Films
Project Vitals
Status: Completed 2013
Writer: Jeff Barnaby
Director: Jeff Barnaby
Producers: John Christou, Aisling Chin-Yee
Red Crow Mi’gMaq reservation, 1976: By government decree, every Indian child under the age of 16 must attend residential school. In the kingdom of the crow, that means imprisonment at St. Dymphna’s. That means being at the mercy of “Popper”, the sadistic Indian agent who runs the school. At 15, Aila is the weed princess of Red Crow. Hustling with her uncle Burner, she sells enough dope to pay Popper her “truancy tax”, keeping her out of St.Ds. But when Aila’s drug money is stolen and her father Joseph returns from prison, the precarious balance of Aila’s world is destroyed. Her only options are to run or fight … and Mi’gMaq don’t run.
Project Vitals
Status: Completed 2011
Writer: Mark Slutsky
Director: Mark Slutsky
Producers: Aisling Chin-Yee, John Christou
Sorry, Rabbi
Sorry, Rabbi is a short comedy directed by Mark Slutsky. Starring: Jessica Paré and Jacob Tierney. After a fight with his girlfriend Josh finds himself confronted by a group of angry Hasidic Jews. To be released in Fall 2011, produced with support from CALQ and BravoFact.
Project Vitals
Status: Completed 2010
Nominated for a Genie Award
Writer: Jeff Barnaby
Director: Jeff Barnaby
Producer: John Christou
File Under Miscellaneous
A short film set in a dystopian future where Natives undergo gruesome surgery to fit into the dominant white culture. Released in Fall 2010, produced with support from SODEC and BravoFact.
Project Vitals
Status: Completed 2009
Writer: Karina Garcia Casanova
Director: Karina Garcia Casanova
Producers: Karina Garcia Casanova & John Christou
Les Grands Penseurs
An animated documentary about life’s big philosophical questions as understood by pre-school children: Where do we come from? What is the meaning of life? What is art? What is love? The children’s surprising answers are then interpreted and illustrated by a ?ood of playful hand drawn animations. Released, summer 2009. Produced in association with TV5
Project Vitals
Status: Completed 2013
Directors: Juliet Lammers and Lorraine Price
Producers: Aisling Chin-Yee, John Christou
Last Woman Standing
This award-winning feature documentary follows Ariane Fortin and Mary Spencer – two world champion Canadian boxers and former friends – who must fight each other for a chance to win gold at the 2012 Olympics. Produced with the support of CBC’s documentary, Canada Media Fund, Rogers Documentary Fund, Cable Network Fund and Tax Credits. World premiere at Hot Docs 2013, distributed by Film Buff.
Project Vitals
Status: In Development
Writer: Jeff Barnaby
Director: Jeff Barnaby
Producer:John Christou
Blood Quantum
The dead are coming back to life outside the isolated Mi’gMaq reserve of Red Crow, except for its Indian inhabitants who are strangely immune to the zombie plague. Traylor, the local tribal law enforcement, armed with nothing but a samurai sword, a hangover, and a six-pack, must protect his pregnant girlfriend, pothead father, and drunken reserve riff raff from the hordes of walking white corpses infesting the streets of Red Crow. In development with Telefilm Canada, the Harold Greenberg Fund, SODEC & APTN
Project Vitals
Status: In Development
Writer: Mark Slutsky
Director: Mark Slutsky
Producers: Aisling Chin-Yee, John Christou
Breaking the Band
A feature comedy about a young music exec who moves into a hip downtown loft only to discover the worst band in the world practices in the loft below him. In development with Telefilm.
Project Vitals
Status: In Development
Writer: Dan Beirne
Producers: Aisling Chin-Yee, John Christou
Stay, Girl
While still living in his parent’s basement, a gaming nerd becomes obsessed with real-life justice and heroics after his family dog is run down in the street. A suburban family comedy about growing up, no matter how long it takes.
Project Vitals
Status: In Development
Writer: John Christou
Director: John Christou
Producer: John Christou
Towards the End of Time
A documentary chronicling the building of a giant clock in the Sierra Nevada Mountains that is being built by The Long Now Foundation in order to promote long term thinking. In development with SODEC.