Experiencing Interruptions?

Expiry Date

Growing up in the era of supposed equal opportunity for the sexes and modern feminism, Chloe Ryan is struggling to make sense of it all.

  • Jackie English
    Director
    Becoming Burlesque
  • Julianna Covey
    Writer
  • Brittany Johnson
    Writer
  • Mariah Owen
    Producer
    M.F.A., Plagued, IRL: The Series
  • Nina Pikula
    Producer
    In The 6ix
  • Brittany Johnson
    Key Cast
    Dark Matter
  • Grace Lynn Kung
    Key Cast
    Mary Kills People
  • Sarena Parmar
    Key Cast
    Kim's Convenience
  • Christy Bruce
    Key Cast
    Orphan Black
  • Nigel Downer
    Key Cast
    The Beaverton
  • Kristopher Bowman
    Key Cast
    Designated Survivor
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 28, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jackie English

Jackie English is an award-winning, Canadian director, producer, dancer and actress. With over 10 years of experience, behind and in front of the camera, Jackie brings her unique, driven and quirky personality to every set she steps on to. Her most recent feature film "Becoming Burlesque" stars Shiva Negar and is currently in post-production, set to release in 2018.

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Director Statement

The "Expiry Date" is the age a woman reaches where her choices disappear: to start a career or not. To have a baby or not. The date when she becomes invisible and a mere by-product of the decisions of her youth. Chloe is in the twilight of her 20's and already feeling the stress of making these big life choices. She is misunderstood and unsupported by the men in her life, and the women are sending mixed messages. The ominous sealing of her fate looms as she tries to figure out who is happiest- the career woman? Or the homemaker? The famous actress? Or the baby momma? The film is a reaction to the many subtle messages (and sometimes not so subtle messages) society sends to a young woman, valuing her youth and beauty above all else. And the fear women feel at the prospect of loosing that youth and beauty- even at 27. It is the sound of the clock ticking. The rose fading. Greys appearing. Birthday candles melting.... And options vanishing. Expiry Date is a wry look at the the reality of being a woman.

I was attracted to this film as the theme's truth struck a personal chord. When I left the corporate consulting world to start my arts career, I was bluntly advised by a (well meaning) family friend and successful actor that I had exactly until the age of 35 to follow that dream before... *poofff*, it would be gone. This ominous idea that a day will arrive when my ability to contribute will suddenly end has stayed with me and haunts me. This film calls out that notion: and by exposing it, we question it. I hope this short will let women take pause and recognize the pressures they put themselves under as a result of the underlying fear of aging, and that men will empathize to the stress of having a deadline for success.

The comedy may be a light slice of life, yet the piece is powerful as a blunt force reaction to the limits placed on women is a cheeky and resonant view on a damaging paradigm that I hope will one day be obsolete. And with more and more women challenging the barrier of age in sport, entertainment and politics I believe it is possible. In the mean time the clock is ticking to get our stories out and pave the way to a less agist tomorrow.... After all, none of us are getting any younger!