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Transcript: Cabinetmaker
A child says, WEE!
T.V.O. Kids and Riverbank Pictures Original.
[Child giggles, upbeat music plays, pop]
Text reads, “T.V.O. Kids presents.”
[Energetic music plays]
Akeylah and Brody stand in front of a screen showing a sparking blowtorch. Akeylah wears a dark grey tunic, and her short black hair is tightly braided. Brody’s dark brown hair is short, and he wears a light brown shirt and grey pants.
Akeylah and Brody say, WELCOME TO TRADING SKILLS!
Akeylah says, THE SHOW WHERE WE TAKE TURNS TRYING A SKILLED TRADE. I'M AKEYLAH.
Brody says, AND I'M BRODY.
Video footage shows a welder and a mechanic.
Akeylah says, A SKILLED TRADE IS A JOB THAT REQUIRES A SPECIAL SKILL.
Akeylah and Brody say, THERE ARE LOTS OF SKILL TRADES.
Brody says, AND YOU MIGHT FIND THE PERFECT TRADE FOR YOU.
Akeylah says, MAYBE THERE'S A TRADE THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
[Whooshing]
Brody says, SO COME WITH US INTO THE TRADES ON TRADING SKILLS.
Title: Trading Skills.
[Upbeat music plays]
In the Skill Space, the floor is cluttered with a stack of bricks, coils of cable, and an orange and black-striped traffic barrel. Akeylah and Brody walk to a table with tools and a laptop computer.
Akeylah says, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE SKILLS SPACE IS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.
Brody says, WHAT CAN WE SAY? WE LOVE COLLECTING SKILLED TRADE STUFF.
Akeylah says, WE NEED MORE SPACE. LIKE A CLOSET OR...
Both say, A CABINET!
[Typing]
Akeylah types on the laptop.
Akeylah says, CABINETMAKER SKILLED TRADES.
Brody says, YES! THE TRADES NEVER FAIL! IT SAYS RIGHT HERE THAT A CABINETMAKER MAKES REPAIRS AND INSTALLS CABINETS.
Video footage shows Sean Livingston, a cabinetmaker. Sean has short brown hair and a moustache. He wears a black T-shirt and grey jeans.
Akeylah says, IT SAYS HERE THERE'S A CABINETMAKER NAMED SEAN IN BARRIE, ONTARIO. AND HE'S TAKING ON APPRENTICES.
Brody says, ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS TO SEE WHO GOES?
[Fists slapping palms]
Akeylah’s rock crushes Brody’s scissors.
Akeylah says, YES! IT'S TIME FOR ME TO OPEN THE DOORS TO CABINETMAKING AND SEE WHAT'S INSIDE.
Both say, BYE!
Brody says, I SHOULD HAVE CALLED PAPER.
[Whooshing]
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Upbeat music plays]
[Buzzing]
Akeylah enters Framework Studios. Inside, Sean slides a piece of long wood plank through a machine.
Akeylah narrates, I MADE MY WAY TO LIVINGSTON CABINETRY AND I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT SKILLS BUILDING A CABINET HINGES ON.
Akeylah says, HI SEAN!
Sean says, OH, HEY AKEYLAH! HOW'S IT GOING?
[Buzzing stops, hands slapping]
Sean turns off the machine, and he and Akeylah high-five.
Sean says, WELCOME TO LIVINGSTON CABINETRY!
Akeylah says, SO, A CABINETMAKER, WELL, MAKES CABINETS, RIGHT?
Sean says, YOU NAILED IT. WE TAKE MATERIALS LIKE PLYWOOD AND WOOD AND TURN THEM INTO CABINETS. WE PUT DOORS ON THEM AND INSTALL THEM IN PEOPLE'S HOUSES. YOU WANT TO SEE HOW TO MAKE A CABINET OUT OF WOOD?
Akeylah asks, WOOD I EVER?
Sean says, ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
Akeylah says, OOH, I WONDER WHAT THAT MACHINE DOES. OH AND THAT ONE. SO, WHAT'S THIS? A MAP?
Sean leads Akeylah to a table with paper, pencils, and measuring tape.
Sean says, YEAH, BASICALLY. BEFORE WE CAN START BUILDING ANYTHING, WE NEED PLANS TO TELL US WHAT TO BUILD AND HOW TO BUILD IT. AND THAT'S WHERE THESE COME IN. THESE DRAWINGS HERE ARE FOR A KITCHEN WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. AND THIS TELLS YOU ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CABINET SIZES, WHAT KIND OF CABINET THEY ARE.
Akeylah says, OKAY, WE'VE GOT THE PLAN. WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP?
Sean says, FIRST THING WE'VE GOT TO DO IS CUT ALL THE PIECES OUT.
Akeylah asks, WHERE DO WE DO THAT?
Sean says, FOR THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR NEIGHBOUR.
Akeylah asks, YOUR NEIGHBOUR?
[Whooshing]
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Upbeat music plays]
Sean and Akeyla walk to the next to the next storefront.
Akeylah narrates, WE VISITED WOOD LAB INC. RIGHT NEXT DOOR, BUT WE WEREN'T AFTER A CUP OF SUGAR.
Sean says, AKEYLAH, THIS IS PAUL. HE'S GOING TO BE RUNNING THE C.N.C. FOR US.
Behind a counter, Paul wears a backwards ball cap and a beige t-shirt. He types on a laptop computer.
Paul says, HEY AKEYLAH, IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
Paul and Akeylah shake hands.
Akeylah says, NICE TO MEET YOU PAUL.
Paul says, THIS IS OUR C.N.C. MACHINE. THIS CUTS ALL OUR DOOR FRONTS, OUR DRAWERS, OUR CASE CONSTRUCTION, AND WHATEVER ELSE WE CAN PROGRAM INTO IT.
Akeylah asks, WHY DO YOU USE A C.N.C. MACHINE?
