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CANADIAN PUBLICISTRYAN BRUCE [email protected]
CANADIAN DISTRIBUTOR:AVI FEDERGREENINDIECAN ENTERTAINMENT [email protected]
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TRU LOVE
SYNOPSIS
Raindance Film Festival, UK Review
“Kate Johnston and Shauna MacDonald’s TRU LOVE is a sparkling and evocative love story about the intersecting lives of three women. Alice has recently lost her husband and, still coming to terms, has on the spur of the moment decided to visit her daughter Suzanne in the big city. When Suzanne —whose relationship with her mother is already conflicted —is too busy to spend time with her, she enlists friend Tru to babysit Alice while she works.
A commitment-phobic lesbian, Tru forms an unlikely but deeply touching bond with Alice, helping her to pick herself up and move on with her life and the possibility of a relationship between the two sparks into life. When Suzanne witnesses a tender moment between mother and friend her subsequent actions stress the relationship of all three women, leading to a heartbreaking climax.
Movies about loss, about love, are all too common and it takes something particularly special to truly standout within the genre. In capturing the emotions of loss, love and acceptance so provocatively and accurately —both in the script and the performances, TRU LOVE is one of those rare standouts.”
—Mark Rogers
TRU LOVE
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TRU LOVE
DIRECTORS’ STATEMENT — KATE JOHNSTON & SHAUNA MACDONALD
“There is a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in.” —Leonard Cohen.
TRU LOVE was shot in the winter of 2013 in downtown Toronto and on Toronto Island. The air is different in winter, everything appears to slow down and the light itself takes on a whole new quality. It defines the environment. Days are shorter. Starker. Exposed. Crystalized.
The film opens with an extreme CU of water rushing in slow motion, ice cracking and breaking up, tiny triangles of ice flying into the air —all beautifully shot by cinematographer Maya Bankovic. It’s as if the ice is dancing. This footage was taken on the first ferry from Toronto harbor, en route to Toronto Island. It is elemental, poetic and a recurring motif, during key transitions throughout the film. The score by Patric Caird is haunting, underscoring a romantic beauty, a yearning and loneliness.
The triangles of ice, of tension – Tru (friend), Alice (mother) and Suzanne (daughter), are three women, each quietly frozen in their lives. They are all yearning separately; estranged in their own way from themselves or each other, each needing to break free from constraint, to be ‘cracked open’ in their hearts, in their lives. As the story opens and progresses, an unexpected attraction builds between Tru and Alice, and Suzanne becomes increasingly threatened. This triangle tightens, closing in on itself, compressing and colliding until it shatters like tiny diamonds of ice and explodes into a rush of emotion, eventually setting each character free.
—Troy Brooks’ “Cold War” sits on the mantle in Suzanne’s house, further illustrating the isolation of these women. Courtesy of Troy Brooks and Pentimento Fine Art Gallery
TRU LOVE
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TRU LOVE
FILM STILLS
—Alice runs on the pier —Alice, Tru and Suzanne toast
—Alice and Tru laugh and cook —Tru on the pier
—Tru and Alice looking at the clouds
TRU LOVE
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TRU LOVE
FILM STILLS
—Tru and Alice get high —Alice has hands on Suzanne’s heart
—Alice holds Suzanne —Alice in tub with Richard watching
—Tru and Alice at Sugar Beach
TRU LOVE
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TRU LOVE
FILM STILLS
—Suzanne is shocked —Tru leaves Alice a message
—Tru bakes a cake—Sitting at Sugar Beach
—Alice confronts Suzanne
TRU LOVE
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TRU LOVE
FESTIVALS
1. Raindance Film Festival, London, UK (Sept 26-Oct 6, 2013)2. BFI Flare: London LGBT Festival March (Mar 20- 30, 2014)3. Boston LGBT Film Festival (Apr 3- 12, 2014) 4. Torino Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (Apr 30-May 6, 2014) 5. Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (May 2-11, 2014) 6. KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival (May 21-25, 2014) 7. Fairy Tales Presentation Society Calgary (May 23-31, 2014) 8. Insideout Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival (May 22–June 1, 2014) 9. Out Takes New Zealand (May 22 - Jun 16, 2014) 10. LGBT Movie Night Bend, Oregon (May 26, 2014) 11. Immaginaria International Women’s Film Festival Rome, Italy (May 31, 2014) 12. FilmOut San Diego (May 30-Jun 1, 2014) 13. Out Film CT: Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (May 30-Jun 7, 2014) 14. OUT Twin Cities Film Fest, Minnesota (June 4-8, 2014)15. TLVFest: Tel Aviv GLBT Film Festival (June 7-16, 2014) 16. Frameline: San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival (June 19-29, 2014)17. Bent Lens: World Pride TIFF and Inside Out (June 24-27, 2014) 18. Kansas City Gay & Lesbian Film + Video Festival (June 27-July 1, 2014) 19. Feast Festival Adelaide, Australia (June 27-Jul 6, 2014) 20. Gay Cinema Summer Series Detroit (July 2, 2014) 21. Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival (July 28, 2014) 22. Gaze International LGBT Film Festival Dublin, Ireland (July 31- August 5, 2014)23. Out on Screen: Vancouver Queer Film Festival (Aug 14-24, 2014) 24. North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Fest (Aug 15-24, 2104)25. Arts Quest Center, Bethelem, PA (Aug 26, 2014)26. Taiwan Queer Film Fest, Taipai City (Sept 25-28, 2014)27. Long Beach Q Film Fest, CA (Sept 12-14, 2014)28. Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, ON (Sept 13-21, 2014)29. Some Prefer Cake Film Fest, Bologna, Italy (Sept 17-21, 2014)30. Cinema Diverse: The Gay and Lesbian Film Fest of Palm Springs (Sept 18-21, 2014)31. Eau Queer Film Festival, WI (Sept 24-28, 2014)32 Catalina Film Festival, California (Sept 24-28, 2014)33. MIX, Copenhagen, Denmark (Oct 3-12, 2014)34. Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Festival, FL (Oct 3-11, 2014)35. Louisville LGBT Film Festival, Kentucky (Oct 17-19, 2014)36. Inside Out Ottawa LGBT Film Festival (October 23-26, 2014)37. Cineffable Film Festival, Paris, France (Oct 30- Nov 2, 2014)38. Rehoboth Beach Film Festival Delaware U.S. (Nov 5-9th 2014)39. Utah Film Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (Dec 18, 2014)
TRU LOVE — Festivals to date: September 1, 2014
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TRU LOVE
AWARDS
TRU LOVE
Best Narrative Feature FilmBest Actress - Kate Trotter
Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival (International Jury)
http://www.mumbaiqueerfest.com/film-festival/awards
Best Feature Film Audience AwardEmerging Canadian Artist Award
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
Best International Feature FilmBest Actress - Kate Trotter
Film Out San Diego
http://sdgln.com/news/2014/06/05/boy-meets-girl-sweeps-filmout-sandiego-festival-awards#sthash.BFC17EnL.dpbs
TRU LOVE — Awards to date: September 1, 2014
Note: This link must be copied and pasted manually into your web browser’s address bar.
http://www.insideout.ca/uploads/PDFs/INSIDE%20OUT%20Awards%20Announced%20final2014.pdf
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TRU LOVE
AWARDS
Best Feature Audience Award
Out Film CT: Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
http://www.ctglff.org/2014-festival/our-awards/
Best Feature Audience Award
Out Takes New Zealand
http://www.outtakes.org.nz/audience-awards-out-takes-2014
TRU LOVE — Awards to date: September 1, 2014
Best Feature Audience Award
Gaze Film Festival, Dublin, Ireland
http://www.gaze.ie
— Tru (Shauna MacDonald) and Alice (Kate Trotter) get high
Best Feature Film Audience Award
Vancouver Queer Film Festival
http://www.queerfilmfestival.ca/index.php
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TRU LOVE
WEB LINKS
http://www.indiecanent.comIndiecan Entertainment
http://trulovethefilm.com/Tru Love WebsiteTru Love CDN Trailer
https://vimeo.com/102416199
https://www.facebook.com/truTru Love on
https://twitter.com/trulovethefilmTru Love on
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TRU LOVE
TRU LOVE CAST
SHAUNA MACDONALD (Tru)
One of Canada’s most successful actresses, Nova Scotia born, Shauna MacDonald came out…as an actress…in the Soviet Union. She was studying Russian when she was hired to work on fellow Canadian Paul Haggis’ first feature
film, Red Hot. Since then, she’s been building an impressive resume, sharing screen time with Jeff Goldblum, Liev Shreiber, Burt Reynolds, Katie Holmes, Donnie Walberg and Billy Zane. She’s worked extensively in television and film. Some of her credits include The Kennedys, Reign, Disney’s Harriet The Spy: Blog Wars, Trailer Park Boys, Saint Ralph, Saw VI, Lost Girl, Breakfast With Scot, Aaron Stone and Testees. Shauna recently produced Kate Johnston’s short film, Stormcloud and can currently be seen playing Dr. Galina in the Netflix original series, Hemlock Grove. TRU LOVE is her feature film writing, producing and directing debut and she is thrilled to portray Tru. Shauna lives in Toronto with her two very dramatic whippets, Leo and Maude.
