Steven's Bio

Steven Deme was a marathon runner, a manager, and for 25 years, a TV and video producer specializing in public education projects.

His portfolio includes work for his company Villagers Media Productions and, for outside clients, under his brand DemeVision.

His functions had included field producer, director and director of photography and cameraman.

For video-plus editing plus internet uploading, he worked closely with his company’s top-notch editors and web-savvy technicians.

His range of projects had been wide, from children’s drama to overseas development issues documentaries.

Deme co-founded Villagers Media Productions Inc (VMPI) in 1990. Based in Toronto, VMPI produces TV and DVD programming that focuses on international development, multiculturalism, comparative religion history, youth, seniors, education and health.

At VMPI, Deme’s administrative tasks included participation in:
– the sales development of projects;
– the management of an eight-room production and meeting facility (2 production {1 HD-ready} cameras-plus-peripherals units; two HD-ready post-production-plus- peripherals units);
– working on a team
– the creative management of productions from conception to delivery for both broadcast and on contract to a variety of companies and educational institutions.

Over the history of the company, Deme had helped launch the careers of some 20 young media graduates, representing several of Canada’s diverse communities.

To date, the company’s productions have been broadcast on VisionTV, Aboriginal People’s Television Network, Canadian Learning Television, Alberta Access, BC Knowledge Network and Saskatchewan Communications Network and W: the Women’s Network, I Channel. Foreign sales include TV broadcasters in Spain, Poland and Brazil.

Deme held two university degrees in communication studies: BFA, 1982, MA, 2008; Ryerson University. Fluent in English, French and Hungarian, Deme had travelled extensively in Europe and Asia for personal enrichment and professional assignments.

His on-location production travels, as a director/ director of photography, include 27 foreign countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America: Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia(2), Guyana(2), Nicaragua(2), Honduras(2), Dominican Republic, Haiti(2), Israel(2), Jordan, Pakistan, India(2), Bangladesh(2), China, Mongolia, Indonesia, Philippines(2), Thailand(2), Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Kenya(2), Ghana(2), Rwanda, Malawi(2), Tanzania(2), Uganda(2).

He had produced in Northern Canadian First Nations and Inuit locations, including the High Arctic, Labrador, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Northern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC.

Screenings:

The Global Villagers series at Global Visions Film Festival Edmonton, Alberta 2003

Olive Dickason’s First Nations at ImagiNative Film Festival, Toronto 2003

Related Activities:

1997 Ecumenical Prize jury president at the Montreal Film Festival

1997 Taught Video Production at Centre Recherche et Communication, Lyon, France.

Education:

1984 B.A. Ryerson University

2008 M.A. Ryerson University

Personal:

Deme ran 10 marathons, including the Boston Marathon and several half marathons. He had been a coach for both runners and power walkers.