Experiencing Interruptions?

Subs

Steve is a struggling actor who also works as a substitute teacher to make ends meet. In class, he focuses on preparing for his next audition rather than teaching the kids, but the principal is always checking in with him. The students are making it hard for Steve to work on his acting career, which adds to his frustrations. When he gets a call from his newly successful actor ex-wife, it brings him down, but one of the students turns his mood around with a sweet gesture. As Steve seems to be coming around to the idea of being content as a teacher, he gets the text he's been waiting for.

  • Cory Wojcik
    Director
  • Matt Schween
    Director
  • Alan Wong
    Director
  • Cory Wojcik
    Writer
  • Alan Wong
    Producer
  • Cory Wojcik
    Producer
  • Matt Schween
    Producer
  • Cory Wojcik
    Key Cast
    "Steve"
  • Ray Strachan
    Key Cast
    "Principal Johnson"
  • Shannon Guile
    Key Cast
    "Jamie/"The Midnight Storm""
  • Zoe Fish
    Key Cast
    "Zoe"
  • Alan Wong
    Key Cast
    "Allen the Agent"
  • Matt Schween
    Cinematography
  • Toby Zheng
    Sound Recording
  • Warren Nightingale
    Co-Producer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 35 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 20, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Cory Wojcik, Matt Schween, Alan Wong

Cory Wojcik is a film and theatre actor, writer and director of Métis and Ukrainian heritage based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Actor film credits include Champions, Winner, Burden of Proof, Run, Breakthrough, Night Hunter, and A Dog’s Purpose. As a theatre actor he has worked with The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Rainbow Stage and Manitoba Theatre for Young People. As a writer, Cory has written a variety of shows at the independent and professional level and is a 3 time nominee for the Harry Rintoul Award for best new Manitoban play. As a filmmaker, he has most recently written and directed the short films, Europe, Not Funny (which won the Golden Boy Award in 2023 at the ACTRA Manitoba Member Initiated Productions Screening) and Subs. Cory is a three-time nominee for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for the Manitoba Theatre Awards and two-time nominee for the ACTRA awards for Leading Role in Short Film and Best Supporting Performance in a Feature Film.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

When we were students, we all had a Sub (short for Substitute Teacher) at some point, but do we think about them beyond that one day? As a sub myself, I am always reminded of this one teacher I met, who ran up to me in the middle of the pandemic, desperately asking me if I was available. Just months previous in the “before times”, that same teacher tossed my substitute business card into a drawer in her desk along with the pile of other cards and said, “I’ll keep you in mind”. Suddenly, I felt very important. My stock of being a substitute teacher had gone up ten-fold!

It was during the pandemic, when I went from casual to full-time that the sentiment of “the importance of a sub” really came to the fore. Theatre and film production had halted, so I did what I could to help fill in for sick or burnt-out teachers. I was forced to take a hiatus from acting, but the storyteller never sleeps.

I had never met so many subs in my life. One day, there were more subs in the school than regular teachers. I found these real-life cast of characters and situations to be hilarious, thought-provoking, controversial at times, and infinitely interesting. This is just one of those stories.

If we are the sum total of everyone we’ve met, then I am the sum of every teacher and student I’ve ever worked with and I know without a doubt, that their stories, be they funny, heartbreaking or inspiring, are worth telling.

Cory Wojcik – Director/Writer/Actor