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High-level praise for Anderson film

A Red Deer-raised filmmaker who’s finding an international audience is being honoured for his achievements by the University of Alberta.Trevor Anderson, who recently finished a short documentary about the High Level Bridge, received an Alumni Award of Excellence from his alma mater. The award is given to former students for their outstanding accomplishments.
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Trevor Anderson’s short film has gained a lot of mileage.

A Red Deer-raised filmmaker who’s finding an international audience is being honoured for his achievements by the University of Alberta.

Trevor Anderson, who recently finished a short documentary about the High Level Bridge, received an Alumni Award of Excellence from his alma mater. The award is given to former students for their outstanding accomplishments.

“I was very honoured and surprised” to be selected, said Anderson, who now lives in Edmonton. He felt he was among other award winners who were much further along in their careers. “I’ll take this as encouragement as I move forward, . . . ”

Anderson’s films have been screened at festivals around the world. His High Level Bridge short premiered at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival, was an official selection at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, and received an honourable mention at the American Film Institute’s 2010 AFI Fest. The film recounts the history of Edmonton’s 48-metre tall landmark, as well outlining as its tragic notoriety as a suicide spot.

Anderson is now filming a 25-minute “documentary musical.” It’s about the life of his great-uncle Jimmy, who was raised in the Rosebud Valley, became a Second World War merchant marine, and ended up as a Broadway dancer in New York.

“Unfortunately he became hooked on booze and pills and went into rehab — where he met Judy Garland,” said the filmmaker.

While Jimmy’s story does not end happily, Anderson believes he can make it relevant and entertaining to an audience by boiling it down to six original songs. “It won’t be a total downer.”

Anderson, who graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from the university in 1995, is also a theatre director, playwright and musician with the band Wet Secrets, whose tune Secret March was named one of the best songs of the decade by CBC Radio 3 in 2010.

He previously studied theatre at Red Deer College.

lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com

— copyright Red Deer Advocate