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Script
Script
The story behind the Best Friends Notice of Deportation Short Motion Picture is the brainchild of a talented young actor and screenwriter, Emma Schneider. Together with the director Berenika Widera, her friend from the Vancouver Young Actors School, they paired up and, in May 2024, worked on turning the script into a movie that was to be filmed later that summer. The story's main arc revolves around a young student fascinated by the arts who learns humility and finds a genuine friendship with her less fortunate classmate, who is equally talented.
Fun fact about the screenplay: The script was changed multiple times during production to adapt to changing circumstances and weather. Also, in the early version, Kate is Violet's sister, not her mother.
Director
Director
During the pandemic, Berenika Widera started her acting career by creating YouTube piano tutorials for kids who could not attend lessons with their music teachers from home. As an award-winning pianist at the age of 11, together with her dad, Berenika created a series of 10 to 15-minute videos, which are still available online on the Piano Berenika Website. Afterwards, Berenika attended multiple acting and script analysis classes at the Tri-Cities Film Studio, Vancouver Young Actors School and the Shoreline Studios. While attending her first acting classes, she was encouraged by her acting teacher to write her scenes. In 2023, Berenika published her first book with scenes for young actors, "Your Dog Ate My Shoe," in 2024, the second book, "I am not Irish Enough". Berenika still writes and regularly publishes scenes on Berry's Camera Acting website.
Fun fact about the director: Berenika has four passports, which helped her refer to the story.
The Cast
The Cast
It was decided very early that characters would be matched with the available cast. Most of the actors are colleagues from the Vancouver Young Actors School who met in the class. The casting for the adult roles of KATE and CLAIRE started after the first takes with actors and teachers from the Vancouver Actors School and Story Institute.
Fun fact about the casting: One of the roles had to be recast mid-production, and the whole project was put on hold for two months.
The Pre-Production
The Pre-Production
When the script's first version was ready, the director and the camera operator turned most of the movie into a storyboard and shooting plan and locations in late August of 2024.
Fun fact about the pre-production: The original production was planned for only four days, but it took four months.
The Crew
The Crew
The movie was developed without a budget. The production was entirely run by the parents of young actors, who joined forces with the acting teachers to make this movie a reality. One of the parents had a mirrorless camera rigged with prime lenses and a wireless sound system to record the scenes.
Fun fact about the crew: Lisa Schneider, the youngest actor on set, is responsible for most of the slates in the movie. Lisa was officially promoted to the 2nd Assistant Director to recognize her commitment to filming the movie.
2nd Assistant Director Lisa SCHNEIDER slating scene in the BEST FRIENDS NOTICE OF DEPORTATION - 2 September 2024
From the left: Emma Schneider (AVA), Lisa Schneider - 2nd Assistant Director
The Production
The Production
The movie's production took place mostly over the weekends during sessions that didn't last more than four hours. Initially, most of the scenes were planned outdoors, but due to unpredictable weather conditions in British Columbia, some had to be moved indoors.
Fun fact about the production: One of the parents created a secure website where actors and parents could review recorded scenes within a week of filming.
Last shot on the BEST FRIENDS NOTICE OF DEPORTATION - 9 February 2025
From the left: Evangelina TAPIA (VIOLET), Berenika WIDERA - Director, Nisa BAKSHPOUR (DAISY), Maria HERRERA (KATE)
The Post-Production
The Post-Production
The final editing of the movie took 6 weeks after the last shot and was done using Apple Final Cut Pro. The dialogue was recorded separately from the video using Rode Wireless Pro microphones; it had to be resynchronized afterwards. All steps and non-dialogue sound effects were re-added in post-production using Foley techniques.
Interesting fact: The size of the project is 800GB
Final version of the BEST FRIENDS NOTICE OF DEPORTATION movie with separate tracks for video, dialogue, effects and music
Contact and Screening Inquiries
Contact and Screening Inquiries
Further information about the short movie Best Friends Notice of Deportation and requests for a public or private screening and DCP package can be obtained by contacting BCActing, which manages the copyright on behalf of Parents, cast and crew members.
Interesting fact: All actors and crew decided that any profits generated by the movie should be donated to the Terry Fox Foundation.
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