The TV Festival offered a ton of support, gave exceptional feedback, respected the voice of the artist, and all it’s parts just seemed to fit..
Watch the Winning TV PILOT Performance Reading:
CAST LIST:
NARRATOR – Lorry Ayers
LAURA – Marsha Mason
LITTLE LAURA – Victoria Kucher
GEOFF – Geoff Mays
MARTIN – Allan Brunet
RAJ – Dan Cristofori
MALE GUARD – Adam Martignetti
Matthew Toffolo interviews co-screenwriter Michelle Brezinski
Matthew: What is your TV PILOT about?
Michelle: A 1/2 hour comedy about a non-orgasmic sex therapist, who plunges into a midlife crisis, forcing her to take advice from an apparition of her eight year old self. All while a collection of colourful clients desperately seek her advice on how to attain a more blissfully satisfying sex life.
Matthew: Why should this script be made into a TV show?
Michelle: It’s time we shed some comical light on this TABOO subject and ease up on our ridiculous expectations. After all it only sex.
Matthew: How long have you been writing stories?
Michelle: I’ve told stories forever… even a little truth now and again. Growing up in Yellowknife N.W.T meant that we had to entertain ourselves during the long cold winters. So, often I would create voices and tell stories from the perspectives of everyone’s house pets. Cheap laughs indeed… for hours and hours.. In 2012 I decided to study screenwriting at UBC and finally start scripting some of that insane imagination. Which may turn out to be even cheaper therapy..
Matthew: What movie have you seen the most in your life?
Michelle: Literally I have watched the animated feature film MEGAMIND fifteen times. Hugely identifying with that little blue guy, as he transcends into becoming his own hero, thwarting the assumptions of our narrow minded society..
Matthew: What artists would you love to work with?
Michelle: Here in CANADA we have some amazingly talented peeps who would be just orgasmic to work with.. Like Brett Butt (Corner Gas), Mike Clatternburg (Trailer Park Boys), Amy Matysio (InSayshable), Matthew Kowalchuck (Lawrence and Holloman), Nancy Robertson (Hiccups), Gabrielle Rose (Robson Arms) and Russell Peters (Stand-up Comic).
Matthew: How many stories/screenplays have you written?
Michelle: I’ve banged out 3 full length feature scripts, 2 half hour sitcoms, and 3 short films in just a few years.. My recent dramatic short film MADNESS has already collected 26 GLOBAL AWARDS, was nominated for 2 LEO AWARDS and had just won a 2015 Women in Film and TV SPOTLIGHT IMAGE AWARD here in Vancouver B.C.
Matthew: What motivated you to write this screenplay?
Michelle: My own sexual dysfunction. Though I have a great sex life, I just can’t seem to completely let go and have that sacred ORGASM everyone keeps bragging about. Perhaps, as the scripts fictitious therapist discovers that answers, then so may I..
Matthew: Describe your process; do you have a set routine, method for writing?
It helps me to bang out story idea’s by loudly yakking to myself while briskly walking up and down the Vancouver sea wall. Though, I feared people would get the wrong impression so I wear a t-shirt, that I had made up, which reads CRAZY ACTOR WORKING.. Which I also use when memorizing lines for auditions. As well, I love duo’s so my talented writing partner DOUG CARTER, and I, tag team idea’s in order to maximize comedic potential. And Doug is a fabulous fit for SEX THERAPY.. The script that is..
Matthew: Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Michelle: Fitness stimulates me, been a competitive bodybuilder, science excites me, received honours in Kinesiology at SFU, and being an actor for the last 20 years makes me happy. So sometimes I even wonder if sex is truly my bag of hammers. Perhaps a little more writing and the answer will come.. OMG did I just say that..
Matthew: What influenced you to enter the WILDsound Festival?
Michelle: It was Canadian, offered a ton of support, gave exceptional feedback, respected the voice of the artist, and all it’s parts just seemed to fit..
Matthew: Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Michelle: Write what you know, explore and educate yourself beyond what you know, and be fearless by being “OK with CRAZY” because that is when magical storytelling happens.
Two psychology students practice an illegal form of hypnotherapy that allows for the erasure of traumatic memories. Driven by opposing motivations, their ambitions lead them into a violent and exploitative criminal underworld. As they spiral down, one man struggles to maintain his sense of morality while the other struggles to maintain sanity.
Detective Amelia Faust is a wizard, the last wizard. It is her job to protect humanity from what is left of the supernatural. Abby is a young girl who can’t go home. She becomes Faust’s assistant. The two fight and defeat an ancient vampire, mummy queen and Faust decides to take Abby on as an apprentice.
A fractured and unstable near-future Canada where danger is ever-present and anarchy is just a breath away. In the centre of this cauldron is an ex-military gun-for-hire who seeks redemption from both his country and his father. With the odds stacked against him, will he be able to achieve it?
