Experiencing Interruptions?

Driven to Create

Shazia Javed, filmmaker, Khaula Mazhar, visual artist, Jasmine Sawant , writer and Stephanie Braganza, musician share their creative passion that motivates and encourages others to find their outlet. They explore their journey of self-discovery through their culture and heritage.

  • Angela Chao
    Director
  • Angela Chao
    Writer
  • Angela Chao
    Producer
  • Shazia Javed
    Key Cast
    "Shazia Javed"
  • Khaula Mazhar
    Key Cast
    "Khaula Mazhar"
  • Jasmine Sawant
    Key Cast
    "Jasmine Sawant"
  • Stephanie Braganza
    Key Cast
    "Stephanie Braganza"
  • Sarah Baptist
    Editor
  • Amy Di Nino
    Composer
  • Susan Ksiezopolski
    Creative Consultant
  • Fil Plaskota
    Graphic Designer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    south asian, women, creatives, mental health, mississauga
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 7, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    5,722 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Angela Chao

Angela Chao is a camera assistant for IATSE 667 for over 15 years in the Toronto Film Industry. She had a major concussion on set and discovered she was an abstract visual artist. Angela uses art to communicates her emotions from her head injury. She was named the 2017 Emerging visual artist of the year with Mississauga Arts council and in 2018 was the recipient of the Modern Heritage and Community Heritage award for spreading mental health awareness through art, locally.

This documentary “Driven to Create” is her first time debut as she combines her experience in the film industry and her artistic skill while spreading mental health awareness through arts.

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Director Statement

As a visual artist, I use art to express what I feel inside from my concussion. I see the impact of arts on my own mental health and its through this journey I started reaching out and interviewing others.

At the beginning of the pandemic I created a little youtube series called "Mississauga Creates" where I interviewed local creatives through zoom. I discovered artists are using creativity as a way to escape. Musician are creating at home, painters sharing and teaching workshops, writers creating poetry about their experiences while at home.

Mississauga Art council released a documentary grant and this quickly escalated my little youtube interview series as examples of a documentary.