Faisal Lutchmedial - writer
Faisal Lutchmedial - writer
  • About Faisal Lutchmedial
  • Films
    • Beneath Us
    • Mr. Crab
    • Useless Things
    • My Cultural Divide
family

The Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Written

The hardest thing I’ve ever written was my brother Sohrab Lutchmedial’s eulogy. It’s been six months since he passed on November 8th, 2022. That morning, in the moments after I was told of his passing I only remember screaming and crying. I only got through those moments with the support of family and friends, especially my partner Tamara. The idea of eventually being able to be articulate after what was the most raw and inarticulate moment I’ve experienced seemed an impossible feat. But I, as countless others faced with loss have had to do, found a way. 

I didn’t have much time. One doesn’t for times such as these. There’s never enough time. There was so much happening. There was the business of death, the things that you have to do when someone passes. There were a lot of people around helping as much as they could, doing their best in this tragic situation. But this was a job only I could do, and I did the best that I could. Saying goodbye to one of the few people on this planet that gave me real joy and meaning to my life was impossibly hard. But I needed to honour my brother’s life in the way he would have wanted to be honoured.

I am a professional writer. I haven’t had too long or storied of a career, but it’s a job that I love. Sohrab loved that I was a storyteller, and he was my biggest champion – especially when the chips were down. If you know anything about working as a freelance artist / creator you know that the chips are frequently down. Having a big brother who always had a word of encouragement, and actively cheerleaded your work was priceless to me. I know I would have not been able to make it through some of those darker days without his love and support. How do you describe that kind of admiration, love, and loss in a few paragraphs? 

Each day I would wake up early (let’s be honest, I was barely sleeping that first week anyway) and write notes and thoughts. Distilling things down to what I thought most mattered. In retrospect, I missed things. Lots of things. There is only so much time but I can’t help but wonder if I had longer and had more time to reflect, would the speech have been much different? I can’t know. I did the best I could, in the time that I had. 

So much of writing, for television in particular, is doing the best you can in the time that you have. Deadlines – that word has extra meaning in this case – push you to get something down and approved so that everyone else can get on with their business. With a eulogy I think we need to just say something, something meaningful, something that helps the ones that have been left behind. They all need to get on with their business, the business of life. Whatever happens, whatever is said or not said, that’s what happens next. It’s what has to happen next.

Here’s the text of the eulogy. I did the best I could despite the tears and heartache. I hope not to get this kind of writing assignment for a good long while. 

 


 

Just so you all know; I’m going to cry some more, probably a lot, but let’s see if we can get through this together, okay? I’m going to TRY to keep this next part upbeat in Sohrab’s honour, you know put the fun in funeral, that what he’d want, right bro?

Sohrab was a great man, a giant really. He was always the top of his class when he wasn’t skipping grades, driven to be the best he could be at anything he did. Growing up with that guy you’d think I would be living in his shadow. I mean, when I went to the same high school as him but seven years behind the teachers would all look at me and say, so you’re Sohrab Lutchmedials brother? Huh. It didn’t really make sense that their best student and then maybe their worst were related. But I didn’t mind. Because I didn’t live in my brothers shadow. I was his shadow. And I loved it.

I’d follow him around, nipping at his heels wherever he went. I worshiped the ground he walked on. If he liked something, I liked it. If he went somewhere was right behind him. I even tried to get my handwriting look like his. I must have been SO annoying. I couldn’t, by the way, his handwriting was, unique. He got me into comics, loving sci fi, reading fantasy, playing video games, his music, all those core interests that you take with you for the rest of your life. Thank you Sohrab for that. 

One of the vivid memories I have is him siting me down at 6 and saying, okay, I’m going to teach you how to play Dungeons and Dragons. And I think that this fostered storytelling in me, which is an amazing gift. It is true that I was the only person he could play with with because he was this 12 year old nerd, but that’s beside the point. 

