Meet Stefan Kuchar | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stefan Kuchar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stefan, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
I’ve been recording quotes in marker on a cheap ikea bookshelf half my life. Last week I took photos of the quotes on the bookshelf and then proceeded to destroy it to make room for my plants. Today I put that bookshelf into the trash and faceup a quote I will always remember stared back at me, “No matter what you try to achieve in life, take the time to enjoy the process.” – Don Porter. I heard this quote at his funeral. I grew up with his daughter and we are still long time friends. The entire Porter family were and are a big part of my life. Don acted in several of my short films growing up, he was a huge influence in my life and he will be missed dearly. Now whenever I’m moving too fast, I recall this quote and remember to slow down and enjoy the process.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a filmmaker in Toronto Ontario and I love comedy. Making people laugh is such a wonderful feeling. I’m also a horror fan, and when these two genres bleed into one another you have my heart. For the past ten years I have been running a short film festival called the Sudden Impulse Film Festival. The programming reflects my taste in films which typically starts comedic and gets darker as the night goes on. Working in film and running a film festival is a labour of love. There is money to be made in the film industry but it can be a cruel industry with grueling hours. I also absolutely love it and have met some of the most incredible inspirational people. If you want to get into film its mostly networking, which can be exhausting. If you get a gig, show up ten minutes early and have a good attitude. The rest you can be trained on and learn, but a good attitude goes a long way. No one want’s to spend 13 hours with someone with the personality of a crusty fart.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favourite spot in Toronto is Toronto Island. Take a Ferry, take a Tiki Taxi, take a Pirate Taxi, I’ve even kayaked over. It’s a great escape to feel like you’re outside of the city without actually leaving Toronto. Want to take your clothes off and lay in the sun? Hanlan’s Point has you covered. Don’t want to see naked people but want a chill beach? Check out Gibraltar Point. Got kids? Want to go on some rides, pet a donkey, picnic in the park, go to the beach, check out Centre Island. Then tour the islands little houses and and go get some dinner, on wards island. All connected by a walking path and the ferry is free to take back.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
God, my family, my friends, my partner, the earth. Those are the most important things in my life. It’s funny because in the film industry I feel strongly supported as a gay man but feel a stigma when I mention I’m Christian. The opposite is true with the Christian community. Both are part of my identity and both instantly spark varying reactions. It’s not been easy to navigate this but I have done so with the help of my family and friends. My longest friendship dates back to preschool and I’m still meeting new people everyday that inspire me. Working in film is great for meeting for new people. Unfortunately it’s also terribly long hours which makes its difficult to maintain relationships, but not impossible, it’s so important to set aside the time.

Website: www.suddenimpulse.ca

Instagram: www.instagram.com/stefankuchar

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stefankuchar

Youtube: www.youtube.com/SuddenImpulse

Other: https://vimeo.com/stefankuchar

Image Credits
Jayant Khare, Nichala Cutts