This past summer I got the call to action to direct my first TV Movie – a Rom-Com!
It was a joy to work with the cast and crew in Kelowna, BC for 12 days on a 20 million dollar estate. We managed to only have one day of forest fires in the vicinity, however one started across the water right before we filmed the most important scene – THE KISS! So this gorgeous romantic sunset kiss you get a glimpse of? Happened while the actors blocked out a very loud helicopter doing laps to put the fire out. Perhaps Francesca Bianchi and Matt Hamilton have so much chemistry that they lit the fire? Hot.
Big thank you to the pilots and firefighters for keeping everyone safe! I give you, “Two Chefs and a Wedding Cake“!
TBD on when and where it will be aired! Follow me on Instagram for more up-to-date info @bnordstewart
The cast (and some crew!) at the launch party and screening of “The Dangers of Online Dating” in Vancouver, BC at The Penthouse November 23, 2017. (L to R: Stacy Mahieux, Paula Burrows, Brianne Nord-Stewart (creator/writer/director), Peter New, Byron Noble, Natalie Catherine, Sierra Pitkin)
To whomever is reading this, thank you for taking the time!
Whether you’re here to (fingers crossed) vet me for a job, check out some of my award-winning work (😉), or maybe we’ve gone on or about to go on a date and you’re cyber stalking me (well done, but please stop) thanks a million for hanging out long enough to read this sentence.
The last year was really all about getting my original digital series, THE DANGERS OF ONLINE DATING, written, produced, edited, delivered, and finally, launched into the ether that is the internet. Wow.
Well, I did it. The show is out (WATCH IT). Ready to be consumed (WATCH IT). It’s done (Did I mention you should WATCH IT). And I have already started releasing the companion sex education series, “SEX, With Paula“. There are 9 episodes of #DOODtheseries (WATCH IT)(use this hashtag!) and soon to be 9 episodes of #SEXwithPaula (this one too!) out as well, AND we’re going to continue releasing new episodes of the latter until we cannot possibly anymore.
Phew.
There are a few people that I absolutely need to thank.
First to the cast and crew of season one, which we started filming in 2012 (yes, really). To Paula, Stacy, and Byron, thank you so much for coming on board back then, and for still being committed 5 years and 2 provinces later! To our very tiny and committed crew, thank you for your countless (or few) volunteer hours on what was this little idea I had.
And then to Telus Optik and the Storyhive team. There in all likelihood would not be a season 2 without you. And definitely not a season 2 like this. And to Creative BC for that little bit extra. So…THANK YOU FOR ALL THE 💰 💰 💰💰 !
To the season 2 team…Season 2 was achieved with a great many more people, more crew, more cast, more locations – more everything – and all of those logistics were being planned and re-planned by my line producer James Hutchison. He’s the shit. (Don’t even think about poaching him.) To the new cast who came in and have been all about the show, I THANK YOU!
So what am I doing next? The question of the day, month, year, hour, minute, second…
Well, today I did some life stuff and laid on the couch and watched “Julie & Julia” because I needed Nora Ephron’s magic, and was subsequently inspired to write a new blog post (the film is about a writer writing a blog…)
Next up is re-writing a half hour pilot for THE DANGERS OF ONLINE DATING, re-writing my feature, writing a one-hour original, and pitching other web/series content that that I’ve been developing with other writers. I want to direct my first feature, and then my second. I want to get that first episodic gig, and then my second. And then I’m sailing.
Literally. I’m getting on a boat and sailing around the Cook Islands.
Andrea Shawcross (Co-creator & Writer), Devon Ferguson (Co-creator & Lead Actor), and Brianne Nord-Stewart (Director, Producer, Co-Editor) are stoked for the IAWTV nominations! Congrats to our cast!
I’m having a very proud mama moment as the entire cast of YOUNG & RECKLESS has received a nomination for their work the webseries YOUNG & RECKLESS that I directed.
The recognized categories include: BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE in a COMEDY, Sierra Pitkin, IAWTV Awards 2017, BEST MALE PERFORMANCE in a COMEDY, Devon Ferguson, BEST ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE in a COMEDY.
Congrats. To. All. And big ups to Andrea Shawcross and Devon Ferguson for creating the show, and Andrea for writing such a great script that we all got to be a part of!
I think it can now be an official fact that whenever I am unable to attend a festival, we win an award. Basically, I should never travel and we’ll do really well!
Thank you to the festival for giving our film the recognition! And to all the below winners, congrats!
The Broad Humour Film Festival runs August 31st-September 3rd, 2017 and is a place where funny broads hang out with funny broads. Our lead actress Brenda Matthews will definitely be in attendance, and it’s possible I will be as well!
BEAT AROUND THE BUSH screening info:
Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Where: Venice, CA
The Broad Humour Film Festival was named one of the 5 “coolest” women’s film festivals in the world by Moviemaker Magazine in 2016. I look forward to being a part of such a fantastic organization. www.broadhumor.com
“Beat Around the Bush” is officially selected at the HollyShorts Film Festival
The next two months have some exciting screenings in store for BEAT AROUND THE BUSH. The film that just keeps going!
HollyShorts is an Academy Awards® Qualifying Festival and they have selected us to screen alongside some other fantastic films. The festival runs August 10th-19th, 2017 in Los Angeles at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood.
BEAT AROUND THE BUSH screening info:
Date: August 15th, 2017
Time: 2:30pm
Where: TCL Chinese 6 Theatres
6801 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, United States
“HollyShorts Film Festival is devoted to showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe, advancing the careers of filmmakers through screenings, networking events, and various panel and forums. The HollyShorts Film festival showcases the top short films produced 40- minutes or less. Categories include Short Animation, Short Live Action, Short Documentary, Music Video, Webisode, Commercials, Youth Film and Digital Microbudget.” www.hollyshorts.com
The Mics mission is to “recognize, honour and reward Canadian and International youth in achieving excellence in the entertainment industry.”
Sierra is nominated for Best Actress in a Web based Series in the 15-20 age category. Paige is nominated for Best Actress in a Webseries for a Principal/Supporting Role. Both are talents to be reckoned with. Paige was 11-years-old playing a 13-year-old when we shot the show last spring, and she’s a top notch professional, no doubt about it.
Sierra Pitkin is nominated at the 1st Annual Mics Awards
Paige Bateman is nominated at the 1st Annual Mics Awards
Alongside Sierra for Best Actress are Jaslyn Collis (SHIFT THE SHOW), and Cassandra Tusa (JENNY & JEFF). Alongside Paige for Best Supporting, the nominees are Roxy Bellum (ULTIMATE TRAP), Amy Polczer (LAME PARENTS), and Jaslyn Collis (A.N.X.O.).
Paige is also nominated for Best Actress in a Short Film Age 11 (LOVE, COLIN), Best Actress in a Short Film Age 11 (EVERYBODY SAYS), Young Filmmaker/Director Ages 5-11 (PAIGE’S PANTRY), Best Actress Short Film Age 10 (EVIL PLANS)
The Mics will be held May 27th, 2017 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Keep up to date with Paige’s work on her IMDB and Facebook pages. Keep up to date with Sierra’s work on her IMDB page.
Brianne Nord-Stewart 