Ashley Jun (left), Ambrose Wong and Tyler Weyersberg celebrate wrapping up principal photography on the set of Plan C in Burlington, Ontario. (PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY JUN / University of Windsor.)
By John-Paul Bonadonna
A paid research placement at the University of Windsor has turned into something recent graduate Ashley Jun (BA '24) never expected: a first step toward a career in film production.
Just two months after Jun graduated with a BA in Communication, Media, and Film, she found herself working on the set of Plan C, a feature film produced in Windsor with a local cast and crew. What began as a production assistant role quickly evolved into a much larger responsibility — and helped clarify where she wants her career to go next.
Jun’s path to the production began through the University’s Outstanding Scholars Program, where she worked with Professor Mike Stasko on a paid research placement.
Through that work, she connected with local producer Gerry Lattmann of The Dot Film Company, who subsequently offered her a position on Plan C through the Canada Summer Jobs program and Stasko’s non-profit, the Windsor Film Society.
“Through these connections and opportunities, I was able to gain a new set of skills and professional connections in the Toronto film industry,” says Jun.
“It has been the experience of a lifetime and one that I will always remember.”
She arrived on set ready to learn and contribute wherever she could. As a production assistant, her responsibilities included helping the production run smoothly and supporting the crew throughout principal photography.
Less than a week into filming, Lattmann approached her with an unexpected opportunity: to step into the role of third assistant director.
As third AD, Jun became an important link between cast and crew, helping ensure actors moved through hair, makeup and wardrobe and arrived on set on time.
She also worked alongside first assistant director Ambrose Wong and second assistant director Tyler Weyersberg, who mentored her throughout the production.
Jun says the opportunity was an unusual one for someone so early in her career — and one she did not take for granted.
“It is rare that someone just two months out of school would have the chance to work as a 3rd AD for the first time on a feature film set,” she says.
Stasko believes the strength of the Outstanding Scholars program is in the opportunities it can create for students.
“Research in film and media can take many forms, and experiences like this show how working alongside faculty and community partners can help students translate what they learn at the University into meaningful professional opportunities,” he says.
“Ashley brought exactly the kind of curiosity, initiative and willingness to learn that we hope students develop through the Outstanding Scholars Program.”
The experience has already influenced what comes next.
Jun is now a member of the Director's Guild of Canada and currently working full-time on Boston Blue as a set production assistant having completed a similar role on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds with Weyersberg – an opportunity which arose from the connections she made through Plan C.
The film will screen as part of the Windsor International Film Festival on Friday, Oct. 30, at 9:45 p.m. at the Capitol’s Pentastar theatre. The locally shot production features numerous Windsor-area actors, crew members and producers.
For Jun, it will be another milestone in a journey that began not on a film set, but with an opportunity to put her university experience into practice.
This profile is part of a special series celebrating Alumni Week. Discover events and more at uwindsor.ca/alumni.
