Faisal Lutchmedial - writer
Faisal Lutchmedial - writer
  • About Faisal Lutchmedial
  • Films
    • Beneath Us
    • Mr. Crab
    • Useless Things
    • My Cultural Divide
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
film, Making the Band, My Cultural Divide

Making the Band Photo shoot

Lynda Lerato as Christy, Whitsa Jean as Shabella , Kim Nelson as Annitah

Even as we rush the fine cut of the film, we took some time to take some promotional photographs of the cast a few days ago. Graphic Designer extraordinaire Jessica Burt of UrbanHanded Works is designing ours, and she is hard at work putting something together as I type. She also did the poster for “My Cultural Divide” for me back in ’06.

So here are a couple of the photos I took, but lots and lots more to come.

Lynda Lerato as Christy, Whitsa Jean as Shabella , Kim Nelson as Annitah

May 23, 2011by admin
documentary, garment workers, globalization, My Cultural Divide

Banksy’s The Simpsons Intro

Everyone’s seen this video by now, but I thought I should comment on it regardless.  My first impression is that it’s brilliant.  I have a very soft spot, like about a billion others, for The Simpsons even though I haven’t really seen about 12 of the last seasons.  Anyhow, before going on take a look if you haven’t seen it already.

After seeing it a few times my opinion stays pat: brilliant.  It’s true that I could say that this dumbs the issue of sweatshops down to a homer simpson level, and making black humour over the very serious issues of child labour is not productive.  But I don’t believe that.  I think anything, especially in mass media, that makes people think critically on even a subconscious level about sweatshops and their own personal consumption, is good.  I also think that the whole discussion about sweatshops can be unapproachably dark, and sometimes a joke can start the conversation going, breaking the ice.  How many discussions, serious discussions about sweatshops do you think got started by this viral video?  It’s got 2.5 million hits thus far, so even if 1% of people started talking, that’s a huge impact.

A unique magical taste.

My Cultural Divide tried to do this to a point, but only with a micro fraction of the viewership.  I am proud of my film, and I am glad that people still have the chance to see it online via this website.  But I could never have the viewership a a major tv show on a major network has. Hopefully, people who have begun to think about working conditions for adults and children (and unicorns) because of Banksy and The Simpsons, will seek out more information and more in depth discussions. Maybe some of you found yourselves here because of it.  If that’s the case, you’re welcome to watch my film, start up a discussion, or follow some of the many links on sweatshops connected to this one.

My Cultural Divide Official Site

October 12, 2010by admin
Mr. Crab, My Cultural Divide, Trinidad

Mr. Crab

I will be making a short film called Mr. Crab in the coming year thanks to a grant from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. It’s a film that explores the immigrant experience through the imaginative eyes of a child of Trinidadian parents now living in Canada. This may not be the only project I will be working on in the coming year about the West Indies, as plans are being made to go to Trinidad & Tobago in the new year to shoot a documentary. It a sequel, in spirit rather than content, to My Cultural Divide.

September 10, 2009by 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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