Ryan Hunter who grew up in Airdrie, but has since moved to Calgary, is a third assistant director, and in his role, he has been on set of several high-profile films and series that have been shot in the province.

Some of the films he's worked on include HBO's The Last of Us, Hulu's Under The Banner of Heaven, the series High School, which is based on Calgary musicians Tegan and Sara Quin's memoir, a Hallmark TV series Ride, and most recently FX's Fargo. Hunter explained that as an assistant director, some of his duties include setting background actions.

"Whenever you see two cast members talking; whenever you see people moving in the background, someone has to give them direction and that's kind of what I do on set," Hunter said. "I've been lucky enough to never have left [the area] to find work. In the last two years, it's been incredible.

Though he has been on a veritable number of some of the most popular streaming series in recent memory, Hunter said that for the most part, many sets are quite similar to each other. However, in terms of technicalities, he said Fargo, which was shot in Didsbury (season five) was quite a challenge.

"When you're on a shoot in Alberta, you're dealing with the elements and the shots that you create in Fargo are technical shots," he explained. "It's not just putting a camera on a stick and letting the actors do their thing. There's so much thought [that goes] into camera movements and where they're placed."

Another surprising tidbit that Hunter offered was that the uber-famous actors the public sees on their TV screens and tablets are very down to earth.

"I see these people as co-workers and that's how they see me. They're people that we work closely together with every single day. I don't get starstruck anymore," he said. "You build these personal relationships because you work 12 to 14 hours a day together; you become this interconnected... almost like a family." 

Although he couldn't divulge any details of what goes on behind the scenes of the sets due to NDAs (non-disclosure agreements), he did say he has wined and dined with a number of actors throughout the years. Hunter added that while he does watch the films and series he's been a part of, there's a process. The first viewing is one for enjoyment, while the second time around, he is more keenly aware of the work that he and others have put into the filming.

He observed that for the last decade, the film industry has been booming in the province - citing that at any given time there are between two and three film crews working on a project in Alberta.

"More productions are coming here because of the tax incentives that the government's implemented and it's creating this sustainable environment," Hunter said. "We offer pretty much everything in this province other than the ocean."

In 2020, Alberta’s government launched the Film and Television Tax Credit, which supports medium- and large-scale productions with costs over $499,999 through a refundable tax credit. The government recently cited that because of the credit, the industry grew in size and reputation. One year after the tax credit was launched, the cap was raised, resulting in a doubling of the province’s film and television sector. 

Hunter said that for those who are thinking of the film industry as a career, he ardently encouraged them to pursue it, saying that many of the stereotypes of diva-type behaviour and pretentiousness in the industry are myths. 

"What we're needing now, is people to join the industry in this province so that we're not having to call people from out of province to come in and help us; which is what we're having to do because we've got we've almost got too many shows and not enough people," he said. 

Last week, the province announced that it will increase its investment in the Alberta film and television industry to a total of $335 million over three years to continue attracting the attention and investment dollars of Hollywood.

"People come here and they work with us; they regularly laud us as being the best crews that they have ever worked with because it's such a small group of really talented and passionate people."

When asked if he could pick any series that he wishes would film here, Hunter said he is quite the video game buff. 

"Red Dead Redemption - I'd love to see adapted similarly to how they did The Last of Us," Hunter added. "It's set in the western territory; so, it would be perfect in the mountains of Alberta and the prairies. I'd love it if they brought it here."

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