Paulus Film Group: collective filmmaking.

Bed and Breakfast is not your average OFDC Calling Card film. Produced by a collective, the Paulus Film Group (PFG), instead of the usual producer/director team, the film is as close to pure collaboration as one can get.

The Paulus Film Group was founded, explains group member David Greene, "on the principle that any form of filmmaking requires not only a producer, but writing, direction, cinematography, editing, art direction and music of quality and commitment for the project's success." Robert Crossman, another group member continues, "we all know our job is no more or less important than the next guy, so we cover each other's asses to the best of our ability."

It can get complicated once you try to unravel who does what. The director of one could be the cinematographer of another and so on. Generally, however, the roles are fixed. The core group includes directors Robert Crossman, Drew Mullin and Aaron Woodley; producers Daniel Hill and Eric Novakovics; cinematographer David Greene; working in association with part owners Robert Jeffrey and Paul Russell. Adding to the mix is a support staff of regulars who sometimes substitute in other roles. They include costume designer Denise Cronenberg, art director Claire Ellenwood and actors Barclay Hope and Peter Blais.

Already, PFG has created four short films, 12 music videos, three commercials and two performing arts programs, receiving a total of 19 international awards and 31 award nominations. The shorts produced thus far have enjoyed huge success worldwide, with Dead Peoples Bums, 1998, and The Wager, 1998, both pre-selected by Telefilm for presentation at the Cannes Film Festival. Not surprisingly, they also have a feature film, The Corner, in pre-production.

Bed and Breakfast, writer/director Aaron Woodley's second effort with the group, is typical of PFG's adventurous spirit and risk-taking attitude. Unique within the Calling Card program, it's a film that mixes live action with stop-motion animation. It is also a deeply disturbing film about voyeurism, incest and the infinite powers of the childhood imagination. Imagine a film that combines the chillingly creepy visions of the Brothers Quay and Atom Egoyan.