Actually I do remember being on a train, going to visit our cousins in New York or Toronto, and Sohrab telling me I was his favourite brother, and I whined back “but I’m your only brother!” And he just smiled that shit eating grin he had when he played a trick on someone, something he kept his whole life.

The truth is though, we did have more brothers and sisters. Our family of cousins were so close we felt like that. Sohrab really believed in this, that extended family mentality, and he loved all of them so deeply. Always called, wrote, kept up, and celebrated with all of us. He got that from our mother who was the queen of keeping the family bonded. She was a master of love and compassion.  Sohrab inherited it. One of his many superpowers. 

I never lived in Saint John / Rothesay but coming here always felt like coming home. I know that my mom and dad felt the same way. They loved and were so proud of their boy. Sohrab was that anchor for all of us. The family that he and Deanna raised here was his everything, his kids Zachary, Jonah, and Miriam were his world. He would always tell me stories about them and was so proud of every little step they took. And he wanted to be there to watch all of those steps, probably with a camera, more recently taking selfies and cheerleading online about what they were up to. 

He was a cheerleader, wasn’t he? He could make you feel seen. I recently had a really important pitch and I did well and I was like “yay” but Sohrab FaceTimed me congratulations, and sent me this big gift basket, and on it it was a banner that said “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. Leave it to Sohrab to quote Wayne Gretzky to bring me up. 

Sohrab always did that. And he’d find every reason to celebrate. And party. I’d get a call from him because he was visiting Montreal for a conference and he had 24 hours, and I’d find myself at a nice restaurant, the a Habs game, then a bar, a club, on a dance floor in an after hours place, and before I knew it eating a greasy breakfast in a casse croute on St Laurent. He never missed a chance to see me, ever, and loved to share each other’s worlds with each other. 

He’d come to film festival screenings, I’d take him to artist parties, and he’d always somehow fit in. I remember taking him out to a party once when I was in university and I turned around and he was already off working the room, and he’d be chatting away with an experimental video artist, someone he had nothing in common with, but finding common ground.

Sohrab just knew how to live. And he knew how to love. His family. His friends. His colleagues and patients. He knew how important it was to take life by the horns and ride. He was not a man of half measures. He really was that candle that burned twice as bright.

When I got older I stopped nipping at my brothers heels, but he never stopped being my best friend and hero. I’m not going to talk about how brilliant he was as a doctor, I’ll let other people who are more qualified do that, but I’ll tell you this – he would fight for you. I remember hanging out with him and he got 2 separate requests from family for medical advice and he just responded, gave them detailed advice, and even called their doctors if needed. Those other doctors usually didn’t appreciate that call, but Sohrab had a way of asserting his opinion. 

Sohrab, I am going to miss you so much. I am going to miss those late nights, I am going to miss playing shooting things on the xbox, I am going to miss watching hockey together, I’m going to miss talking about all the cool movies and tv shows we were watching, I am going to miss our long conversations and me being able to be your confidant when you needed an ear. It’s going to be really hard to be your shadow when your guiding light is gone. But I am going to try. 

So – If I am going to take something from this profound loss it’s going to be this. You remember that old ad with Michael Jordan? Be like Mike. Well I think that we should all be like Sohrab. Don’t take for granted this short time we have on earth. Live life to its fullest. Love your family like you have no tomorrow. Make that call that you’ve been putting off. Write that letter that you always meant to. Use compassion as your compass to make it through this sea even though you may have lost your anchor. 

Goodbye Sohrab, my favourite brother, my best friend, my hero. We all love you so much. 

Thank you.

