SYNOPSIS Outside the Sprawl is a documentary that focuses on the concept of urban sprawl; the "rapid expansion of the geographic extent of cities and towns" Although a popular way to deal with our growing population post WWII, urban sprawl now poses as a real problem in Canadian cities. Outside the Sprawl explores how urban sprawl is contributing to the death of green space, farmland, and structuring societies to be ever so reliant on the automobile. We also hear from Sybil Rampen, a lifelong resident of Oakville, Ontario, Canada who has seen the town through the rise of urban takeover. As cities continue to grow in population, we continue to take up new space for new homes. But is there a better, more sustainable solution?
Meet Sybil Rampen
Born in 1929, Sybil Rampen is the owner and founder of Joshua Creek Heritage Arts Centre, an art gallery situated on 14 acres of land. A fan of combining her love of both nature and art, Sybil hopes her museum helps people realize the importance of preserving nature, and how important it is to fight back against developers in order to ensure future generations grow up with green areas close by, just as she did.
Behind the Scenes
Meet the Crew
Katerina Melohe Producer
Katerina is a third year Bachelor of Film and Television student at Sheridan College, and produced Outside the Sprawl.Growing up with a very environmentally conscious mother, she feels proud to be part of a film exposing an issue that many people don’t think of on a day-to-day basis, especially in a time when environmental issues are the most pressing issues society has to face.
Brennan deBurger Director/Sound Editor
Brennan is the co-director and sound editor and recordist of Outside the Sprawl. He is a third-year film student at Sheridan College specializing primarily in audio post-production, and enjoys the storytelling process in each aspect of the craft of filmmaking. As someone fascinated by both history and the modern world, urban sprawl was the perfect subject to take on and explore through documentary film— and through sound, pictures, and stories of the past, his goal is to share the topic with a wider audience.
Breandan McGuire-Astolfo Director
Breandan is the Co-Director of Outside the Sprawl. He is a third year film student at Sheridan College, streaming in directing and sound, also having completed half of the camera stream. He is fond of many areas of film and storytelling as a whole. He is fascinated by the wonders and potential in stories around him and how these can be communicated to a broad audience. Living near areas of new and fast development has greatly inspired him to co direct Outside the Sprawl.
Alex Chung Director of Photography
Alex is the director of photography of Outside the Sprawl. He is a third year film student at Sheridan College. Working on this project opens up a lot of his perspective about urban planning and suburban area, since he spent most of his life in Hong Kong, which is a completely developed urban city, therefore, he wants to learn and understand about urban development and the environmental through shooting this project.
Jared Marino Assistant Camera, BTS Photographer
Jared is the assistant camera and behind-the-scenes photographer of Outside the Sprawl. He is a third-year film student at Sheridan College specializing in cinematography. He is excited to be apart of a film that could change the way people look at urban development and awaits to see what changes can be made to combat these environmental issues.
Connect with the film
Neal Shakyaver Sound Recordist
Neal is a third year Bachelor of Film and Television student specializing in sound design and sound effects. As someone who lived in the city, he has seen and experienced the sprawl of urbanization throughout the Greater Toronto Area. He loves the calm and quiet of the countryside, but these areas are becoming more scarce around the cities. Through this documentary he hopes people will have a greater understanding of what these lands provide for the life that dwells within them.
Andrew Knaggs Assistant Editor
Teleri McGuire-Astolfo Editor
Teleri is the editor of Outside the Sprawl. She is a third year film student at Sheridan College. Growing up in Burlington, she has experienced the ever growing urbanization of the country and nature surrounding the city. Teleri feels that this documentary will be an eye opener for the viewers and will hopefully be a stepping stone for change.