Women We Love: Tricia Lee

Tricia Lee is a Toronto-based filmmaker whose fun and fresh project work is reflective of her personality. But don't let her quirky cinematic spins on real life fool you. She's on fire with focus and determination, and her business savvy is quickly becoming its own force to reckon with.


And she rides a motorcycle.

Name: Tricia Lee
Occupation: Film Director
Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Video from York University
Stats: I quantify my awesomeness by how happy I feel.  I measure my success by the number of days I wake up happy in the morning.

How did you get started on your current career track?

When my parents took me to Universal Studios at age 11 and I found out how movies were made, I decided that I wanted a career in the media.  I made my first documentary about Street Kids when I was in high school and went to film school at York University.  Every year since, I've directed something, whether it be a short film, a webmercial, a PSA or directing exercise.

Do you consider yourself more filmmaker or musician? Which gives you more satisfaction as an artist?

I studied piano when I was young and I teach piano to adult beginners now, but I am a filmmaker at heart.

I quantify my awesomeness by how happy I feel.  I measure my success by the number of days I wake up happy in the morning.

What motivates or inspires you in your work?

My passion is telling stories that touch, move and inspire audiences around the world.  I am forever exploring what it is we have lost between childhood and adulthood.  I recently discovered the answer.  It's "wonder".  I am currently directing a film that I co-wrote called "Searching For Wonder" which is a culmination of all the themes in my previous short films.  What also fascinates me is vulnerability.  That is something we never lose, as much as we try to hide it or mask it.  I want my films to let people know that they are not alone in their fears, joys, secrets and pleasures.

Do you have a personal work philosophy?

Work shouldn't be hard.  It should be fun.  So instead of calling it hard work, I've taken to calling it Funwork.

If you weren't doing this, what could you see yourself doing?

There is no Plan B.  This is it.

What are you working on right now?

I just shot my first feature film called "Clean Break".  It's in post production right now.  I'm shooting a BravoFACT funded short film "Searching For Wonder" in August.  I'm writing a feature called "Ministry of Parenting", a satirical comedy about licensing for parents and another feature called "30 Days to 30" based on my most recent relationship.  Also, I have TV series I created about paramedics has been optioned by a production company and is being shopped around.  Always moving upward and forward.

What do you first notice about a guy?

Kind eyes.

What gets you interested?

Confidence.  Interest in me.

What keeps you interested?

Connection over same values, interests, adventures and openness to try new things.

What's your number one deal breaker?

Disrespect and smoking.  Sorry, that's two.

Turn-ons:

Kisses on my forehead.

Turn-offs:

Being mean / rude to me or others.

One thing guys should know when talking to a beautiful woman: Listen.

To stay in shape, what's your basic diet look like?

Eat whatever is fastest to make.  Although, I'm starting to meal plan and cook once a week so I can actually eat some healthy home-cooked food that doesn't come out of a box or a can.

What sort of fitness plan, if any, do you follow?

Hot yoga, spinning, boot camp, pole dancing as often as I can.

Favourite workout tip: Breathe.

Favourite recipe: Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon
iPhone or Android: iPhone has changed my life!
What are you driving: Toyota Corolla

Absolute WORST experience on set/shoot: Breaking up with my boyfriend in the middle of a shoot.
One quirky thing about you that never turns up in interviews: I ride a motorcycle.



Untitled from Tricia Lee on Vimeo.

I have always thought of myself as an independent filmmaker, but now I'm focusing on being an entrepreneur and creating several businesses that will earn me passive income while I make my films.  These monkey business ventures include:

• A Film Monkey Production - a film company that produces film that touch, move and inspire audiences around the world - www.filmmonkey.ca
• Music Monkey - a company that pairs students with piano teachers around the GTA - www.wix.com/musicmonkey/piano
• Pole Monkey - a company that sells pole dancing poles and accessories - www.polemonkey.moonfruit.com
• Script Monkey - a company that provides coverage for screenplays for up and coming writers - www.scriptmonkey.moonfruit.com