Movies You Made: “Brave Little Army”
How a single question posed to an actor-playwright led a trilogy of films in search of the answer.
How a single question posed to an actor-playwright led a trilogy of films in search of the answer.
In 2016, I had the pleasure of working with Michelle D’Alessandro Hatt on a story she was developing, then eventually would write as a full-length feature film screenplay. With a background in Canada as an actor and playwright, it was clear to me that Michelle had strong story instincts. She stayed in touch over the years and it’s been exciting to track her creative journey. I asked Michelle if she would write something about her experience. Here is her story.
Fade in on a remote cabin deep in the woods of northern Ontario. Close up on me — an actor with a background in playwriting and an ambitious idea for a feature film: I wanted to tell the story of a weekend reunion of four friends that turns into the perfect crime. I had the concept and I had the location, but I had no idea how to begin the daunting task of writing the screenplay. Enter Scott Myers’ 6-week course, Prep: From Concept To Outline.
With Scott’s expert guidance, and the input of my international classmates, I set to work creating an outline for my dark, comedic thriller/revenge drama (described by a classmate in Belgium as, “if Quentin Tarantino had directed Bridesmaids”). After the course ended, I continued working one-on-one with Scott to write my first draft. It took me 6 months of climbing up a steep learning curve, but I finally reached the last page. During our final meeting, Scott challenged me with a question that would shape the next 10 years of my creative life: “Why is this character the way she is?”
Cut to: Brave Little Army- a short film set in 1984 about how four 12-year-old girls meet and become lifelong friends — the first in a trilogy and part one of my answer.
In 2018, I directed and produced Brave Little Army with an all-female crew and production team, and we started submitting it to film festivals. Now, three years later, my little prequel is still going strong: I’m proud to report that it’s won 7 awards and been an official selection of 33 festivals around the world, including Fantasia International Film Festival, Canadian Film Fest, and the Oscar-qualifying Bogota Short Film Festival. Before the pandemic, I had the good fortune to watch my film with festival audiences. That experience, in combination with the feedback I’ve received along the way from programmers, audience members and reviewers, has helped inform the second short film of the trilogy (and part two of my answer to Scott’s question): Brave Rebel Army. A decade later, it’s 1994, and our foursome — Em, K, Lu and Dee — are now at college. Currently in script form and awaiting the grant funding to go to camera in 2022 (fingers crossed!).
In the meantime, Brave Little Army has been acquired by a distributor — Winnipeg Film Group — and continues its journey on the festival circuit. It has also been released on VOD via Vucavu, an artist-driven, non-profit streaming site: LINK.
With the first installment off and running, and the second waiting in the starting gate, I’m once again turning my attention back to my original feature script — the cabin-in-the-woods reunion of four best friends. After delving so deeply into their past traumas and events, I see Em, K, Lu and Dee through a much clearer and wiser lens, and I’m excited to discover who they’ve become and how their friendship has evolved in 20 years since college. I’m also excited to see how far I’ve come (or not) as a writer and what I need to learn next.
I can’t thank you enough, Scott, for giving me my own personal inciting incident. By asking one simple question, you set my journey as a writer and filmmaker in motion. And, while I may be a long way from Fade Out, I’m enjoying every twist and turn so far.
I emailed Michelle with this thought:
I’m thrilled you’ve explored this story and its characters as you have. I trust this has been a meaningful experience for you — and from what you’ve written, it sure seems like it has!
Her reply:
Thank you so much, Scott. Yes, it’s been really illuminating and so satisfying to “go into the story” in this way and bring the characters to life in stages with thousands of other people along for the ride.
Here is Michelle introducing the trailer for Brave Little Army:
The journey continues for Michelle with the next installment in the trilogy Brave Rebel Army with a feature film follow!
From Michelle’s website:
Michelle’s most recent work includes roles in Justin McConnell’s award-winning shapeshifter horror, Lifechanger, and Chris Ross’ dramatic short, Friends on Facebook.
Brave Little Army, Michelle’s directorial debut, premiered at the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival in October 2018 and has since been a selection of numerous festivals in North America and Europe, garnering the award for Best Short at Voce Spettacolo Film Festival in Matera, Italy and a Special Jury Mention at Festival Courts d’un Soir in Montreal, Canada. Upcoming screenings include Fantasia International Film Festival (July 26th) and Regina International Film Festival (August 14th).
Michelle is currently the voice of Cadillac in Canada.
Congratulations, Michelle, and best of luck with the next chapters in your creative adventure!