I first wrote about my friend Adam’s short film project, Medic, back in November 2013 (see original article below). Back then Adam was in the process of securing financing on the film and pre-production was just getting up and going. My first day on set in Vancouver for Medic happened on July 9th 2014. It was such a wonderful experience. We shot that whole following week and yes, days and nights were long but man was it worth it. The people I met, our amazing director Kelly-Ruth Mercier, our DOPs Graham and Nelson Talbot, the entire cast and crew on this gem gave it their all and worked so very hard. The story behind this film, Adam’s dedicated effort to shed light on PTSD, more specifically on what thousands of soldiers returning home from war zones all over the world often struggle with… that message I believe is real and potent in the finished piece.
I feel very proud and privileged to have played a part in this story and I’m writing today to let you know that the film has been nominated for 6 Leo Awards in 2016: Best Short, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Performance by a Male & Best Performance by a Female. Thank you for having me along on your adventure Adam. Thank you to everyone who worked on this film. It was a pleasure meeting and creating with you. And congratulations to all the nominees at this year’s Leo Awards!
More info:
Medic on IMDB
The 2016 Leo Awards Nominees
2016 Leo Awards Ceremony Schedule
Official poster for Medic:
And here’s a video of Adam and I trying out some fight choreography for the film with our director Kelly-Ruth Mercier and DOPs Graham and Nelson Talbot looking on 😉
http://youtu.be/vBXef2qF01E
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The article below was originally published on Nov 23rd 2013.
It should be noted that the original title of Adam’s film was “Fought & Forgotten” and that it was later changed to “Medic”.
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There are fellow artists who affect your journey more than others. Adam Lolacher has affected mine in a profound way. We met roughly 10 years ago in Vancouver, both starting out, both struggling, working 3 jobs to pay for acting classes, rent, make ends meet. Helped each other out with auditions, got frustrated and elated together. We put on a play together too. An amazingly tough and beautiful experience that was. And even though we now live on opposite ends of the country, we keep tabs on each other, follow each other’s careers and support each other from afar. Adam won a Leo Award this year for his performance in ‘Plating’, a short film by Jon Thomas.
Adam Lolacher wins a 2013 Leo award for his performance in ‘Plating’, a short film by Jon Thomas (Category: Best Performance by a Male in a Short Drama)
It was a moment in time for him. A recognition of what we all strive to accomplish for ourselves as artists: his voice, his work and his vision were acknowledged by the entertainment industry and perhaps more importantly by his own professional peers. And in my humble opinion, he deserved the recognition not only for his work as an actor but also for the enormous amount of work he’s never stopped doing on himself. He’s never stopped trying to be a better human being, a stronger, better person for himself and for those he loves and who love him.
Last year he started writing a short script inspired by his brother’s experience as a soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan. He sent me the first drafts and I fell in love with the beautiful message he brilliantly conveys about what it must be like for those soldiers when they come home from war zones all around the world. He asked me to be a part of the project and I immediately agreed. I was touched that he’d asked.
I want to shine a light on the funding efforts going on right now to make this film happen. Adam is set on production dates in early 2014 and I am traveling to Vancouver to shoot this touching story the first week of January. I can’t wait. An indieGoGo campaign was launched two weeks ago to raise the money needed to get this project off the ground. Check it out here: Fought & Forgotten – IndieGoGo. This is an important film about a very important cause. Please help make it happen.
Here is a video worth watching from the campaign effort:
Adam? Congratulations on all your accomplishments this year. I’m so proud to be part of this latest leg of your creative journey. Thank you so much for having me.
Fought & Forgotten: TWITTER / FACEBOOK / INDIEGOGO
This picture was taken last year during a quick catch up session. We briefly crossed paths in Toronto and went for a stroll in Trinity Bellwoods Park. Talked about everything under the sun as usual. Fellow artists need community. If you don’t take the time to reflect together about this crazy career, it may very well eat you alive. Moments like these count, they mean alot. Thanks for listening Adam. Now let’s go make your movie.