Monica’s News, the debut feature from writer/director Pamela Gallant, has begun filming in Nova Scotia. The film is being produced by award-winning production company Picture Plant.

 Set in 1974, in the fictional village of Millman, Monica’s News follows an intrepid nine-year-old girl, Casey Richards, as she wages a battle for her own equal rights. While she discovers freedom and independence in the form of a paper route, she also bears witness to a tragic event—the murder of her beloved free-spirited feminist cousin. The film stars nine-year-old Polly Gallant-McLean as Casey.

“As a young paper-carrier myself in 1974, I witnessed women courageously facing challenges in their own homes, and those who dared fight for change often did so at great cost”, recounts writer/director Pamela Gallant. “My motivation for telling this story is to give voice to the maverick women of that time and pace, and I am incredibly grateful to Telefilm Canada, WIDC and the Feature Film Award sponsors for trusting my vision and sharing the resources needed to make Monica’s News come to life.”

Gallant is a recipient of the Women In the Director’s Chair Feature Film Award which comes with a $200,000 prize toward financing the film’s production. Principal photography will be complete on July 27, 2023. The film will be released in early 2024. 

Monica’s News is produced by Picture Plant’s Terry Greenlaw, whose previous producer credits include Bystanders; Dawn, Her Dad & the Tractor; and Under the Weather; and is executive produced by Carol Whiteman (With Love and a Major Organ; Dawn, Her Dad & the Tractor; Rustic Oracle). The film is being lensed by cinematographer Peter Wunsforf (The Killing; Meditation Park).

Monica’s News is being produced with the generous support of Telefilm Canada, Women In the Director’s Chair Feature Film Award, Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund, Screen Nova Scotia Content Creator Fund, and Canadian Film Tax Credit with script development support from Nova Scotia Screenwriters Development Fund, the Harold Greenberg Fund, and the WIDC Story & Leadership program. 

ABOUT PICTURE PLANT
Picture Plant is a small but dynamic production company that was established in 1981, in Halifax, Canada. With a history of award-winning dramatic features, long-form documentaries, and nationally broadcast television shows, it is one of the most experienced production companies in Atlantic Canada. Picture Plant principals are creative producer, Terry Greenlaw and writer / director, William D. MacGillivray. 

Picture Plant: https://pictureplant.com/ || Facebook

Monica’s News: Facebook ||  Instagram

 

ABOUT WIDC

Founded in 1996/97, Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) has worked with the screen sector to advance a generation of women and non-binary screen directors and writer directors across Canada. WIDC receives major support from Telefilm Canada, and acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, and participating sponsors, Creative BC, ACTRA National, AFBS, UBCP/ACTRA, Independent Production Fund, and GAT PR. WIDC Award sponsors include: William F. White International Ltd., Keslow Camera, RAW Camera, Panavision Camera, MTL Grande, Company3, Elemental Post, Encore VFX, Kalos Studio, MELS, North Shore Studios, Vancouver Film Studios, The Bridge Studio, Champ & Pepper, The Research House Clearances Inc., Front Row Insurance Brokers Inc., Descriptive Video Works, Power of Babel, Line 21 Media Services Inc., BANFF World Media Festival, Portable Electric, EP Canada.

WIDC: https://www.widc.ca/  || Facebook || Instagram