1000 Meals with 1000 Artists

A Meal with Colin Ziraldo

This week Mike shares sushi with Colin Ziraldo, a filmmaker and cinematographer in Ottawa who took on the challenge of creating, filming and producing 12 short films in one year. Colin and Mike discuss relationships in the arts, the challenges of filming one short per month and the balance of artistic creation and living life. Don't miss the public screening of Twelve Tales on Saturday April 13 at the Mayfair Theatre, you can get tickets on Sol One's website. 

A Meal with LenZz

This week Mike chats with LenZz, as he's known in the Ottawa arts community, a photographer, filmmaker and a community mixer. LenZz is on a mission to share his knowledge with younger artists to help support the creative process. Through workshops, creative projects and more, LenZz is making a big impact as a community builder with a focus on partners, mentorship and youth engagement. 

A Meal with Kevin Laporte

This week Mike chats with Kevin Laporte, a video producer, video director, with a background in theatre and film. Kevin and Mike both attended Queen's University, but Kevin was there shortly after Mike's time. The two discuss the arts departments at Queen's, the film community in Ottawa and what drives Kevin in his video production process. 

A Meal with Viktor Khalik

1000 Meals is back! After a brief pause, Mike returns to meeting with artists and learning about them and their process. This week Mike chats with Viktor Khalik, a young artist who is building a foundation in photography, videographer, music and film. Viktor and Mike chatted over some dumpling from Dumplings? Dumplings! in downtown Ottawa, discussing the influence of Viktor's culture, building skills and finding your own style. 

A Meal with Andrew Brannen

Mike shares BBQ from Moe's BBQ with filmmaker and director Andrew Brannen, who recently debuted his first feature film! Andrew talks about the process behind making Coffee to Cocktails, his film, and the journey that brought him to this point. Andrew is also a podcaster, check out the podcast he does with his wife Hannah called "Pause It For Me", on various podcast apps! 

A Meal with Nemo Scio

This week Mike chats with photo artist Nemo Scio. Nemo has been a photographer for many years but has recently found more time to focus on his photo art as he finds moments in nature that can tell quite the story. The two enjoyed a lunch at The Third, in the Hintonburg/Wellington West area of Ottawa. 

A Meal with Anastasiia Zosymenko

This week Mike chats with Anastasiia Zosymenko, a young filmmaker who made her first feature! Anastasiia and Mike talk about her documentary on the war in Ukraine, going to film school and the opportunities Canada has in the arts.

A Meal with Somya Goomer

This week Mike chats with Somya Goomer, a self described 'mixed bag'! She is a singer, actor, designer, producer, and project manager who is keen on collaboration and finding projects that really spark her creatively. The two had lunch at Zoe's restaurant in the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, downtown Ottawa. 

A Meal with Ben Bergeron

This week, Mike shares some pub fare with filmmaker Ben Bergeron. Ben is the Creative Director of Hot Shoe Productions, a social enterprise of Youth Ottawa and is a local filmmaker who is about to complete one short film a month for one year. We'll be screening his year of short films in 2024, for now the two chat about filmmaking in Ottawa, various film contests, festivals and the value of the combination of education and practical experience.

A Meal with Reid Cunningham

This week Mike reconnects with a friend, Reid Cunningham. Reid is a singer and was the Producer of the first three years of The Juvenis Festival, a youth arts festival in Kingston, Ontario. The two enjoy sandwiches and wraps at Bella Bistro in Kingston as they chat about venues for musicians, producing festivals and the power the arts have to connect.