When Reality Meets Fiction!
Director and screenwriter from Armagh, in Bellechasse. I have lived in Montreal for over 20 years, but my roots remain a source of inspiration. In 2015, I released La démolition familiale, a featurelength documentary about two teenagers experimenting with demolition racing, which was shown in theaters and on Télé-Québec.
With the short film Diaporama, I ventured into fiction, which offers more creative freedom despite a more complex logistics process. Whether documentary or fiction, my goal is to tell a compelling story.
While writing Diaporama, I highlighted maple syrup production, a pillar of my regional identity. Bellechasse is the birthplace of maple syrup production and its technology, making it the perfect setting for this story.
Antoine Bertrand and Léane Labrèche-Dor on set during filming
In short, Diaporama follows the journey of a 35-year-old woman (played by Léane Labrèche-Dor, a Quebecer actress) who, after a career change, seeks a job with a maple syrup producer from Armagh (played by Antoine Bertrand, a Quebecer actor). Her goal is to return to live in her hometown.
Since Léane’s character had to go through a job interview with the maple syrup producer, I wanted her to demonstrate knowledge of the latest industry developments. I came across an article in CDL’s magazine about maple nectar and watched a report from Radio-Canada. I then incorporated into the dialogue that she was interested in maple nectar. I had not yet planned CDL’s involvement as a partner at that time, but I was happy to showcase a Bellechasse innovation.
It wasn’t until much later, as filming approached that I reached out to Vallier Chabot, who was very receptive to the idea of collaboration. This allowed me to refine the dialogue by working with Anne-Sophie Couture-Goulet, CDL’s Marketing and Communications Director, and Marika Chabot, who leads the maple nectar project. We followed a process like Grey’s Anatomy, which consults emergency experts to ensure accuracy in terminology! Additionally, Anne-Sophie ensured that our props team had real maple nectar on set. Over multiple script revisions, this nectar took on a special significance… which you will discover when you watch the film.
While fine-tuning the script, I also had to assemble my team, taking on directing, writing, and production, a role comparable to a manager. Having previously worked with Antoine, who played himself in one of my short films, I asked if he knew how to handle a chainsaw for a scene. He responded with a photo of himself in full gear! As for Léane, this was our first collaboration. I sent my script to her agency on a Friday, and by the following Tuesday, I had her agreement. I was thrilled to have them on board, especially since they are both highly sought-after and selective with their projects. Their presence elevated the film, and their generosity toward the entire crew was exemplary.
This story takes place in Armagh, an inspiring location where I had the municipality’s support to access Parc des Chutes, a naturally cinematic setting, and to block a bridge and roads for a scene. Martial Breton and his partner Manuelle Gaudreau provided invaluable help for the sugar shack. Martial, my cousin, had already participated in La démolition familiale and inspired the character played by Antoine. We filmed his sugar shack on Rang de la Fourche and one of his maple groves on Rang Saint-Charles. Since his evaporator is from CDL, the
collaboration was even more fitting. This team effort brings together actors, technicians, locals, and partners like CDL. A huge thank you to CDL, Vallier, Anne-Sophie, and Marika!
As I write this, we still have one more day of shooting left. Then, we move on to editing, music recording, and sound mixing. A short film like this is typically screened at festivals and sometimes on digital platforms. There is a good chance it will eventually be presented at Armagh screenings or the Maison de la Culture de Bellechasse in SaintDamien. Stay tuned…