Paul says, WE USE A C.N.C. MACHINE BECAUSE IT'S 100 PERCENT PRECISE AND IT TAKES THE HUMAN ERROR OUT OF THE EQUATION.
Sean says, YEAH, AND THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE CABINETS FASTER WITH LESS MISTAKES.
Akeylah says, WELL, HOW DOES IT WORK?
Paul says, WE BASICALLY PUT ALL THE DESIGNS INTO THE COMPUTER, FEED IT INTO THE C.N.C. CONTROL, AND THEN HIT THE START BUTTON, AND THEN IT CUTS EVERYTHING FOR US.
Akeylah says, WELL, WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD A KITCHEN.
Sean says, HEY PAUL, WE NEED ONE BASE CABINET THAT HAS A TOP DRAWER AND TWO DOORS BELOW IT. YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT FOR US?
Paul says, ABSOLUTELY, YOU GUYS CAME TO THE RIGHT SPOT.
Akeylah says, LET'S DO IT!
[Explosion]
Akeylah crosses her arms and fist-bumps Paul and Sean simultaneously.
Akeylah narrates, PAUL LOADED OUR DRAWING INTO THE C.N.C. CONTROL AND FIRED IT UP.
Sean says, ALL RIGHT.
[Slide whistle, machine rumbling, upbeat music continues]
Sean and Akeylah give Paul a thumbs-up. The C.N.C. machine moves to one side and selects a drill bit.
Akeylah says, IT LOOKS LIKE A ROBOT.
[Machine whirring, buzzing]
The machine drills holes and then cuts lines in the wood.
Sean says, IT CAN USE ALL THE DIFFERENT SIZED DRILL BITS TO CUT AND DRILL ALL THE HOLES EXACTLY WHERE WE NEED THEM SO THERE'S NO GUESSWORK INVOLVED LATER. IT'S CHANGING DRILL BITS RIGHT NOW, SO THIS MACHINE HAS NINE DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES OF DRILL BITS THAT ARE USED FOR CUTTING AND SHAPING THE WOOD IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THIS LAST BIT IS USED FOR ACTUALLY CUTTING THE PARTS OUT OF THE BIG SHEET OF WOOD. WE CAN TAKE THEM ALL BACK TO THE SHOP, HEDGE BAND THEM, AND START ASSEMBLING THE CABINET.
Akeylah and Sean watch the machine cut the cabinet.
Akeylah says, YES! THIS IS REALLY COOL.
[Whirring]
The drill moves back to the end of the machine.
Akeylah says, IT'S DONE!
Sean says, YEAH, LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
Akeylah says, WOW.
Sean says, YOU CAN SEE HERE, IT'S ALL CUT OUT. WE HAVE ALL OF THESE TENON PARTS THAT'LL FIT INTO THE GROOVES OF THE OTHER PARTS.
Akeylah says, THANKS, PAUL. THANKS, C.N.C. MACHINE.
[Whooshing]
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Background chattering, gentle music plays]
In Framework Studios, Akeylah and Sean move a cart with the cabinet pieces on the top.
Akeylah narrates, WE WHEELED OUR PRECIOUS PARTS BACK TO SEAN'S SHOP FOR THE NEXT STEP.
Akeylah says, WHOA, THIS MACHINE'S LONG. WHAT'S IT DO?
[Upbeat music plays]
Akeylah and Sean walk a long machine labelled “Sprint 1310-1. Text reads, “Edgebander.”
Sean says, THIS IS CALLED AN EDGEBANDER, AND IT HAS ONE JOB ONLY; TO PUT A NICE FINISHED EDGE LIKE THIS ONTO THE FRONT OF OUR CABINETS SO THEY MATCH ALL THE DOORS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE LATER. IT'S ALSO A TWO-PERSON JOB. YOU NEED ONE PERSON TO PUT THE WOOD IN AT THE BEGINNING, AND ANOTHER PERSON TO TAKE THE WOOD OUT AT THE END. SO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MAURA OVER THERE WHO'S GOING TO CATCH ALL THE PARTS FOR US.
Maura waves and walks to the other end of the Edgebander. She has short brown hair and wears a black T-shirt and blue jeans.
Akeylah says, LET'S LIVE ON THE EDGE. HIT IT!
Sean says, ALL RIGHT, AND YOU WANT TO PRESS THE BUTTON?
Akeylah says, SURE.
Sean says, ALL RIGHT, THAT GREEN ONE RIGHT THERE.
[Whirring, squeaking, air hissing]
Akeylah touches a screen, and the Edgebander starts. Sean puts the edge of a piece of the cabinet into the machine, and the piece moves towards Maura.
Akeylah says, SO, WHAT THIS MACHINE IS DOING NOW, IT'S GOING TO PUT THE GLUE ONTO THE FRONT EDGE OF THE BOARD. AND THEN IT'S GOING TO APPLY THAT EDGE TAPE TO IT. BUT THAT EDGE TAPE IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE WIDER THAN THE BOARD.
SO, THERE'S FOUR DIFFERENT CUTTERS INSIDE THAT ARE GOING TO CUT THE TOP AND BOTTOM AND BOTH THE ENDS AND OUT THE OTHER SIDE COMES A PERFECTLY TRIMMED BOARD THAT HAS A BEAUTIFUL EDGE ON THE FRONT.
Maura takes the board from the Edgebander and runs her finger along the smooth edge.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Upbeat music plays]
Akeylah and Sean sit at a small round wooden table.
Akeylah narrates, WE BANDED TOGETHER FOR A BREAK AND SOME CABINETMAKER QUESTIONS.
Akeylah says, SO, TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT CABINETMAKING?
Sean says, I LOVE THAT IT'S HANDS-ON. YOU'RE BUILDING THINGS WITH YOUR HANDS. YOU'RE COMING IN AND MAKING THINGS THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE YOU MADE THEM. THAT'S A REALLY COOL AND REWARDING FEELING.