KATE TROTTER (Alice)
Kate Trotter, an award-winning stage actress, got an early start on television when she played the role of R.H. Thomson’s 15-year-old girlfriend in Ralph Thomas’s CBC-TV movie Tyler. Her screen credits now number more than 50 and
include her Gemini Award-winning guest-starring performances on Global Television’s dramatic series Blue Murder and a Gemini-nominated performance on Traders. Trotter’s numerous guest turns also include Alfred Hitchcock Presents, which earned her a U.S. CableACE nomination. Kate has also performed in several television movies, including the dramatic thriller Plain Truth, opposite Law and Order’s Mariska Hargitay; Samantha: An American Girl Holiday, starring Mia Farrow; Jasper Texas as Jon Voight’s wife, and the mini-series Lives Of The Saints, starring Sophia Loren. She was Jane Trimble in Joshua Then And Now, based on the book by Mordechai Richler and starring James Woods, and the title role in Marie Curie: More Than Meets The Eye. Among her big screen credits, Kate appeared in Beyond Borders, starring Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen.
TRU LOVE
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TRU LOVE
CHRISTINE HORNE (Suzanne)
Christine Horne is an award-winning actress based in Toronto. Two years after graduating from the theatre program at York University, Christine made her feature film debut as the young Hagar Shipley in The Stone Angel, sharing
the role with Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn. For her work, Christine was nominated for the Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award and the Geraldine Page Best Actress award at California’s Method Fest. Subsequent credits in film and television include Othello (playing Desdemona opposite Carlo Rota), The Untitled Work of Paul Shepard, Rookie Blue, Befriend & Betray, Republic of Doyle, King, Borealis, and the shorts Happy Pills, The Reception, and RUNG, which made its international premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. She recently completed work on Cybergeddon, created by Anthony Zuiker, Margarita, and the independent feature Sex After Kids.
PETER MACNEILL (Richard)
Award-winning actor Peter MacNeill has had a successful career in both film and television. Feature film credits include David Cronenberg’s film A History of Violence opposite Viggo Mortensen, Kevin Costner’s feature Open Range,
with Costner, Robert Duvall and Annette Bening, The Stone Angel with Ellen Burstyn and Cinderella Man with Russell Crowe. In 1997 he was presented with a Genie Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as ‘Whiskey Mac’ in Thom Fitzgerald’s The Hanging Garden. Other big screen credits include The Caveman’s Valentine, featuring Samuel L. Jackson; Kit Kitteridge: American Girl with Abigail Breslin; Frequency with Dennis Quaid; Simon Birch, and David Cronenberg’s Crash. In television, MacNeill can currently be seen as the patriarch of the Fitz empire in the upcoming 4th season of HBO Canada’s Call Me Fitz, alongside Jason Priestley. Other selected credits include The Kennedys a mini-series, the biopic Celine, based on the life of Celine Dion, Defiance, and Queer as Folk. In 2003 MacNeill won a Gemini Award for his work on The Eleventh Hour.
TRU LOVE CAST
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TRU LOVE
RACHAEL ANCHERIL (Claire)
Rachael Ancheril is a rising tv and film star and is the newest cast member of the hit Canadian television series, Rookie Blue, portraying the role of Senior Training Officer Marlo Cruz. Other recent credits include roles on the television
series Played, The Listener, Undercover Connor, and King. Her feature film credits include Anchor Baby and Domino Effect. Additionally, she appeared in the short films Making Sense and Too Low. When she’s not acting, Rachael enjoys photography and illustration. She is an equestrian of sorts and looks for any reason to be in the great outdoors.
ALEXANDER CHAPMAN (Gray)
In 1996, Alexander Chapman stunned audiences by playing the ravishing Lydie-Anne, a young Parisian baroness, in John Greyson’s interna-tionally acclaimed film, Lilies. Some highlights of Alexander’s 20-year acting career are Queer
As Folk, Sugar, and Retail. Recently, he collaborated with Greyson again, this time as a transgendered detective in Murder in Transit. Alexander has also famously delighted the Toronto stage as the divine drag queen, Titi Galore.
TRU LOVE CAST
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TRU LOVE
SHAUNA MACDONALD (Writer/Director/Producer)
Shauna’s bio can be seen on page 7 as part of the TRU LOVE Cast.
KATE JOHNSTON (Writer/Director/Producer) At the age of nine Kate won her first award —a Porky the Pig handpuppet for track. It’s been uphill ever since. Kate has led an interesting and varied life to date. She spent her childhood in her dad’s projection booths on
remote military bases in Canada. She’s been a crisis counselor, worked with youth at risk and has extensively studied acting, writing, and producing for theatre and film. She has performed and developed numerous plays for the Canadian stage, working with such acclaimed companies as Nightwood Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and The Caravan Stage Company. In film, she has associate-produced Margarita, the award-winning feature film directed by Dominique Cardona and Laurie Colbert. She produced Chris Chew’s short films, Slow Burn and Click, which have been screened internationally. She wrote, directed and produced her own short film Stormcloud, which just had its world premiere at Inside Out Film Festival in Toronto and has also been screened internationally. TRU LOVE is Kate’s debut as a feature film director, writer and producer. She believes in using her super powers for good.
