I am super excited to be travelling to Trinidad & Tobago soon to make a short film loosely based on a trip my mother took right before she was married. The film takes place in the late 1960s, a time when contact with the “old country” was limited and Indian Trinidadians were only starting to connect with the wider diaspora. Part of my process will be to interview Indo-Caribbeans about that time and hear what their impressions of India were before mass media made it so easy to see and connect with the country of their ancestors. I’d love to hear your stories about that period and what you imagined Mother India to be like. Please send me an email to get in touch. I am very fortunate to have received support from the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council to embark on this adventure and collect and then tell these stories that are so rarely seen on our screens.
Here’s a twitter thread about what it’s been like becoming a television writer in my forties. It’s an emotional moment for other reasons and it makes me really feel the time it’s taken to get here even more.
Story of a 44 year old POC rookie tv writer. The #Ransom ep I co-wrote airs a week before #MothersDay , so I’ll make this a mother themed thread. #screenwriting #diversity @Sienna_Films @eOne_TV @BigLightProds @CBS @GlobalTV 1/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
Back in ’95 when I was in college in Montreal I decided that my ultimate career goal was to write tv. #screenwriting #filmmaking 2/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
Being a child of immigrants, I didn’t know what my parents would make of my declaration that I was leaving sciences (which I was terrible at) and pursuing the arts. #diversity 3/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
But mom got it – she was a teacher and spent her career putting on elaborate dance and musical productions with her students. Storytelling was in her blood and she passed that on to me. 4/ pic.twitter.com/MbZDdkPRvh
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
I am humbled at what both my parents sacrificed to give me choices. Even if that choice was to fall on my face. Which I did. Often. 5/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
I wrote lots of scripts, entered lots of contests, made my own films, but I either didn’t know how, didn’t meet the right people, or didn’t have what it took to get noticed. 6/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
I entirely gave up on fiction multiple times. But I did carve out a career in documentary as an editor. 7/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
One of my proudest moments was when my mom and dad attended the opening of my feature doc My Cultural Divide at the Montreal World Film Festival. 8/ pic.twitter.com/kRENLjIiC4
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
It was a political film but also about something else – my mother who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Activism and my career were important to me, but family was ultimately more important. 9/ pic.twitter.com/MGoetZfYnU
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
A lot of what I’ve created as an artist has been about inequality, family, and culture. I hope that if I learned anything from mom it was compassion. 10/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
I got back to writing fiction in my mid 30s when I made a short called “Useless Things” about a man emptying out his family home and being confronted by the regret he was never able to make his parents proud while they were still around. 11/ pic.twitter.com/sKSFIhjZ2p
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
There were more ups and downs. I won some awards, including the @WGC @bellmedia Diversity Program which put me in the writing room of the @shaftesbury 1-hour The Listener on @CTV. 12/ pic.twitter.com/9Rswree4eh
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
That experience was life changing. Moved to Toronto and the writing room welcomed me with open arms; Showrunner Peter Mohan @Mutanto took me under his wing. 13/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
I soaked up as much as I could from watching @hurst_james @Azzzy @bongotummy & Scott Oleszkowicz do their thing in the room. Every day was a gift. 14/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
I thought that I had finally found my way in. But after my internship ended I didn’t get so much as an interview anywhere for a few years. Only a handful in six. 15/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
In my early forties I was starting to feel like maybe it was time to give up writing tv for good. I had had it with banging my head against a brick wall. 16/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
Then I got a call for an interview! Ransom needed a story coordinator and despite my inexperience showrunner David Vainola decided to give me a shot. 17/ pic.twitter.com/ZhJEbcY7X1
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
Working with David, @FrankSpotnitz @SteveCoch77 @sandrachw @writerishguy @TamaraMoulin @josephnkay @rosmuir @NappyThoughtz was a dream come true. 18/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
Somehow as the season progressed I was able to convince David to give me a shot co-writing episode 310 with the talented (and patient) @tamaramoulin. I called dad to give him the good news. 19/ pic.twitter.com/gYKtmsPaW5
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
By this time mom wasn’t able to talk on the phone, and dementia was making it hard for her to understand, but dad relayed that her crazy younger son had finally gotten the opportunity he was trying to earn his whole life. 20/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
When I visited during Christmastime I sat by her bed and told her all about my adventures. Mom is the most adventurous person I’ve ever met, so I know she appreciated it. 21/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
For those of you who aren’t aware – Parkinson’s Disease steals people away in a manner I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. 22/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