Akeylah asks, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO'S INTERESTED IN CABINETMAKING?
Sean says, I'D SAY START YOUNG. AS SOON AS YOU THINK YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN WOODWORKING, EXPLORE THAT FURTHER. TAKE WOOD SHOP IN HIGH SCHOOL. DO A CO-OP PLACEMENT. WHEN YOU GET TO COLLEGE, TAKE WOODWORKING OR CABINETMAKING. THERE ARE SO MANY REALLY GOOD COURSES AVAILABLE AT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ONTARIO COLLEGES.
Akeylah asks, CAN YOU TAKE AN APPRENTICESHIP FOR CABINETMAKING?
Sean says, YOU SURE CAN. MOST COLLEGE COURSES IN ONTARIO HAVE AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM OF SOME SORT. WE TRY TO TAKE APPRENTICES FROM COLLEGES WHENEVER WE CAN.
Akeylah asks, DO YOU LIKE BEING A MENTOR TO YOUNG CABINETMAKERS?
Sean says, I SURE DO. IT'S REALLY REWARDING AND IT'S FULFILLING TO KNOW THAT I HAVE A PART IN TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOODWORKERS.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
By a table with sawdust on it, Sean points to a piece of the cabinet.
Sean says, WE'LL GRAB THE FIRST PIECE.
Akeylah narrates, OUR CABINET PIECES WERE CUT, EDGE-BANDED AND READY TO ASSEMBLE.
[Thunking]
Akeylah picks up the piece of wood, and Sean helps her carry it to the centre of the table.
Sean says, THIS IS ONE OF THE SIDES OF THE CABINET. YOU CAN SEE THE GROOVES IN HERE.
An arrow points to the grooves in the cabinet. Sean and Akeylah move another piece of the cabinet, lining up the notches and grooves on the two pieces.
Sean says, THAT'S WHERE THE BACK AND THE BOTTOM OF THE CABINET ARE GOING TO LOCK INTO. THIS IS THE BACK OF THE CABINET. WE'RE GOING TO LINE UP THESE NOTCHES HERE WITH THE GROOVES THAT ARE ON THE BACK OF THE CABINET. THEN WE'RE GOING TO PUSH IT DOWN ALL THE WAY. THIS IS THE BOTTOM OF THE CABINET. SO SAME THING.
[Thudding, rustling]
Sean stands the bottom piece of the cabinet upright, aligning it with a groove in the side piece, which is lying flat on the table.
Sean says, LINE THAT UP WITH THE GROOVES THERE. WATCH YOUR FINGERS ON THE BACK. IT SHOULD JUST FALL RIGHT INTO PLACE. TILT THE WHOLE THING OVER ONTO ITS BACK.
Akeylah says, TIMBER!
[Tapping, upbeat music continues]
Akeylah and Sean tip the cabinet over on the table. Sean puts his hand on top of the cabinet.
Sean says, SO, NOW THAT WE CAN SEE THE SIDE OF OUR CABINET, WE CAN SEE ALL THE HOLES THAT THE C.N.C. MADE.
Akeylah says, YUP.
Sean says, THESE ARE WHERE ALL OUR SCREWS ARE GOING TO GO IN TO HOLD ALL THE PARTS TOGETHER. PRESS THE BUTTON ON THE DRILL UNTIL IT GOES ALL THE WAY IN. JUST UNDER THE SURFACE OF THE WOOD LIKE THAT.
[Drill whirring]
Sean drills a screw into the cabinet. Akeylah drills in the next screw.
Sean says, IF YOU PRESS A LITTLE HARDER, PUSH FORWARD AS YOU DRILL, THEN IT WON'T SKIP OUT OF THE DRILL BIT. THAT'S AMAZING. YOU'RE HIRED.
[Akeylah laughing, drill whirring]
Akeylah and Sean turn the cabinet over. Sean drills in more screws.
Akeylah narrates, WE DRILLED DOWN AND GOT READY FOR THE RAILS.
[Thudding]
Akeylah and Sean slide small pieces of wood into the grooves.
Sean says, SO JUST POP THEM RIGHT IN JUST LIKE THAT. THAT'S PERFECT.
Akeylah says, THIS WAY?
Sean says, YEP. YOU'RE GONNA LINE UP THOSE TABS THAT ARE ON YOUR PARTS WITH THE GROOVES THAT ARE ON THIS SIDE PART.
[Thudding]
Sean and Akeylah put the side on the cabinet, sliding the notches into the grooves.
Akeylah says, MINE ARE IN.
Sean says, AWESOME. ALMOST THERE.
[Thunking]
Sean picks up metal hinge plates.
Sean says, SO, THESE ARE OUR HINGE PLATES. THEY GO ON TO THE CABINET AND THAT IS WHAT THE HINGES FROM THE DOORS ARE GOING TO CLIP INTO.
[Clicking, drill whirring]
Akeylah pushes hinge plates into the cabinet, and she and Sean drill in screws to hold the plates in place.
Sean says, PUT THESE SCREWS DOWN. SO, THERE'S ONE DRAWER SLIDE ON EACH SIDE OF THE CABINET.
[Drill whirring, thunking, upbeat music continues]
Sean attaches a drawer slide to one side of the inside of the cabinet, and Akeylah attaches the drawer slide to the other side.
Akeylah gives a thumbs-up. Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Mellow music plays]
Akeylah kneels beside a completed cabinet.
Akeylah says, ALL THIS CABINETMAKING HAS ME WONDERING. HOW IS THIS TRADE ASSEMBLED ANYWAY? LET'S LOOK INTO THIS CABINET OF CURIOSITIES TO FIND OUT THE HISTORY OF CABINETMAKING.
Akeylah opens the cabinet's bottom drawer.
[Scraping, music stops]
A painting shows Neanderthals standing at the entrance of a cave.