TRU LOVE FILMMAKERS
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TRU LOVE
CHRIS LUCKHARDT(Producer)
With a physics and astronomy degree from York University, Chris has excelled in the television and film industry as both a producer and production manager. He produced the hit Canadian superhero TV series Team Epic which aired on Bite TV. More recently, he was the APM for the upcoming City TV reality TV show Meet the Family.
After producing two successful award-winning short films Altarcations and Shaky Grounds, he established Willowood Films. In the past year, he has produced the following short films: The Last Mermaids, Love is, What We Have Done, For Now And Forever, Look Up and feature film TRU LOVE. During that time period, he has also line produced two feature films Silent Retreat and Fragile Minds; and two short films The Portal (Bravofact) and Cold Feet (CFC).
MATTHEW GORMAN(Producer)
Matthew has been working in Film & Television for over 10 years, primarily as an Assistant Director. He recently expanded his portfolio to include producing and directing. In 2009 he directed the spec pilot Wake Up World, written by and starring the co-creator of ‘The Daily Show’ —Lizz Winstead. In 2012 he produced Kate Johnston’s short film
Stormcloud. Since then Matthew formed his own film production company, One Small Step Films, and has produced and directed the short comedic film First Kiss as well as the short documentary Smear Campaign.
TRU LOVE PRODUCTION PERSONNEL
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TRU LOVE
MAYA BANKOVIC (Cinematographer)
Maya has shot close to fifty short films and has had her work screened in over one hundred international film festivals. In 2010, she was selected to participate in the Berlinale Talent Campus during the 60th Berlin International Film Festival. Maya has shot numerous documentaries including Deadman, which premiered at the Toronto International Film
Festival in 2009. Other notable short format titles include Broken Heart Syndrome, Pathways, The Pedestrian Jar, Soap (all at TIFF), Three Walls (Hot Docs ’11, AFI Silverdocs ’11 and winner at the Atlanta Film Festival ’11), and the Bravo! FACT funded dance film Slip, which garnered awards for Best Experimental Film and the Kodak Award for Best Cinematography at the Canadian Film Centre’s Worldwide Short Film Festival. Selected feature film credits include The Chester Kids (Canada International Film Festival Rising Star Award, ‘11), A Touch Of Grey (Cinéfest Sudbury ‘08) and The Other Sister.
TIFFANY BEAUDIN (Editor)
Tiffany was first introduced to editing after attending an internship at the artist-run SAW Video Media Art Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. She moved to Toronto in 2004 to attend the esteemed Canadian Film Centre’s Editors Lab. Her award-winning work spans all genres, including the Genie-nominated short Big Girl, the first Franco-Ontarian
feature length comedy La Sacrée and the documentary about controversial film producer Harvey Weinstein, Unauthorized: The Harvey Weinstein Project. Most recently, she edited a documentary about celebrated comedian David Steinberg entitled Quality Balls (Hot Docs ’13).
TRU LOVE PRODUCTION PERSONNEL
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TRU LOVE
TRU LOVE PRODUCTION PERSONNEL
PATRIC CAIRD (Music)
Patric is an award-winning composer who has been writing music for film and television since 1994. In that time he has created more than 400 film and television scores which have broadcast across CBS, ABC and ABC Family, Fox, Showtime, Syfy, USA, Cartoon Network and MTV. Patric
has won the Genie Award (Canadian Academy Award) for his music and has twice won the Socan International Television Series Music Award. He received a nomination for a Gemini (Canadian Emmy) and has garnered numerous other awards and nominations, including The Park City Film Music Festival Gold Medal for Excellence, several Leo Awards and The Yorkton International Documentary Film Award. Recent credits include Home For Christmas, Evangeline, Sexy Evil Genius and Stalled.
OLGA BARSKY (Production Designer)
Olga got her first taste of set life at age 16, fell in love with it instantly and went on to work in the art and wardrobe departments on feature films, shorts and commercials alike. It wasn’t long before Olga found her voice and began branching out as a storyteller. Over the last few years, she’s
written, directed, and produced shorts, as well as created video content for brands like the Gap, Old Navy and Maybelline.
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TRU LOVE
TRU LOVE PRODUCTION PERSONNEL
SONIA HONG (Production Designer)
Sonia is a Toronto-based filmmaker whose creative projects are often quirky, visually stimulating and exploring various elements of gender identity and empowerment. She began her film career at York University’s Film & Video Production program. Having always loved getting her hands dirty in art, Sonia has gravitated towards designing sets and creating visually interesting films.
For her work on EmBodying Toronto, she was awarded the “WIFT-T’s Most innovative Film by a Female Director” and “Toronto Urban Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize (First Place 2009)”. In 2011, she was awarded the “Best Up-and-Coming Toronto Film or Video Maker” by the Inside Out LGBT Film Festival Jury for A Dragged Out Affair.
GINGER MARTINI (Costume Designer)
Also a fashion designer and make-up artist, Ginger has a keen eye for colour, style and detail. She is a Canadian Film Centre Playback award winner and has amassed numerous film and television credits, including the new DarkNet series premiering on SuperChannel in January 2014. She was delighted to help bring the characters of TRU LOVE to life on the big screen.
