Netflix is paying a B.C. man to play with his toys.
Earlier this month, Netflix shared on its social media channels scenes from its program Stranger Things recreated by Nanaimo鈥檚 Todd Cameron using vintage toys. Cameron caught the streaming service鈥檚 attention with his vintage toy recreation of Schitt鈥檚 Creek scenes, which have been popular on social media.
鈥淚t鈥檚 quite surreal. It was only a year and a half ago that I really started even considering myself an artist,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd so within just over a year to have Netflix knocking on my door and saying they want to work with me, I鈥檓 still trying to wrap my head around it.鈥�
Cameron said taking on Stranger Things, a program in the mould of 鈥�80s movies like E.T. and The Goonies, is 鈥渢he perfect first project鈥� for him.
鈥淣ot only do I love the show but it鈥檚 all this 鈥�80s nostalgia: 鈥�80s actors and toys and movies from the 鈥�80s and the music is 鈥�80s,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 an 鈥�80s kid myself so [I] really enjoyed having that be my first project for them.鈥�
Aside from his usual figurines and toy sets, this time Cameron repurposed an action figure from the movie Alien as the monster from Season 1 and used Lite-Brite pegs to simulate Christmas lights in one of the show鈥檚 鈥渋conic scenes.鈥�
鈥淭hey just told me the characters that they wanted, they gave me a couple little directions, but for the most part just let me take the scenes and interpret it in my own way鈥︹�� he said. 鈥淪o I just watched the series over again and just let my inspiration take me where it would.鈥�
This is Cameron鈥檚 鈥渇irst paid gig鈥� as an artist and his first time having to sign a 鈥渂ig, long contract鈥� related to his art. He said they were open to his suggestions and made sure he was comfortable. Although they found him through his Schitt鈥檚 Creek work, Netflix were also interested in Cameron as a person, he said.
鈥淭hey just really like the idea that it was just dad working at home during the pandemic, off work, and just trying to keep busy and create some smiles鈥︹�� he said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 really trying to make a career. Just trying to have some fun and that鈥檚 what Netflix seemed to respond to.鈥�
Cameron鈥檚 work can be found on his , and accounts.
RELATED:
RELATED:
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on
