Mike Onley

Director . Cinematographer . Photographer

ON THE JOB

THE STORY

What drives one to become a firefighter? How does the job affect their personal lives?
On The Job documents the experience of dedicating one's life to firefighting through the eyes of four firefighters: Retired firefighter, Fred Onley; his son, Wayne Onley, an active veteran firefighter; and two rookie firefighters, Ryan Kennedy and Kevin Katchanoski. The film explores the common threads and feelings shared among the different generations of firefighters. From hi-jinx and camaraderie, to danger and death, On The Job takes a look at the more human elements of firefighting from the perspective of four GTA firefighters.

CAST

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RYAN KENNEDY

Brampton Firefighter

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KEVIN KATCHANOSKI

Lincoln County Firefighter

WAYNE ONLEY

Veteran Toronto Firefighter (Fred's son and Mike's father)

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FRED ONLEY

Retired Toronto Firefighter (Wayne's father and Mike's grandfather)

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

Making this film was very important to me not only because I think the subject matter itself deserves some recognition, but also because the people we interviewed for the film are all personal friends and family of mine. My father, and my grandfather, Wayne and Fred Onley, make up half of the cast of the film. I grew up around firefighters; hearing the stories and smelling the smoke on my dad when he would come from a shift. I was always aware of how passionate my family was about firefighting, and as I got older, two of my good friends, Ryan Kennedy and Kevin Katchanoski, decided to chose firefighting as a career as well.

I am often asked why I didn't chose to go down the same path as my father, and his father before him. The honest answer is that I don't share their passion for firefighting, although I am humbled, and intrigued by it. I do, however, feel passionately about storytelling- and this film serves to connect the two worlds of firefighting and film making that are both important to me in different ways. I want to extend a big thanks to my incredible crew, and everyone else who helped make this film possible.