TarazodFilms: In Memoriam Colin Cameron

Our colleague and dear friend, Colin Cameron, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on November 6, 2016 (obit). Since the 1950s, Colin was an integral part of the Madison art, theater, and filmmaking community. He acted in and was involved with over 100 films.

2006

We first met Colin just before the premiere of Geoff Lafayette's horror-comedy Buckystein. Colin played the starring role of a wacky Dr. Frankenstein.

2007/2008

It was because of Colin's zany performance in Buckstein that we asked him to be in our documentary Mad City Chickens. Although it was a non-fiction film, we wanted to add a fantasy sequence to maintain a lighthearted feel to the movie. It involved a Giant Chicken and a mad professor. We filmed his scenes in July '07 and it premiered the following March.

2009/2010

Colin landed the lead role of Rusty in the short, Hits. This was a Wisconsin Film School project and Tarazod was part of the instructor team. It was during this shoot that Colin would be introduced to fellow filmmakers and future friends Nicholas Wootton and Michael Holly. Hits premiered the next year.

2011

We began two new film projects in 2011, and Colin was on board with both from the very start. He became the executive producer on our documentary, Benjamin's Ride: An Autistic Boy & Snow White, as well as on our short narrative, Strindberg's Assistant. Whenever time allowed from other gigs, we would work on these films. For the next five years, he was a steadfast source of creative support. Both movies are still in the post-production stage, and each will be dedicated to his memory when finally completed.

In addition to being the executive producer, Colin also plays the role of August Strindberg in Strindberg's Assistant.

2012

He volunteered to be a zombie in all three of our television commercials for the Reptile Rapture pet store.

2013

Along with Windmiller Media and Exchange Productions, Tarazod co-produced Nicholas Wootton's film, Just God. Colin co-starred as Satan, and his scenes were shot in January of 2013.

He also narrated the trailer.

Michael Holly and Nicholas Wootton with Colin in March of 2013. We attended the premiere of our short, Beast. Bike. Beauty, at the Wildwood Film Festival.

Production begins on Don Circles the Drain, a joint project between Tarazod and Rick Richard's C Side Films. Colin was an associate producer, set photographer, and an extra in several different scenes. And he would also become the narrator and an assistant editor on the movie the following year.

2014

No Sleep for Ronni is another narrative film we have in post-production. Principle photography was shot in 2014. The movie stars Veronica Narang with Colin in the supporting role of her doctor. He was also the executive producer.

Colin continued with his tireless efforts to move Don Circles the Drain towards completion. Numerous pick-up shots were needed to fill out the storyline. He was there to assist on almost every one of them.

2015

We recorded his narration for Don Circles the Drain over several different sessions. And for months, Colin worked side-by-side with us on the edit of the film until it was finally completed in July of 2015.

Tarazod was hired to shoot and edit a series of educational videos for the National Science Teachers Association. Colin was asked to do the narration and everyone fell in love with his warm gentle voice.

2016

Attending the 2016 Wildwood Film Festival in February for the screenings of both Don Circles the Drain and Just God (left to right: Colin, Rick, Robert, Nicholas).

Colin continued to edit with us on our three remaining films, particularly Benjamin's Ride. Throughout the summer, he sat with Robert at the editing station--three to five days a week. Real progress was being made. Our hope was to get a cut completed by year's end. As it turns out, however, more paid video work came in, which meant the film projects would need to be delayed until 2017.

The final gig we worked on with Colin was another project for the National Science Teachers Association. He resumed his narrator role, and we finished recording the last lines of the script just one day before he would leave on a two-week trip to Ottawa and then New York City. Upon his return, he had an accident in his apartment and was taken to the hospital. He passed not long after.

It's difficult here, sitting at the editing computer. The loss of his creative spirit and youthful energy is so keenly felt. Colin touched the lives of so many people. Ours will forever be changed for the better because of his close friendship. He will be missed.

Colin pictured in Madison with his sister, Mary (2008).