TRURO - A former Truro resident has made quite a name for himself in the Canadian film world.
Wayne Burns, 21, is in his second of three years at Montreal's National Theatre School of Canada. And although attending the school is prestigious in itself, that's not his big break. Burns has a supporting role in Blackbird, a film directed by Jason Buxton that recently won the best Canadian first feature film at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In addition, it claimed best Atlantic feature, best writing and best directing at the Altantic Film Festival in Halifax last weekend.
"This is awesome and it shows that if you give 150 per cent nothing can stop you," said Burns on Sunday from Montreal.
"I couldn't go the TIFF premier of it because of school commitments but it's great to be a part of it and it's also going to be shown in select Canadian theatres nationwide on Nov. 24."
The "low-budget" film, despite costing $1.2 million to create, is an intense one, said Burns.
"It's about an alienated teen, Sean, (played by Toronto-based Connor Jessup) who uses the Internet and social media to create fear in a community. He's sent to a juvenile facility, where my character, Danny, is already at," summarized Burns.
"It's intense and it resonates with you because that's what's happening in the world now with social media."
The film taped during 20 days in July 2011 in both Halifax and Chester. Burns was on set for seven of those days.
It's an experience that will be great on his resume. But it's also one that he believes is partially related to his hometown of Truro.
"Every opportunity I had to be blessed came from Truro (early one) because I was pushed and supported there and I want to make Truro proud."
