Private Project

Dating Advice With Baba Yaga

After catching her ex-boyfriend cheating, Maria seeks help from the notorious Baba Yaga. Starring Colleen Wheeler, with and directed by Jilian Tolzmann. Also written by Jilian Tolzmann, Dating Advice with Baba Yaga is a macabre story of found sisterhood exploring the infamous legend in a new light.

  • Jilian Tolzmann
    Director
    Tides of March
  • Jilian Tolzmann
    Writer
    Tides of March
  • Jilian Tolzmann
    Producer
    Tides of March
  • Arianne Robbins
    Producer
    Love Hard
  • Colleen Wheeler
    Producer
    Attic Trunk
  • Colleen Wheeler
    Key Cast
    "Baba Yaga"
    Attic Trunk, X-Men Evolution
  • Jilian Tolzmann
    Key Cast
    "Maria"
    All Good Campaigns Must Come To An End
  • Jesus Caballero
    Composer
    Hurt
  • Jacob Moy
    Cinematographer
    The Dying Candlelight
  • John Ha
    Editor
  • Evelyn Tong
    Art Director
  • Krystle Marr
    Makeup Key
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Comedy, drama, fantasy, short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 16 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 3, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    370 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - ACE-IT Films / Burnaby North Secondary School
Director Biography - Jilian Tolzmann

With a passion for telling compelling stories through nuanced comedy, Jilian Tolzmann is a multidisciplinary artist currently acting, directing, writing and producing on both screen and stage.

She has performed with various theatres such as The Cultch and Carousel Theatre. In addition to acting, Jilian has been a musician for 15 years. She also has a plethora of credits in additional departments, anywhere from costumes to art.

Jilian loves jumping into new creative challenges and experiences. A directorial highlight was her 2023 RunNGun 48 Hour Film best youth team nomination --a true example of her adventurous creative nature.

Pursuing acting, Jilian looks forward to attending Studio 58 next year.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

What if the infamous terrifying Slavic folk legend Baba Yaga gave dating advice? It sounds crazy, but wouldn’t it be crazier if a monster was capable of good dating advice? — For desperate Maria, Baba Yaga seems like the best assistance.

I’ll admit, initially upon studying to play Maria, I struggled to connect with her. Being the independent person I am, I kept finding myself thinking “why can’t she just get over him, he treats her terribly.”, but I was missing the whole point to what I wrote. Writing her was also a challenge as although her comedy is found in her naiveness, I didn’t want it to compromise her strong and committed nature.

If you think this is a story about love, you’ve missed the entire point of the film. This is a story about determination, about wanting something. I believe this is reflected in the process behind the film, which taught me that if I want something badly enough I can get it, because the real magic is the hard work and desire to build authentic connections.