Max Steinberg Nominated for Three Joey Awards

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight time
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Southwestern Ontario - Canada
London ■ St. Thomas ■ Chatham-Kent

ABOUT iFilmGroup:
We are a leading group of experienced film-makers in Southwestern, Ontario working with any member of the public that desires to enter into the film industry at NO COST. We incorporate a network-mentoring program where participants learn and instruct others as they become skilled. Also, we teach and support students from local universities and colleges and high schools. Students from these campuses range from actors and crew. We promote sharing knowledge within our programs and workshops. Fields of expertise include; Film, Acting, Print Media, Broadcast Media and Music.

CONTACT:
iFilmGroup
Don Hickey
Community Engagement Manager
donhickey@ifilmgroup.org

iFilmGroup.org- Press Release - Max Steinberg Nominated for Three Joey Awards - 09-08-19 ■

 iFilmGroup Youth Actor Excels

George Crosby joins Original Kids Theatre Company

AUGUST 25, 2019 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight time
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ABOUT iFilmGroup:
We are a leading group of experienced film-makers in Southwestern, Ontario working with any member of the public that desires to enter into the film industry at NO COST. We incorporate a network-mentoring program where participants learn and instruct others as they become skilled. Also, we teach and support students from local universities and colleges and high schools. Students from these campuses range from actors and crew. We promote sharing knowledge within our programs and workshops. Fields of expertise include; Film, Acting, Print Media, Broadcast Media and Music.

CONTACT:
iFilmGroup
Don Hickey
Community Engagement Manager
donhickey@ifilmgroup.org

iFilmGroup.org- Press Release - George Crosby - Original Kids Theatre Company - 08-25-19 ■

 iFilmGroup Meets Deadline

iFilmGroup
Completes Tight Summer Shooting Schedule

The tight summer schedule of shooting film for the movie “Not Ready” is finished, which was shot in London and St. Thomas, Ontario. The last day of the “summer schedule” was August, 17th. Director Matthew Marshall says, “There is only one more scene to shoot for this film, and it’s in the autumn when the tree leaves change their colour. So 98% of the movie is shot.”

Over 130 actors along with crew members contributed to the successful shooting of over 65 scenes. Three commercial establishments and a private home was used, along with the campus of the University of Western Ontario. People in the film industry created a buzz in amazement about the tight schedule of this movie and the reason behind it. Marshall realized that the summer was the only window of opportunity for most of the actors and crew. Some of the youth actors are moving on to college or university and they had great desires to be in this movie. iFilmGroup actors and crew and their families banded together to make this movie happen. This movie was very important to them.

A local London magazine featured an article of the filming of the movie, “Not Ready” because of its connection with a north London neighbourhood. This home in old north London was the “cardinal point” of all scenes of the movie.

Don Hickey, the Community Engagement Manager with iFilmGroup said, “That using a home in old north London established a “community value” that was required to authenticate to the audience the “real” feelings of a warm, safe neighbourhood. The script also called for the home to be near the university and the college. Post-production starts immediately and we are always looking to add to our roster of volunteers to help with marketing, fundraising and editing. What’s neat about our mandate with our organization, is that we are a mentoring organization and we don’t make profit…. we rely on donations, and we have teams of volunteers doing all departments. Many students and business people, along with retired folks contribute to our success. Right now, we need digital editors. Any skilled person working on camera or editing will get listed with IMDB through our iFilmGroup program”.

Photo by Louise McBride

iFilmGroup.org - Press Release - iFilmGroup Meets Deadline - 08-19-19

 Day Six of Filming “Not Ready”

Many youngsters looked forward to this day of filming. Just after 8 am parents dropped off their kids at 40 Princess Avenue in St. Thomas, Ontario at the Elgin Theatre Guild.

Today was three big scenes for a movie being shot during the summer of 2019. Co-Producers Matthew Marshall of m & s Marshall Productions and Don Hickey from iFilmGroup had already cast over 30 young actors for these three scenes. Most of the actors had connections with the Guild.

