Vancouver Island man realizes childhood dream alongside Hollywood icon
To appreciate the two posters hanging in Stephen Campanelli’s laundry room, which he’s had for more than 40 years, you need to know he’s been a Clint Eastwood fan for even longer.
“Look at this guy,” Stephen says pointing to the first poster showing the young actor lounging in his trailer on a film set. “I just love how cool he is.”
Before we get to the second poster, Stephen says he idolized Eastwood so much he watched all his movies, named his childhood dog Clint, and dressed up as one of the star’s most iconic characters.
“I put a Radio Shack cassette recorder underneath the poncho and played ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ theme song really loud,” Stephen laughs. “I was kind of a hit at a few Hallowe'en parties back then.”
At the same time, Stephen was regularly making amateur movies with his friends and dreaming of being Clint’s cameraman when he grew up.
While one was surprised when Stephen attended film school and made an award-winning student movie, no one could believe that when the young filmmaker earned a chance to meet Eastwood at a movie gala being staged in is hometown, he declined.
“Everybody said, ‘You should go and meet your idol’ and I said, ‘No.’”
Stephen says he had just got hired to do an entry level job on his first professional film production. “I was going to show I’m dedicated to this industry and this craft.”
Thanks to that work ethic and innate talent, Stephen became one of Canada’s most in-demand steady-cam operators, which eventually led to him being hired to shoot 'The Bridges of Madison County,' starring and directed by Eastwood.
“I’m saying, ‘Mr. Eastwood, thank you for having me. Thank you!’ And he just stops me midsentence and goes, 'Call me Clint,’” Stephen recalls his first day on set with a smile.
“It was the coolest moment of my life.”
The shoot went so well that Eastwood gifted Stephen his director's chair, which Stephen has set up in his office.
While Stephen has worked on more than 100 diverse productions throughout his career, including ‘Twister,’ ‘50 First Dates,’ and ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ Eastwood went on to hire him for 24 more movies over the past 30 years, including ‘Million Dollar Baby,’ ‘Mystic River,’ and ‘American Sniper.’
Stephen has captured six Oscar-winner performances with his camera.
“I was studying Clint. I was watching him work with actors,” Stephen recalls. “And I think, I can do this.”
But Stephen never expected he’d get his first job directing his own movie halfway through shooting one of Eastwood’s.
“He just said, ‘You’re going to be a great director. You go do it and we’ll see you soon,” Stephen recalled how Clint agreed to let him leave the production to pursue his own project and hired him to do other movies after. “I was like, ‘Oh wow!’”
Stephen has directed four features so far — including the acclaimed drama ‘Indian Horse’ and Canadian comedy ‘Drinkwater.’ While they’ve earned him shelves full of awards, Stephen says no trophy can compare to hearing an audience member call your movie meaningful.
“That’s the greatest gift,” Stephen says of meeting people who’ve turned to his films to find solace, escape, and inspiration. “That you can affect somebody and change their life for a few hours.”
Just as Eastwood once captured young Stephen’s imagination. Which brings us back to those two posters hanging in his laundry room.
“You cut to 20 years later,” Stephen moves from that first poster of Eastwood to the poster beside it, showing Stephen on set with Eastwood and Angelina Jolie. “It’s insane.”
While Eastwood helped Stephen achieve his boyhood dream of working together, their work together inspired Stephen to dream even bigger.
“Somehow I’ve done that. By some miracle I’m here today,” Stephen smiles. “And I just want to keep telling great stories.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.