Peter Raymont’s Glenn Gould documentary, Genius Within, made the Oscar short list this year. Here, 10 things the roving filmmaker can’t live without
My status-symbol jacket Only directors with films in the Sundance Film Festival are given the official parka; I got one in 2005 when Shake Hands With the Devil, my documentary about Roméo Dallaire, won the audience award. People have offered me money for it, but I would never sell it.
My office soundtrack When I’m working, I listen to Glenn Gould’s Silver Jubilee Album, the fantastic 1980 edition of the Columbia recordings. My parents played his albums when I was growing up, and he never left my life.
My paddle I’ve canoed all over Canada, and having a good paddle has made all the difference. Mine is cherrywood, and I’ve had it for over 20 years.
My point and shoot I always keep my Canon PowerShot digital camera with me. This shot is the sunrise at my cottage on Stoney Lake.
Portrait of an artist My late wife, Lindalee Tracey, was a writer, filmmaker and former exotic dancer who died of breast cancer four years ago. I have a framed photo of her taken by V. Tony Hauser hanging in my living room, and one at the office, so that I can keep an eye on her, and she keeps an eye on me.
My morning pit stop I go to Clafouti on Queen West, near my office, almost every day at 11. I order a croissant with sliced chicken and cranberries, or a Montreal bagel. I lived in Montreal for seven years—they are just as good as St-Viateur bagels.
My go-to cocktail When I was in Chile working on a film about the formerly exiled writer Ariel Dorfman, he and I travelled all over the country. We always started dinner with a pisco sour, which is the national drink in Peru and Chile. You can get one at the Peruvian place on Harbord, the Boulevard Café.
My yoga fix I started yoga at Downward Dog a few months ago, and I’ve become a total fanatic—I go every day. It helps with the middle-age creaking.
My signature accessories I wear a Barbour fedora from Stollery’s every day so that people can find me in a crowd, and Frye boots—they’re incredibly comfortable.
My passport I do a lot of international travel. I’ve been to Easter Island twice. It’s one of the most remote places on the planet, and I want to make a film there someday.
(Images: John Cullen)
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