Some actors were brought in through iFilmGroup’s actors' roster. Casting for the movie- “Not Ready” was done earlier in the year.

What’s special about one of the scenes is that in the movie a “real stage” is part of the props. Like in the 1954 famous movie “White Christmas”, starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and directed by Michael Curtiz. A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.

“Not Ready” like in “White Christmas” uses a stage with multiple actors and triple threat performers.

Lesley Chapman from the Guild said “ there were a lot of happy young actors this day and they had a blast! Thank you iFilmGroup”.

iFilmGroup.org - Press Release - Filming Day Six of movie “Not Ready”.

Meeting Actor Mitchell Reaume

Don Hickey, iFilmGroup’s Community Engagement Manager was invited to attend a luncheon in London early in 2019 for Chris Potter a TV star and director.

This was the day that Don Hickey met Mitchell Reaume. “I was really impressed with Mitchell’s manners and his excitement of meeting Chris Potter from the Canadian Heartland TV series. He could rhyme off past episodes, actors and names of all the horses”, said Hickey.

Hickey invited Mitchell to auditions for the movie “Not Ready” held in St. Thomas at the Elgin Theatre Guild (ETG). “Mitchell came to the auditions with a prepared monologue and blew us away”, said Matthew Marshall, director/producer at m & s Marshall Productions. This was Mitchell’s first movie audition and he was among many other individuals auditioning this day. iFilmGroup gives opportunities to individuals that would like to act, a chance to prove themselves. Acting coaches are available during the auditions and provide help for any individuals that might struggle with lines, timing or presentation. Mitchell was very excited about being on a real stage with lights and cameras. Mitchell said, “ This is what I always wanted to do, to be in a movie.”

Matthew Marshall, a co-founder of iFilmGroup says, “Elgin Theatre Guild has some great talent and iFilmGroup holds workshops for youth and adults at ETG. Over the years I’ve been watching the results of the work at ETG. It only seemed sensible to marry our two groups together for some film productions and auditions. On this day we held auditions at this location in St. Thomas. Don Hickey had told me about a young male wanting to be an actor and that this would be his first audition. This is the day I met Mitchell Reaume.”

Mitchell’s audition was fantastic. Hickey looked at Marshall and Marshall looked at Hickey. They both beamed huge smiles and realized that this just might be a “great star” in the making.

Everyone in attendance took to Mitchell right away. Many seasoned actors were stunned by Mitchell’s great performance. Mitchell was not with the Guild but was invited right off the street, so to speak, by Don Hickey. Mitchell is a natural actor and Hickey saw that.

Can Mitchell Act Under Pressure ?

Day six was the biggest shoot to date of assembled actors and crew. The day of filming was at the Elgin Theatre Guild in St. Thomas, Ontario. Don Hickey of iFilmGroup estimated that there were over 50 people involved with the filming process. Lesley Chapman from the Guild happily watched as her group of “Theatre Kids” (over 25 young people) were “blocked” for filming for two very huge scenes.

The mandate behind iFilmGroup is “inter-generational”- young people with adults, mentoring each other. The opportunity came up when writing the script to cast many youth from the ETG. Donald Michael Hickey the writer of the script “Not Ready” and co-founder of iFilmGroup admits that the talent from these young actors is superb.

One young man, not yet affiliated with the ETG group of kids was here to act. Film director Matthew Marshall spoke to Mitchell during rehearsals prior to shooting scenes that Mitchell would be in.

Mitchell was sent downstairs to wardrobe, and then returned on stage in full costume for the film scene, the crew and other cast members were spellbound by his appearance. All eyes were glued on Mitchell. Mitchell played an important role during this scene. He was cast to open this scene as a “focal point” actor that would lead the other characters into the scene.

This was the largest cast of any scene in the movie thus far. The importance of this scene was explained to Mitchell and he showed confidence.

Hickey looked at Marshall, and Marshall looked at Hickey… no smiles now, they both held their breaths.

