Self-funded yuletide yarn gives local talent valued screen time

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This article was published 07/12/2024 (665 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In a way, you could call the short film Christmas at Doug’s a present for all Winnipeggers this holiday season, courtesy of its local writer-director Dean Harder, and his cast and crew.

Harder may be best recognized for his acting credits (Percy Vs. Goliath; My Awkward Sexual Adventure). But he qualifies as a true independent filmmaker: he largely funded the comedy himself, with a little financial help from ACTRA and its Member Initiated Production program.

“The actors union in Manitoba gives an opportunity to actors to be in short films together at a lower cost,” says Harder in a phone interview from New York City, where he has just showcased the film at the Iron Mule Short Comedy Film Festival. “They give you a little bit of money to help pay for insurance, basically.

“But it allows everyone to work a little bit more, get their chops in, and also create short films,” says Harder, who actually completed the film in the spring of 2023, and has had it playing in short film festivals ever since. In November, it won an award for best Canadian short at the 2024 Canadian International Comedy Film Festival here in Winnipeg. Now that it’s been screened at Iron Mule, Harder thinks it’s time everyone had a look at the film for free, via YouTube: wfp.to/christmasdoug

It is a Christmas story, made in the city responsible for providing background to dozens of Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas romances. (Most of the cast, including Aaron Merke, Lauren Cochrane, Lisa Bell and Shannon Guile, have experience working on those films.) But it deviates wildly from that template with its 12-minute tall tale of Doug (Merke), a guy who has gathered his friends for a celebration in the aftermath of an event that has given Doug the opportunity be the ultimate Secret Santa.

Yuletide ambience notwithstanding, it is not recommended for kids under 13, Harder says.

Getting the award at the Comedy Film Festival held at the Park Theatre in November was all very well, Harder says.

“It’s nice to get acknowledged for the effort, and then having an award or two is nice for sure,” he says. “But you put in all the effort hoping that it will get seen.”

Harder says films such as this are important for actors who need to be seen between acting gigs, even as the province has been enjoying a mini-boom in production this year.

“You audition a lot, but it doesn’t mean you get picked,” Harder says. “So it’s nice to get onscreen as much as you can. To continue to have an avenue for that is really crucial, as far as building our community.”

Even though the film is a dark comedy, he says putting it out at this time, free of charge, is a gesture very much in the Christmas spirit.

“It’s time to release it to the public and I hope that a lot of people enjoy it and share it with their friends,” he says. “It’s for everyone who has been part of gift-giving.

“There’s a joke for everybody, I feel.”

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