STUDENT FILM INITIATIVES

We are a group of student filmmakers in the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema Filmmaking II (FMPR 332) course, looking to tell intricate and unique stories. We are passionate and dedicated to the storytelling craft of film, and we strive to push the boundaries of film and develop new techniques to enhance the quality of our stories. This year, we have been developing scripts and we are now entering the production stages of our films.

Our current project is titled “Une Laveuse S.V.P.”, which follows Alina, a Romanian immigrant, as she navigates the French and English world of Montreal when she decides to buy a washing machine.

Directed by Roxana Baloiu, the film explores the importance of patience and perseverance, the duality in identity, the highs and lows of a new place and the change one goes through when leaving their homeland.

Director: Roxana Baloiu is a local filmmaker of Romanian descent who has been making short films since 2017. Her goal as a filmmaker is to put forth stories told by women who don't find themselves often in mainstream media. She is very passionate about encouraging diversity in filmmaking by filling her team with filmmakers from diverse backgrounds and giving opportunities for women filmmakers to secure lead roles in her films.

Production Manager: Mariana Ribeiro

Director of Photography: Kat Morillas

Art Director: Katherine Giguère

2nd Art Director: Alexis Richard

Camera Assistant: Malou Faddoul

Production Assistant: Marika Fortin-Turmel

Production Assistant: Marianne Hébert Beaulieu

Making movies is not an easy endeavour. From the Hollywood star playing the lead role, to the colour of the jacket they are wearing, everything you as the audience see on screen is there for a reason.

There are many things we need in order to make our movie happen. Notably, we need to feed our cast and crew for the duration of the shoot, assure transportation of cast, crew and equipment to our locations, rent location space and gear, and find costumes, props and set decorations.

Sustainability is also a goal we have set for ourselves when developing the film. Film sets use a lot of resources that go to waste. Our goal is to keep the production as green as possible by establishing conventions and techniques that require less resources, and enable us to recycle more of the objects we use on our film set. Sometimes that comes at a greater financial cost but we believe this is a crucial element to develop because in the long run it will yield better and more sustainable sets.

This is where your help comes in – without you there would be no film!

Our donors will be invited to the premiere screening of the film, and will be recognized in the Special Thanks section in the film credits.

Please give generously to help us bring our film to life!