Tyler Cowan blends filmmaking with philanthropy and a passion for the underwater world. Beyond his role as a talented filmmaker, he supports various charitable organizations, including the World Wildlife Fund and the Canadian Cancer Society.
Cowan’s perspective has enriched his creative endeavours as a skilled scuba diver, inspiring him to get into underwater filmmaking. Cowan delves into the challenges and rewards of charity-focused work, sharing insights into his journey from a young film enthusiast to a seasoned filmmaker. He discusses the importance of integrity, authenticity, highlighting the balance between creative vision and client objectives.
As Cowan reflects on his career, he emphasizes the significance of embracing a multidisciplinary approach and constantly pursuing growth and innovation. His dedication to storytelling led him to explore diverse projects and historical documentaries.
You have worked with various charitable organizations. Can you speak of the challenges of charity-focused work?
Things lined up for me in a weird way; it shows that you can’t consistently chart a clear path, especially with creative work. A good friend of mine had an indirect contact in the fundraising world seeking video expertise for an event they were hosting in Texas. I signed on and, through that experience, made several contacts in the non-profit sector, which gave me my first real foothold as a working director.
Budget and time constraints can be challenging for non-profit work, especially from a creative standpoint. I’ve always prioritized focusing on integrity, authenticity, and striking a balance between delivering a product that will elicit an intense, emotional response and executing in such a way that celebrates the individuals we are filming or the stories we are telling.
What inspired you to get into the film and media space?
When I was three years old, I saw my first film — Beauty and the Beast. I was utterly mesmerized. It wasn’t until Saving Private Ryan, however, that I recognized the film’s true potential for documentation through creative narrative. As a kid, it was a real lightbulb moment for me and enkindled a true passion for storytelling. Maintaining a multidisciplinary approach to my career has allowed for much flexibility as I’ve gotten older.
As far as what’s next — I’m looking to challenge myself, as it’s easy to become complacent. I’d still love to put together my feature film. I’ve also been a diver for over 20 years, so a shift towards the underwater film space is something I’m actively exploring as well.
How do you define success?
Most people always chase some desired outcome — I’m certainly guilty. At this stage, I’m learning to let go of that and be more present with what’s happening in a given moment. From a work standpoint, I would say that success is accomplishing an initial objective for an organization. Success is something that I’m still exploring, navigating, and trying to find the magic bullet for. I would say if you can find joy in whatever you’re doing, then you’re winning. The work I’m most proud of has come from advocating, finding compromise, and allowing my vision for a piece to shine through while still delivering a client’s objective.
Tell us about your creative process, while working on the Underground Railroad documentary.
The process depends on the role that I’m fulfilling. This project was an example of switching hats, as a cinematographer friend hired for a Discovery Channel documentary was looking for a camera assistant. I had done some camera work — I’m not a shooter by trade — but jumped at the opportunity to do some operating. I have a solid understanding of how a camera team works on set, so this was helpful when working in different roles. I’ve also done lots of fieldwork in adverse environments — it’s essential to be flexible.
Do you have any upcoming projects?
For upcoming projects, we just finished a commercial for the Canadian Cancer Society. That’s been the last several months, so I’m happy to have some time to recharge. I am also pursuing credentials to start diving in a professional capacity. I want to be certified commercially to work and film underwater.
Stephanie Hawkins | Contributing Writer
