The People

Jesse James Miller FILMMAKER Jesse is an Award Winning filmmaker (Uganda Rising – Facing Ali) who has had over ten years experience as a Writer/Director and Editor.  Jesse has just started principle photography Directing a documentary about boxing icon Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini as well as wrapping up a 1/2 hour comedy pilot called “Captain Starship”.  He recently won the Leo for his work on the Academy Award shortlisted documentary FACING ALI. Full Bio Jesse James Miller CV Contact: Characters Agency – Barbara Bird 604.733.9800 ext. 345

Jennifer Copping ACTOR/DIRECTOR An accomplished actress, singer, dancer and director, Jennifer has just finished a 15 month run playing Franki Valli’s wife Mary Delgao in the Toronto cast of  “JERSEY BOYS“.  She also recently Directed the Toronto Premier of ” ALMOST MAINE” at the Terragon Extra Space which was rewarded with rave reviews. Full Bio Jennifer Copping CV Contact: Toronto – Fountainhead Talent – 416-538-6888 Vancouver – Red Management – Elena Kirschner – 604.998.8077

The Company

Backyard Buddha Studio started off as a thought and became a reality in 2006 when my beautifully talented wife (Jennifer Copping) and I, tore down our garage and built a studio in its place.

So, the name.  We’ll long story short.

When we looked at the first house we wanted to buy, I walked into the backyard and sitting next to the dilapidated garage door was a very familiar bronze Buddha statue.  I couldn’t put my finger on where I’d seen it before, but when your buying your first house things aren’t too clear.  Turns out the owners were old lost friends of my mother’s and the Buddha statue she had made 25 years earlier.

And the studio.

It’s an offline/online edit suite with bamboo floors, natural light, a kitchenette and an ADR booth.  The studio has been the home to some great new films over the last 4 years.  UGANDA RISING (DISCOVERY TIMES) was the first to be edited in the space, quickly followed by 4Real (CTV/MTV) and then THE SEAMSTRESS (TBA).   Currently it is housing MY AMERICAN EXODUS, a personal one hour documentary about the migration of draft resisters who came to Canada during the Vietnam War.

Backyard Buddha Studio was originally built to supply a creative relaxing environment where filmmakers could be supported both technically and creatively.  It has already achieved its goals by being apart of such an impressive array of films, and will continue to be the home of many more to come.