James Ryan graduated from the screen arts program at NSCC in the spring of 2003. He worked in film and television in Halifax as a set electrician. Due to the unpredictable nature of the film industry at the time he began working as an electrician in 2009. Since moving back to Inverness in 2016 to start his own electrical company he’s wanted to get involved in film locally.
Patrick Lanctot is a Loyalist College, TV Production grad. Early in his career he worked as a freelance film editor and post production supervisor, specializing in Avid Media Composer Edit systems for big budget films such as American Psycho and Serendipity. He left a career at CBC as a a video editor in 2007 to find a better work/ life balance on the island of Cape Breton. In 2015, Patrick opened his own film production/ post production company Spectra71 Films Inc.
Acting, singing, writing, and directing for the stage has been Cindy O’Neill’s main area of artistic endeavor for more than 40 years, but she’s always been intrigued by the world of film and has dabbled in it a little. When the call happened to create Cape Breton Film in Inverness in 2017 she jumped at the chance to try. Sharing the Director role was a fun, safe, and naive way to get her feet wet!! But wet they are and she’s thrilled to see what the group creates next.
Beth Ryan has worked in the retail industry for several years. She has owned and operated three separate businesses and is currently the manager of the Closet, a thrift shop with Mill Road Social Enterprises which provides vocational, personal and social skills training for adults with diverse abilities. Beth was costume and prop person for River Hill Players Theatre group. She was a producer with Board Walk Productions, which produced musical tribute shows. She has been part of Cape Breton Film from the start.
Bonny MacIsaac is an award winning columnist/consumer advocate, writer. As well as a former national radio columnist. In the past, Bonny worked with youth and filmed two videos. Her first, an environmental video filmed on Cape Breton Island received first prize for all of Atlantic Canada. Her keen interest in Cape Breton folklore, vintage films and radio, made joining Cape Breton Film a natural fit to expand her interests. The film Bocan, was her first opportunity to be involved in a professional venture and she can’t wait to see where the future takes Cape Breton Film.
Jaime Beaton was born in Mabou, Cape Breton. At the age of 18, like many, she made the difficult decision to move from Cape Breton. After travelling Canada, she settled in Ottawa in 2000. While there she worked for many years in Social Services she studied Political Science at Carleton University and the University of Texas at El Paso. While taking a practical route, film was always a passion. In 2016, Jaime participated in Video Schoolhouse at SAW Video, and networked within Ottawa’s film community. In 2017 and 2018 she was part of the OCAN Film Fest team in Ottawa. In 2019, Jaime moved back to Cape Breton with the hopes of being a part of the Cape Breton film community and to help develop the potential of the Island as a film production hub.
Vivian Sound has worked behind the scenes in theatre, television, and now film since 1991. A born and bred ‘Tarano’ girl she now calls Cape Breton home.
Tom Ryan Sr. is a retired teacher with a background in the arts. He acted, directed and did tech work for River Hill Players Theatre group. With Cape Breton Film he has been actor, director and aspiring Grip.