Blocked into position and Mitchell in costume, this opening scene resting on Mitchell’s shoulders… then Marshall called “ACTION”.

Film director Matthew Marshall congratulates Mitchell Reaume on his “one take” perfect performance.

“Here’s an example of a young man with a dream, waiting and wanting to be a part of the film industry, but not knowing how to get his foot in the door without spending loads of cash and having to travel distances away from London. But, he took the initiative to appear at a luncheon in London where he met people in the film business. He arrived as a “fan” but left with an offer to act in a movie. How neat is that?”, said Hickey.

Marshall said, “What a greatly rewarding experience for us at iFilmGroup and for Mitchell to have him as an “actor”, and the fact is, that life turned his dreams into reality and we’re happy the day we met- Mitchell Reaume, and now Mitchell has fans! Awesome!”

The Rest of the Cast of the Huge Scene

iFilmGroup - Press Release - Meeting Mitchell Reaume - 08-08-19

iFilmGroup Co-founder IS GUEST SPEAKER AT Scriptwriting Workshop for Teens
at Elgin Theatre Guild

 Award-winning film director and iFilmGroup co-founder Matthew Marshall took time out of his busy production schedule for the dramatic film “Not Ready” to visit the Elgin Theatre Guild and be a guest speaker on scriptwriting for Lesley Chapman’ s workshop for the tweens and teens of the ETG.

Marshall and fellow iFilmGroup co-founder Don Hickey visited the ETG last summer and were guest speakers when Chapman ran a week-long workshop for 11 tweens dealing with the difference between film and theatre. 

This summer Chapman ran a week-long workshop for the ETG Youth in early July dealing with Scriptwriting. The group came up with a theme of "Then There was Silence" and each of the three groups ( "The Purple Alligators", "The Unknown", and "The Bactors") had to come up with a concept, write a script and then rehearse it and perform it at the end of the week. Many of the youth from last year were back for this year’s workshop. There were also a number of faces from the ETG Youth who are part of the cast of the film “Not Ready” as theatre kids in the Theatre Guild that is part of the film.

Marshall, who is a playwright and scriptwriter himself, felt very honoured to be asked to come to speak. “I have a connection with a large portion of this group, through seeing them on stage at the ETG and even having had a number of them being apart of past films as well as being cast in the most recent film "Not Ready”, says Marshall. Some of Marshall’s numerous award-winning films include awards for his scriptwriting.

Marshall was blown away by the creativity of each group and what they came up with for scripts and some of the moving content and storylines they created. ‘They are a very talented bunch who think very deeply” adds Marshall. There was even talk at some point the ETG and the ETG Youth organizing a competition where the kids write short plays and they put them on for public view and have iFilmGroup be associated with the competition.

Marshall’s time with the ETG youth allowed mentoring by Marshall on scriptwriting and sharing his experience, but also gave him a chance to see the very talented work of up and coming local artists, many of whom are working with iFilmGroup already.

iFilmGroup - Press Release - Elgin Theatre Guild - Script Writing Workshop - 07-10-19

Day Five of Shooting Movie “Not Ready”

On the set of “Not Ready” during Day 5 of the shoot, actor Helena Rose brought her talent and poise along with her wit and humour to the busy set. Director Matthew Marshall of m & s Marshall Productions enjoys her humour between takes. Young Bree Hamilton plays a PSW in this movie. Bree and Helena hit it off right away.

It’s great to see two actors that connect so instantaneously and the chemistry is outstanding. The shooting schedule on Day 5 introduced Rose’s character to the other cast.

Two supporting male actors (Andre Dao and Castro) that acted with Helena Rose found her a delight to work with.

Don Hickey of iFilmGroup says, “You know when Helena Rose comes on set because the mood on the set changes to a very enriched “loving family and friendship camaraderie”.

Dianne Newling, a lead actor in this movie acted in many scenes with Helena Rose. Matthew Marshall says, “that both actors have great futures ahead of them in this industry after seeing them work on this movie”.

