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Pre-Show: The Masterclass and Barbarism Begins at Home, at New Voices

February 24, 2021

These two new films will premier as part of the New Voices Festival, later this term. 

The Masterclass - by Kyle Claeys

Reflections from writer/actor Kyle Claeys

The Masterclass is a short mockumentary film that follows Nathan Bridgets - one of the top theatre practitioners is Canada - as he takes his career back by mounting a masterclass on acting.

The Masterclass was inspired by an improvisation of a character that I did for fun. This character is based around my various experiences throughout theatre school. It plays on the idea of what is genius and what is rubbish when it comes to acting techniques. The character Nathan Bridgets is a parody on actors, acting coaches and common conceptions about what it takes to be a good actor.

Beyond New Voices, I aspire for this piece to become a television show or a movie. This short film is a 'pitch' for what could possibly be a larger exploration of this character. The duration of this piece is a beginner’s look at who this character is and plants the seeds for future events that could take place.

Barbarism Begins at Home - by Jack Giffin

drawing of a hand with bloody knuckles, holding a cigarette. Text reads "Barbarism Begins at Home, a film by Jack Giffen"

Reflections from writer/director Jack Giffin

Barbarism Begins at Home is a story of an individual’s personal boundaries and morality. 

As a writer I am interested in the extremes, whether it be situations or people. When I first conceived this film I wanted to explore the nature of punk culture - what attracts people to the lifestyle of 'live fast, die young'. 

This is my first screenplay, and the process has been fulfilling and challenging all at the same time. 

Under the lockdown, we filmed independently from ten different locations which presented its own set of obstacles. The opportunity to bring this story to life and return to directing - with the help of the production teams and the actors - has been incredibly rewarding and a highlight of my four years at Ryerson.

Reflections from producer Geneviève Sylvain

Producing this show has been an absolute joy. Jack and I are used to working alongside each other as actors but to now fall into the roles of producer and writer/director has been a new experience for both of us. I think I can speak for both of us when I say that we have enjoyed this so much. It is something new entirely for me to have a classmate trust me in helping bring their piece to life. This piece has transformed so much over the years and I am eager to show everyone where it is now. The whole team has been incredible to work with and everyone has come in with so much joy. I can’t wait for everyone to see what has been created.

Reflections from actor Tarique Lewis

Getting to be a part of Barbarism Begins at Home was such an amazing opportunity. With Ryerson’s guidelines in place, it was quite difficult to express our creativity to the fullest as we weren’t able to share spaces. However, with our amazing crew we were able to continue to work and think outside the box.