Have I told you lately...

Whew! What a whirlwind the past few months have been. In my early twenties, the lyrics in Pink Floyd's song Time, "every year is getting shorter/never seem to find the time," felt all too familiar. Now that I'm older, they feel even more true. This feeling drives me to keep hustling through exhaustion and discouragement. So here's what I've been working on.

The Hustle Continues

Coming off the production of Charles TM Charles (my upcoming mockumentary series), I had a huge case of workaholism. I channeled that energy into applying for funds and labs. If you've applied before, you know it can be time-consuming with a very low chance of reward. It's also precious time spent away from writing. However, I figured it was worth putting my name out there this year. I go in expecting nothing, always remembering these programs are oversubscribed. There are people further along in their careers vying for them. But even just applying gives me a semblance of feeling like I'm trying to move my career forward.

The Feature Script

In February, just days after wrapping production on Charles, I vomited out a feature script. I've had Telefilm's Talent to Watch program on my radar for several years. Since I'm eligible to apply directly, this year I went for it. Of course, it’s a bit insane to apply with a script I just wrote when I know others probably spent years crafting theirs. But as a great Blue Rodeo song says: "You've got to TRYYY TRRRYYYYYIIII, TRY!" I worked on the script up until the deadline, but it certainly could have been stronger.

This fund has a massive application process, but fortunately, I had a co-producer help me tackle some of it. It made the project feel real. We location-scouted and secured letters from people willing to donate resources. We don't expect to get this fund, but it would be a life-changing decision if it came through. It was also an extraordinary feeling of relief when we finished applying, like being a kid heading into summer break. Except I didn't get to relax just yet.

The IPF Digital Series Fund

After finishing that feature script, I took some time away and put together an application for the IPF Digital Series Fund. I got rejected from the IPF, but it helped me refine an idea I've been kicking around for a while, so that was a silver lining.

The 48-Hour Challenge

Most of March and April were consumed by Telefilm prep. However, the first weekend in May, I participated in the 48-hour Sci-Fi/Horror film challenge. I did this challenge last year and told myself I wouldn't do it again, but there I was, diving in once more. I enjoy this challenge because you complete a movie in just two days. It's a good way to test your skills.

This year, I collaborated with new team members, and we had a blast. We even made it to the best-of screening! I believe we ranked in the top 15 out of 49 films. Our lead actress won Best Actress, and we also took home Best Costumes. While I don't put much stock in winning awards, it still feels fantastic. There were some strong projects this year, and it's a great way to connect with other genre filmmakers in the city. Oh, and we drew "gothic horror," which was the genre I wanted. I'm pretty happy with how our movie turned out.

The 48h Crew after a LONG day

More Applications

This spring, I also applied to the TIFF Directors Lab and Whistler Screenwriting Lab. These applications were relatively easy compared to the Telefilm one, so I figured I'd give them a shot. However, I already received my Whistler rejection, and I expect TIFF's response soon. I feel like I've written a lot but haven't produced as much, so on paper, I don't look as accomplished as I feel. I meet many people at this stage in their careers, so I'm certainly not alone. The hustle must go on.

Overseeing Post-Production

In between all that, I've been overseeing the post-production of Charles. We also had to arrange a pickup day in May, which took time for planning. I'll be honest; I'm not a huge fan of post-production. I love seeing the edit come together, but it's just not as joyful to me as writing or being on set. As a producer, I kind of dropped the ball a bit through June, probably because I was burnt out from applying to all these programs. But I'm super focused again and ready to deliver a heartwarming comedy to Bell!

Screening and Reflection

In addition to all this, I attended a few screenings of J'Accuse, a film I helped produce as part of the Firecracker Comedy Igniter last year. It played at some festivals in Toronto and Niagara Falls. They were well-run festivals, and I had a lot of fun seeing it on the big screen and reconnecting with the team.

As I always say, you never know what's going to work, so you just do what you can. I'm currently on a four-day summer break, but you best believe I'm using this downtime to put together some pitch decks and write scripts. But I love it. If I didn't love it, what's the point?

Gratitude and Moving Forward

It's such a privilege to have time to be creative, and I feel so grateful to be in a relatively safe country and able to pursue my passions. As I reflect on my journey, I realize that every step, every application, and every project contributes to my growth.

So, here's to the hustle, the challenges, and the joy of creating. I'm going to relax for a bit now.

Cherrioooooo!