Day Five CAST WITH SOME CREW

ALL PHOTOS BY STEVE STRUTHERS

iFilmGroup.org - Press Release - Day Five of Shooting - Movie “Not Ready” - 07-19-19

 DAY THREE OF FILMING “NOT READY” - MEDICAL STAFF STANDING BY TO ASSIST

Actors were cast as PSW (Personal Support Workers) in this Ontario, Canada film called “Not Ready”.

Below are stills taken from behind the scenes. Youth actors and crew and some seniors are used in this production produced by iFilmGroup (in association with) m & s Marshall Productions.

Director Matthew Marshall of m & s Marshall Productions and co-founder of iFilmGroup enjoys it when a young actor or crew member is able to multi-task on set. Marshall said, “We have some youth that are interested in almost every aspect of film production. We put youth on sound and have them help with lighting. (It’s common for visitors to our sets to exclaim in amazement, “Those young actors just finished their lines, and then walked over to a camera or clipboard to help assist the director to shoot the next scene for other actors.”). ”

Kevin Francis an electrical student at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario was on set of iFilmGroup’s movie- “Not Ready”.

Don Hickey, iFilmGoup’s Community Engagement Manager met Francis from India and offered him a day on set. Francis stayed for more than one day. He was offered an acting role as an extra. Francis smiled and said, “Looks like I was at the right place at the right time to get the acting job!'"

iFilmGroup.org - Press Release - Day Three Filming - “Not Ready” - 06-30-2019

 City of London Ontario SHOP-KEEPER ALLOWS a Perfect Backdrop For Shooting A Movie SCENE

iFilmGroup Media Team visited the cast & crew on the set of Day Two of filming the dramatic film “Not Ready” being shot in London. Day 2 shooting took place on Dundas Street at the Cardboard Cafe and Western University (UWO).

“Not Ready” has over 35 youth actors in the movie, which lines up with the mandate of mentoring youth in film through the iFilmGroup programs.

Josh Rivers, owner of The Cardboard Cafe was very generous with his support once he learned of the successes of iFilmGroup’s history of film awards. Director Matthew Marshall of m & s Marshall Productions and co-founder of iFilmGroup said, “ The Cardboard Cafe” was the perfect setting for the scenes where youth are gathered in the community engaged in social interactions in a safe environment.

Director Matthew Marshall trains on a “live set” with sound equipment. Max Steinberg on “boom” and Andre Dao on “digital recorder”.

Both Steinberg and Dao are youth actors in the movie. Dao was discovered on UWO campus in 2018. Dao came to auditions in May 2019 and was cast in “Not Ready”. Steinberg has been in many film productions through m & s Marshall Productions.

Filming will continue in London and St. Thomas until September at private secured locations. Don Hickey co-founder and Community Engagement Manager of iFilmGroup said, “We have a great Production Team of volunteers who love the task of sharing with seniors and youth who want to be a part of a film. We are wholly supported by contributors of cash donations and free location access.”

iFilmGroup Production Team said, “Mighty shout of thanks to “UWO” and “The Cardboard Cafe” from the huge cast and crew (over 50) of youth and seniors that are in the film of over 60 scenes.

iFilmGroup.org - Press Release - Day 2 Filming - “Not Ready” - 06-29-19

 DAY ONE OF FILMING “NOT READY” IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO

The city of London is used as one of the many locations in Ontario for filming a feature film involving many local talent.

Filming of the dramatic film written by Donald Michael Hickey and produced by iFilmGroup in association with m & s Marshall Productions began in London, Ontario late June 2019. iFilmGroup held auditions in May 2019 in St. Thomas at the Elgin Theatre Guild.

Director Matthew Marshall of m & s Marshall Productions will keep a tight schedule each day of shooting. Filming is scheduled to be completed in September 2019.

Over 60 actors and crew are involved with this production.

