Victoria-based screenwriter and director Joel H. Brewster got a $20,000 boost to help make his horror short film, one of 30 Black creators to be selected for the production funding grant under the Telus Storyhive program.

The 34-year-old filmmaker of Barbadian heritage grew up in Victoria and said he has always had an affinity for horror and science fiction B次元官网网址� a medium through which he can convey inclusion and diversity.

He earned the grant for production of The Victoria I Know, a collaboration with Filipino director Mik Narciso. It tells the story of a Black photographer who struggles to see herself represented in Victoria B次元官网网址� until she meets the ghost of Martha Ann Telfer, mother of Sir James Douglas.

Telfer is a prominent Black figure in B.C. history and Brewster wanted to bring light to her story since there is very little written about her.

Writing this screenplay was important, he said, because he doesnB次元官网网址檛 know many people who are well-versed in VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Black history, especially when it comes to Douglas and Telfer.

B次元官网网址淚 also wanted to highlight the main character in the story who is a biracial photographer, and her best friend in the story who is Indigenous,B次元官网网址� Brewster said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never seen that sort of friendship onscreen B次元官网网址� they have a very fascinating conversation about race and how they have experienced erasure in Canada.B次元官网网址�

Through the story, Brewster explores a world of horror and secrets that touch on micro-aggression, erasure, and the experiences of minorities in Canada.

Telus Storyhive and the non-profit Black Screen Office, which supports Black Canadians in the screen industries, selected 30 Black creators from across B.C. and Alberta to receive $20,000 each in production funding, plus personalized training and mentorship, as part of the first-ever Black Creators Edition.

Its aim is to address the underrepresentation of Black voices in the Canadian film and TV industries and help jumpstart the careers of emerging creators,B次元官网网址� a release said.

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