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TRU LOVE
SHAUNA MACDONALD (Tru)
“My chance meeting with Kate Johnston three years ago not only altered my creative life, but my personal fate as well. When she approached me with a 9 page short called TRU LOVE, I was immediately attracted to the character of Tru, a woman who had been so damaged as a girl, she’d shut out any opportunity for love and happiness as a self protection mechanism. Tru was “stuck” in her own evolution, as many are in life, spinning her wheels. The notion “What if someone got through a crack in her veneer, what could happen?” intrigued me deeply. This idea of possible transformation fueled my desire to portray her, to immerse myself in her world and experience the slow peeling back of the onion, all of Tru’s layers, to reveal the raw core —in order to revive her heart to start the healing process and, eventually, allow her to be capable of love again. Kate and I became collaborators on the feature film script and then co-directors/producers of TRU LOVE, assembling some of our best talent in Canada, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. I’ve fallen in love with the creative process, with this “beast” that is “making a movie” and serendipitously, found my very own “tru love” —one of the actors who performed opposite me in a (now) deleted scene in the movie. He’s the love of my life. How’s that for kismet!”
ACTORS’ THOUGHTS ON TRU LOVE
CHRISTINE HORNE (Suzanne)
“There are so many reasons why I wanted to be a part of Tru Love. I loved the story —such a unique, complicated triangle that I’ve never seen explored before. The characters were so clearly drawn and the relationships were all so beautiful (and painful) and real. I loved Suzanne. I loved how difficult she was, and how awkward she was, and how fiercely she loved her mother. I loved her bad choices and how unlikeable she was a lot of the time. I loved the honesty in that. I loved her messy friendship with Tru and, I loved the real, authentic everything in her relationship with Alice. It was one of the truest mother-daughter relationships I’d ever read. I loved that the film was being driven by women, and I loved that Alice would be played by an actress I have admired for years. I knew I was being offered a really extraordinary opportunity and I leapt at it with all my might.”
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TRU LOVE
KATE TROTTER (Alice)
“I was drawn to Tru Love for several reasons. Perhaps the most seductive one was that it was a project about women. It was a project created by women, inspired by women and compassionate towards women. It was a script that explored the reasons and ways that women connect, desire, resist and fulfill their mutual and personal needs: sometimes before they even know what those needs are. I was also very excited about the possibilities that female leadership would bring to the set. I was drawn to the idea that female directors, writers and DOPs could create a singular kind of camaraderie (and security) and thereby provide a rare and precious opportunity to leap with abandon into the blissful unknowns that acting can sometimes offer. And finally, I was drawn by the extraordinary privilege of working opposite the delicious Christine Horne because I knew that in another life, she and I could indeed have been mother and daughter. I watched Kate and Shauna carefully shape and craft a beautiful vehicle over a number of readings and drafts. Because of that process, I felt that I could stand inside the character of Alice and breathe life into her dreams, losses and longings. Kate and Shauna had written a flesh and blood woman whose curiosity and desire to live fully in whatever time she had left on this earth determined her every move. That curiosity and desire gave Alice the courage to risk being vulnerable, honest and ‘true’. I loved Alice and felt fiercely protective of the gentle, brave and loving creature that she was. Working on Tru Love was an experience I will never forget. Falling in love with Shauna Mac is an experience everyone should have!”
ACTORS’ THOUGHTS ON TRU LOVE
ALEXANDER CHAPMAN (Gray)
“I wanted to be a part of this production because I have the greatest respect for Shauna MacDonald’s work and this was our first opportunity to work together. I was inspired by the sensitivity of the script, writing and the unique point of view of the story. Loved the entire cast.”
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TRU LOVE
PETER MACNEILL (Richard)
“Having been brought up by a single Mother and witnessing her passage through a rather tough life has made me keenly aware of women’s issues in general. Seeing her devote all her “love” to the “duties” of being a mother and provider, when there was really no other options for her back then, has made me aware and appreciative of the growing number of women creating opportunities for themselves these days.
When two of these very bright and talented women (Shauna and Kate) asked if I would be interested in reading and perhaps becoming involved in a script they had written, I was very interested. When I heard who they had cast in the film , Kate Trotter, Shauna MacDonald, and Christine Horne, I was thrilled.
Unfortunately I had just finished planning a winter vacation in sunny climes and the schedule for shooting the film fell right in the middle of this much needed escape. A cottage on the beach was a dream I had been planning for months and a cold winter shoot was not in my plans. Ahhh the best made plans of mice and actors ... I loved the script, admired the creative team, and they did come up with the plane fare.... so I jumped at the chance to work on a film with a script that meant so much to these enterprising women. Love comes just once in a while and you really must jump at the chance to experience it!