There are many youth acting and are part of the crew in this production. Many family members arrive on set to watch their children in the production. Youth actors from Sarnia, St. Thomas and other surrounding areas in southwestern Ontario are cast in this movie. The two principal leads are Toronto actors Diane Newling and David Parisian.

iFilmGroup.org - Press Release - Day One - Filming “Not Ready” - 06-28-19

BUSY MOVIE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER VISITS KIDS ON STAGE IN ST. THOMAS, ONTARIO

Busy movie director and producer Matthew Marshall of m & s Marshall Productions and co-founder of iFilmGroup was once again invited to visit the Elgin Theatre Guild in St. Thomas, Ontario. Marshall broke from his busy schedule of shooting preparations of a movie being shot locally in St. Thomas and London this summer. This movie called “Not Ready”, co-produced and directed by Marshall will feature some stage actors (youth and adults) from the Elgin Theatre Guild (ETG).

Marshall said, “ I have a strong connection with ETG that goes back many years. I’ve seen actors of all ages working with ETG grow into superb actors. When connecting with these young actors and their parents I open up an invitation to develop their skills by getting involved on a movie set and working with film.”

M & S Marshall Productions had the pleasure to cast from the actors of ETG for his films. Just recently, actors from ETG had an Audition Day at their location in St. Thomas held by iFilmGroup. Lesley Chapman, President at Elgin Theatre Guild (Community Theatre) said, “It’s a great event when we have professionals like Matthew coming by to visit our actors. The boost of energy and excitement is seen in the actors. Matthew is keen on sharing, teaching and definitely re-enforcing skills and attitude of our actors and volunteers”.

Matthew Marshall said, “ I had a great afternoon with the cast and crew of “The Exciting Exploits of an Effervescent Elf “ at the Elgin Theatre Guild. Also a special time being the VIP Guest and chatting with the “ETG Kids” giving acting and line learning tips for their upcoming production.

“The Exciting Exploits of an Effervescent Elf “
Production runs June 27th -June 29th
Visit the ETG website for tickets at http://www.elgintheatreguild.ca/tickets.html

iFilmGroup.org - PR - ETG - Invitation - 06-19

 ACTORS FROM SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO

AND TORONTO CAST IN A 2019 SUMMER MOVIE

CALLED “NOT READY”

Here are some actors from our roster that are playing roles
in this summer’s production of a dramatic movie influenced by “real life” events and situations.
The events of a journey have "purpose of meaning" and as events unravel, they remarkably seem like pre-destination.

Some Actors that have been cast

iFilmGroup.org - Press Release - Partial Cast - Movie - “Not Ready” - 08-31-19

Toronto Acting Pair Leads For “Not Ready”

 iFilmGroup’s newest production “Not Ready” has two main characters that when brought to life on the screen will move people in a profound way. The script is written by iFilmGroup co-founder Don Hickey. Many who have caught a sneak glimpse at the script are very moved by the words on the page. The team has been working on finding the right people to bring those words to life and they believe they have found the right combination in David Parisian and Diane Newling.

David Parisian will be playing the lead role of Professor Richard Pratt.  The professor has just received the bad news he is going to die. Now he must get his affairs in order and try to prepare for his impending death. Parisian is a character actor in the truest sense of the word. He has brought to life characters ranging from those you feel sorry for, to those you love, to those you hate. He is known for playing John Carroll in Black Donelly’s, Charles Tripp in Black Gold, along with over 30 other films and many TV series.  Parisian has also previously worked with the iFilmGroup team when he was in m & s Marshall Production’s Blue Love. He played a small role as the minister in the film.

Diane Newling will be playing the professor’s wife Gail Pratt. She is a talented Fashion design teacher who finds out she has won an award and is supposed to be going to Paris. That is until the news comes about her husband Richard changing the course of events in their lives. Newling is a Toronto based actress who has played Chloe in “The Petrichor,”  Ida in “Life of CY” and a Financial Aid Officer in “Tuition” and appearing in two TV Series.  Playing Julia Ames in the episode “Deadly Duplex” on Fear Thy Neighbour and Inspector Juvelle on the episode “Discord” on Bizarre Murders.  

