Lions in Waiting

The newest member of a minor league hockey team, Ray, experiences hazing by his new teammates as he struggles to fit in both on and off the ice. Ray will have to find the courage to accept himself first—and maybe even inspire a fellow teammate.

  • JASON KARMAN
    Director
    KIMCHI FRIED DUMPLINGS, I REALLY LIKE YOU, TWO-SIDED RIDE
  • JASON KARMAN
    Writer
    KIMCHI FRIED DUMPLINGS, I REALLY LIKE YOU, TWO-SIDED RIDE
  • SELENA PASKALIDIS
    Producer
    JOHN APPLE JACK
  • SAMMIE ASTANEH
    Producer
  • TAYLOR KARE
    Key Cast
  • BOB FRAZER
    Key Cast
  • VALERIE SING TURNER
    Key Cast
    Mattress
  • ANDY NEZ
    Key Cast
  • ZAC VRAN
    Key Cast
  • DEREK KESSELER
    Key Cast
  • RILEY BUGARESTI
    Key Cast
  • RYLAN OLEKSYN
    Key Cast
  • MARCO DARVASI
    Key Cast
  • COLE GRAHAM
    Cinematography
  • JUSTIN AUCOIN
    POST PRODUCTION SOUND
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    COMING OF AGE, DRAMA, GAY, LGBT, ROMANCE, SPORTS, ACTION, YOUTH
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 16 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 30, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    DIGITAL, 2K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.55:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - JASON KARMAN

Jason is a Vancouver-based screenwriter and director whose short films have screened at festivals in Brazil, Hong Kong, Australia, across Europe, United States and Canada. He received the Gerry Brunet Memorial Award at Vancouver Queer Film Festival in 2011, and in 2015 was recipient of the Jury Choice Award at Reel Pride Winnipeg. Jason is recipient of 2016 James Lee Foundation Scholarship.

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Director Statement

As Canadians, we celebrate how hockey has become one of the defining symbols of our nation. The game is still dominated by males; masculinity is constructed at an early age, performed within competitive relationships, allowing the connection to be made between weak and being LGBTQ. Normalizing accepted forms of shameful behavior is part of indoctrination culture, but it can create feelings of complicity and lead to concealment. Initiation is supposed to be empowering. Maintaining dignity while pursuing your passion does not have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, they can work in tandem through open dialogue and lead to the creation of a stronger identity.