Akeylah narrates, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT NEANDERTHALS USED STONE AND BONE TO WORK WITH WOOD OVER 300,000 YEARS AGO, WHICH IS PROBABLY HOW THE FIRST-EVER CABINETS WERE MADE.
[Upbeat music plays]
Video footage shows Brody gesturing at an intricately carved cabinet.
Akeylah narrates, IN THE RENAISSANCE ERA, CABINETS BECAME MORE FANCY AND WOULD BE MADE OF PRECIOUS WOOD AND FEATURE INTRICATE CARVINGS.
In video footage, Brody poses with a drill in front of another cabinet with intricate carvings and paintings.
Akeylah narrates, THE INVENTION OF THE CIRCULAR SAW AT THE END OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY AND THE ELECTRIC HAND DRILL IN 1895 MADE MAKING CABINETS EASIER.
In video footage, Brody poses in front of a wooden cabinet.
Akeylah narrates, ONTARIO BEGAN TO PRODUCE SOUGHT AFTER CABINETMAKERS LIKE JOHN KLEMP, WHO MADE THIS FAMOUS CABINET IN 1885.
[Upbeat music plays]
In Framework Studios, Sean says, THE CABINET'S 100 PERCENT DONE. WHAT DO YOU THINK'S MISSING FROM HERE THOUGH?
Akeylah says, THE DRAWERS AND THE DOORS.
Sean says, EXACTLY. SO, WE'RE GONNA PUT JUST A BEAD OF GLUE IN EACH OF THE GROOVES.
Sean and Akeylah squeeze glue into grooves on the bottom of the drawer.
Akeylah says, AND THIS GROOVE.
[Tapping]
Sean lifts a side piece of the drawer and puts it into one of the grooves. He and Akeylah tap it.
Sean says, YOU GOT IT. WE'RE GONNA TAKE ONE SIDE AT A TIME AND JUST LIFT THE BOTTOM UP INTO THAT GROOVE. AND JUST GIVE IT A TAP.
[Rustling, tapping]
Akeylah and Sean put on the sides of the drawer.
Sean says, WIGGLE IT INTO THE SIDE AND THE BOTTOM. A LITTLE LOVE TAP. AND THERE'S OUR DRAWER BOX AND THAT WILL CLIP INTO THE FRONT OF OUR SLIDES.
[Drill whirring]
Sean drills screws into the corner of the drawer.
Sean says, LET'S LIFT THIS UP TOGETHER. WE'LL GET IT ON THE SLIDES. AND THEN PUSH IT BACK ALL THE WAY TILL IT CLICKS.
[Thudding, clicking]
Sean and Akeylah slide the drawer into place.
Sean says, WE JUST PRESS IT INTO THE HOLE.
[Snapping]
Akeylah and Sean attach the hinges to the doors.
Sean says, LIKE THAT. SO, ALL WE GOTTA DO IS PRESS THAT BAR INTO THE NOTCH. PUSH IT ON LIKE THAT.
[Tapping, snapping]
Sean pushes the hinge into the hinge plate.
Sean says, AND THEN WE HAVE A DOOR.
[Tapping, snapping]
On the other side of the cabinet, Akeylah pushes the hinge into the hinge plate.
Sean says, THERE YOU GO. AND THEN WE CAN PUT THE DRAWER FRONT RIGHT ON TOP.
[Tapping, drill whirring]
Akeylah holds the drawer front while Sean drills it into place.
Sean asks, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE? SEE IF THE DRAWER OPENS NICE.
Akeylah opens the drawer and doors.
Akeylah says, NICE DRAWER. AND NICE DOORS.
Sean slides the drawer shut.
Sean says, LET'S SEE HOW IT CLOSES.
Akeylah says, OH, I SEE. THE EDGE WE PUT ON MATCHES THE DOOR.
Sean says, EXACTLY!
Akeylah says, WOW. I'VE BEEN USING CABINETS MY WHOLE LIFE. I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS SUCH AN ART FORM. THE CASE OF THE NEW CABINET IS OPEN AND SHUT.
[Door thudding]
Akeylah opens and shuts the cabinet door.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Upbeat music plays]
In the Skill Space, the new cabinet is on the table.
Akeylah says, THE SKILL SPACE IS SPICK AND SPAN. I'M SURPRISED YOU CAN FIT SO MUCH INTO THIS CABINET.
Brody says, WELL NOT EVERYTHING. I ALSO LOADED UP THAT CABINET UP THERE.
Akeylah says, OH, YOU MEAN THE ONE THAT'S SHAKING AND CREAKING?
Brody says, THAT'S THE ONE.
[Wood breaking, clattering]
Debris falls on Brody and Akeylah.
Brody says, HEY, AKEYLAH YOU KNOW HOW TO BUILD CABINETS NOW RIGHT?
Akeylah says, WAY AHEAD OF YOU.
Brody says, CABINETMAKING COULD BE THE TRADE FOR YOU, TOO.
Akeylah says, BUT EVEN IF IT ISN'T THERE ARE STILL SO MANY TRADES OUT THERE THAT COULD TAKE YOU TO THE TOP.
Both say, SO LONG.
[Upbeat music plays]
End credits. Hosts: Akeylah James, Brody Agmon. Co-host: Anna Paul. Tradesperson: Sean Livingstone. Written and directed by Johnny Mitchell. Trainee director: Maria Bui. Produced by Francis Mitchell, Johnny Mitchell, David Mitchell. Co-producers: Emma Fox, Anthony Gullace. Executive producers: Richard Bergmann, Thomas Kritsch. Music by: Joseph Shabason, Christine Bougie. Special thanks Livingstone Cabinetry, Maura, Woodlab Incorporated, Paul Klosowski. Produced in association with T.V.O. Kids. Executive producer, T.V.O.: Kirsten Hurd. Production executive, T.V.O.: Austin Guervara Mastretta. Riverbank Pictures. Copyright 2024 Riverbank Pictures.
