So a ghost walks into a bar How a Winnipeg comedian developed a passion for the paranormal

Winnipeg comedian Big Daddy Tazz has a secret life that doesn't include cracking wise and goofing around for audiences.

In that secret life, his audiences are ghostsand spirits.

Tazz, known for his work as a stand-up comedian across the country,is also a passionate paranormal investigator and ghost-hunting enthusiast who workswith the Winnipeg Paranormal Group.

His two passions comedy and paranormal investigations are compatible, he said.

"I love to be challenged and I want to know more about the unknown. It drives me. And I love making people laugh," said Tazz.

"When you're laughing you can't be sad, and you can't be angry, and you can't be alone."

Tazz reveals the childhood haunting that sparked his paranormal passionin a new short documentary.

Thefilm was produced byVan Cung Nung, 19, Tristan Legaspi, 18, and Ethan Langit, 18, who are all post-high students in theCreate programat Sisler High School in Winnipeg. The post-high program trains students in the creative digital arts, including filmmaking.

The short documentary was produced as part of CBC Manitoba's Project POV: Sisler Create, an ongoing video storytelling collaboration.

Meet the filmmakers

Van Cung Nung loves filmmaking and multimedia arts. He is into camera operation, video editing, motion graphics and graphic design. Proficient in software like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effectsand DaVinci Resolve, his goal is to create captivating visual content in the film and media industry.

Ethan Langit is a filmmaker and a self-taught musician, specializing in storytelling, editing and sound design. He uses his technical knowledge of music production to make his films sound theatre ready. He loves working collaboratively with other people and thrives in the company of other creatives.

Tristan Legaspi got into filmmaking in Grade 9 and has stuck with it ever since. Filmmaking is a core part of hislife. He finds every facet of production meaningful and engaging. In particular, Tristan loves editing for hours and shooting all sorts of angles. Outside of film, Tristan enjoys going to the gym, watching all kinds of media and taking a nice nap.

More about Project POV: Sisler Create

CBC Manitoba's Project POV: SislerCreate is a storytelling collaboration that partners filmmaking students with CBCManitoba journalists to produce short docs. The collaboration is in its second year. You can see past projectshere.

During fall 2023, CBC journalists taught storytelling to filmmaking studentsand led producing workshopsat theCreate program.

The Winnipeg School Division program, hosted at Sisler High School, trains post-high students in the creative digital arts.

The programfocuseson education and career pathways into the creative industries. Students can take courses in animation, film, game design, visual effects, graphic design and interactive digital media.

SislerCreateis currently looking for new recruits to their program.Apply here.