Private Project

Anne Darling

Is Daniel suffering from writer’s block or depression? He avoids writing by seeking sex with a stranger. His encounter with Marnie becomes more intimate than he expected. She reminds him of his mother. In an attempt to forget this regrettable encounter, he goes to a party where best friend Charlie hooks him up with Maggie. Maggie’s own parental troubles reveal to Daniel that in order to solve his writing problems and be happier, he must first confront his issues with his mother.

ANNE DARLING gives a nuanced look at depression, how some people can hide their suffering by avoiding the problem. And how inspiration to get help can come in unexpected ways.

  • Norman Yeung
    Director
    Hello Faye, Marnie Love
  • Norman Yeung
    Writer
    Hello Faye, Marnie Love
  • Aaron Kopff
    Producer
    Sesame Street, Up in Cottage Country, The Intergalactic Space Adventures of Cleo and Anouk
  • Norman Yeung
    Key Cast
    Resident Evil: Afterlife, Todd & the Book of Pure Evil
  • Allison Scagliotti
    Key Cast
    Warehouse 13, Stitchers
  • Cara Gee
    Key Cast
    Strange Empire, Empire of Dirt
  • Janet Lo
    Key Cast
    To Die For, Diary of the Dead
  • Catherine Lutes
    Cinematographer
    The People Garden, Mountain Men, Molly Maxwell, Pop-Up Porno, The Patterns Trilogy
  • Sophia Pierro
    Production Designer
    The Captive, The Colony, A Beginner's Guide to Endings, You Are Here
  • Steve Philipson
    Editor
    Hannibal, Bitten, Todd & the Book of Pure Evil, Molly Maxwell, Grown Up Movie Star
  • Rob Hutchins
    Sound Editor
    The Cocksure Lads Movie, Algonquin, This Movie is Broken
  • Beliefs
    Music
  • LIDS
    Music
  • Brendan Canning
    Special Appearances
    Broken Social Scene
  • Jesse Rath
    Special Appearances
    Defiance, Being Human, The Trotsky
  • Beliefs
    Special Appearances
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Romance
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 1, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Epic
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Norman Yeung

Norman Yeung works in film, theatre, and visual arts.

Films he has written and directed include “Anne Darling”, "Marnie Love", "Hello Faye", and "Light 01", which have screened at international film festivals, on Movieola Channel, Mini Movie International Channel (Europe), and on Air Canada. He was Second Unit Director on "The Tracey Fragments", a feature film directed by Bruce McDonald and starring Ellen Page.

As an actor, Norman's film and television credits include a supporting role in "Resident Evil: Afterlife" (Sony/Screen Gems), a series regular role in "Todd and the Book of Pure Evil" (SPACE/CTV), and roles in “Rookie Blue” (ABC/Global), “Murdoch Mysteries” (CBC), and “King” (Showcase). He recently played the role of Hassan in Theatre Calgary and Citadel Theatre’s production of “The Kite Runner”. Upcoming performances include the Canadian Premiere of “Chimerica”, to be produced by Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and Canadian Stage in 2016.

Plays he has written include “Theory”, “Deirdre Dear”, and “Pu-Erh”. “Theory” won First Place in the Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition in 2015. “Deirdre Dear” premiered at the Neil LaBute New Theater Festival in St. Louis. "Pu-Erh" premiered at Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto and was nominated for four Dora Mavor Moore Awards, including Outstanding New Play. "Pu-Erh" was a finalist for the Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition in 2009. His performance piece “In this moment.” premiered at Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, and his opera “Black Blood” (Norman Yeung, librettist; Christiaan Venter, composer) premiered at Tapestry New Opera Showcase, and was presented at Paprika Festival, both in Toronto. He was a member of Canadian Stage's BASH! artist development program, fu-GEN's Kitchen Playwrights Unit, and Tapestry New Opera’s Composer-Librettist Laboratory. He is featured in the book "Voices Rising: Asian Canadian Cultural Activism" by Xiaoping Li.

Since 1993, his urban art can be found under bridges, on freight trains, behind warehouses, in transit tunnels, and on living room walls, from New York City to Brisbane. He has exhibited his paintings and drawings in such venues as FRCP/Galerie Youn (Montreal), Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto), Art Gallery of Mississauga, Board of Directors (Toronto), Milk Glass (Toronto), and curcioprojects (New York City). His painting and illustration clients include LVMH, Bruce Mau Design, National Film Board of Canada, MTV, CBC, Eye Weekly, Rice Paper Magazine, and many more. He was featured on CBC Radio 3's "MAKE: Next Generation Canadian Creators", CBC's ZeD TV, MuchMusic, MTV, and in numerous publications and documentaries.

He holds a BFA in Acting/Theatre from the University of British Columbia and a BFA (Honours) in Film Studies from Ryerson University.

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Director Statement

I am fascinated by people who are high-achieving, extremely productive, and confidently sociable, yet are quietly suffering through depression. Many people fighting depression might surprise us with their vitality – they do not exhibit some of the common traits of this illness that include being withdrawn and melancholic. As I have beome familiar with depression in my own life and in the lives of friends and family, I have learned that some people can hide their suffering. They need help, but choose to avoid getting treated and distract themselves from the problem. They are ill, but maintain a public façade of being healthy. The themes of escaping sadness and finding happiness run through Anne Darling, while the weight of depression looms over the characters. Instead of getting help, they run away from the problem with sex, alcohol, and partying.

Current society has made great progress in dismantling the stigma of depression; many people now feel more comfortable talking about their illness. This film adds to the conversation. The characters in Anne Darling bond from their individual experiences with depression, and find a certain solace by opening up and sharing. The characters ask themselves, as the film asks the audience: What is holding you back from being happy? What is the cause of you feeling stuck? What will you do to break free?