Sean Horlor

Making a Feature Film: The Mill and the Mountain

Sean — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:13:25 +0000

2013 has been a busy year so far. In addition to Don’t Quit Your Gay Job being renewed for a new season (finally!) I’ve also joined the CineCoup Film Accelerator with a feature film project called The Mill and the Mountain.

I’ve been working on this movie idea since 2005 and finally met the right Vancouver collaborators (Steve Adams and Sean Cox) to get the project off the ground. The movie explores the story of journalist trying to connect two events: a troubled teen that was found near a US-Canada border crossing and a grisly murder in a small, resource community over 1,000 kilometers away.

At it’s core, The Mill and the Mountain is a story about redemption, one that explores how three very different characters come to terms with the choices they’ve made over the course of their lives. Another key element to our movie is how memory can ultimately define who we are and who we become. We have one character who is trying to remember his past, a character who is trying to forget his past, and one character who can’t forget her past no matter how hard she tries. This is the source of much of the conflict in The Mill and the Mountain and if there’s one thing every great story needs it’s an abundance of conflict.

Follow our journey on Facebook and stay tuned for more info.

“In Thailand, a beach of one’s own”

Sean — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:50:41 +0000

Strike one off the bucket list. One of my Thailand stories recently ran as the travel section cover story in the Globe and Mail: Globe and Mail – December 2012

“On the Loose, Almost, In Thailand”

Sean — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:06:58 +0000

Back in November, I had a chance to visit Thailand during one of the worst floods of the decade and write a couple travel pieces. Here’s a copy of a story that ran in Outlooks – March 2012 (Full Article).

Steamy Windows at Farms to Forks 2

Sean — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:05:56 +0000

Growing Chefs‘ second annual Farms to Forks autumn harvest bounty took place at the Pacific Institute for the Culinary Arts on October 23, 2011. This is a pretty fantastic program that supports the development and growth of sustainable urban agriculture.

We also had a chance to meet with some of our favourite Vancouver chefs, including Angus An from Maenam, Andrea Carlson from Bishop’s, Lucais Syme from La Quercia, and Meeru Dhalwala from VIJ’s and Rangoli.

Here’s the video from our Scout Magazine coverage:

Don’t Quit Your Gay Job’s “Next Top Chef” episode premieres October 17th

Sean — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:09:16 +0000

OUTtv is serving up a new DQYGJ episode on October 17th. Rob Easton and I joined the Pacific Institute for the Culinary Arts at the end of August for a two-day crash course in the culinary arts and the tastiest of times.

We had to prepare a course that contained red meat, seafood, a starch and two seasonably and reasonably regional vegetables…along with a twist.

Scout Magazine at IDSwest 2011

Sean — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:37:00 +0000

Steve Adams from Steamy Window Productions and I had an opportunity to cover IDSwest 2011 this year for Scout Magazine.

Texture, walnut furniture pieces and temporal spaces are a few of the industry trends you can expect to see more of this fall around Vancouver.

The full Scout Magazine post can be read here. Make sure to check out our video below.

Video Battle: Steamy Window Productions vs. Morgan Crossing

Sean — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 05:44:55 +0000

I haven’t met an online video contest that I haven’t liked and Morgan Crossing is no exception. This sexy new South Surrey development has thrown the gauntlet and Steamy Window Productions is ready for its very first video battle.

You can vote for our entry here. Yes, you need to register and confirm your email address, but you know our video is worth it.

Don’t Quit Your Gay Job partners with Vancouver Police Department for new episode

Sean — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:35:31 +0000

That’s right! You heard it here first: our new series debuts Monday September 5th at 7:30pm ET/PT and trust me: it’s literally going to start with a bang. Earlier this year, we joined the Vancouver Police Department for two days to learn what it takes to become a member of the force.

When I was growing up, the idea of serving as an openly gay man on a police force wasn’t a career option. The inclusive, welcoming and supportive officers we encountered during our two days with the Vancouver Police Department are great examples of why Canada is one of the most diverse and tolerant places in the world.

Check out our teaser for the police episode here. And read today’s news release from OUTTv below.