When I came back this April our family was starting to understand mom didn’t have long. My dad, my brother @LutchMedia, and our families surrounded her with love. 23/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
She wasn’t able to respond but I talked to her, read to her, sung to her, and even got to show her the fine cut of the episode of Ransom I co-wrote. 24/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
It’s an episode where the CriRes team helps a young mum (@laurencoe6) fight to get her kidnapped baby back and prove to the authorities she’s a fit mother. #Ransom 25/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
Series stars @luke_j_roberts @MsNazContractor @brandojay @KarenVLeBlanc put on fantastic performances, expertly directed by @sturlagunnarsso 26/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
The social justice story was exactly the kind of thing mom loved. I know she would have told me so, if she could have. 27/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
Then, after about forty years of ferociously battling the incurable disease, my mom left us. 28/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
I would give up anything to have her back and to hear her tell her stories again. And for me to be able to tell her mine. 29/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
If I’m given a chance to write something again, I hope to use the lessons she taught me of compassion, humanity, and love. I hope I can pass those lessons on to others. 30/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
You can watch Ransom Saturdays at 8/7c on @CBS or @Global. My ep airs on May 4th at a special time 9/8c. 31/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
And please help cure Parkinson’s Disease by donating to the @MichaelJFoxFoundation that funds a lot of great research. If you want, you can do so in honour of my mom, Suraiya Lutchmedial. Thanks ❤️ 32/
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) April 28, 2019
I mislabeled @MichaelJFoxOrg in my last tweet – so here it is and a link to donate: https://t.co/ArzAEAocbC
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) May 2, 2019
This last year I’ve been working on the third season of the CBS / Global series RANSOM. This is the thread that I put up on twitter about the show and why it’s awesome.
RANSOM is having its season premiere on Saturday at 9pm! You should tune in for a ton of reasons.**RETWEET THIS VERY BIASED THREAD BY A NEW WRITER** @RansomCBS @RansomSeries @CBS @GlobalTV #writing #screenwriting #diversity pic.twitter.com/zwzqXm4M5W
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
Eric Beaumont (@luke_j_roberts) rescues people from kidnapping and hostage situations relying on his team and their wits – without using violence. pic.twitter.com/Uk6nCOzplZ
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
I love that the show's heroes care about saving lives more than anything else, and refuse to use violence to solve problems. Okay, Eric broke his cardinal rule last season finale – but more on that later… https://t.co/sNzU5RUNCH
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
Everyone in the Crisis Resolution team (super diverse btw which I love) brings something important to each case. https://t.co/okAxkPShBs
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
Oliver Yates (@brandojay) is the team's profiler, a psychologist who can help decode what's going on in the minds of the criminals they face off against. pic.twitter.com/8BeRaZEDTN
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
Zara Hallam (@MsNazContractor) is ex-NYPD and the team's brilliantly observant investigator. She tracks down the clues that make it possible to make a deal with people who would otherwise refuse to listen. pic.twitter.com/jcISfAHRoB
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
Cynthia Walker (@KarenVLeBlanc) is the newest member of the CriRes family, a resourceful lawyer adept in navigating the political and corporate world. pic.twitter.com/gQDCsdblos
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
I am really proud to work on a show that's so diverse.
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
And I'm really privileged to have worked in a room with amazing writers. David Vainola @FrankSpotnitz @SteveCoch77 @sandrachw @writerishguy @NappyThoughtz @rosmuir @josephnkay @TamaraMoulin
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
Special shout out to @TamaraMoulin who graciously allowed me to co-write my first episode of television with her. (Episode 310 airing in May!)
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
After pretty much giving up on screenwriting (but having a still fulfilling career as a doc video editor) I finally got my shot to write some tv and I couldn't be more thrilled.
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
But back to the season 3 premiere, Eric isn't the type to just shrug off the hard decision he made at the end of season 2. https://t.co/nleV0NsxVO
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
You're going to want to watch on Saturday / dvr it / watch on @CBSAllAccess or whatever way you prefer. https://t.co/okAxkPShBs
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
So anyway… It's been a long journey for me, one I hope continues for years to come. SO PLEASE WATCH THE SHOW 🙂
— Faisal Lutchmedial (@faisallutch) February 14, 2019
(This was copied from the facebook page of BIPOC TV & Film, a grassroots organization and collective of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in Canada’s TV and film industry. It is a private site, so this is a transcript of the interview)
May 17 BIPOC TV & Film Asian Heritage Month Spotlight on:
Writer-Director Faisal Lutchmedial
.
Twitter: @faisallutch
.
Faisal is in pre-production for an Ontario Arts Council funded short film called Beneath Us, about two undocumented sisters trapped in an underground sweatshop. Please follow: https://www.facebook.com/
.
Projects you’ve loved working on:
.
As a director I loved working on my short film Mr. Crab, one of the few projects I’ve done where I felt we were able to get exactly what I wanted on camera. The finished film captures the fear and magic of a child’s imagination, and I am immensely proud of what the entire team helped create. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/
.