TRU LOVE was a wonderful example of artists realizing a dream and seeing it through ‘till the end.”
RACHAEL ANCHERIL (Claire)
“I had the fortunate opportunity to meet and work with the lovely Shauna MacDonald on Rookie Blue. She called me to tell me that she and Kate had written a part in Tru Love that they thought I was perfect for, asked me to read the script and get back to them. Shauna sent me the script and I couldn’t put it down. It was moving and relatable material. Each character is distinct and has a valid point of view. And it was such a perfect fit for me. I was so excited and thrilled at the chance to play Claire. I am a very proud Canadian actor and think we have a plethora of amazingly talented people in this country, and, perhaps speaking with a bit of bias, my hometown, Toronto. I thoroughly enjoyed the script, its engaging characters and beautifully crafted storyline, and am so honored to be a part of such a moving film!”
ACTORS’ THOUGHTS ON TRU LOVE
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TRU LOVE
KATE & SHAUNA’S SERENDIPITOUS MEETING AND COLLABORATION
Kate: I met Shauna one fateful sweltering summer evening 3 years ago on the back patio of a restaurant in downtown Toronto.
Shauna: My group was being VERY loud and I figured that including the other patio guests in conversation would avoid getting stink eye or a black eye later!
Kate: I thought she was hilarious.
Shauna: Kate immediately started cracking jokes too. I knew she was a keeper.
Kate: Yes, there was a spark.
Shauna: Not sexual.
Kate: Oh no, god no! (pause for laughter). A spark of the minds.
Shauna: We got to talking and I found out she was writing a short film she would be directing.
Kate: She seemed perfect for the lead role of Tru. I asked her if she would read my script.
Shauna: I agreed, of course. Actors never turn down opportunities. Sometimes we aren’t as prepared as
we should be —I wrote my email address on the only thing I could find in my purse ...a bandaid!
Kate: It’s true. I laughed and told her it was a perfect metaphor for my film. A week later, I asked to meet her to give her my 9-page script entitled Tru Love.
Shauna: Yes, now that’s always terrifying. To meet someone to read a script. IF it sucks, how do you get out of it?? So awkward. I was filled with trepidation!!
Kate: I didn’t know that! (she said, smiling)
Shauna: I’m telling you now! But after the first page, I knew this was different.
Kate: She read it and wept openly at the end. At a Starbucks. I was astonished and also deeply touched.
Shauna: Yes, who cries at a Starbucks?? Kate was touched; my baristas were concerned! But in all seriousness, I immediately felt a short film would not do these characters and this story justice.
Kate: I was further challenged by Paul Lee (filmmaker) to try to write the feature version before the next full moon. I did so, emerging with a 72 page script less than 4 weeks later.
— Kate Johnston and Shauna MacDonald
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TRU LOVE
KATE & SHAUNA’S SERENDIPITOUS MEETING AND COLLABORATION
Shauna: Kate works FAST!
Kate: I do. This original story became the bones for the next feature draft, co-written by Shauna, who would become my co-director and producer, as well as our lead actress.
Shauna: What a journey that was! So many drafts, so many ideas, so much coffee.
Kate: So many sleepless nights. Shauna and I worked as a creative team from the earliest stages of the second draft of the feature script. We held table readings with very talented local actors and producers. The question always came up —Whose story is it? My answer was that it was more Tru at the helm but it was also all of their stories, and, at the core, it was about the intersection of these three women’s lives.
Shauna: We re-wrote it and explored it from every possible angle. Finally after two years of collaboration, we had a script ready to shoot in January 2013.
Kate: When it came to shooting the film, it was more important for Shauna to focus on disappearing into the character of Tru and letting me direct on set. Given her background as a veteran actress, Shauna has a keen sense of where the camera is at all times and was able to also make sure that the angles, coverage, and lighting were spot on. Maya and I created a story-board and shot list that we all reviewed every night at wrap to prepare for the next day.
Shauna: Yes, during the shoot, I was more focused on acting, but the fact that I’m a “cat licker” has served the film well! I would ask Kate, “Did you get this? Can you get this shot? Ok, now I’m gonna disappear
again!” And then I’d watch the dailies like a hawk to make sure everything was working for us.
Kate: So many moving parts. The shoot flew by!
Shauna: Kate and our editor, Tiffany Beaudin, assembled the rough cut and at that point, we decided to write and shoot a few new scenes. Then we cat licked in post to get the film that you see today!
Kate: We seem to have a complement of skills, which helps! We shot on a RED camera over 20 days, on a tiny budget with a small and very dedicated crew and with an award-winning cast. It was a true labour of love.
Shauna: Who knew that back patio would bring so much to us?
Kate: The best “behind the scenes” story though is that Shauna met her real life true love during the shoot —a lovely actor who played in a scene with her.
Shauna: —which we cut from the film. Gah!! He’s very easy going about that though. We went on our first date the day after we wrapped the film and we’ve been inseparable ever since. True story!
