About Mat

It started with art…

I went to school for Fine Art and Art History of all things. I went to Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario at the age of 17 and when I woke up I’d been there for 6 years, it was 2014 and I had a Master’s in Medieval Art History. After toying with musical theatre and hanging out with the film folks at uni I decided to go to Sheridan College in Toronto to attend their Advanced Television and Film program. My focus there was on Cinematography and Editing. After a few years working in the industry in Toronto I accepted what would turn out to be a very formative internship that turned into a job in Ottawa on Parliament Hill.

My life on Parliament Hill

The opportunity of a lifetime.

From 2018 until the pandemic in 2020 I worked as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s communication team. It was an exciting, eye-opening, and exhausting time (as evidenced by the frequent naps documented in the pictures below). I am eternally grateful for the opportunity that had presented itself, however there was very little time to spend on creative pursuits outside of the demands of the job. Since leaving PMO I have written three screenplays and one TV Pilot. I’m keeping the momentum going!

2019-10-21 montreal-20 (1).jpg
2019-06-06 3 juno as-134.jpg
IMG_2851 (1).JPG
2019-10-20 5 vancouver-victoria-16 (1).jpg
2019-10-20 5 vancouver-victoria-17.jpg
2019-10-01 4 Etobicoke AS-27.jpg
2019-09-17 3 PEI-1.jpg
2019-10-21 montreal-18.JPG
dji_0182.jpg
IMG_4622.jpg
IMG_9972.JPG
2018-11-18 3 PNG-4.jpg
2019-09-12 7 Edmonton-1.jpg
2019-09-16 2 London-3.jpg

  • "If you don't write a screenplay during the pandemic... you never will. "

    This is what I said to myself at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’d been telling people for years I would do it. I didn’t want to become that guy in his 60s who always said a thing and never did it.

  • "If you built it, they will come."

    I’m not religious, but I do love a good motivational quote as much as the next guy. Besides being a great quote from Field of Dreams, this goodie comes from Genesis when God spoke to Noah. Now what I take from this personally is you never get something for nothing. Sure, if I don’t promote my work no one is going to come knocking… but if I don’t have any work to begin with? Well then I’m definitely shit out of luck. Make your own luck. Get to work, build the thing, and the rest will follow.

  • I can’t say I have an end goal at this time. Right now I’m focusing on just making good work. I always entertained the possibility of acting and directing, but I knew myself enough to know that writing would be my ticket. Would I say yes to a small role in a film I wrote? Hell yeah. I’m not trying to pull a full Sylvester Stallone. But is the guy an inspiration? For sure. Create your own opportunities.

  • I’m working on an action comedy based on the 5 Eyes intelligence community. The 5 Eyes are: the UK, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The first draft is done and it’s basically built for the friendship that exists between Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Taika Waititi. I’m very excited about this one.

  • I’ll respond with a question of my own. Can I stay at your place rent free?