Gordie Haakstad

  

Biography

An award-winning feature film writer and director, Gordie Haakstad’s directorial debut, ABEL’S FIELD, starring Kevin Sorbo and Samuel Davis, was released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. It garnered Best Film, Best Feature, Best Actor, and Best Director at The Attic Film Festival.

Gordie gained his directing background as a filmmaker specialized in cinematography and editing. He began his education at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinema and Television where he graduated Magna Cum Laude from the prestigious Production Program.

Following school, Gordie interned under cinematographer Don Burgess (FORREST GUMP, SPIDERMAN, CAST AWAY) on the set of TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES. He kept involved with academia by teaching both cinematography and editing at the New York Film Academy – as well as developing much of the curriculum for those two departments.

He continued his creative pursuits by helping create a number of industrial, short, and feature-length projects. Notably, Gordie directed the award-winning short films THE SOUVENIR and DATING BITES and was the cinematographer behind the award-winning 11 MINUTES AGO – a feature-length film that shot entirely in one day. Gordie continues to write in Edmonton, Alberta, while maintaining filmmaking ties in Los Angeles, CA, and Austin, TX.

Selected Filmography

Abel’s Field

Director

Feature film 2013 – Distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Affirm Films

Winner: Audience Award – The Attic Film Festival Winner: Best Film – The Attic Film Festival Winner: Best Feature – The Attic Film Festival Winner: Best Director – The Attic Film Festival

Details:

First directorial feature; hired for development through release Acquired by Sony Home Entertainment within four months of completion Crew average of 50 people, max of 110 Twenty day shoot schedule, finished on time and on budget

View trailer | View scene excerpts

Aeternitas

Director, Writer, Producer, Editor

Short film 2018

Winner: Best Director – Alberta Film and Television Awards

Details:

Sixteen-minute short film, with original edit (Kairos) funded by Telus STORYHIVE

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Anyone Out There

Director

Short musical 2016

Winner: Audience Choice – Frantic48 Film Challenge 2016 Winner: Judge’s Choice – Frantic48 Film Challenge 2016

Details:

Seven-minute short musical From concept to delivery in 48-hours

Cold Decision

Director

Short film 2016

Official selection: Reel Shorts Film Festival 2015

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Making of a Museum

Director

Promotional documentary 2015

Client: Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum / County of Grande Prairie No. 1 Featuring the voice of Dan Aykroyd

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Fly Home

Co-director

Music Video 2017

Telus Storyhive – Music Video edition, funded project

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The Souvenir

Director

Short film 2015

Winner: Best Peace Region Film – Reel Shorts Film Festival 2016 Winner: Audience Choice – Frightening48 Film Challenge 2015 Winner: Judge’s Choice – Frightening48 Film Challenge 2015

Details:

Original short from concept to delivery in 48-hours Updated version delivered for Reel Shorts Film Festival

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Shine Your Light

Co-director

Music video 2017

Client: Suicide Prevention Resource Centre

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Arnie the Viking

Director

Branded content 2014

Client: nine10 Incorporated 8x 1-minute spots, 4x 4-minute spots

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Dating Bites

Director

Short film 2015

Winner: Audience Choice – Frantic48 Film Challenge 2015 Winner: Judge’s Choice – Frantic48 Film Challenge 2015

Details:

From concept to delivery in 48-hours

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A Medical Mission

Director

Promotional documentary 2003
Details:

Client: South Texas Physicians Outreach Shot on location in Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras

11 Minutes Ago

Cinematographer

Feature film 2007

Winner: Best Feature – FAIF International Film Festival Winner: Best Feature Sci-Fi – WorldFest Houston Winner: Best Feature – Phoenix International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival

Details:

Director: Bob Gebert Shot entirely in one day (choreographed for two weeks prior) 20-person ensemble cast with four simultaneously shooting cameras

Stellina Blue

Cinematographer: 2nd Unit

Feature film 2009

Director: Gabriel Scott Super16 color

Fuzzy Huggy Fun Bears

Cinematographer

Theatrical commercial 2002
Details:

Director: Nick Lovell Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker Awards Finalist 35mm Color

Back and Forth

Cinematographer

Music video 2002
Details:

Director: Nick Lovell 35mm color

Killing Babies

Cinematographer

Short film 2001
Details:

Director: Jamieson Fry Based on the award-winning short story by TC Boyle 16mm color

Selected Theatrical Work

The Grapes of Wrath

Adapted by Frank Galati,  Based off the novel by John Steinbeck

Director, Scenic Design

Ursa Productions 2018
Details:

An epic, 2-act drama set in the dustbowl era. The set included a moving 1936 Plymouth Brothers truck, a river across the stage, and a rainstorm.

Butcher

by Nicolas Billon

Director, Scenic Design

Grande Prairie Live Theatre 2017
Details:

A gripping, 4-scene thriller starring Darren Bennett, Clint Webb, Abby Webb, and Garry Troutman

Wait Until Dark

by Frederick Knott

Director, Scenic Design

Grande Prairie Live Theatre 2016
Details:

The beloved, 2-act thriller, starring Laura Beauchamp and Clint Webb.