T.V.O. Kids and Riverbank Pictures Original.
[Child giggles, upbeat music plays, pop]
Text reads, “T.V.O. Kids presents.”
[Energetic music plays]
Akeylah and Brody stand in front of a screen showing a sparking blowtorch. Akeylah wears a dark grey tunic, and her short black hair is tightly braided. Brody’s dark brown hair is short, and he wears a light brown shirt and grey pants.
Akeylah and Brody say, WELCOME TO TRADING SKILLS!
Akeylah says, THE SHOW WHERE WE TAKE TURNS TRYING A SKILLED TRADE. I'M AKEYLAH.
Brody says, AND I'M BRODY.
Video footage shows a welder and a mechanic.
Akeylah says, A SKILLED TRADE IS A JOB THAT REQUIRES A SPECIAL SKILL.
Akeylah and Brody say, THERE ARE LOTS OF SKILL TRADES.
Brody says, AND YOU MIGHT FIND THE PERFECT TRADE FOR YOU.
Akeylah says, MAYBE THERE'S A TRADE THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
[Whooshing]
Brody says, SO COME WITH US INTO THE TRADES ON TRADING SKILLS.
Title: Trading Skills.
[Upbeat music plays]
In the Skill Space, the floor is cluttered with a stack of bricks, coils of cable, and an orange and black-striped traffic barrel. Akeylah and Brody walk to a table with tools and a laptop computer.
Akeylah says, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE SKILLS SPACE IS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.
Brody says, WHAT CAN WE SAY? WE LOVE COLLECTING SKILLED TRADE STUFF.
Akeylah says, WE NEED MORE SPACE. LIKE A CLOSET OR...
Both say, A CABINET!
[Typing]
Akeylah types on the laptop.
Akeylah says, CABINETMAKER SKILLED TRADES.
Brody says, YES! THE TRADES NEVER FAIL! IT SAYS RIGHT HERE THAT A CABINETMAKER MAKES REPAIRS AND INSTALLS CABINETS.
Video footage shows Sean Livingston, a cabinetmaker. Sean has short brown hair and a moustache. He wears a black T-shirt and grey jeans.
Akeylah says, IT SAYS HERE THERE'S A CABINETMAKER NAMED SEAN IN BARRIE, ONTARIO. AND HE'S TAKING ON APPRENTICES.
Brody says, ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS TO SEE WHO GOES?
[Fists slapping palms]
Akeylah’s rock crushes Brody’s scissors.
Akeylah says, YES! IT'S TIME FOR ME TO OPEN THE DOORS TO CABINETMAKING AND SEE WHAT'S INSIDE.
Both say, BYE!
Brody says, I SHOULD HAVE CALLED PAPER.
[Whooshing]
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Upbeat music plays]
[Buzzing]
Akeylah enters Framework Studios. Inside, Sean slides a piece of long wood plank through a machine.
Akeylah narrates, I MADE MY WAY TO LIVINGSTON CABINETRY AND I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT SKILLS BUILDING A CABINET HINGES ON.
Akeylah says, HI SEAN!
Sean says, OH, HEY AKEYLAH! HOW'S IT GOING?
[Buzzing stops, hands slapping]
Sean turns off the machine, and he and Akeylah high-five.
Sean says, WELCOME TO LIVINGSTON CABINETRY!
Akeylah says, SO, A CABINETMAKER, WELL, MAKES CABINETS, RIGHT?
Sean says, YOU NAILED IT. WE TAKE MATERIALS LIKE PLYWOOD AND WOOD AND TURN THEM INTO CABINETS. WE PUT DOORS ON THEM AND INSTALL THEM IN PEOPLE'S HOUSES. YOU WANT TO SEE HOW TO MAKE A CABINET OUT OF WOOD?
Akeylah asks, WOOD I EVER?
Sean says, ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
Akeylah says, OOH, I WONDER WHAT THAT MACHINE DOES. OH AND THAT ONE. SO, WHAT'S THIS? A MAP?
Sean leads Akeylah to a table with paper, pencils, and measuring tape.
Sean says, YEAH, BASICALLY. BEFORE WE CAN START BUILDING ANYTHING, WE NEED PLANS TO TELL US WHAT TO BUILD AND HOW TO BUILD IT. AND THAT'S WHERE THESE COME IN. THESE DRAWINGS HERE ARE FOR A KITCHEN WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. AND THIS TELLS YOU ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CABINET SIZES, WHAT KIND OF CABINET THEY ARE.
Akeylah says, OKAY, WE'VE GOT THE PLAN. WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP?
Sean says, FIRST THING WE'VE GOT TO DO IS CUT ALL THE PIECES OUT.
Akeylah asks, WHERE DO WE DO THAT?
Sean says, FOR THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO OUR NEIGHBOUR.
Akeylah asks, YOUR NEIGHBOUR?
[Whooshing]
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Upbeat music plays]
Sean and Akeyla walk to the next to the next storefront.
Akeylah narrates, WE VISITED WOOD LAB INC. RIGHT NEXT DOOR, BUT WE WEREN'T AFTER A CUP OF SUGAR.
Sean says, AKEYLAH, THIS IS PAUL. HE'S GOING TO BE RUNNING THE C.N.C. FOR US.
Behind a counter, Paul wears a backwards ball cap and a beige t-shirt. He types on a laptop computer.
Paul says, HEY AKEYLAH, IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
Paul and Akeylah shake hands.
Akeylah says, NICE TO MEET YOU PAUL.
Paul says, THIS IS OUR C.N.C. MACHINE. THIS CUTS ALL OUR DOOR FRONTS, OUR DRAWERS, OUR CASE CONSTRUCTION, AND WHATEVER ELSE WE CAN PROGRAM INTO IT.
Akeylah asks, WHY DO YOU USE A C.N.C. MACHINE?
