PALMERSTON – Cinematographer and filmmaker Maksym Putintsev joined forces with Palmerston native and blacksmith Ryan Leis to create a 12-minute short documentary titled Scrap Works.
The film, directed by Putintsev, follows Leis, a traditional master blacksmith, as he navigates the challenges of modern life, having forsaken power tools for a higher calling.
Putintsev was tasked with creating a film to graduate his university film program. After following in love with film at 15, Putintsev knew he wanted a career in the industry.
“I went back to York University to finish my degree after a 20-year absence,” he told the Advertiser.
Putintsev has been working in the film industry ever since he left university.
“I want to get what’s called an extraordinary ability visa to be able to work in the states,” he explained.
The O-1 visa allows an individual who possesses extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics to demonstrate said skill in the United States temporarily.
“When the professor challenged me with making a documentary, I knew that I’d be able to find just oodles of charisma and interesting things if I were to follow Ryan,” said Putintsev.
The two knew each other from a previous film project and accidentally reconnected at a renaissance fair.
“I find Ryan to be an inspiration … he’s kind of a reflection of myself in many ways,” he said. “We both sort of chose a vicarious lifestyle.”
The film follows Leis as he prepares to be a Clifford Christmas market vendor. Viewers see Leis’ family life, blacksmith life and the passion for his career.
The project began last December and was completed in April.
“I … have this real fascination with Canadian identity,” Putintsev said. “I grew up in Ukraine and I find it really interesting how … rural Canadians are a little different from urban Canadians.
“Ryan really embodies that Canadian spirit.”
The blacksmith
“I’ve had some experience in TV and movies … and it’s always gone poorly and left a bad taste in my mouth,” Leis told the Advertiser.
The exception was Putintsev, “the only person” Leis enjoyed working with.
“I was wowed by the way he did everything and also the way he let me do things,” Leis explained.
For the first time, Leis was happy to watch and hear himself on film.
“He evoked something in me that was very different that I’ve never seen on camera before,” he said.
Though Leis ventures out of the county for markets and medieval gigs, he prefers smaller, rural events.
“It’s nowhere near as lucrative but it almost doesn’t matter because there is more fun and pleasure,” Leis said. “I get to play more and hang out in the community and show people who I am and what I do.”
Putintsev has entered Scrap Works in film festivals and has even won recognition.
It was screened for the first time outside of the university at the Louth International Film Festival in Dundalk, Ireland.
And on Oct. 22, it was screened at the Hamilton Film Festival.
“It started as a small thing but it’s grown to be a pretty significant festival and I feel really honoured to be chosen,” Putintsev said.
DVD copies of Scrap Works will be available soon at the Palmerston Library. To view the short documentary visit youtube.com/watch?v=GI5SELHAyec.
