That's when Hegyes made his own eight-millimetre movies as a hobby. And his passion for films has lasted to this day.

"I think the idea that you can take an idea and turn it into something that's real is what's really exciting to me," Hegyes noted.

He described movies as "something that everybody has an opinion on, which is good and bad when you're making them," he added, laughing.

The Montreal native followed his dream by attending film school at the University of B.C. Hegyes then gained experience producing a handful of movies, including Double Happiness, Dirty and Last Wedding.

In 2001, he launched Brightlight along with long-time colleague Shawn Williamson. The idea was to develop, finance and produce independent features and TV projects for domestic and international markets.

Times have been busy, with Brightlight producing more than 15 features since inception. White Noise, a U.K.-Canada co-production starring Michael Keaton, is set to be in North American theatres in January 2005.

Brightlight opened a Victoria office last February, and 20 employees work at the two locales. The company has announced a $50-million partnership with H2O Motion Pictures, with the aim of co-producing at least five multinational features in B.C. Hegyes hopes the first of these films will begin production this summer.

Profession you would like to try: Flying airplanes

Where do you feel most comfortable? A good movie theatre

Favourite movie: Red Dust

Currently reading: Shadow Divers

Toughest decision: Betting the company on the production of White Noise

Car: Nissan 350Z convertible

Would most like to meet: The Dalai Lama

Born: Montreal

Last CD bought: Has Been, by William Shatner

Education: Undergraduate and master's degree in film and television production, UBC

What's left to do: Everything I haven't done - a lot