Why do so many Canadian independent films struggle to break through internationally? And what does it actually take to get a feature film made in Canada?

This week on Off The Lot, we're joined by filmmakers Hayley Gray and Kaayla Whachell, the co-writers and co-directors of Send the Rain, which recently had its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF).

What started as an award-winning short film became a feature about family, responsibility, and the pull of home, set against the threat of a wildfire in British Columbia.

We get into the realities of taking a short film to feature length, navigating financing and shrinking budgets, and what happens when two directors share creative control over the same movie.

But the conversation also goes much further.

We tackle some bigger questions about Canadian filmmaking: Why do our films struggle to reach international audiences? Are we developing the wrong production habits? And how do we build a sustainable independent film industry when filmmakers are constantly being asked to sacrifice their own time and money?

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Turning an award-winning short into a feature film
  • The challenges and advantages of co-directing
  • Securing financing through the Canadian film system
  • Making creative decisions when the budget gets smaller
  • Directing non-professional actors and finding authentic performances
  • Why Canadian films struggle to find international audiences
  • The relationship between Canada's service production industry and independent filmmaking
  • Building a positive, collaborative film set
  • What first-time feature directors should know before getting started


Whether you're developing your first feature, navigating film financing, or trying to build a sustainable career as an independent filmmaker, this conversation offers a candid look at what it takes to get a movie made.

Subscribe for new conversations with filmmakers working to get their movies made.

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