Director inspires Algonquin students
Posted Feb 26, 2010 By Kimberly Lochhead
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Tweet ThisEMC News - Jon Cassar may have won an Emmy award for his outstanding work in directing the hit drama series 24, but the Hollywood professional returned to his roots at Algonquin College on Feb. 11, where he spoke to fellow alumni about his challenges and successes in the television and film industry.
"I come back because I remember being a student here and sitting in that audience thinking, 'can I ever make it or is this a reality?'" he said. "They would bring someone like me in from the business who had done well and I remember thinking, 'if this guy can do it, I can do it.' My message is to show them that I was just like them, who sat in the exact same seat and it's more of a morale boost to tell them to keep going."
His lecture was part of the Alumni Association's Career Week, where professionals in a variety of businesses, who have graduated from Algonquin College, share advice with new graduates hoping to break into the field. Mr. Cassar graduated from the radio and television-broadcasting program and he said the experience helped prepare him for challenges in the working world. Completing group studies, he said, taught him how to deal with the many personalities directors must control on set to make a production.
"The same dynamics in the industry are those that you go through here, with people not working as well as you want them to and some people being better than others," Mr. Cassar explained. "Being in command of a production, maybe here it's only 30 people and in my world it's 150, there's still the same problems. You learn the exact same things here at the college that you get to really use for the rest of your life. It's important to have the ability to do it here where you're in a friendly environment than when you're out in the world trying to do it for money."
Mr. Cassar received another Emmy in 2006 when 24 was named 'outstanding drama series' for that year. Other television series' he has worked on include Street Time, La Femme Nikita and Due South among many other titles. While his portfolio lists a variety of big-time network shows and television movies, he said he also worked many small jobs to get to his present position. Mr. Cassar said he attributes his success to perseverance and a good attitude.
"I did all the little small jobs before I got here," he said. "This is not something that happens over night. I've been in the business for 20 plus years and it takes a long time." "You have to have this ridiculously good attitude about everything you do, you can't complain, you just always have to have a smile on your face," Mr. Cassar added. "When you have that kind of enthusiasm, people will keep picking you for jobs and that's been my experience, even up until today."
Mr. Cassar also said there is a big advantage for emerging talent to attend a school like Algonquin College because they gain access to contacts already in the business.
"That's what happened to me, because my professors were in the business and if you're a good student, they will recommend you for work," he said. "You start networking at this stage and that's the important part. It gives you a foundation and gives you something to always fall back on."
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