Nanaimo man scouted by Netflix after creating viral toy art and photography
A Nanaimo man is preparing for some exciting projects in the future after Netflix approached him with an offer to work with the media giant.
Vancouver Island resident Todd Cameron was recognized by Netflix for his work creating toy art and photography based on the television series Schitt's Creek.
The fan-made photos and videos have been seen hundreds of thousands of times and were highlighted by Schitt's Creek star Dan Levy, who shared one of the videos on his Twitter account with his stamp of approval.
"Last year, Dan Levy called my stop motion music video 'a masterpiece,' which was kind of the time I could call myself an artist," Cameron told CTV News on Monday.
"If Dan Levy is calling my stuff a masterpiece, I don't have to worry too much about if I get paid, as long as I'm making people happy and making them feel something," he said.
But now it seems Cameron will be able to put his talents to work in a professional capacity.
A little over a week ago, Netflix asked him if he'd like to make promotional art and photography based on Netflix properties, such as Stranger Things.
"It's the first time I've been paid to create what I create," said Cameron, noting that details are still being ironed out.
He says he'll begin his work with Netflix "fairly soon" and will work on his projects in Nanaimo.
"The collaboration is just creating what I already do, making toy art and making mini sets with the vintage toys and collections," he said.
Cameron says the miniature sets he's made of Schitt's Creek landmarks have been resonating with the show's fans.
"The fandom has really been enjoying my stop motion and photography and video projects and stuff," he said.
Cameron says his current job as a wedding DJ and karaoke host gives him flexibility to work on his stop motion videos and photography while also spending time with his family.
He doesn't have any current plans to give up his other work, which he enjoys.
"I love what I do, it makes me happy, being part of the wedding industry," he said, adding that he tries his best to make each couple's special day as good as it can be.
Locals may also recognize Cameron's work from a stop motion video featuring squirrel puppets and the voice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from the early days of the pandemic, and from the costumes he made his son during Christmas, which were based on popular holiday movie characters.
Correction
A previous version of this story said that Cameron would be working on stop motion videos for Netflix. In fact, he will be working on promotional art and photography, largely using miniature sets.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.