Parisian and Newling have worked together on previous projects and are both excited to be working together again.  Filming for the production will be taking place over the summer of 2019 in London and St. Thomas.

iFilmGroup Press Release - Acting Pair - David Parisian and Diane Newling - Cast in “Not Ready” 02-19-19

At Auditions For Movie “Not Ready”

iFilmGroup held Auditions on Sunday, May 19th for their upcoming film “Not Ready” written by iFilmGroup co-Founder Don Hickey.  The film is about a professor named Richard who is facing death straight in the face and has to look at his life, the time he has spent with his loved ones, how he has used his time and whose lives has he changed. 

The Auditions were held at Elgin Theatre Guild in St. Thomas and were attended by close to 30 people ranging in ages from 10 years of age up to seniors. Some familiar faces from iFilmGroup’s recent past were in attendance as well as some new faces from London and surrounding areas. “We had people from London and St. Thomas but we also had people come in from as far away as Sarnia and Toronto audition as well”, says Hickey who is also the film’s Producer.  His iFilmGroup co-founder Matthew Marshall is directing the production.

Marshall was impressed with the level of talent at the auditions.  Marshall will confirm that certain members of the cast have been selected coming out of the audition day, but no official announcements have been made just yet. Cast will be announced on the iFilmGroup Facebook page and in press releases at iFilmGroup.org.

Filming for the production will be taking place over the summer of 2019 in London and St. Thomas.

iFilmGroup.org Press Release - “Not Ready” Movie - Auditions - 05-19-19

iFilmGroup Duo Cast in Major Roles

Max Steinberg and Zachary Wilson have been associated with the key members of iFilmGroup for several years now. They have been a part of a number of the movies that the production team has made and have also participated in the various workshops that iFilmGroup has offered. They have been a part of a number of film productions together. They both were part of the Black Donnelly’s. With the iFilmGroup production team, they have been a part of Malicious Attack about bullying as students of the high school in the film. They have camped out in nature together with Summer of Discovery. Most recently, they were teens playing basketball together taunting the main character in Blue Love.

The iFilmGroup team will be announcing more cast in the coming days. Some familiar faces who have worked with iFilmGroup previously and some new faces that will be joining the team.

Now they have been cast to be playing friends in the new iFilmGroup film “Not Ready”.
Max will be playing the third biggest role of the film in the role of Michael. Zachary will be playing Michael’s best friend Glen. For both of them, this is the biggest roles they have played so far with iFilmGroup.  “It is a testament to thier growth with the group over the last few years”, says iFilmGroup co-founder Don Hickey who is also the writer of Not Ready.

Filming for the production will be taking place over the summer of 2019 in London and St Thomas.

iFilmGroup.org Press Release - Max Steinberg and Zachary Wilson - Duo Cast in Major Roles - 05-19-19

iFilmGroup’s Newest Film has Three Interesting Support Characters

Through the process of casting for the film, much discussion went into who would be best to play these three roles. The roles are of two sisters who attend a Performing arts school and their controlling “stage mom”. The Campbell sisters are considered Triple Threats which in the performance world means they can sing, dance and act. Their Mother is going to ensure that these two girls make it to the big time and she is going to push them every step of the way if need be.

Her talent has recently lead to her being accepted into the musical theatre performance program at Sheridan College. She has also worked with the iFilmGroup previously when she played the role of Maizie Dunne in Blue Love. Mielke will be playing the older sister Katherine Campbell. The younger sister role of Cassandra Campbell will be played by another familiar face of iFilmGroup and that is Shelby Simpson. Simpson came to iFilmGroup back at the beginning of filming Blue Love. She actually played two roles in the film due to her ability to change her look and also due to a growth spurt that she had from the first scene to later in filming.