 

 

May 8, 2022by admin
culture, diversity, family, My Cultural Divide, Ransom, Useless Things, writing

Being a Rookie TV Writer at 44

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

May 2, 2019by admin

INSTAGRAM

beneathusmovie

Beneath Us was selected as a semi-finalist at the Beneath Us was selected as a semi-finalist at the upcoming Venezia Shorts @ShortsVenezia festival! Congrats to the team for all their hard work. An online event will take place during January 6th to January 9th, 2023, details to come.
#BeneathUs estrena en Tijuana en el @baja_festival #BeneathUs estrena en Tijuana en el @baja_festival 🎞🎥

Sábado 03 de diciembre
Sala Carlos Monsiváis Cineteca Tijuana (Cecut)
Entrada Libre
¡Emocionados de compartirles que #BeneathUs tiene ¡Emocionados de compartirles que #BeneathUs tiene su estreno Tijuanense este sábado 03 de diciembre en Cineteca Tijuana! Durante el marco de @baja_festival BCIFF ⚡️🎥🎞

Sala Carlos Monsiváis 
Entrada Libre

Excited to share our Tijuana Premiere! At BCIFF this Saturday, December 03 at Cecut.
¡Emocionados de compartirles que estrenamos #Bene ¡Emocionados de compartirles que estrenamos #BeneathUs en Baja California, donde filmamos! Como parte de la Selección Oficial en el @baja_festival en diciembre, pronto les compartimos horarios y sedes. 

Excited to share the news that Beneath Us is premiering at Baja California where it was shot, as Official Selection for @baja_festival ! Soon we’ll share details about schedule and venues. 
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#film #filmmaker #shortfilm #cortometraje #cine #producer #filmproducer #filmproduction #cinema #migration #inmigration
Juan Francisco González Aquilar (Paco Mufote) as Juan Francisco González Aquilar (Paco Mufote) as Richie in Beneath Us.
Paco Mufote grabbing a coffee between scenes. Paco Mufote grabbing a coffee between scenes.
Rosa and her five year-old daughter hide from US I Rosa and her five year-old daughter hide from US Immigration (ICE) when the factory she is working at is raided. She desperately tries to find a way for them to escape, terrified she will be separated from her child because they are undocumented.

Beneath Us is a short film directed by Faisal Lutchmedial, starring Renée Martinez, Anna Rak, Robert Keller, Paco Mufote, Thomas Potter, and Cristina Anaya Dominguez. Produced by Marla Arreola. 

The film will be having its premiere at the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival 2022 in July.
Very excited to announce that our short film Benea Very excited to announce that our short film Beneath Us will be having its world premiere in competition at the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival in Chicago. More info: https://www.facebook.com/BeneathUsMovie
Behind the scenes: Renée Martinez (playing Rosa t Behind the scenes: Renée Martinez (playing Rosa the desperate mother in Beneath Us) and some extra cast learning some sewing techniques on set. Producer Marla Arreola looking on. Some of our extras worked as garment workers in the past but many had to pick up what they could before the shoot!
Getting ready and planning the raid sequence. Getting ready and planning the raid sequence.
Director @faisallutchmedial using @shotlisterapp w Director @faisallutchmedial using @shotlisterapp while working on Beneath Us. Really useful in keeping track of everything, especially time!
BTS hug! @anna.rak.artist with Christina Anaya Dom BTS hug! @anna.rak.artist with Christina Anaya Dominguez in her very first role! #shortfilm #undocumented #behindthescenes
During rehearsal, Agent Bosko @therobertkeller wit During rehearsal, Agent Bosko @therobertkeller with Agent Collins @six_two_foxtrot_productions raiding the garment shop. #undocumented #behindthescenes #shortfilm #ICE #homelandsecurity
Director @faisallutchmedial and Cinematographer Ga Director @faisallutchmedial and Cinematographer Gabi Kislat watching the monitors. #filmmaking #cinematography #undocumented
Beneath Us is about undocumented immigrants but al Beneath Us is about undocumented immigrants but also labour rights. Many of our extras in the underground factory were so accustomed to working on sewing machines they stitched when the camera wasn’t even rolling. #labor #garment #behindthescenes
@six_two_foxtrot_productions getting his ICE team @six_two_foxtrot_productions getting his ICE team ready for the next shot
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FOLLOW MY FILM ON INSTAGRAM

beneathusmovie

Beneath Us was selected as a semi-finalist at the Beneath Us was selected as a semi-finalist at the upcoming Venezia Shorts @ShortsVenezia festival! Congrats to the team for all their hard work. An online event will take place during January 6th to January 9th, 2023, details to come.
#BeneathUs estrena en Tijuana en el @baja_festival #BeneathUs estrena en Tijuana en el @baja_festival 🎞🎥