Currently working on:
.
I have a procedural medical drama series I’m mapping out right now, but it’s early days. I’m also re-writing a paranormal thriller pilot, converting it into a feature. The script is turning out different in all the right ways, and I’m having fun infusing it with some dashes of the Caribbean as well.
.
What does being Asian in the industry mean to you:
.
My parents come from two different places, Bangladesh and Trinidad & Tobago, and so I am both East and West Indian. Their backgrounds are radically different (religions too) so I feel like a child of many places. I think this is exactly the kind of story that defines Canada – and it definitely influences the kinds of stories I strive to create and share.
.
Dream project:
.
I have a feature film called Path of Light which I’ve been dreaming of making for ten years. It’s a love story about ex-lovers rekindling their relationship in India, but caught up in the nostalgia and pain of their past.
.
Favourite way to procrastinate:
.
I must admit I play a lot of video games. Find me on Xbox if you want to procrastinate together! (Xbox ID: Phizeal) It is possible I am creating a drama webseries that I am “filming” within a game. Is that procrastinating?!?
Beneath Us is a cautionary tale of what can happen when migrants looking for a better life are vilified and forced to live in an “underground” economy. People need to feel what it’s like working in a factory, lost in a life of debt and poverty, making the things we touch and wear everyday. This is the disconnect I’ve been trying to bridge with my films, first by being the second generation immigrant bringing viewers to back to my mother’s home country as I did in My Cultural Divide (2006), and now bringing the factory literally into our backyard. Do we choose to treat factory workers differently because they live a world away? Or is it that we don’t care where things come from at all, as long as they are cheap and plentiful?
I want to bring this dystopian but all too real world to screen, and fill it with believable characters with relatable human dreams and faults. Sometimes a fiction film is capable of allowing an audience to experience the reality of something better than a documentary, and this is what I hope to do with Beneath Us. The factory in the short may not exist within the borders of the United States or Canada, but the result is the same – workers are exploited and then ignored by the people who gladly buy the things they make.
OAC is only supplying some of the funding so our team will be reaching out to the community to try to finance the rest of the budget. Contact us through this website, and we’ll definitely keep you up to date when we start our crowdfunding campaign.
My short film Mr. Crab is playing with The Jungle Book outdoors in Regent Park! When I was in college a Russian man on a bus once pointed at me excited and said “Mowgli! Mowgli!” When I realized what he was saying I was offended at the possible racism but then took it as a compliment. Because apparently Russians love the Jungle Book and I may have been the first Indian boy he had ever seen. I guess? Anyhow my friends then often referred to me as Mowgli ironically after this. Having my film with a young Indian Caribbean boy and an animated crab play with the new adaptation of The Jungle Book might be the best thing ever.
Free Screening August 3rd 7pm. Regent Park Boulevard, outside Daniels Spectrum.
Thanks to Caribbean Tales and The Regent Park Film Festival.
From the Facebook event page:
Did you miss The Jungle Book in theatres this year? Or love it so much that you can’t wait to see it again? Come out to the Big Park for a free screening of the 2016 hit The Jungle Book!
Watch the trailer here: http://regentparkfilmfestival.com/events/event/under-the-stars-the-jungle-book/
Make sure to come out at 7pm for the pre-show for lots of family friendly acivities! The movie will start at 9pm!
The Movie and pre-show activities are FREE!
Co-presented with CaribbeanTales International Film Festival. CTFF will be presenting the short film Mr Crab, directed by Faisal Lutchmedial, prior to the feature film. We know you’ll be moved by the story of a young boy who uses his vivid imagination to escape the realities of family life.
Music and dance workshops provided by UforChange!
Enjoy delicious food for sale at Taste of Regent Park from 5-8:30!
ArtHeart will be doing face paint – so come ready with your favourite animal!
Keeping with the Jungle Book theme The Children’s Book Bank Canada will attendance with books for kids. We will a donations bin set up so if you would like to donate bring out any lightly used children’s books that you may have.
Daniels Spectrum Summer Series is produced by Artscape in collaboration with our 2016 program partners and is made possible thanks to the generous support of two anonymous donors.
I was recently asked to speak on a panel about Asian representation in film and television during the Asian Heritage Month Film Festival, in Toronto. I was joined by fellow filmmakers Amanda Joy, Jag Parmar, and Kieth Lock, and the panel was moderated by Bobby Del Rio.
It was a lively conversation, and it was great to hear how fellow diverse / asian filmmakers had moved forward in their careers – and what kind of barriers they faced along the way.
Apparently there is a video they are going to post, so I’ll link that here when I get it.
Recent Comments