Kate: Now that is true serendipity and the power of Tru Love.
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TRU LOVE
CREDITSINDIECAN ENTERTAINMENT in Association with
TOMGIRL FILMS presentsTRU LOVE
Written, Directed & Produced byKATE JOHNSTON &
SHAUNA MACDONALD
Casting byFORREST AND FORREST
Music Composed byPATRIC CAIRD
EditorTIFFANY BEAUDIN
Director of PhotographyMAYA BANKOVIC
Produced byCHRIS LUCKHARDT
MATTHEW GORMAN
Executive ProducersALLEN ORMEROD
PINO HALILIKATE JOHNSTONJANE JOHNSTONCHRIS CORDELL
SHAUNA MACDONALDJUSTIN YOUNG
JAMIE STAGNITTACHRIS AGOSTON
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TRU LOVE
CREDITS
CASTIn Order of Appearance
Alice KATE TROTTER Richard PETER MACNEILL Tru SHAUNA MACDONALD Jaimie ANNA CYZON Taxi Driver TONY NAPPO Suzanne CHRISTINE HORNE Gray ALEXANDER CHAPMAN James JERRITT BOYCE Guy at Bar SEAN KAUFMANN Angie TATTIAWNA JONES Claire RACHAEL ANCHERIL Scott DUFF MACDONALD
Background Performers
ANDREA BLAKELYHENRY DINEEN
SIAVASH KHAVARNEJADDEVON MACDONALD
BRIANE NAZIMOKDAVID ROSSER
NORA SHEEHANJEFFREY SMITHDAVID TOMPAAZRA VALANI
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CREDITS Production Manager JESSICA ADAMS
First Assistant Director DERBY CREWE
Second Assistant Director ANDREW MOIR
Co-Producers JESSICA ADAMS VANESSA CHIARA
Associate Producer KATHLEEN HARQUAIL
Line Producer CHRIS LUCKHARDT
Production Designers SONIA HONG OLGA BARSKY
Set Decorator NINA NOFERESTI
Set Dresser SARAH LAKE
Script Supervisor TOMAS STREET Daily Script Supervisor RYAN JAKUBEK
First Camera Assist MATT STEADMAN Second Camera Assist ZACHARY ZAZA Daily Camera Assistants COLIN VAILLANCOURT KENTA TOMEOKI DEAN SENECAL
B Camera Operators BRUCE WILLIAM HARPER SUE JOHNSON DANIEL ABBOUD B Camera First Assistants ALEX LEUNG GODFRED ADJEI
Steadicam Operator DANIEL ABBOUD First Assistant Editor KATIE MITCHELL
Data Management Technician CONRAD KONERT
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CREDITS Still Photographers STEVE BLACKBURN MICHELLE BELSKY PAUL ORENSTEIN
Sound Recordist ROMAN A. BUCHOK Boom Operator ANDREW CHUNG Daily Boom Operator ANDREW REID
Gaffer BRUCE WILLIAM HARPER Daily Gaffers JEFF HANLEY DAN WHITTON BEN DUNDAS
Best Boy Electric JOSH ARY
Electrics COURTNEY BRUNEAU SHEA PELLOW
Swings KOADIE PRESTON TONY LAW ASHLEY LANDRY
Key Grips BRIANA BLADES DEVIN MYLER ARNOLD CAYLAKYAN JORDAN ORAM
Best Boy Grips JACK SAILLARD LUKE SAAGI SEAN SINGH
Grips EVAN BLACKER DANIEL MACINDOE SAM PLANTE ANDREW SCHAUER MATT LANDRY Key Make-Up Artist/ Hairdresser STELLA MARGARITIS Assistant Make-Up Artist/ Hairdresser LAUREL C. KELLY
Costume Designer GINGER MARTINI
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Set Supervisor CHELSEA OLIVER Daily Set Wardrobe ANNIE BRENT
Location Manager KIPLING HARROP
Daily Second Assistant Directors MARIO SCENNA MACKENZIE HARTRIDGE
Third Assistant Director HEATHER YOUNG
Dance Choreographer GINO BERTI
Production Assistants ACHILLE RUBAYI ALEX HENNESSEY ANDREW GERHOLD BRENDAN FERNANDES CLAUDIA WIT ELIZABETH MUDENYO GRAHAM BRUNT JAVIER NUNEZ JOEY WONG JOSE ALEJANDRO CAMARGO ROMERO JOSE M. ROSALES MIRIAM LEVIN-GOLD RYAN JAKUBEK RYAN NESBITT SALAH ELDIN SARAH HORNDHARDT SKYE SOMMERHALDER SYBEL ELKAREH TESS SOROCHAN-RULAND TRISTAN TIGGELOVEN
Catering (Toronto) DONNY BLAIS (BLAZING KITCHEN) Catering (Toronto Island) ERIKA MIRABELLI Catering (Sugar Beach) TIM MCLEAN (AGAINST THE GRAIN) Craft Services Supervisor RACHAEL MCPARLAND Craft Services Assists SAM ALFRED NATASHA ADAMS KELLY LAM
CREDITS
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2ND UNIT
Script Supervisor T. NICOLE HOLLAND
Camera Operator IAN MCMILLAN First Camera Assist JOHANN MONTREUIL