Sábado 03 de diciembre
Sala Carlos Monsiváis Cineteca Tijuana (Cecut)
Entrada Libre
¡Emocionados de compartirles que #BeneathUs tiene ¡Emocionados de compartirles que #BeneathUs tiene su estreno Tijuanense este sábado 03 de diciembre en Cineteca Tijuana! Durante el marco de @baja_festival BCIFF ⚡️🎥🎞

Sala Carlos Monsiváis 
Entrada Libre

Excited to share our Tijuana Premiere! At BCIFF this Saturday, December 03 at Cecut.
¡Emocionados de compartirles que estrenamos #Bene ¡Emocionados de compartirles que estrenamos #BeneathUs en Baja California, donde filmamos! Como parte de la Selección Oficial en el @baja_festival en diciembre, pronto les compartimos horarios y sedes. 

Excited to share the news that Beneath Us is premiering at Baja California where it was shot, as Official Selection for @baja_festival ! Soon we’ll share details about schedule and venues. 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

#film #filmmaker #shortfilm #cortometraje #cine #producer #filmproducer #filmproduction #cinema #migration #inmigration
Juan Francisco González Aquilar (Paco Mufote) as Juan Francisco González Aquilar (Paco Mufote) as Richie in Beneath Us.
Paco Mufote grabbing a coffee between scenes. Paco Mufote grabbing a coffee between scenes.
Rosa and her five year-old daughter hide from US I Rosa and her five year-old daughter hide from US Immigration (ICE) when the factory she is working at is raided. She desperately tries to find a way for them to escape, terrified she will be separated from her child because they are undocumented.

Beneath Us is a short film directed by Faisal Lutchmedial, starring Renée Martinez, Anna Rak, Robert Keller, Paco Mufote, Thomas Potter, and Cristina Anaya Dominguez. Produced by Marla Arreola. 

The film will be having its premiere at the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival 2022 in July.
Very excited to announce that our short film Benea Very excited to announce that our short film Beneath Us will be having its world premiere in competition at the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival in Chicago. More info: https://www.facebook.com/BeneathUsMovie
Behind the scenes: Renée Martinez (playing Rosa t Behind the scenes: Renée Martinez (playing Rosa the desperate mother in Beneath Us) and some extra cast learning some sewing techniques on set. Producer Marla Arreola looking on. Some of our extras worked as garment workers in the past but many had to pick up what they could before the shoot!
Getting ready and planning the raid sequence. Getting ready and planning the raid sequence.
Director @faisallutchmedial using @shotlisterapp w Director @faisallutchmedial using @shotlisterapp while working on Beneath Us. Really useful in keeping track of everything, especially time!
BTS hug! @anna.rak.artist with Christina Anaya Dom BTS hug! @anna.rak.artist with Christina Anaya Dominguez in her very first role! #shortfilm #undocumented #behindthescenes
During rehearsal, Agent Bosko @therobertkeller wit During rehearsal, Agent Bosko @therobertkeller with Agent Collins @six_two_foxtrot_productions raiding the garment shop. #undocumented #behindthescenes #shortfilm #ICE #homelandsecurity
Director @faisallutchmedial and Cinematographer Ga Director @faisallutchmedial and Cinematographer Gabi Kislat watching the monitors. #filmmaking #cinematography #undocumented
Beneath Us is about undocumented immigrants but al Beneath Us is about undocumented immigrants but also labour rights. Many of our extras in the underground factory were so accustomed to working on sewing machines they stitched when the camera wasn’t even rolling. #labor #garment #behindthescenes
@six_two_foxtrot_productions getting his ICE team @six_two_foxtrot_productions getting his ICE team ready for the next shot
Instagram post 17878696385075668 Instagram post 17878696385075668
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