Matthew Finlason
Encyclopedia
Matthew Finlason is a designer, art director, and producer of film and television projects. He is the host of HGTV's television series The Stagers
.
from York University
in Canada. Upon graduation from York University in June 1999 he worked as a performer on-camera appearing in minor roles on television and film while also learning the ins-and-outs of building, construction and property development in his family's business developing real estate. Job-schooled through designing, staging, and flipping properties with his family in Toronto
, Vancouver
, Jamaica
and The Cayman Islands he discovered a talent for designing and renovating homes. He later transitioned to working behind the camera developing his expertise in art department
s as an assistant and then as a set decorator, art director and production designer in film and television. His experience working in film and television industry combined with his knowledge and expertise building and selling real estate landed him a job with Dekora, Canada's leading home staging company. He discovered the position through a post on craigslist
hiring for a 'Stager.'
Finlason was soon approached by Paperny Films
, which was looking to cast and feature dynamic stagers on an HGTV production called "The Stagers." It was his brand of humor, his unique approach to home-staging and his early experience in front of the camera that landed him the starring role that launched his hosting career. He quickly became a household name with the first season of “The Stagers,” and received repeated critical acclaim from mainstream media over the ensuing three years and has been referenced as a home staging design and real estate expert in the New York Times and major Canadian publications. He has featured on entertainment talk circuit shows such as Entertainment Tonight Canada
, Urban Rush
, City TV, and Breakfast Television
. Finlason was also featured on the Scripps Networks’ “HGTV Showdown”, a televised race-against-the-clock design competition, where he was paired to compete side-by-side with Olympic gold medalist and celebrity amateur designer Kristy Yamaguchi.
Finlason has worked with and designed sets for Canadian inspirations Scott Smith and Gregory Middleton on ‘Capturing George’, a short film commemorating George F. Walker
’s Governor General's Awards; and Cameron Labine's feature film ‘Control ALT Delete’, produced by Stephanie Symns and Lynne Stopkewich.
that airs on HGTV
in the U.S. and Canada. It is produced by Paperny Films
and stars Matthew Finlason, Bridget Savereux, and Maureen Powers. http://www.hgtv.com/the-stagers/show/index.html
The Stagers’, creatively produced by Keith Behrman, received four Leo Awards with Finlason being named Best Host in a Lifestyle Series.
for an episode titled Bonus Room Blitz.
IMDB Site http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1595886/
Paperny Film site http://papernyfilms.com/
Leo Award win http://www.leoawards.com/winners_2009.html
The Vancouver Sun http://www.vancouversun.com/news/2009+Award+nominees/1470740/story.html
TV, EH? http://www.tv-eh.com/2009/04/01/the-stagers-season-two-premieres-tonight/
The Stagers
The Stagers is a half-hour reality television show about home staging that airs on HGTV in the U.S. and Canada. It is produced by Paperny Films and stars Matthew Finlason, Bridget Savereux, and Maureen Powers.- Synopsis :...
.
Career
Finlason worked as a landscape designer while pursuing his Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in Canada. Upon graduation from York University in June 1999 he worked as a performer on-camera appearing in minor roles on television and film while also learning the ins-and-outs of building, construction and property development in his family's business developing real estate. Job-schooled through designing, staging, and flipping properties with his family in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and The Cayman Islands he discovered a talent for designing and renovating homes. He later transitioned to working behind the camera developing his expertise in art department
Art department
Art department in movie terms means the section of a production's crew concerned with visual artistry. Working under the supervision of the production designer and/or art director, the art department is responsible for arranging the overall look of the film as desired by the film director...
s as an assistant and then as a set decorator, art director and production designer in film and television. His experience working in film and television industry combined with his knowledge and expertise building and selling real estate landed him a job with Dekora, Canada's leading home staging company. He discovered the position through a post on craigslist
Craigslist
Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities featuring free online classified advertisements, with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, résumés, and discussion forums....
hiring for a 'Stager.'
Finlason was soon approached by Paperny Films
Paperny Films
Paperny Entertainment is a Vancouver-based, Academy Award nominated producer of television programming and films, ranging from character-driven documentaries to provocative comedy to quirky reality shows...
, which was looking to cast and feature dynamic stagers on an HGTV production called "The Stagers." It was his brand of humor, his unique approach to home-staging and his early experience in front of the camera that landed him the starring role that launched his hosting career. He quickly became a household name with the first season of “The Stagers,” and received repeated critical acclaim from mainstream media over the ensuing three years and has been referenced as a home staging design and real estate expert in the New York Times and major Canadian publications. He has featured on entertainment talk circuit shows such as Entertainment Tonight Canada
Entertainment Tonight Canada
Entertainment Tonight Canada is a daily entertainment newsmagazine show that airs primetime on Global Television in Canada. Encore presentations can also be found on the Slice and TVtropolis channels, both of which are part of the Shaw Media network...
