Jacked

Jacked was motivated by a personal experience as a young man. The events have been expanded upon to make a compelling story.

I grew up in Canada as an only child and spent most weekends in the theatre. I consumed everything Hollywood put out. I then spent my teen years as an actor, my twenties as a much sought-after music video director.

In 2019, my grandmother passed away. The next month, my father. The next year, my aunt. While dealing with these difficult life events, I found myself longing for a time when they were still with me. I was nostalgic for the world to slow down. I wanted to be happy again. I needed to dream again… I needed to be the best I could be for my daughter and for myself.

I have written six screenplays. Several were optioned. One was produced, but the dream of writing and directing my own seemed daunting at best – but I knew I had to try.

Jacked was born and the script was completed, and we found a couple private investors. We started preproduction and eventually found ourselves on set. Two weeks later we wrapped.

It rained almost the entire time we were filming. There were ups and downs, but we finished. Two days later on what was supposed to be a wonderful visit with my mom turned to tragedy when she had a massive stroke. She was so proud of what we had accomplished. She knew it was my dream but sadly passed away 6 weeks later.

I would struggle for the next year to deal with her passing and complete the film. It was the most difficult time of my life. I had this immense weight to finish what we started and at the same time couldn’t help but think back on my life and my family that was now completely gone and how to possibly move forward.

I am so proud of this film. It speaks to simpler times. A time without the constant distractions of our world today. When tomorrow seems promised and full of hope. When problems seemed small, when things were innocent and pure. A time when we were simply engaged in what was in front of us without the world’s worries intruding. A walk was a walk. A day at the lake was a day at the lake. Driving was the adventure, not the destination.

This film stays with you. It makes you feel. The cast is fantastic, the music is cohesive and adds to the feeling of nostalgia without overwhelming the story. Borrowing from those Hollywood films I grew up with, paying homage to Godard’s Breathless, Antonioni’s Blow Up and Hitchcock’s Psycho, we’ve crafted a unique film that audiences of all ages will hopefully fall in love with.

I am so proud of the entire cast, the crew and all the folks that have brought me to this place. They need to know how much they mean. This is my story, my way but I couldn’t have done it without them, and I hope I’ve made them proud as well.