The Cree/mer has been funded... for writing

Well I wanted to have the opportunity to play video games and screen write and make money doing those things... So I am!

I was graciously awarded the 'Indigenous 360' Grant from the Manitoba Arts Council to explore, research and develop my feature film idea 'The Cree/mer' which is what I've been trying to work on for the past few months. I was actually awarded the money back in Winter but during the time of post-production for the feature film I worked on as (co) producer 'LEVERS' but got caught up with that work at that time. It's been occupying my time since then but I've managed to do the research I needed to and got some of the work done I said I was going to. But now that Levers premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival I've been hard at work completing the obligation of doing this script.

The fist process was doing research for my film, and figuring out how I was going to tell the story and where I was drawing inspiration from. My cited inspo was Wim Wenders, 'Perfect Days' and then Sean Baker, earlier works like 'Tangerine' and 'The Florida Project'.

My idea was to shoot a small film about a boy who lived in the rez his while life and decided he wants to move after a period of grief of losing his maternal figure. I wanted the character to lose himself amongst the vastness of someplace like Toronto when he came from someplace where he knew everyone and was familiar with almost every tree and rock.

My idea was very lose at the beginning, I was trying to write a love letter to Toronto, a place I find myself drawn too but only to visit, I cannot imagine living there.

From these ideas Gage was born...

It took me a long time to try and understand how I wanted Gage to move in the world- how I wanted him to be and who I wanted him to be. At fisrt I thought he would be like me, but I talk far to much to be interesting, I am much to loud and say too much to be any sort of compelling. So then I made Gage an introvert, quiet and shy. I abandoned him in the big city without any family and friends- it felt necessary in order to give him something to brood about.

The character's journey was going to be one year of his life but I thought it unrealistic for what I wanted Gage to go through... So I lengthened it and since it was based off of 'Perfect Days' I made it happen during the pandemic.

As I complete this draft of my story I hope to compile these elements and make something that is wholly unique and entertaining. I also hope that its genuinely Olly as this is going to be the first feature film I write and direct.

I will try and keep you updated.

Ekosi,

olly