Academy connection

Adam Waito would like to thank the Academy.

The Thunder Bay native’s song, Prophecy, from his band Adam and the Amethysts’ 2011 album Flickering Flashlight was featured in the 2012 film Curfew, which took home the Oscar last Sunday evening for Best Live Action Short Film.

Curfew, directed by Shawn Christensen, tells the story of a man named Richie, who is about to commit suicide when he receives a call from his sister asking to watch his niece for the evening.

Prophecy plays during a scene where Richie and his niece Sophia are in a bowling alley.

“I actually am kind of embarrassed to say I haven’t seen the film yet,” Waito told tbnewswatch during a phone interview Thursday afternoon.

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Waito and his Montreal-based band, which consists of Rebecca Lessard and a rotating cast of other members, were contacted by the filmmakers more than a year ago to ask if they could use Prophecy in the movie.

Eventually, Waito forgot about it until Lessard saw the film in Montreal and heard their song playing in the bowling alley scene.

It wasn’t until then they had even realized Curfew had been nominated for an Oscar.

Waito said he’s happy for the exposure an Oscar-winning film can bring to those involved.

He’s had music featured in other independent films in the past and while Curfew is someone else’s film, he feels that music is an important part of filmmaking.

“I feel good about being a part of the soundtrack of something that was recognized by the Academy,” he said. “I was surprised and very pleased when I saw that was the winner of that category.”

Waito wrote Prophecy with his hometown in mind. The song is about his move from Thunder Bay to Montreal nine years ago. He left for university and ended up calling Montreal home.

And Thunder Bay has always been recognized in his music. Adam and the Amethysts’ first album Amethyst Amulet was a portrait of the city in song.