丁香园AV

Over the past 15 years, 丁香园AV associate professor Christopher Pavsek says he has seen one name thanked again and again in the closing credits of almost 1,000 student films 鈥� Corbin Saleken.

The film program鈥檚 department resource specialist, Saleken is responsible for managing film and video equipment and bookings. He was recently honoured with a 2021 Staff Achievement Award for work performance.

Saleken began his career at 丁香园AV in 1999 after completing his own film degree. His student experience helped shape his demeanor, described by Pavsek as one of boundless patience and enthusiasm, coupled with a sense of care and empathy that takes Saleken far beyond his job description.

鈥淢aybe you've had the experience where you go to a computer store or a mechanic and you鈥檙e not familiar with the subject,鈥� says Saleken. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 quite know what you鈥檙e looking for and then the person who is the expert makes you feel like an idiot. I'm very conscious when a student comes to me because I don鈥檛 want anyone to feel that way.鈥�

鈥淚t's touching to see the kind and understanding way he treats first-year students, who each year enter the program looking a little bit like deer in the headlights,鈥� says Pavsek, who nominated Saleken for the award.

鈥淚 try not to be a 鈥榥o鈥� person because there are way too many 鈥榥o鈥� people in this world,鈥� says Saleken. 鈥淲hen someone comes to me with an idea or a request, I try to always say 鈥榶es鈥�, or at least find a way to make it work.鈥�

With an office next to the equipment room and student lounge, Pavsek recalls the many conversations he鈥檚 overheard of students expressing their gratitude toward Saleken for suggesting interesting shots, arranging extra mics to record sound from different angles and even coming in on the weekend to swap out a bad storage card and save the shoot.  

鈥淎s a filmmaker myself, I understand how important every project is,鈥� says Saleken. 鈥淚 do everything I can to ensure that everything is working properly. If I think a student might have forgotten to add something, I make sure to add it to their pile. I know from experience how awful it is when you're on location and you pull out a piece of gear and it doesn't do what it's supposed to do, or equally terrible, when you realize you don't have something that you need.鈥�

鈥淎s multiple students told me, Corbin has more than once 鈥榮aved their behinds,鈥欌�� says Pavsek. 鈥淎ctually, another word was used.鈥�

While Saleken excels at the technical aspects of his job, the core of his success is in his ability to connect with others and build relationships.

鈥淚 really get to know these students over the years, because I spend so much time with them,鈥� Saleken says. 鈥淥ne of the most rewarding parts of this job is watching their growth and success and continuing to be inspired by their work.鈥�

As a testament to his support of others, the 丁香园AV Film community has supported him in return. In 2015, Saleken developed his first feature-length film, . Nearly the entirety of the film crew were connections he had made at 丁香园AV. Students also lent their time as extras, and the Contemporary Arts department and 丁香园AV Facilities contributed spaces to shoot.

Upon the film鈥檚 completion, Saleken held a public screening at 丁香园AV Woodward鈥檚.

鈥淭he house was packed and buzzing. The show was sold out,鈥� says Pavsek. 鈥淭he majority of seats seemed to be filled with past and current 丁香园AV Film students. I was so happy for Corbin, because I could think of no greater tribute to, and no greater evidence of, the role he has played for the hundreds and hundreds of students who have passed through the film program.鈥