Barry Casson
Barry Casson's career in film and television begin in the early seventies when he worked as a freelance and staff news photographer for several Vancouver Island newspapers. Prior to this time Barry had a successful career as a show band drummer touring England and Europe in the backup band for Chuck Berry, and for Bo Diddley and the Drifters.
Barry took his formal film training at Columbia College in Hollywood, California. Upon returning to Victoria, he joined the staff of CHEK Television where he served as a news cameraman for the next 9 years. During this time, Barry also established his own company where he produced, directed and photographed a number of dramas and documentaries that garnered many awards and received National television exposure on CBC. His children's outdoor survival drama, Lost in the Woods, a widely distributed film in both Canada and the US, is now being re-released to a new generation of young people through Magic Lantern Communications.
Throughout his tenure at CHEK, Barry also initiated and taught a part-time film course at Camosun College in Victoria. He built this into a major film program and in 1989, with his partner, Donna Clausen, opened Vancouver Island's first film school and production studio. Under Barry's direction, Victoria Motion Picture School continues operations today with students coming from around the world to attend the program.
More recently, Barry has been providing highly acclaimed workshops and speaking seminars throughout BC and Alberta where he promotes the Motion Picture Industry. He continues to maintain his active career as a cinematographer and part-time film instructor at the school. Barry's latest film, The Search, a follow-up drama to Lost in the Woods, is currently being edited for release in the fall.
In 2000, Barry was honored with a full membership in the prestigious Canadian Society of Cinematographers and more recently, has received several awards and nominations from the society for his work on corporate videos.