Andy Chambers now operates an independent film company called Too Early Productions. He recently completed "Brother of Mine," a film about coping with the hardships of A.I.D.S. You may have caught his guest appearance last summer on Vancouver Breakfast. Brother of Mine was entered in a film festival in Sao Paulo, Brazil and will also be entered in a festival based in Victoria, British Columbia this January. Andy named his company Too Early Productions "because at age 25, it’s too early for me to be doing this."

To ensure credibility on the topic of AIDS, the script was approved by the AIDS Foundation of Canada. Funding for the film came from private investors plus a small grant from the Playing With Time Foundation. As a freelance producer, Andy had to acquire the crew, rent equipment, secure a location, and rent an office from scratch. Andy and his partner Pedro Romero, operate from their office on West Second Street in Vancouver B.C.

Brother of Mine will be broadcast next year on the "Northern Reflections" series on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Videotapes of Brother of Mine, which includes a discussion guide, is distributed by Magic Lantern at 1-800-263-1717 or www.magiclantern.ca. Tentative projects for Too Early Productions include scripts regarding snowboarding, science fiction, and fortune telling.

What is the difference between the media districts in Toronto and Vancouver? Andy explains that Toronto is based on established companies with long term projects. Most of the opportunities are tied to the major television networks or film studios. All the necessary people and resources are available in-house. Vancouver is more relaxed and freelance. Filming tends to be on location as opposed to a sound stage. It is not uncommon for a production company to run their "office" out of a hotel room, rent all their equipment, fly in a director from L.A., then disband after the project is complete. Geography is also a factor as Vancouver is closer to Hollywood and Toronto is closer to New York.

Andy met his partner, Pedro, while attending Earl Haige High School. Chambers adds that memorable alumnus include Bill Parrot (Shane), Stefan Brogren (Snake), Nicole Stoffman (Stephanie Kaye), Keifer Sutherland and Deborah Cox.

Here is a fun story about their early days of producing. At age nineteen, Andy and Pedro had the opportunity to present a manuscript to studio executives at Warner Brothers Studios in Los Angeles. They bought a $400 Volkswagon and drove to L.A., which upon arrival, blew up and got impounded so they ended up taking the bus. They were surprised how a phone call or a business card from a powerful connection could get them past the forbidden studio gates. Once inside, Andy and Pedro had the challenge of acting mature and professional despite the excitement of seeing Oliver Stone and Mel Gibson whiz by on golf cart. Suddenly it hit them: this was the "big time". Next came the task of convincing the critical executives that their proposal was worthy of investment. They didn’t sell their idea but they indulged in the opportunity of roaming around the studio lot on official business.

Andy graduated from the University of British Columbia as a Geography major. He originally applied to the film department but was rejected because his film ideas were too "commercial". They wanted abstract-artsy filmmakers. He argued that films are supposed to be commercial, otherwise you won’t make any money. Despite the setback, Andy was able to participate in the program on a secondary basis. He filmed a documentary about the Arts County Fair, which is a famed Lolapalooza-type music festival at UBC. He also worked as the UBC-TV programmer. Andy streamlined the schedule to include full motion video and sound. Previously it was an unstructured series of campus news and events. Andy says that the biggest difference between film school and his professional production company is that the school is a protected environment. All the people and equipment are provided for you as opposed to having to secure everything on your own.

Andy’s experience on Degrassi prepared him for the real world of media production by teaching him set etiquette. He noticed that new producers are often unfamiliar with the equipment and structure of the film schedule. Andy considered an acting career but soon discovered that the real power exists behind the scenes. In his Degrassi years, Andy apprenticed in the camera department under the direction of Phil Earnshaw (Degrassi’s Director of Photography). He mentions Virginia Thompson (Degrassi’s Story Editor) as a strong mentor. He worked with Virginia on Dreamers, the pilot to Incredible Story Studio. Andy notes that ISS is now at the success that Degrassi had reached. Andy also worked on Liberty Street with Linda Schuyler (Degrassi’s co-producer) and a film with Sari Friedland (Degrassi’s Production Manager).

Real life Degrassi friends included Andy Jekabson (Mark), Amanda Cook (L.D.) who threw a lot of parties, Pat Mastroianni (Joey) and Siluck Saysanasy (Yick). Siluck lived with Andy when he first moved to Vancouver. In response to Degrassi love interests: "You are bound to have people mixing it up when there is a large group of friends together. Relationships did happen."

Do people still recognize Andy Chambers as Luke? The recognition come in waves. He won’t hear about it for a long time and then all of a sudden several people will approach him. Such an encounter occurred at his visit to Mt. Rushmore in Wyoming. A tourist from Israel recognized him and was excited to take photos together. Degrassi is unexplainably revered in Israel and Australia.

People who recognize Andy’s face can’t place why they know him. Their first inclination is that they went to high school in Alberta together. [Author’s note: I compared the Degrassi kids to the Brady Bunch kids. The actress Susan Olsen (Cindy Brady) admitted that people are subconsciously warm and trusting around her due to their deep rooted affection with the Brady Bunch.] Andy modestly says that it has more to do with the fact that Degrassi actors were never big stars. They were just kids with a cool job that paid well.

Regarding the School’s Out Feature, Andy remembers the cast and crew taking up a whole wing of a Port Colberg hotel, where they filmed the segments for Bronco’s cottage. Andy appreciated the mature imagery of School’s Out (drinking beer, profanity, sexual activity) as it was honest and realistic. On Degrassi, the characters were portrayed as being younger than the actors were in real life. In fact he would have like it if some of the Degrassi High episodes were as bold.

Andy auditioned for Degrassi the second year. His school friend, an actor/model, wanted to audition for the part of Simon Dexter. The original "Simon" left the show and the part was later awarded to Michael Carey. Andy ditched school to accompany his friend to the audition. Judy Shriner (the Art Director/Wardrobe Consultant) asked Andy if he had an agent and if he would be interested in doing background work Andy said yes thinking that "background" meant props and lighting, not being an extra.

Six generations ago, Andy’s ancestors were slaves, originating from the West Coast of Africa. They escaped from the United States to settle in Canada. Andy’s hometown of Drusdun, Ontario has a museum, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which commemorates Josiah Henson’s contributions towards the liberation of slaves. Andy’s mom works for the accounts payable department of IMAX films. His father is a parole officer. Andy compares his folks to Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham on Happy Days.

As hobbies, Andy enjoys snow boarding, skate boarding, and in-line skating. He was a sponsored skater during his university years. Was Andy Chambers anything like Luke in real life? "I wasn’t in special education, I didn’t smoke, and I didn’t sit in the back of the class throwing things"