Brunch is a favourite past time shared by many and should be an extraordinary experience, one that you will cherish. Vancouver has some wonderful places for brunch. Each of the places I visit is unique for what is offered along with the type of service and selection of dishes. I am on a journey around the city to find these extraordinary places and, at the same time, I will be joined by a notable personality who may be a Film Producer or Director, Musician, Arts Festival Director, Actor or other well-known individual for Brunch at restaurants in and around Vancouver.

For my eleventh brunch in this series, I was joined by Filmmaker – Mina Shum–at EBO Restaurant in Burnaby talking about film, plays and more!

Mina Shum was born in Hong Kong and raised in Vancouver, Canada. After earning a diploma in film production, she went on to make 5 short films, including Me, Mom and Mona (1993), which was honoured with a Special Jury Citation at Toronto in 1993.

Her filmography includes: Double Happiness 1994; Drive, She Said 1997; Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity 2002; Picture Perfect (1989) short film at the Yorkton Film Festival; Noah’s Arc 2005, second season.

How did you become a Filmmaker?

At 7 years old, I told my parents I wanted to be in show biz, I loved theatre and the movies. I started taking drama in grade 8, at 13 I wrote a journal of 2 women next to me talking about a muffin and a recipe in context, this started off my dream. I did a theatre degree at UBC and a film diploma. I then got a Canada Council grant and another and then I was in the biz.

How did the film -Double Happiness- come about?

It was my life at the time, I wanted to write my first feature, it is a story about a girl moving out. I wrote the script, work shopped it at Norman Jewison in Toronto, then at Practis at SFU, then won the “New Views” contest and the prize was 1 million dollars to make a film.

Is there any connection between – Double Happiness – and your other film — Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity?

There is a connection between one person identity and Long Life is about believing in something you can’t see. Living authentically and being your own person, struggling on who I should be.

You have done feature length films as well as shorts, do you have a preference to either?

I would always love to do a feature, shorts take about the same time as features.

Is there any difference for you directing a TV series vs a film?

Yes – tv series you are a guest of the creators, you are fulfilling someone else’s vision. TV has given me the opportunity to shoot other kinds of subjects that what I would usually do.

Are there any film makers who have influenced your career? If so who?

• Woody Allen
• Jed Appatau
• Akira Kiwasaua

For Brunch since Mina is Vegan, Chef Dan Craig prepared a few Vegan dishes especially for her in addition to the other dishes that were on the buffet which fit in with her Vegan dietary needs. Richard enjoyed many of the dishes on the wonderful buffet.

What is your favourite food?

Ice Cream

What is your favourite restaurant inside and outside Vancouver?

• Tsui Woo Seafood Restaurant (inside Vancouver)
• Poncho Villa in San Francisco

What do you do in your off time?

• Yoga
• Dance
• Gym
• Eat

How far in advance do you plan your films?

About 4 years from the thinking of the idea until people will see the idea become reality.

How do you decide what your next film is going to be?

Driven by a question and a situation will come out of it. It then consumes me to go further.

Where was your most recent trip?

Whistler for the Whistler Film Festival

What are your favourite places to hangout in Vancouver?

• Third Beach
• My house
• Café de Soleil

Who are your mentors?

• Dennis Foon (founder of Green Thumb Theatre)
• Gary Winick (film director “Charlottes Web)
• Les Ford

What is it like to write and direct a film?

It’s awesome I got to rewrite all the way to the poster of the film.

What are you working on currently?

“Two of Me” – a feature film that is filming in Vancouver in the summer of 2012 –biggest film that I have ever done and it is a romantic comedy.

What is a Table Read?

When movie star actors sit around a table and read the script.

Is there anything you want to do, that you haven’t done already?

I want to make a musical.

Direct a super cool thriller that is character intense.

Are you interested in doing any plays?

Last year I did “All” during the Push Festival which was an installation –film “Standing Wave” with 16 kids in the audience. “Standing Wave” commissioned to make a show of Vancouver. They asked me to do it, I had an idea, they said yes and I made it.

Style: Buffet

Attire: Smart Casual

Time: Brunch is offered  11:00am – 2:00pm on Sunday

Cost: Sunday Brunch is $30.95 per person

EBO Restaurant in the Delta Burnaby Hotel

4331 Dominion Street, Burnaby

Menu: 

http://www.eborestaurant.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/EBO-Sunday-Brunch.pdf

For Reservations, please call 604-453-0788

Stay tuned to my next guest Interview along with the next Brunch in and around Vancouver.

By: Richard Wolak