Trevor Hnatowich has a decade of experience in the film industry across various roles, from television to film, documentary to commercial video. In his current position as a Senior Producer and Co-Owner at Enjoy Creative, Trevor focuses on commercial work, where he loves meeting new clients, learning about their industries, and helping them find creative and powerful solutions with video.
When and how did you start in the media production industry?
I made some really solid connections during my internships in the Creative Communications program at Red River College. After I graduated, these relationships opened the door to the freelancing world. I freelanced for about a year and a half in as many roles as I could – camera op, editor, audio, PA, camera assistant, you name it. Freelancing was a great way to meet other folks in the industry, and one job kept leading to another and it kind of snowballed from there.
What area of the film industry do you work in now and why?
In 2018, I started Enjoy Creative with Scott Anderson. We’re a commercial video production company, so we create videos for clients that have a marketing or communication objective in mind. Starting my own business was always something I was drawn to and the commercial world is a really fun space to be in. We get to learn about so many different industries, collaborate with folks from all kinds of creative backgrounds, and see our finished work out in the world. It really is a blend of the traditional film industry and the marketing and comms industry.
What has been a substantial change in the industry since you started?
There have been some technology shifts that are making their way into conversations with our clients. Some things, like virtual/extended reality production studios (check out New Media Manitoba’s StudioLab XR), have made an immediate impact in the way we think about and execute our work. Other things, like the advancement of AI tools – conceptual work, writing, animation, transcriptions, editing, etc, are definitely on our radar, but are not necessarily tools we are using every day yet. It’s an exciting and/or scary (depending on your outlook!) time to be in the industry.
If you could give yourself advice today to yourself in the past, what would it be?
Learn French! There’s a lot of opportunity in our industry to be able to work on the French language productions and crews that exist in Winnipeg. There’s also a lot of value in the commercial world in being able to work with clients who need bilingual support.
What advice would you give to someone starting off in the media production industry?
Talent, knowledge, and hard work are the foundation to most film roles, but don’t underestimate how important relationships are. Reciprocate kindness and respect to those who offer it to you and you’ll be recommended for jobs in no time.
Why is learning and training important?
It’s incredibly important as a business owner in a field where the demand for video seems to be constantly growing. If you’re not learning new things, it means you’re on a path to being left behind or stagnating. We offer training opportunities to our employees to brush up on skills, learn new things, or dig into emerging industry trends.
What are some of the films, TV series or even books that have inspired you? How about anything new you’ve been into?
Wow, too many to list. Most recently, The Bear was incredibly inspiring. The editing in that show is so good! I’m a big fan of the film Whiplash for the same reasons. Pixar’s Soul touches my soul. Can’t go wrong with the original Indiana Jones or Jurassic Park, either (I’m all over the place).
Is there something about you or an interesting past experience that you’d like to share with your colleagues?
Pretty early on at Enjoy, a crazy opportunity led us to producing a music video for a pretty big K-Pop star in Falcon Lake, Manitoba. A freak snowstorm hit in October and we almost all got stranded in the wilderness. It was a ton of fun and a huge learning experience.
Is there someone within the film industry you would like to work with and why?
Can someone get me Roger Deakins’ phone number? More realistically…everyone and anyone! Leaving the door open to all opportunities.
Where do you see yourself in ten years from now?
Ten years from now, I’m hoping Enjoy Creative is still growing as a company and we’re working with all kinds of new clients and freelancers!
FTM is a non-for-profit charity and member of the Province of Manitoba’s Sector Council program funded through the Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources. FTM builds a highly skilled and adaptable film industry workforce to support the activities of Manitoba production companies. FTM collaborates and partners with members of the film industry to identify training needs to support workforce development.