adam then attended ryerson university's film program and won the 'norman jewison filmmaker's award' for his graduating short, "token for your thoughts", which also won a 'gold plaque award' at the chicago intercom festival. from there, adam began to straddle both passions as an actor and filmmaker - directing commercials, music videos and shorts, while touring and performing with one of the most popular canadian comedy troupes at the time, the komic kazes. this experience helped him land his first film role in the kids in the hall's feature, "brain candy".