he filled the role of Drustan. He enjoyed it enough that he continued his journey with that character, shooting a film of his own titled “The Rangers: Drustan Chronicles.”
That film picked up an award for best short film at the Canadian Diversity Film Festival, and ultimately the support of executive producers Aaron Straus and Hunter White with a $20,000 initial budget for a full-length film examining Drustan’s quest to save his daughter from marauding orcs with the help of a ragtag group of heroes.
“The Rangers: Bloodstone” will premiere on Aug. 23 and 24 at Cineplex Odeon Niagara Square Cinemas in Niagara Falls and at Rose City Kids in Welland, respectively.
“It’s very surreal the date is finally here,” said Nordquist, 33, who has spent the past two years editing footage shot in Pelham across three days in 2016 with the help of 80 actors, including his three children. Prior to that, writing the script was an eight-month affair. In total Nordquist has spent three years on the film, waking up early to squeeze in four hours of editing before heading to work every day over recent months.
“I’ve watched it 22 times,” said Nordquist, who would edit, send off his changes, receive feedback and then re-edit.
He edited 90 per cent of the film, admitting there was a slight learning curve to the process. He is no stranger to editing video, his business is world-renowned in a way for its play-by-play broadcasts of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 tabletop gameplay. Film, he said, was a different affair, allowing for him to eschew quick cuts for longer, more-atmospheric shots, allowing him to flush out more emotion.
“I’m kind of an inadvertent editor,” said Nordquist, who was quick to explain the film was a collaborative affair.
More than 100 individuals worked on the project. The film is one hour and 46 minutes long, and Nordquist said he is 100 per cent satisfied with the final product, and is now working on distribution.
After the premiere, he won’t be diving into another film project. It has taken considerable time from his family.
“I won’t be making film for a while because I like having a wife,” he said, adding, “without her I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
His wife, Farrah, was the first to see the finished film. Together they had a special at-home screening.
“She’s never in the limelight … I made it for her,” said Nordquist.
Both premiere screenings are at 7 p.m. Tickets to the Niagara Falls show run just more than $8 and can be purchased at www.eventbrite.ca by searching for “The Rangers: Bloodstone — Advance Screening.”
The Welland premiere will benefit Rose City Kids, with tickets set at $10. That event will feature refreshments from the Black Sheep Lounge and film T-shirts made locally by Presstime Designs will be available for purchase. Tickets to both premieres can be purchased in advance at the Black Sheep Lounge.