The final piece in the puzzle came in who would be cast as Mrs. Campbell. Jessica Fediw someone that Marshall has known since High School and who has acted in many of the Elgin Theatre Guild productions in recent years came to Auditions. Jessica has played small roles in some of Marshall’s films. She was a school board member named Mrs. S. Smith in Malicious Attack. Then she played the mother of a small child in the hospital waiting room in Blue Love. That child was Shelby Simpson for one of her two roles in Blue Love. “Shelby and Jessica share some similarities in looks so they were the perfect mom and daughter for the scene,” says Marshall. So Fediw was a natural top choice to play Mrs. Campbell. At auditions, that choice was confirmed when Fediw showed her acting talent by becoming the “Stage Mom” that would be the mother of the Campbell daughters.

With Talia Mielke, Shelby Simpson and Jessica Fediw all being cast as the Campbell family members it fills in more of the central roles of Not Ready.

More casting selections will be coming from iFilmGroup in the coming days.

iFilmGroup Press Release - Three Interesting Support Characters - Movie- “Not Ready” - 05-19-19

 Santa Clause Gets an Acting Job with iFilmGroup

Thomas William Brown a mall Santa auditioned with iFilmGroup for the production of "Not Ready" written by Donald Michael Hickey (co-founder of iFilmGroup) and directed by Matthew Marshall (co-founder of iFilmGroup) of m & S Marshall Productions.

Hickey scouted for a particular character actor over a year ago and found Brown in his annual role of Santa Clause at White Oak and Westmount, and Masonville malls in London Ontario.

In conversation with Hickey who is the Community Engagement Manager for iFilmGroup and scout for local talent, Brown disclosed his acting resume. He started as a young 13 yr. old as Snoopy in the Santa Clause Parade (29yrs) and The Turkey Festival (8yrs) in Strathroy, Ontario 1966-1995. Also played Sir Topham Hatt with Day Out with Thomas the Train in St. Thomas and Ottawa and even Winnipeg. Brown also was a clown in parade & festivities.

His debut as the "Happy Daze Clown" for the Western Fair in London Ontario lead to his debut in a commercial as the "Happy Daze Clown" in 1989 for the Western Fair District. Mrs. Anne Eadie, Public Relations Manager of Western Fair District was quoted, “Mr. Brown performed most professionally, bringing the character to life and interacting with fair visitors”.

To add to his list; in 1992- Rocky Horror Picture Show - St. Catharines Gay Players in Toronto, St. Catharines and Kitchener, Ontario. He was “Homer House" covered in fun fur for the Niagara Lifestyle Home Show. Then onto “Mr. Grape “ at the Niagara Grape & Wine Festival in the fall of 1991. “He was one grape looking Mascot,” said- Kim Pecora Executive Director of the festival.

His volunteer work 2012 to Present- London Pride Festival 2013-2017, and Fringe Festival 2011- 2014, also Aeolian Theatre and Palace Theatre and Grande Theatre London as an usher.

Thomas Brown has been involved in small acting parts over many years. Matthew Marshall co-founder of iFilmGroup always expresses that, "all roles are important. There's no such thing as an unimportant role. And most likely, playing a small role will lead to a bigger role, if the right opportunity shall arise!" The opportunity arose with the audition through iFilmGroup's casting call.

Bernadine Spencer of Pride London Festival says, "Thomas is very caring and compassionate about his work. He is kind, considerate, enthusiastic, provides a great deal of enjoyment for adults & children, pleasure to work with, very gentle, hard-working and dedicated to all those he touches, in all that he does. Thomas has been highly recommended over the years. As a person who has worked closely with Thomas, I can attest to his art. He is a hard worker and committed to whatever he puts his heart and soul .”

When Thomas left the auditions held by iFilmGroup he was quoted saying, "I waited all my life for this opportunity. All my small acting gigs have paid off and I always looked forward to this day.. the day I would be discovered. This day will change my life! Thank you iFilmGroup."

iFilmGroup Press Release - Thomas Brown (mall Santa) - Cast in movie “Not Ready” - 05-19-19