I had a blast this past weekend doing a 48 hour film challenge with my family. It was so much fun! Also hard. Challenging. Rewarding. And a crazy way to spend family day weekend.
We’re all big fans of mockumentary comedies like the Christopher Guest movies, Parks and Rec, Schitt’s Creek, The Office… so we decided we wanted to do a little homage. And I feel quite good about pulling it off.
Writing and directing with my brother, Zachary Barmania, was awesome. Our senses of humour are bizarre in just the same way. And he made the weekend go as smooth as it ever could have gone.
My auntie, Elaine Lumley, pulled off the starring role as Eugenia St. Clair – an actress of bygone fame who is making her big comeback. Totally nailed it!
The whole thing reminded me of middle school projects when I’d stay up late with my mom pulling some monstrosity together with safety pins. (And the framed bagel did turn out perfectly. Come on.)
We brought in one other actor (not family) Matt Gilbert who crushed the part of the competitive local pharmacist erring just on this side of sanity. His improv is so brilliant and hilarious.
Also shout out to the world’s kindest pharmacist who let us film in his shop and offered us complimentary water. Check out Charlotte Care Pharmacy!
We had so much fun. Thanks so much to Peterborough Kawartha Lakes Film Office and Paradigm Pictures for hosting the challenge! I’m excited for the summer one!
You can watch my directorial debut, The Comeback of Eugenia St. Clair, on YouTube: