REFLECTION
PRESS
Degrassi: Next Class actors write, produce and star in new short film
Reflection a film chronicling two teenagers grappling with mental illness and substance abuse
(Toronto, ON, February 23rd 2017) – Toronto actors Spencer Macpherson (Hunter Hollingsworth, Degrassi: Next Class) and series newcomer Jamie Bloch (Yael Baron, Degrassi: Next Class) team up with director Cheryl Anne Meyer for the short film Reflection. Bloch wrote and produced the short, while both her and MacPherson starred as leads, Liv and Jeremy.
“I was inspired to write Reflection because I am fascinated with human nature and the way it could be captured so delicately and true to form onscreen. I wanted to create a real, relatable story that people could connect with, especially for teenagers when it came to mental illness and self-harm," said Bloch.
Reflection is created through the ACTRA co-op program in Toronto, which enabled the talented group to come together and create such a powerful short.
“I am truly grateful that my first production had such a talented team to capture the sensitivity and intimacy I was striving for,” states Bloch.
Director Meyer adds, “Spencer and Jamie delivered raw performances that will no doubt be inspiring and thought-provoking for teenage viewers. They truly were the perfect co-star pair in Reflection.”
The short film also uses music by Eleanor Shore, a band that includes Degrassi: Next Class actors Eric Osborne and Ehren Kassam. Other musicians in Eleanor Shore include Connor Dupont and Sean McAlister.
This was Bloch’s first season on Degrassi: Next Class as Yael Baron, a tech genius and aspiring entrepreneur. MacPherson appeared again as Hunter Hollingsworth, a gamer and comic book lover.
Reflection is set to launch at the Toronto Short Film Festival on March 17th, 2017, See www.torontoshort.com for full schedule.
Reflection was created through the ACTRA co-op program in Toronto with Cheryl Anne Meyer as director, Spencer Macpherson as lead actor and Jamie Bloch as lead actor, writer and producer.
Media Contact
Terri Wilcox
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Short film sees a new generation of women filmmakers
Reflection, a short film written, produced and starring Degrassi: Next Class Jamie Bloch
(Toronto, ON, February 23rd, 2017) – Born and raised in Toronto, Jamie Bloch discovered her passion for performing at the tender age of six. After a ten-year career in front of the screen, Bloch, at only sixteen, wrote, produced and starred in her first short film, Reflection, under the guidance of Toronto-based writer-director, Cheryl Anne Meyer.
“I was very excited to have my first production be an all-female director-writer team. It’s what the story needed to reach the sensitivity and intimacy I was striving for. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without an experienced short-film director who mentored me throughout the process," states Bloch.
Cheryl and Jamie hope that this short encourages other young women filmmakers to create their own productions. Meyer shares that, "When Jamie came to me with Reflection, I was immediately impressed with her vision and voice as a young writer and her powerful performance paints a raw picture of a haunted young woman. I see Jamie as the new generation of female filmmakers and that's very exciting.”
Jamie appeared in her first season of Degrassi: Next Class as Yael Baron, a tech genius and aspiring entrepreneur. Some of her previous credits include Wingin’ It, Flirting with 40, The Killing Game, The Echo, and Servitude. Reflection is set to launch at the Toronto Short Film Festival on March 17th, 2017, See www.torontoshort.com for full schedule.
