Logline
Synopsis
An elderly woman alone in her house slips into a fantasy world that helps her come to terms with her waning grip on reality.
Alone in her house, a hint of a memory from her past leads May on a mission to find misplaced documents.
As she searches through her house she slips into a fantasy world where she has a small, helpful companion in the form of a teddy bear. Together they revisit and revise her painful relationship with her long-dead mother-in-law.
When her daughter Sharon enters the house and breaks the fantasy, the realization of May’s deteriorating mental state hits them both with full force.
Trailer
Key Info
Title of Film:
Of May
Country of Production:
Canada
Date of Completion:
April 2024
Shooting format:
Alexa Mini, 4:3 2.8K
Screening format:
DCP and ProRes available
Aspect ratio:
Standard 2.39:1
DCP masked for 2.65:1 image
Running Time:
12 minutes,16 seconds
Language:
English and Croatian (subtitled)
Genre:
Drama
Colour/BW:
Colour
Key Info
Directed By:
Brit Kewin
Written By:
Nicholas Kewin
Produced By:
Charlie Whalley
Edited by:
Simone Smith
Cinematographer:
Nick Haight
Music Composer:
Nicholas Kewin
Inspired by a True Story
Director Brit Kewin and writer Nicholas Kewin are siblings who helplessly watched their grandmother’s rapid descent into dementia. Of May is about an elderly woman in the throes of dementia, and while it’s completely fictional, their grandmother’s story lives inside it.
They were moved by her strength and her good humour while losing herself, her memories, and her home. She was lively and spirited and increasingly and frighteningly out of touch with reality. They wanted to give her experience a voice.
Nick and Charlie met through the Canadian Film Centre and decided to work together. Of May resonated with Charlie, knowing how hard it is to care for a loved one when they’re ill.
Aging is universal. Dementia is a common threat. This is a surreal vision of one woman in the early stages on her journey toward oblivion.
Making Of May
Of May had an incredibly gifted cast and crew, but as with all indie budgets, our core creative team often wore additional hats to get it made on time and on budget.
Brit created the trailer and poster, Nick brought the music to our ears, and Charlie, with some helpful advice from our puppeteers, brought Bear to life while watching What We Do In The Shadows late into the night.
Nick Kewin Brit Kewin Charlie Whalley
Writer Director Producer
Making Of May
Brit, on set with “May” played by the delightful Clare Coulter.
Shooting Of May was a collaborative experience for all cast and crew.
Making Of May
Puppeteers Kira Hall and Kanja Chen the invisible heroes behind Bear.
Making Of May
Making Of May
Making Of May
Brit Kewin - Director
Brit is a writer, director, and visual artist who aims to make powerful stories that stay fun.
She likes: Dutch master painters, 1940s-60s fashion and pop culture, any genre of story that hits a real human nerve.
She dislikes: loud vehicles, unruly jazz solos, shrimp.
Nicholas Kewin - Writer
Nick specializes in telling complex human stories that meld universal themes with a touch of surreality.
He’s a writer, director, and musician whose ceaseless desire to make art is the gift and curse of his life.
Charlie Whalley - Producer
Charlie has a keen eye for stories that uncover universal human truths and a sense of humour that leads her to irreverent tales with high entertainment value.
She started as a sketch comedy writer and performer before moving into the Production department for Non-union shorts and features. Currently she works as the Associate Producer on Ginny and Georgia and is developing features and TV shows with local talent.
Charlie looks forward to one day being the neighbourhood eccentric cat lady.
Nick Haight - Cinematographer
Known for his meticulous attention to detail, creative vision, and facilitating leadership, Nick Haight stands out as a narrative cinematographer with an unwavering commitment to storytelling through the lens.
Nick’s credits include multiple award-winning features including Mary Goes Round, Clara, Run This Town, and Learn to Swim. His recent television credits include Baroness von Sketch Show (CBC),Slasher (Netflix),Moonshine(CBC/CW) and New Eden(Crave).
Simone Smith - Editor
Simone Smith, CCE is an award-winning editor working across television and film. For television, she recently edited two seasons of the Amazon Original series The Lake.
Recent feature credits include I Like Movies (Canadian Screen Award for Achievement in Editing) and Firecrackers (Canadian Screen Award for Achievement in Editing). The Queen of My Dreams (starring Amrit Kaur, Nimra Bucha and Hamza Haq) is her latest feature.
Sarah Lang - Production Designer
Sarah Nicole Lang is a young up and coming talent that is making waves in the independent film community. She holds a dual degree in theatre and history from Queen’s University and a Dual Masters degree from the Actors Studio Drama School in NYC.
Her project, Gay Mean Girls season 2, was selected for TIFF Next Wave for January 2023. She designed four of Amazon’s top 12 Christmas movies for 2022.
Cast - May
Clare Coulter
Clare Coulter’s acting career spans eight decades. Considered a Canadian treasure, she is most renowned for her stage work. She played a seminal role in the development of the theatrical works of some of Canada’s greatest playwrights.
Clare’s television career began in the 1970s. Recent career highlights include the tv series, Fargo and Three Pines as the town curmudgeon Ruth Zardo opposite Alfred Molina, based on Louise Penny’s beloved novel series. Clare has been nominated for multiple Genie Awards.
Cast - Margrit
Cynthia Ashperger
Cynthia has over thirty five years of professional experience as an actor, director, producer, teacher and playwright. She has an extensive list of film and TV credits. Most recently: Honey Bunch, Of May, Murdoch Mysteries, Violation, The Waiting Room (nominated for Canadian Screen Award).
Cynthia holds an undergraduate degree in acting from Academy of Dramatic Arts at University of Zagreb, M.A. and PhD in drama and theatre from University of Toronto’s Drama Center.
Of May Supporters
We were very lucky to receive financial support from the Canada Council for the Arts. This allowed us to pay all cast and crew for their contributions on Of May.
Ontario Camera provided gear that really made this film look like a larger budget production.
Rolling Pictures provided post-production support through their initiative to champion female directors and producers.
Brit, Nick, and Charlie are extremely grateful to these organisations.
Contact
Brit Kewin
britkewin@gmail.com
(647) 385-8844
Nicholas Kewin
n.kewin@gmail.com
(416) 899-4181
Charlie Whalley
whalley.charlie@gmail.com (647) 545-6609
Downloadable Links