Paul says, WE USE A C.N.C. MACHINE BECAUSE IT'S 100 PERCENT PRECISE AND IT TAKES THE HUMAN ERROR OUT OF THE EQUATION.
Sean says, YEAH, AND THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE CABINETS FASTER WITH LESS MISTAKES.
Akeylah says, WELL, HOW DOES IT WORK?
Paul says, WE BASICALLY PUT ALL THE DESIGNS INTO THE COMPUTER, FEED IT INTO THE C.N.C. CONTROL, AND THEN HIT THE START BUTTON, AND THEN IT CUTS EVERYTHING FOR US.
Akeylah says, WELL, WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD A KITCHEN.
Sean says, HEY PAUL, WE NEED ONE BASE CABINET THAT HAS A TOP DRAWER AND TWO DOORS BELOW IT. YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT FOR US?
Paul says, ABSOLUTELY, YOU GUYS CAME TO THE RIGHT SPOT.
Akeylah says, LET'S DO IT!
[Explosion]
Akeylah crosses her arms and fist-bumps Paul and Sean simultaneously.
Akeylah narrates, PAUL LOADED OUR DRAWING INTO THE C.N.C. CONTROL AND FIRED IT UP.
Sean says, ALL RIGHT.
[Slide whistle, machine rumbling, upbeat music continues]
Sean and Akeylah give Paul a thumbs-up. The C.N.C. machine moves to one side and selects a drill bit.
Akeylah says, IT LOOKS LIKE A ROBOT.
[Machine whirring, buzzing]
The machine drills holes and then cuts lines in the wood.
Sean says, IT CAN USE ALL THE DIFFERENT SIZED DRILL BITS TO CUT AND DRILL ALL THE HOLES EXACTLY WHERE WE NEED THEM SO THERE'S NO GUESSWORK INVOLVED LATER. IT'S CHANGING DRILL BITS RIGHT NOW, SO THIS MACHINE HAS NINE DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES OF DRILL BITS THAT ARE USED FOR CUTTING AND SHAPING THE WOOD IN DIFFERENT WAYS. THIS LAST BIT IS USED FOR ACTUALLY CUTTING THE PARTS OUT OF THE BIG SHEET OF WOOD. WE CAN TAKE THEM ALL BACK TO THE SHOP, HEDGE BAND THEM, AND START ASSEMBLING THE CABINET.
Akeylah and Sean watch the machine cut the cabinet.
Akeylah says, YES! THIS IS REALLY COOL.
[Whirring]
The drill moves back to the end of the machine.
Akeylah says, IT'S DONE!
Sean says, YEAH, LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
Akeylah says, WOW.
Sean says, YOU CAN SEE HERE, IT'S ALL CUT OUT. WE HAVE ALL OF THESE TENON PARTS THAT'LL FIT INTO THE GROOVES OF THE OTHER PARTS.
Akeylah says, THANKS, PAUL. THANKS, C.N.C. MACHINE.
[Whooshing]
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Background chattering, gentle music plays]
In Framework Studios, Akeylah and Sean move a cart with the cabinet pieces on the top.
Akeylah narrates, WE WHEELED OUR PRECIOUS PARTS BACK TO SEAN'S SHOP FOR THE NEXT STEP.
Akeylah says, WHOA, THIS MACHINE'S LONG. WHAT'S IT DO?
[Upbeat music plays]
Akeylah and Sean walk a long machine labelled “Sprint 1310-1. Text reads, “Edgebander.”
Sean says, THIS IS CALLED AN EDGEBANDER, AND IT HAS ONE JOB ONLY; TO PUT A NICE FINISHED EDGE LIKE THIS ONTO THE FRONT OF OUR CABINETS SO THEY MATCH ALL THE DOORS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE LATER. IT'S ALSO A TWO-PERSON JOB. YOU NEED ONE PERSON TO PUT THE WOOD IN AT THE BEGINNING, AND ANOTHER PERSON TO TAKE THE WOOD OUT AT THE END. SO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MAURA OVER THERE WHO'S GOING TO CATCH ALL THE PARTS FOR US.
Maura waves and walks to the other end of the Edgebander. She has short brown hair and wears a black T-shirt and blue jeans.
Akeylah says, LET'S LIVE ON THE EDGE. HIT IT!
Sean says, ALL RIGHT, AND YOU WANT TO PRESS THE BUTTON?
Akeylah says, SURE.
Sean says, ALL RIGHT, THAT GREEN ONE RIGHT THERE.
[Whirring, squeaking, air hissing]
Akeylah touches a screen, and the Edgebander starts. Sean puts the edge of a piece of the cabinet into the machine, and the piece moves towards Maura.
Akeylah says, SO, WHAT THIS MACHINE IS DOING NOW, IT'S GOING TO PUT THE GLUE ONTO THE FRONT EDGE OF THE BOARD. AND THEN IT'S GOING TO APPLY THAT EDGE TAPE TO IT. BUT THAT EDGE TAPE IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE WIDER THAN THE BOARD.
SO, THERE'S FOUR DIFFERENT CUTTERS INSIDE THAT ARE GOING TO CUT THE TOP AND BOTTOM AND BOTH THE ENDS AND OUT THE OTHER SIDE COMES A PERFECTLY TRIMMED BOARD THAT HAS A BEAUTIFUL EDGE ON THE FRONT.
Maura takes the board from the Edgebander and runs her finger along the smooth edge.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Upbeat music plays]
Akeylah and Sean sit at a small round wooden table.
Akeylah narrates, WE BANDED TOGETHER FOR A BREAK AND SOME CABINETMAKER QUESTIONS.
Akeylah says, SO, TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT CABINETMAKING?
Sean says, I LOVE THAT IT'S HANDS-ON. YOU'RE BUILDING THINGS WITH YOUR HANDS. YOU'RE COMING IN AND MAKING THINGS THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE YOU MADE THEM. THAT'S A REALLY COOL AND REWARDING FEELING.