, Urban Rush
Urban Rush
Urban Rush is a Canadian entertainment talk show based out of Vancouver, British Columbia and is hosted by Fiona Forbes and Michael Eckford...
, City TV, and Breakfast Television
Breakfast Television
Breakfast Television is a Canadian morning news and entertainment program which airs on the Citytv stations . Each station produces its own local edition of Breakfast Television....
. Finlason was also featured on the Scripps Networks’ “HGTV Showdown”, a televised race-against-the-clock design competition, where he was paired to compete side-by-side with Olympic gold medalist and celebrity amateur designer Kristy Yamaguchi.
Finlason has worked with and designed sets for Canadian inspirations Scott Smith and Gregory Middleton on ‘Capturing George’, a short film commemorating George F. Walker
George F. Walker
George F. Walker, CM is a Canadian playwright and screenwriter. He is one of Canada's most prolific playwrights, and also one of the most widely produced Canadian dramatists both in Canada and internationally.-Early years:...
’s Governor General's Awards; and Cameron Labine's feature film ‘Control ALT Delete’, produced by Stephanie Symns and Lynne Stopkewich.
The Stagers
The Stagers is a half-hour reality television show about home stagingHome staging
Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money...
that airs on HGTV
HGTV
HGTV , is a cable-television network operating in the United States and Canada, broadcasting a variety of home and garden improvement, maintenance, renovation, craft and remodeling shows...
in the U.S. and Canada. It is produced by Paperny Films
Paperny Films
Paperny Entertainment is a Vancouver-based, Academy Award nominated producer of television programming and films, ranging from character-driven documentaries to provocative comedy to quirky reality shows...
and stars Matthew Finlason, Bridget Savereux, and Maureen Powers. http://www.hgtv.com/the-stagers/show/index.html
The Stagers’, creatively produced by Keith Behrman, received four Leo Awards with Finlason being named Best Host in a Lifestyle Series.
| List of Episodes Featuring Finlason | Episode Airdate |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | |
| 1. A Whole New World | 1 July 2008 |
| 2. The Fox and the Hound | 8 July 2008 |
| 3. House Under Siege | 15 July 2008 |
| 4. Fish Bowl in the Sky | 22 July 2008 |
| 5. The Bachelor Pad | 12 August 2008 |
| 6. Lofty Ambitions | 19 August 2008 |
| 7. Them's Fightin' Words | 9 September 2008 |
| 8. The Suburban Stage | 23 September 2008 |
| 9. The Penthouse | 23 September 2008 |
| Season 2 | |
| 10. The Frame Job | 1 April 2009 |
| 11. Quest for Fire | 15 April 2009 |
| 12. Pillar Talk | 29 April 2009 |
| 13. Bringing It Home | 6 May 2009 |
| 14. Dazzling a Designer | 13 May 2009 |
| 15. Child's Play | 27 May 2009 |
| 16. The Awkward Stage | 10 June 2009 |
| 17. Spec House SOS | 24 June 2009 |
HGTV Showdown
HGTV Showdown is a half hour reality television show that pairs up HGTV's hottest designers and carpenters of the season and pits them against each other in various design challenges. In each episode of HGTV Showdown, two design teams battle side-by-side on stage as they make over the same room for a couple whose decorating styles differ. Starting with staged replicas of the couple's lackluster room, the design teams are provided with everything they need to complete their transformation and are given four hours to complete the makeover.http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-showdown/show/index.html Finlason was featured along with his design teammate, Olympic gold medalist, Kristi YamaguchiKristi Yamaguchi
Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi-Hedican is an American figure skater. She is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two...
for an episode titled Bonus Room Blitz.
Awards and mentions
- "Best Host" in a "Lifestyle Series" - The Stagers - The Fox and the Hound (2009)
External links
Official Site http://www.matthewfinlason.com/IMDB Site http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1595886/
Paperny Film site http://papernyfilms.com/
Leo Award win http://www.leoawards.com/winners_2009.html
The Vancouver Sun http://www.vancouversun.com/news/2009+Award+nominees/1470740/story.html
TV, EH? http://www.tv-eh.com/2009/04/01/the-stagers-season-two-premieres-tonight/