Jason Margolis has directed over twenty-five shorts for Vancouver Film School's writing department, whose Portfolio Shorts program (formerly Web TV) combines professional production crew with student writers. Directors are allowed only four hours to shoot these three to five minute shorts.

Some of Jason Margolis' Portfolio Shorts are viewable online.

The Sounds Of Earth, written by Jennica Harper, starring Michael Scholar Jr. and Andee Frizzell

No, written by Jaxon Defa, starring Rafael Pellerin, Casey Austin, and Tihemme Gagnon

Rekindled, written by Steven Robertson, starring Brandon Carnes and Rose Pate

Fade To Black, written by Scott Lew, starring Maureen Prentice

Master Zorton, written by Rebecca Hale, starring Wade Fennig, Shane Kolmansberger, and Jovanna Huguet

Officer Kill, written by Joseph Wojcik, starring Cailyn Stadnyk and Paul Herbert

The Vow, written by Frederica George, starring Meredith Clark and Brian McBride

And last, but not least, The Story of What Happened When Rudy Came Home Early From Work and Caught Jack in a Compromising Position, a puppet show shot entirely on the PixelVision 2000 toy camera by Fisher Price, featuring the puppetry of Jeny Cassady

Jason also directed and edited several short documentaries as an instructor for Vancouver Film School, including Candemonium: Canstruction In Vancouver (Doxa Film Festival), Bloody Mary: Myth Or Reality, Disposable Pets, and African Dance.

Click image to watch The Merry Ghost Of Summerville.

A supernatural comedy inspired by the works of The Bard. Winner of the best script at the Reel Fast 48 Hour Film Festival.

Written entirely in iambic pentameter by Sam Dulmage and Jason Margolis. Directed by Sam Dulmage. Cinematography by Jason Margolis. Editing by Emmy nominee Mike Jackson. Starring Matthew Harrison (Watchmen), Michelle Harrison ("Wild Roses") and Ari Solomon (Tierheim)

watch Today (in Quicktime)

watch Today on YouTube

"The day had been agreed upon when we would act upon our beliefs, and that day was today. But something got in the way... Love."

A whimsical exploration of love and destruction, inspired by the films of Jean-Luc Godard.

Starring Shawn Bordoff, Josephine Jacob, Stanley Katz, Jessica Rosa, Ari Solomon, and Justine Warrington

Directed by Jason Margolis. Cinematography by Dean Hannas. Editing by Jason Margolis and Laure Parsons. Art direction by Laure Parsons. Sound and assistant direction by Francis Chan. Music by Doug Blackley and Wendy McNeill. Produced by Stanley Katz. Executive producer Robin Chan.

Eddie becomes obsessed with Natalie, a young woman he’s seen in the park. He writes a play which casts her in the central role then sets out to entrap her with his written words. Intrigued by the stranger, Natalie agrees to read with him but her curiosity soon turns to terror as he tries to control her. In a desperate attempt to escape from him, Natalie rewrites the end of Eddie’s play and gains the upper hand.

Starring Maureen Prentice and Mike Vitow (above, left).

Directed by Glynis Whiting. Written by Mike Vitow. Produced by Maureen Prentice and Glynis Whiting. Cinematography by Ken Hewlett. Edited by Gillian Pearson. Music Composed by Sanders Whiting.

© Jump Communication and Whiting Communications Ltd.

"Never try to set up your best friend with your boyfriend's best friend during Saturday sports day on TV, because you never know what will happen. One Ouija board and some overcooked hors d'ouerves spell trouble for Alexis, Owen, Amy and Cliff."

Tempting Fate features Martin Budny, Monica Stori Gemmer, Damon Johnson, Donny James Lucas and Maureen Prentice.

Written and directed by Jason Margolis. Produced by Steven E. Rudy and Maureen Prentice. Cinematography by Brad Whitlock. Edited by Jason Margolis and Steven E. Rudy. Art direction by Jeanne Harco. Original score by Doug Blackley. © Jump Communications and Brandice Films Ltd. 15 minutes.

Watch Tempting Fate on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's 120Seconds.com

Or watch Tempting Fate on intake.ca

 

Amidst the unreality of producing the popular reality television show Night Cam, the cast and crew lose their grip on reality."

Hope & Redemption: Night Cam Uncovered was based on an idea by Jason Margolis and collectively written by the cast of Michael Scholar Jr. (Gemini nominee for CBC's "Street Cents"), Sarah Edmondson ("Big Wolf On Campus"), Steven E. Rudy (ABC's "The Evidence"), Tanya Reid (CTV's "The 11th Hour"), Maureen Prentice (Lucky Stars), Katarina Balalas (After Shock), Paul Armstrong ("Celluloid Social Club"), Tanya Braun, Corinne Kessel and Jason Margolis. It also features cameos by Elisabeth Rosen (Bless The Child), Shawn Bordoff (Say It Isn't So), and Damon Johnson (The Vigil).

Directed by Jason Margolis. Cinematography and editing by Jason Margolis and Steven E. Rudy. Original score by Corinne Kessel. © LMTV Productions in association with Jump Communications and Brandice Films Ltd. 10 minutes.

The cast included Matt Baram (Second City Toronto, "The Border"), Kelly Budnarchuk, Christian Mena (Rent, "Strange Frequency"), Erin Malin, Martin Budny ("DaVinci's Inquest"), Shannon Larson (Barbie Screams), and Katarina Balalas. Cast also includes Ron Pederson ("MAD TV") and Bill Evans (Whistler Film Festival).

Written and directed by Jason Margolis. Produced by Maureen Prentice. Cinematography by Ken Hewlett. Edited by L.A. Melnychuk. Art direction by Allin Robertson. Original music by Doug Blackley. Featuring songs by Hayden, Maracujah, Wendy McNeill, Kissing Ophelia, and Cone of Silence. 15 minutes.

Healthy Human Specimen follows the misadventures of Angus, a desperate man who volunteers to be abducted by aliens... anything to escape the ruins of his life on Earth. He has a close encounter of another kind when he crosses paths with a renegade biologist named Megan and two rather confused poachers.

"There is much fresh originality at work" - Mark Horton, Edmonton Journal.

Above: Shaun Smyth (Gemini nominee for the CTV series "The Associates"), Tanis Dolman, and Chris Fassbender. Also featuring Shaun Johnston ("Heartland", Jake from "Jake and the Kid"; Mystery, Alaska), Grant Dryden, and Shannon Larson (Barbie Screams!)

Written and directed by Jason Margolis. Produced and edited by Maureen Prentice and Jason Margolis. Cinematography by Nathan S. Garfinkel. Featuring songs by Bob Tildesley, Cone of Silence, Kissing Ophelia, Shaun Pinchbeck, Corrinne Lillo, Trembita, Dennis Holman and Jersey Buckets. 29 minutes.