FILMMAKER’S DREAM
Made in Sask. becomes shown in Sask.
Lucas Frison has good reason to have Jan. 26 circled on his calendar.
Frison is the co-writer, director and co-producer of the feature film Talent, which was shot in Regina in 2016.
The film has made its way to a number of film festivals in the past year but the biggest moment for the movie will come on Friday when it has a theatrical release at the Rainbow Cinemas in Regina.
Frison couldn’t emphasize enough the value of the theatrical release to the film.
“It’s extremely important. It’s a Saskatchewan-made product through and through and, as most people know, you always never see any Canadian movies get any kind of theatrical release,” explained Frison, who is optimistic of a theatrical release in Saskatoon in February. “Even if it’s a small one in selected cities like Regina and Saskatoon, that’s still a big deal because it gives people the opportunity to see the film outside of the film community and the arts community, the people that regularly support these kind of projects. It’s huge for sure.
“In the big picture and the grand scheme of things, this is definitely what every filmmaker, and especially all Canadian filmmakers, are trying to achieve and are pushing for. Canadian movies don’t usually ever get any type of theatrical release, even in our own country. The festivals are obviously important and can bring some term of success to the movie but really what festival success leads to, and what you’re hoping it ultimately leads to, is finding a distributor for your movie and them pushing toward that theatrical release for that project and perhaps future projects.”
Talent focuses on Kaylee, a high school senior who loves hockey but lacks the natural gift for playing the game. Playing floor hockey is her passion and she decides to leave her mark by organizing a fundraiser to support an arts organization for underprivileged children. The fundraiser turns out to be an attempt to break the world record for the longest floor hockey game with Kaylee doing everything in her power to see the event succeed.
The underdog storyline is what gives Talent its heart — it tells a story that many people can identify with.
“It’s about being able to take those negative responses and persevering, not giving up and still finding an avenue to be involved something you love. Just because you can’t be a superstar, that doesn’t mean you have to give up being involved with something you really feel strongly about,” said Frison.
The main cast is comprised of Natalie Lazarou, Andrew Valdes, Bernadette Mullen and Shawn Koch.
Elias England co-wrote the film with Frison while Elise Beaudry-Ferland co-produced the movie.
Lazarou, who was raised in Regina, shines in the role of Kaylee. So how important was it for Frison to get Lazarou for the role?
“It was hugely important,” said Frison. “I had seen Natalie in a Sask. feature a year or two earlier called Basic Needs in which she had a supporting role. I wasn’t aware of her before that and I thought she
was great in that movie. She definitely carries our film. She carries the funny moments, she carries the sports moments, she carries the more serious moments.
“She made this strong central character come to life.”
The movie, which was named best feature film at the 2017 Saskatchewan Independent Film Awards, also turned to local musicians for the soundtrack, which includes the likes of The Sheepdogs, Bad Comrade, The Death South, Rah Rah, Jeffery Straker, Scott Pettigrew and Lunar Lander Dance Commander.
“That kind of works into how the entire movie was made. It was made entirely with Saskatchewan people behind the camera and in front of it. As far as the soundtrack goes, we definitely wanted to stay in tune with that,” said Frison. “We have some bigger Sask. bands like The Sheepdogs, which more people have heard of, but there’s other bands as well which worked out for us. We also have The Dead South in there and they’ve really blown up over the past year. It gives the movie another element of the Saskatchewan feel, which is pretty cool.”
And as for the world record attempt, the Talent cast played for 62 hours straight to break the world record.
Canadian movies don’t usually ever get any type of theatrical release, even in our own country.