Akeylah asks, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO'S INTERESTED IN CABINETMAKING?
Sean says, I'D SAY START YOUNG. AS SOON AS YOU THINK YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN WOODWORKING, EXPLORE THAT FURTHER. TAKE WOOD SHOP IN HIGH SCHOOL. DO A CO-OP PLACEMENT. WHEN YOU GET TO COLLEGE, TAKE WOODWORKING OR CABINETMAKING. THERE ARE SO MANY REALLY GOOD COURSES AVAILABLE AT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ONTARIO COLLEGES.
Akeylah asks, CAN YOU TAKE AN APPRENTICESHIP FOR CABINETMAKING?
Sean says, YOU SURE CAN. MOST COLLEGE COURSES IN ONTARIO HAVE AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM OF SOME SORT. WE TRY TO TAKE APPRENTICES FROM COLLEGES WHENEVER WE CAN.
Akeylah asks, DO YOU LIKE BEING A MENTOR TO YOUNG CABINETMAKERS?
Sean says, I SURE DO. IT'S REALLY REWARDING AND IT'S FULFILLING TO KNOW THAT I HAVE A PART IN TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOODWORKERS.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
By a table with sawdust on it, Sean points to a piece of the cabinet.
Sean says, WE'LL GRAB THE FIRST PIECE.
Akeylah narrates, OUR CABINET PIECES WERE CUT, EDGE-BANDED AND READY TO ASSEMBLE.
[Thunking]
Akeylah picks up the piece of wood, and Sean helps her carry it to the centre of the table.
Sean says, THIS IS ONE OF THE SIDES OF THE CABINET. YOU CAN SEE THE GROOVES IN HERE.
An arrow points to the grooves in the cabinet. Sean and Akeylah move another piece of the cabinet, lining up the notches and grooves on the two pieces.
Sean says, THAT'S WHERE THE BACK AND THE BOTTOM OF THE CABINET ARE GOING TO LOCK INTO. THIS IS THE BACK OF THE CABINET. WE'RE GOING TO LINE UP THESE NOTCHES HERE WITH THE GROOVES THAT ARE ON THE BACK OF THE CABINET. THEN WE'RE GOING TO PUSH IT DOWN ALL THE WAY. THIS IS THE BOTTOM OF THE CABINET. SO SAME THING.
[Thudding, rustling]
Sean stands the bottom piece of the cabinet upright, aligning it with a groove in the side piece, which is lying flat on the table.
Sean says, LINE THAT UP WITH THE GROOVES THERE. WATCH YOUR FINGERS ON THE BACK. IT SHOULD JUST FALL RIGHT INTO PLACE. TILT THE WHOLE THING OVER ONTO ITS BACK.
Akeylah says, TIMBER!
[Tapping, upbeat music continues]
Akeylah and Sean tip the cabinet over on the table. Sean puts his hand on top of the cabinet.
Sean says, SO, NOW THAT WE CAN SEE THE SIDE OF OUR CABINET, WE CAN SEE ALL THE HOLES THAT THE C.N.C. MADE.
Akeylah says, YUP.
Sean says, THESE ARE WHERE ALL OUR SCREWS ARE GOING TO GO IN TO HOLD ALL THE PARTS TOGETHER. PRESS THE BUTTON ON THE DRILL UNTIL IT GOES ALL THE WAY IN. JUST UNDER THE SURFACE OF THE WOOD LIKE THAT.
[Drill whirring]
Sean drills a screw into the cabinet. Akeylah drills in the next screw.
Sean says, IF YOU PRESS A LITTLE HARDER, PUSH FORWARD AS YOU DRILL, THEN IT WON'T SKIP OUT OF THE DRILL BIT. THAT'S AMAZING. YOU'RE HIRED.
[Akeylah laughing, drill whirring]
Akeylah and Sean turn the cabinet over. Sean drills in more screws.
Akeylah narrates, WE DRILLED DOWN AND GOT READY FOR THE RAILS.
[Thudding]
Akeylah and Sean slide small pieces of wood into the grooves.
Sean says, SO JUST POP THEM RIGHT IN JUST LIKE THAT. THAT'S PERFECT.
Akeylah says, THIS WAY?
Sean says, YEP. YOU'RE GONNA LINE UP THOSE TABS THAT ARE ON YOUR PARTS WITH THE GROOVES THAT ARE ON THIS SIDE PART.
[Thudding]
Sean and Akeylah put the side on the cabinet, sliding the notches into the grooves.
Akeylah says, MINE ARE IN.
Sean says, AWESOME. ALMOST THERE.
[Thunking]
Sean picks up metal hinge plates.
Sean says, SO, THESE ARE OUR HINGE PLATES. THEY GO ON TO THE CABINET AND THAT IS WHAT THE HINGES FROM THE DOORS ARE GOING TO CLIP INTO.
[Clicking, drill whirring]
Akeylah pushes hinge plates into the cabinet, and she and Sean drill in screws to hold the plates in place.
Sean says, PUT THESE SCREWS DOWN. SO, THERE'S ONE DRAWER SLIDE ON EACH SIDE OF THE CABINET.
[Drill whirring, thunking, upbeat music continues]
Sean attaches a drawer slide to one side of the inside of the cabinet, and Akeylah attaches the drawer slide to the other side.
Akeylah gives a thumbs-up. Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Mellow music plays]
Akeylah kneels beside a completed cabinet.
Akeylah says, ALL THIS CABINETMAKING HAS ME WONDERING. HOW IS THIS TRADE ASSEMBLED ANYWAY? LET'S LOOK INTO THIS CABINET OF CURIOSITIES TO FIND OUT THE HISTORY OF CABINETMAKING.
Akeylah opens the cabinet's bottom drawer.
[Scraping, music stops]
A painting shows Neanderthals standing at the entrance of a cave.