Vancouver, BC – September 2, 2011: OUTtv announced today the award nominated series “Don’t Quit Your Gay Job” begins its second full season with an episode in partnership with the Vancouver Police Department. Award nominated hosts, Rob and Sean, will be training as rookie cops by the VPD. The collaboration shows the public how inclusive, welcoming and supportive the Vancouver police are to the GLBT community. The police episode will be the premiere episode of the hit TV series’ season 2, which will air on MONDAY SEPTEMBER 5th on OUTtv.

In Don’t Quit Your Gay Job, the show’s 2 hosts, Vancouver’s own Rob Easton & Sean Horlor, meet the expert in a particular field who teaches them how to do the job. Then they compete to see who does the job better. It showcases the personal successes and humiliating disappointments of these two friends as they strive to find themselves and new perspectives while learning about gay life on the job.

“There’s no doubt that you’ll find a gay or lesbian in any profession someone could choose to pursue. This season we had such an amazing opportunity to help share their stories with our fans around the world.” Said Sean Horlor

In the first season, they have tackled runway modeling to entering one of North America’s largest bus rodeos to an epic strip performance in Vancouver’s largest gay club. Their pursuit of the ultimate job continues with bigger and badder jobs in this season. In the premiere episode, OUTtv asked the Vancouver Police Department to show Rob and Sean what it takes to be rookie cops. They will also get lessons from pro-wrestlers, renowned chefs and Vancouver’s top aestheticians and hair stylists amongst others as the gay job shenanigans continue.

“The show is really coming into its own now. We’ve got a great thing going and each episode gets more interesting and exciting. They’ll see lots of action – not to mention eye-candy – in our work with ECCW Pro Wrestlers. They’ll get a greater understanding of police work in our show with the Vancouver Police. And they’ll get to see both of us make asses of ourselves as we try to actually cut real people’s hair. It’s a great season and I am really happy to share it with OUTtv viewers.” exclaimed Rob Easton.

Don’t Quit Your Gay Job is produced for OUTtv by Vancouver production company Convergent Entertainment. Last season, the program was one of the most watched shows on OUTtv as well as top seller in digital distribution. It has received 3 nominations at this year’s Leo Awards (B.C.’s film and TV awards): best information or lifestyle series, best director (Nicky Forsman), and best hosts (Rob & Sean). The series also airs in the Netherlands and USA. It has recently been voted #1 favorite new gay series in the US by Here! Network.

“We always saw the potential for Don’t Quit Your Gay Job, and believed in and supported the series because of our strategy of developing unique Canadian television that complements our library of the most entertaining GLBT programs, from every genre, on television. It’s been extremely gratifying to see this Vancouver-shot show develop in to such a success in Canada with distribution deals in Europe and in the US” said Brad Danks, COO of OUTtv.

Don’t Quit Your Gay Job airs every Monday at 7:30pm et/ 8pm pt, exclusively on OUTtv.

About OUTtv

OUTtv is Canada’s only television and online social media portal that features programs specifically for the gay and lesbian community. OUTtv is available on all major distribution cable and satellite carriers across Canada, online at www.outtv.ca, and via a free iPhone application at the iTunes store.

Don’t Quit Your Gay Job – Chef Episode

Sean — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:55:10 +0000

Yesterday Rob, the OUTtv crew, and I wrapped production on an upcoming episode where we learn how to become chefs. We joined the Pacific Institute of the Culinary Arts from August 28-29, for a high-intensity cram fest…with the sauciest sauces and meatiest meat, Granville Island-style of course.

How hard is it to learn to cook in one day and then prepare one course for a tough panel of well-respected Vancouver chefs? The good news: we didn’t kill anyone with our cooking. Here are some shots from the shoot. Turns out Rob and I like rocking high-waisted aprons. I’ve also attached my grocery list (and as Director of Photography Jonny Schmidtgall pointed out: I bought 18 eggs…oooahh oooahh)

Any guesses to what I made? Write me on Facebook and let me know what you think.

New Steamy Window Productions demo reel now live!

Sean — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:18:46 +0000

Our new demo reel is now live on the steamywindowproductions.com site! Why don’t you drop by for a visit eh?