Local actor and filmmaker John B. Lowe has been keeping himself busy behind and in front of the cameras.

Lowe has been working in theatre, film and television for more than 25 year and recently appeared in the feature films Silent Night, Euphoria, and Hunting Season, as well as Hallmark Channel’s made-for-TV movie The Christmas Heart.

He also plays a recurring role in the Super Channel TV series Tiny Plastic Men, which premieres Dec. 2.

However, Lowe is more than just an actor. He also works as the school and community programs director at Prairie Theatre Exchange, a job for which prompted him to move his family to Winnipeg from B.C. eight years ago.

Lowe, who lives in Fort Garry, said before taking the job in Winnipeg, he was spending 50% of his time away from home working on projects.

Taking a "day job" in Winnipeg has allowed Lowe to spend more time with his family, while continuing to pursue his acting career.

He said having a job aside from acting isn’t uncommon for Canadian actors, especially those based in Winnipeg.

"The strength of our acting community here is that…most of the actors who work a lot in this town also have other disciplines. They’re writers, directors, musicians or teachers," Lowe said, adding this is mostly because they have to make a living, but that it gives actors a rich set of creative skills.

Lowe said while he loves his teaching job, he also loves being on set. As a character actor he usually plays a supporting role, something which allows him to play a wide variety of characters in different genres of film from comedies to Hallmark Channel specials.

Lowe said one of his recent roles that has particularly stood out for him was playing a toy factory owner in Tiny Plastic Men.

"He’s eccentric, almost senile, and still afraid of Russian communists and used to go on safari and talk with apes.  It was just a lot of fun to do," Lowe said.

If all that isn’t enough, Lowe has created two new projects for his film company, Broccolo Creative.

He wrote and directed the short films, Fly Flew Over, and W(or)K, which were both shot in Winnipeg. Both of the projects are currently in post-production and will be screened in 2013.

"What’s great is to be able to (act, write and direct) films in this city while I work full time," Lowe said.

Watch for the launch of Broccolo Creative’s website in January.

danielle.finch@canstarnews.com