Akeylah narrates, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT NEANDERTHALS USED STONE AND BONE TO WORK WITH WOOD OVER 300,000 YEARS AGO, WHICH IS PROBABLY HOW THE FIRST-EVER CABINETS WERE MADE.
[Upbeat music plays]
Video footage shows Brody gesturing at an intricately carved cabinet.
Akeylah narrates, IN THE RENAISSANCE ERA, CABINETS BECAME MORE FANCY AND WOULD BE MADE OF PRECIOUS WOOD AND FEATURE INTRICATE CARVINGS.
In video footage, Brody poses with a drill in front of another cabinet with intricate carvings and paintings.
Akeylah narrates, THE INVENTION OF THE CIRCULAR SAW AT THE END OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY AND THE ELECTRIC HAND DRILL IN 1895 MADE MAKING CABINETS EASIER.
In video footage, Brody poses in front of a wooden cabinet.
Akeylah narrates, ONTARIO BEGAN TO PRODUCE SOUGHT AFTER CABINETMAKERS LIKE JOHN KLEMP, WHO MADE THIS FAMOUS CABINET IN 1885.
[Upbeat music plays]
In Framework Studios, Sean says, THE CABINET'S 100 PERCENT DONE. WHAT DO YOU THINK'S MISSING FROM HERE THOUGH?
Akeylah says, THE DRAWERS AND THE DOORS.
Sean says, EXACTLY. SO, WE'RE GONNA PUT JUST A BEAD OF GLUE IN EACH OF THE GROOVES.
Sean and Akeylah squeeze glue into grooves on the bottom of the drawer.
Akeylah says, AND THIS GROOVE.
[Tapping]
Sean lifts a side piece of the drawer and puts it into one of the grooves. He and Akeylah tap it.
Sean says, YOU GOT IT. WE'RE GONNA TAKE ONE SIDE AT A TIME AND JUST LIFT THE BOTTOM UP INTO THAT GROOVE. AND JUST GIVE IT A TAP.
[Rustling, tapping]
Akeylah and Sean put on the sides of the drawer.
Sean says, WIGGLE IT INTO THE SIDE AND THE BOTTOM. A LITTLE LOVE TAP. AND THERE'S OUR DRAWER BOX AND THAT WILL CLIP INTO THE FRONT OF OUR SLIDES.
[Drill whirring]
Sean drills screws into the corner of the drawer.
Sean says, LET'S LIFT THIS UP TOGETHER. WE'LL GET IT ON THE SLIDES. AND THEN PUSH IT BACK ALL THE WAY TILL IT CLICKS.
[Thudding, clicking]
Sean and Akeylah slide the drawer into place.
Sean says, WE JUST PRESS IT INTO THE HOLE.
[Snapping]
Akeylah and Sean attach the hinges to the doors.
Sean says, LIKE THAT. SO, ALL WE GOTTA DO IS PRESS THAT BAR INTO THE NOTCH. PUSH IT ON LIKE THAT.
[Tapping, snapping]
Sean pushes the hinge into the hinge plate.
Sean says, AND THEN WE HAVE A DOOR.
[Tapping, snapping]
On the other side of the cabinet, Akeylah pushes the hinge into the hinge plate.
Sean says, THERE YOU GO. AND THEN WE CAN PUT THE DRAWER FRONT RIGHT ON TOP.
[Tapping, drill whirring]
Akeylah holds the drawer front while Sean drills it into place.
Sean asks, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE? SEE IF THE DRAWER OPENS NICE.
Akeylah opens the drawer and doors.
Akeylah says, NICE DRAWER. AND NICE DOORS.
Sean slides the drawer shut.
Sean says, LET'S SEE HOW IT CLOSES.
Akeylah says, OH, I SEE. THE EDGE WE PUT ON MATCHES THE DOOR.
Sean says, EXACTLY!
Akeylah says, WOW. I'VE BEEN USING CABINETS MY WHOLE LIFE. I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS SUCH AN ART FORM. THE CASE OF THE NEW CABINET IS OPEN AND SHUT.
[Door thudding]
Akeylah opens and shuts the cabinet door.
Text reads, “Trading Skills.”
[Upbeat music plays]
In the Skill Space, the new cabinet is on the table.
Akeylah says, THE SKILL SPACE IS SPICK AND SPAN. I'M SURPRISED YOU CAN FIT SO MUCH INTO THIS CABINET.
Brody says, WELL NOT EVERYTHING. I ALSO LOADED UP THAT CABINET UP THERE.
Akeylah says, OH, YOU MEAN THE ONE THAT'S SHAKING AND CREAKING?
Brody says, THAT'S THE ONE.
[Wood breaking, clattering]
Debris falls on Brody and Akeylah.
Brody says, HEY, AKEYLAH YOU KNOW HOW TO BUILD CABINETS NOW RIGHT?
Akeylah says, WAY AHEAD OF YOU.
Brody says, CABINETMAKING COULD BE THE TRADE FOR YOU, TOO.
Akeylah says, BUT EVEN IF IT ISN'T THERE ARE STILL SO MANY TRADES OUT THERE THAT COULD TAKE YOU TO THE TOP.
Both say, SO LONG.
[Upbeat music plays]
End credits. Hosts: Akeylah James, Brody Agmon. Co-host: Anna Paul. Tradesperson: Sean Livingstone. Written and directed by Johnny Mitchell. Trainee director: Maria Bui. Produced by Francis Mitchell, Johnny Mitchell, David Mitchell. Co-producers: Emma Fox, Anthony Gullace. Executive producers: Richard Bergmann, Thomas Kritsch. Music by: Joseph Shabason, Christine Bougie. Special thanks Livingstone Cabinetry, Maura, Woodlab Incorporated, Paul Klosowski. Produced in association with T.V.O. Kids. Executive producer, T.V.O.: Kirsten Hurd. Production executive, T.V.O.: Austin Guervara Mastretta. Riverbank Pictures. Copyright 2024 Riverbank Pictures.
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