The ON SET Workshop with Christie Will Wolf

Christie Will Wolf –

Christie Will Wolf is an award-winning writer, director, and producer with a career spanning over 40 films. She is best known for her feature film Slightly Single in L.A., which became a pioneer acquisition for Netflix when the platform first began streaming. Throughout her career, Christie has directed, written, or produced films featuring some of Hollywood’s most recognized talent, including Patrick Swayze, Tim Curry, Pamela Anderson, David Spade, Norm MacDonald, Chris Kattan, Chris Parnell, Vivica A. Fox, Lacey Chabert, Lindsay Wagner, Alan Thicke, Donna Mills, Sharon Lawrence, Bethany Joy Lenz, Jenna Dewan, Simon Rex, Nicolette Sheridan, Loni Anderson, Morgan Fairchild, Luke McFarlane, Jonathan Bennett, John Reardon, Tony Cavalero, Dawn Olivieri, Meghan Ory, Mircea Monroe, Andrea Barber, Kelli Williams, Lee Majors, Meredith Baxter, and Michael Gross—just to name a few.

In 2025, she was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the newly re-established Women in Film Vancouver, cementing her role as a leading advocate for women in film and television.  The year prior, she was nominated for the Royal Bank of Canada’s Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, presented by Women of Influence. Repeatedly recognized for Best Directing, Best Writing, and Best Film, Will Wolf has received accolades such as the Directors Guild of Canada BC Legacy Award, multiple Leo Awards (presented by the esteemed Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia)  including Best Screenwriting in both 2019 and 2022. In 2020 and 2021, she was named Best Canadian Female Director and Best Director, while her films earned Best Film and Best Sci-Fi Film at various festivals. In 2022, she was selected as one of five Best New Series Creators at SeriesFest, held during the Toronto International Film Festival. According to Women in Film studies, she holds the distinction of having directed more movies than any other female filmmaker worldwide. 

After the success of  Slightly Single in L.A., she  went on to write and direct Boy Toy (acquired by Lionsgate) and A Holiday Heist (starring Vivica A. Fox and Lacey Chabert). Of interest, her collaborations with Chabert pre-dated the Hallmark holiday boom, helping shape a genre that would soon dominate television screens.

After her first three feature films,  Christie made the difficult choice to leave behind what was then an emerging career in Los Angeles and return to her native Canada as a single mother. Seeking stability while raising her children, she pivoted into television movies—a strategic move that allowed her to continue building her craft within Vancouver’s rapidly growing production hub. In 2017, she made history with Harvest Love, becoming the first woman to both write and direct a Hallmark Channel film. Since then, she has built an extensive body of work as a director and executive producer for Hallmark, Lifetime, and TF1 Studios North America, where she develops high-profile co-productions and global television hits.

Her range extends well beyond romance and holiday features: she has carved out a strong presence in the thriller and true-crime space with Lifetime, while her independent dramatic films have earned international festival acclaim. Her career reflects both versatility and endurance—balancing studio-backed television work with fiercely personal independent projects.

In addition to her film and television work, Will Wolf co-founded Vancouver’s first black box theatre, The Beaumont Studios, where she served as Artistic Director. Before that, she was a dedicated student of Sanford Meisner’s technique, training for nearly a decade at Playhouse West in Los Angeles under instructors including Robert Carnegie and alongside peers such as James Franco. Her formal education began with an undergraduate degree at Emerson College in Boston, followed by additional studies at the College of Charleston, and culminated in a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Film from the University of British Columbia.

Having established herself as one of the most prolific female directors in the world, Christie is now focused on returning to her roots in feature film—developing bold, narrative-driven projects that reflect the raw authenticity and ambition of her earliest work.

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1592228/

Cliff Hokanson

Director of photography and a camera operator with 25+ years of experience based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has a successful career as a camera/Steadicam operator working in feature films, documentary and television around the word. Working as a Steadicam/Camera operator Cliff had the pleasure of working with great Directors like Tyler Perry and David Leitch and many more. Also, Cliff has learned to film all types of Cinematic looks with the pleasure or working with Rob Mclachlan and Roy Wagner.

Moving on from Steadicam Operating Cliff works as Director of Photography and Camera Operator/Camera Movement Specialist.

Cliff is know for his fast execution of beautiful lighting/creative camera movement and his fun positive set attitude.

Cliff Hokanson

Petar Gatsby

Originally from sunny Croatia, Petar began his acting journey in Germany before taking his craft across the globe — living and working in Sydney, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand — before ultimately settling in Vancouver, BC.

With a rich and diverse background in performance, Petar has worked extensively as an Actor, Stunt Actor, Stage Actor, TV Presenter, Drama Teacher, Audition Coach, Stage Manager, and Director/Producer. His experience spans both stage and screen, giving him a well-rounded and dynamic approach to storytelling.

Since arriving in Vancouver, he quickly found his place in the city’s bustling film and television industry. Petar was fortunate to land a recurring role on the last standing CW series filmed in Vancouver, portraying Lex Luthor’s henchman Hacksaw Kronick in Superman & Lois. His favorite screen credits include Arrow (CW Network), Upload (Amazon), Turner & Hooch (Disney+), Project Blue Book (History Channel), The Detour (TBS), and The Shannara Chronicles (MTV/Paramount), among others.

This summer, you can catch him on the big screen in the theatrical release of BAU – Artist at War, alongside Once Upon a Time in Hollywood alum Emile Hirsch — and several of his own clients, who also booked roles in the film.

Over the years, Petar has spent thousands of hours working one-on-one with actors and has participated in hundreds of casting and director workshops, developing a sharp eye for what works — and books — on camera. His clients have landed roles in everything from high-profile network series (including one starring Owen Wilson) to major commercial campaigns shot locally.

Through his production company, based at Actorvan, Petar is also creating his own original content. His short films have received international awards, and he’s now gearing up to produce his first feature film, shooting this summer.

Petar continues to grow as both an artist and mentor, dedicated to helping actors develop, connect, and thrive — both in front of the camera and behind it.

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6723394/