Unit Production Designer NINA NOFERESTI
Sound Recordists CHUCK KRAFT KEVIN F. BROWN
Production Assistants SHEA REID EMILY LANGRIDGE
Behind the Scenes EPK by TERYL BROUILLETTE CAIT LUSK
Camera, Grip & Lighting Services Provided by PS PRODUCTION SERVICES
Locations Provided by JUSTIN YOUNG & JAMIE STAGNITTA LINDA MANZER SARAH IVES JULIE BATES ST. JAMES CEMETARY SHAUNA MACDONALD THE GABARDINE RESTAURANT ALISON MACKENNA & KATHERINE RODRIGUES (GABARDINE RESTAURANT) HERRERAS EVENT CATERING Holding Provided by ROSEMARY O’SULLIVAN SHOPSY’S RESTAURANT
Location Equipment Provided by WILLOWOOD FILMS
Tattoo Provided by DEREK LEWIS (THE HARTLESS TATTOO COMPANY)
“Paris” Footage Provided by JOHN “WHEELS” HURLBUT
CREDITS
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Actra Steward ERIN PHILLIPS Actra Assistant Steward GAIL HAUPERT
POST PRODUCTION
Special Effects Provided by PETE FLETCHER
Title Design by TIFFANY BEAUDIN Credit Font Design by LAUREN THOMPSON Closing Credit Sequence by PETE FLETCHER Assembly Editor FIRUZ DAUD
Color Correction Supervisor GENNA MCAULIFFE Colourist JASON ZUKOWSKI Assistant Colourist PATRICK SAMANIEGO
Sound Editors PINO HALILI DAVID MIDGLEY STEVE DENHEYER JON BARTEL JOSH BROWN Assistant Sound Editor BEVERLY VALENTINE Dialogue Editor KEVIN FALLIS Foley Artist HEATHER PIPE Foley Mixer RYAN MACNEILL
Re-recording Mixers ALLEN ORMEROD MICHAEL NUNAN OMIE CRADEN
Mix Facilities POST CITY SOUND INC. TATTOO SOUND + MUSIC
Music Licensing CHRISTINE LESLIE
Trailer Editor JO BOXWELL
Graphic Designer MARTIN KILPERT Website Design MELYSSA LIPSEY Poster Design MURRAY GRONDIN
CREDITS
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CREDITS
BELL ISLANDWritten & Performed by Duane Andrewswww.duaneandrews.ca
MEDINAWritten and Performed by King SunshineCourtesy of Marc Shapiro
SOUNDS OF JUNEWritten and Performed by King SunshineCourtesy of Marc Shapiro
FOXTROT 2Composed by Patric CairdPublished by Amazing Stranger Music
NEW ROSEComposed by Patric Caird Lyrics by Sonya Jezebel CôtéPublished by Amazing Stranger Music
PARISIAN TANGOProduced by American Music Company, Inc.Composed and Performed by Steve Gibb, BMIPublished by Ocean Life Music, BMI
FLOATWritten by Caroly Larson and James BuntonPerformed by Caroly Lill
FOXTROT 1Composed by Patric CairdPublished by Amazing Stranger Music
WHISTFULComposed by Patric CairdPublished by Amazing Stranger Music
COMMENT TE LE DIRE?Produced by GSI MusiqueLyrics by Andrea LindsayMusic by Andrea Lindsay and Eric GravelinePerformed by Andrea LindsayCourtesy of SODRAC
ROMANCEComposed by Patric CairdPublished by Amazing Stranger Music
NICE SURPRISEComposed by Patric CairdPublished by Amazing Stranger Music
DANSE ELEGANTComposed by Patric Caird Lyrics by Sonya Jezebel CôtéPublished by Amazing Stranger Music
NATURE MORTEProduces by GSI MusiqueLyrics by Andrea LindsayMusic by Andrea Lindsay, Remi LeclercMeredith Lindsay and Genevieve MillerPerformed by Andrea LindsayCourtesy of SODRAC
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CREDITS
This film is a work of fiction. The characters, scenes and dialogue in this drama do not represent the actual personalities, actions or words of any real persons, living or dead.
2013 © TOMGIRL FILMS
WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT
PS PRODUCTIONS
POST CITY SOUND
NOTCH
TA2
RED DIGITAL CINEMA – SHOT ON RED
THE HARTLESS TATTOO CO
RED SQUARE MOTION
HAILO
DGC
NABET
Made with the Generous Support of ACTRA Toronto and the CMPA
Made with the support of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Ontario Media Development Corporation Film and Television Tax Credits
