Private Project

Master of the House

A young sommelier struggles to balance friendship and ambition the night an acclaimed critic dines at his restaurant.

  • Dylan George Maranda
    Director
  • Dylan George Maranda
    Writer
  • Nick Balaz
    Writer
  • Spencer Foley
    Producer
    Cake Day, The Fish & The Sea, When the Ocean Met the Sky
  • Brendan Meyer
    Key Cast
    "Vince"
    The OA, Mr Young
  • Matthew MacCaull
    Key Cast
    Tomorrowland, Dragged Across Concrete, Midway
  • Bryn McCashin
    Director of Photgraphy
    My Animal
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, Arri Mini LF
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Dylan George Maranda

Dylan grew up next to a railway line in a 1 bedroom apartment with his younger brother and working-class parents — who ran a small bakery. Across the street was a movie theatre, a bowling alley, a hardware store, and a small Chinese restaurant. Every morning the train would rumble past his top bunk window. The conductor would almost always wave.

After a brief stint as a child actor in a touring theatre group, Dylan attended the Simon Fraser University SCA Film program for film direction. He then pursued directing commercials to try and convince his parents he could make a living doing art. At 23 he became one of the youngest directors in his home country of Canada to be signed to commercial representation. His advertising work has gone on to be honored by the Cannes Lions, The Young Director Awards, The 1.4 Awards, Shots Awards, AICP Awards, The Clios, The LIA Awards, D&AD, The One Show, The Gerety Awards, Strategy News, and Booooooom to name a few. In 2022 and 2023 Dylan was a finalist for Young Guns, the global top 30 under 30 ranking for creative professionals. After years away from narrative filmmaking his directorial debut short film "Master of the House" had its global premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The inception of “Master of the House” began in my childhood. Growing up in a working-class family with a chef as a father, I like to say I was raised in kitchens. The heat, the chaos, the stress, the intensity… While riveting in itself, it was always the people and what they were willing to sacrifice in pursuit of something greater than themselves that kept me enthralled. But despite the universal love of food and the value created by those who cook it, the preeminent world of fine dining was often reserved for the patronage of the affluent, definitely not my family. It was that disparity that moved my dad to quit being a chef in order to spend time with us and be a committed father— an expression of principle that I respect to this day. It was only after years away from narrative filmmaking that I finally felt ready to honour that sacrifice, tackle this story, have the money to pay all those involved fairly, and use my acquired skills to express my view of the world on screen. That is my relationship to the narrative.

I believe that the economic, social, capitalistic, and colonial frameworks we so often find ourselves encased in are reflected in the world of restaurants. “Master of the House” at face value is the ode to that world and my relationship to it— one of heat, chaos, stress, and intensity… But what I hope the keen viewer recognizes beyond that is the characters who endure those frameworks to chase a bigger dream. To consider what they are or aren’t willing to sacrifice for it, and the consequences of betraying our friends and principles in the name of getting there.