Camera
First AC inside practical locations.
The work supported a compact camera team through store, home and exterior setups where focus, reset discipline and timing mattered.
The film
An award-winning TELUS STORYHIVE short drama written and directed by Janalee Budge, centred on a Chinese grandmother, a Mennonite family history and the secrets that pull a small-town household apart.
The approach
James supported the film as 1st AC and helped with lighting and visual problem solving around Artur Gajda's cinematography, keeping the JAF credit focused on camera-department craft rather than claiming authorship over Janalee's film.
Project details
- Release
- 2025-2026
- Category
- Narrative
- Tags
Additional credits
- Writer / Director
- Janalee Budge
- Producers
- Krista Rand · Jessica To
- Cinematographer
- Artur Gajda
- 1st Assistant Camera / Lighting Support
- James Alton
- Production support
- Kelowna Film Studios
- Awards source
- Okanagan Screen Awards
Narrative support
A strong film, with the credit kept honest.
This belongs on JAF as a camera and lighting support credit, not as a James-authored directing or DP project.
James came onto the short as 1st assistant camera. On set, that support expanded into practical lighting help and visual problem solving around the compact store and home interiors.
The larger production-infrastructure story belongs on KFS, where the F-150 Lightning and truck support can be shown as production proof. Here, the emphasis stays on the craft layer James personally carried: focus, camera support, lighting awareness and calm set problem solving.
Janalee has since written publicly about making the film during a severe year of grief and cancer. The page links to her public writing through the KFS case study rather than retelling the medical details heavily here.
Lighting
Helping the look without overclaiming it.
James helped with lighting and visual support while keeping Artur Gajda's cinematography and Janalee Budge's direction clear in the public credit.
Proof
Recognition attached to the project.
The Okanagan Screen Awards record belongs to the film, with James's exact support role shown nearby.
Production proof
Camera and lighting support on The Knitting Diaries.
Selected BTS frames from the Vernon short-film production: camera monitor, interior setup, slate and the KFS support footprint.
Recognition
- Official Selection — Okanagan Screen Awards, 2026
- 2nd Place, Short Films — Okanagan Screen Awards, 2026
- People's Choice Award — Okanagan Screen Awards, 2026
- Best Acting Ensemble — Okanagan Screen Awards, 2026
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