Rick Alyea, born Richard Allan Robert Alyea on August 2, 1978, in Vancouver, British Columbia, has spent his entire life in his hometown.
As a pioneer in digital filmmaking, Rick seized the opportunity in the mid-2000s to shoot his first feature film, Part of the Game, on a shoestring budget of just $15,000. The film premiered at the 2004 Whistler Film Festival and earned a nomination for the Borsos Award (Best Canadian Film).
In 2005, Rick created the short film Puck This, which he later sold to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). His second feature film, That One Night, was made on a modest budget of $100,000 and went on to play at numerous festivals, securing international sales.
Throughout his filmmaking career, Rick has written, directed, and produced all of his projects, showcasing his versatility and dedication to the craft.
As the film industry underwent significant changes in the late 2000s, Rick adapted to the new landscape by leveraging his entrepreneurial skills and opening his first furniture store in 2009. By 2018, he had expanded his business to three stores, specializing in modern outdoor furniture.
With his newfound financial stability, Rick was able to choose projects that resonated with him personally. He collaborated with his long-time friend Zach Lipovsky to executive produce the feature film Freaks, co-written and co-directed with Adam B Stein. Freaks premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and was sold to Well Go USA the very next day, securing one of the highest minimum guarantee deals in TIFF history for a Canadian film.
Freaks went on to win various awards at film festivals, with individual accolades for the directors, editor, and Best Actor (Bruce Dern). The film is set for a theatrical release on August 23rd, 2019.
Rick's production company, My Way Productions, has several projects in development, marking an exciting new chapter in his multifaceted career.
