STORY films are 10-15 minute shorts from directors, producers and editors in the Norman Jewison Film Program at the Canadian Film Centre. The films are professionally produced in the fall, edited before the New Year, and submitted to the international festival circuit. Recent STORY films have premiered at TIFF, VIFF, CIFF, Fantasia and many more! This is a chance for actors to connect with Canada’s most exciting emerging talent, both on and off screen, and to collaborate with writer/directors on a piece that supports a feature film in development.
All booked cast will be invited to an Industry Screening in December.
Writer / Director Bio
Alexa Jane Jerrett is an emerging multidisciplinary filmmaker based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, with a fondness for allegorical, genre based films and women-centered stories. She is an alumna of NIFCO’s Picture Start Program, FAMU’s (Czechia) Writing & Directing Intensive, the AIFF Filmmaker Lab, and the WIDC Career Advancement Module. In 2024, Alexa wrote, directed, and co- produced the multi-award-winning short film entitled “Bedlamer”. As a recipient of the prestigious RBC Michelle Jackson Award, she premiered her ambitious short film, “Flickers”, at the closing night gala of the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival. Alexa is currently attending the Canadian Film Centre’s Norman Jewison Film Program: Director’s Lab and developing her debut feature film.
Tonal Reference:
The visceral disgust of “The Substance” meets the relatability of “Girls” vulnerable domesticity - with a sprinkle of “Marriage Story” on top.
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Lead | WOMAN | Female 25 - 35 Years old |
Description Female, 25-35 years old, any ethnicity. She spent a year - maybe two - completely obsessed with him. Now that he loves her back, she can hardly stand to look at him. She’s funny, anxious, and deeply ashamed of how she lives when no one else is looking. She knows he is kind. She knows he does not deserve this. But every little thing he does has started to disgust her, and she can’t force the feeling to go away. Dryly funny and terrified of being seen, she learned as a child that love is demonstrated through contempt and criticism.
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| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Lead | BOYFRIEND | Male 30 - 40 Years old |
Description Male 30-40 years old, any ethnicity. He is sweet, slovenly, and very much in love with her. He demonstrates devotion through acts of service; he cooks for her, takes care of her cat, and tries to make their home feel safe. He also has no table manners and is unashamedly gross. But he is not as oblivious as she thinks. When backed into a corner, he stops being so accommodating and shares his own harsh truths. He is genuinely lovable, even when being spectacularly gross. The humour should come from how specific and human he is, rather than playing him as a joke.
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| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Voice-Over / Voice-Only | MOTHER | Female 60 - 70 Years old |
Description Female, 60-70 years old, any ethnicity. She loves her daughter, but cannot get through a phone call without making her feel worse. She is funny, judgmental, and completely unaware of how much damage she does. The cruelty is casual. She is not trying to wound her daughter - this is simply how she’s wired. | ||