I recently talked to director Steve Chase of Reactor Films, Santa Monica, about the late Don McLean, who reigned for decades as Canada’s most influential production house executive, helping to launch assorted industry careers and entrepreneurial ventures. McLean died last month due to complications from heart bypass surgery. He was 72.
Chase simply observed, “I owe my career to Don. “I’m one of many people–directors, DPs, editors, producers, crewmembers–who can make that statement. He bred confidence in people and helped them grow. He was like my father.”
Indeed, McLean–best known as the driving force behind The Partners’ Film Company, Toronto–positively impacted many lives and careers. He had a hand in some of the industry’s best work, which has graced numerous reels over the years.
So it’s fitting that McLean’s passing has translated into the most impressive reel to come across my desk in some time. It contains remembrances of McLean by his colleagues and friends. Chase told me his daughter saw the reel and summed it up best with the description, “Twenty faces, one voice.”
That “one voice” articulated many of the same traits that endeared so many to McLean. He was referred to repeatedly as “mentor,” “teacher,” “friend,” “supportive,” “generous,” “loyal,” “wise,” “a people person” and “a surrogate father.”
A former business partner, Syd Kessler, referred to McLean as a “very influential mentor and teacher” who imparted lessons about “the power of generosity, conviction, excellence, friendship, and most importantly the power of righteous leadership.”
In SHOOT‘s obituary on McLean (8/5, p. 1), Chase related, “My fear is that there’s no one to fill Don’s shoes in terms of having the influence to convince people to use young directors. He made jobs happen. He helped my generation of directors–and the generation before me. But the next generation will never know his generosity and support.”
Chase hopes to help fill a portion of this large mentorship void by now organizing those artisans whose lives were positively impacted by McLean. During McLean’s memorial service in Toronto, which drew some 1,000 people, Chase networked with several of the attendees, asking them to consider putting aside a day to work with young, aspiring talent. Chase plans to organize an annual event in which established professionals will turn out to mentor up-and-coming artisans in Canada. This, he said, would be a fitting tribute to McLean, helping to continue, at least in part, his legacy.
Gary Prouk, an ad agency veteran who currently is a principal in the Sebastian Consultancy, Toronto, said in his eulogy of longtime friend McLean, “One of this business’ most dangerous conceits is the mistaking of personality for character. There may have been those with greater charisma in the business, but inarguably never anyone with more character than Don. You can judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him, or to him. On that basis alone, he was, I dare say, a great man. And he remained a friend to those who needed him and to those who didn’t, throughout his life.”
