Viewers will recognize Willowdale locations in film

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Two local residents have worked together to create a feature film, which now has a domestic and international distribution deal, that was filmed in locations around Willowdale.

Residents who watch Blueprint may recognize familiar locations, such as the North York YMCA's fitness studio, Toronto Centre for the Arts, Beth Tikvah Synagogue, Bayview Village shopping centre, and a home in the Bayview Village area.

For Melanie Straus, local resident and producer of Blueprint, this project has been a 10-year labour of love.

"It was a lot of sacrifice along the way. Time that maybe I should have given my family, but I felt this (Blueprint) was a calling. I tried to walk away from it but it kept pulling me back all the time. I knew it needed its visual voice."

She said it's difficult to get a project off the ground - especially in Canada - and sometimes you have to take a leap of faith.

She financed the film on her own.

"Thanks to digital technology. It was affordable to do it."

Blueprint is an inter-generational drama that sees the central character Monika, who is a housewife, go through a renewal process with the help of her older neighbour. Their non-romantic friendship helps Monika discover what's really important in her life.

Even though the film is billed as a true story, because there are always liberties taken with film Straus said "it's not quite autobiographical, but it's very close to home."

Straus thought the story line would appeal to an older audience, viewers 35 years and older, however, the test screening revealed that teens and 20-somethings liked it, too. She sees how the drama would have wide appeal because it deals with a spectrum of emotional topics: from depression in a young mother to fear and frustration.

"When people see it, it strikes home," she said. "This was one story I wanted to bring to the screen and no producer or investor wanted to bother with it because it didn't have any sex or violence."

She soon learned that if you have a film without these two elements, "it has to be better - especially if you are writing for an older audience."

And since she's not formally trained as a screenwriter, she's had to re-write and re-draft the script, read books and take courses on screenwriting.

It was through one of these filmmaking courses that she met her "soul mate" for the project, director Scott Eldridge.

"It's a wonderful script," he said. "When she asked if I was interested in directing it I was honoured and privileged to be a part of it. And to be involved in the process."

Eldridge's background is in music video production, most notably his work with Canadian band The Tragically hip. The North York resident has also made feature films for television, and is an instructor at the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) in Liberty Village.

The pair met at a directing workshop at LIFT. Straus participated in the two-evening workshop Eldridge was instructing. And that's when she approached the director with her script.

"One of the most challenging aspects of making a film like this, is maintaining the integrity of the story line and keeping everyone positive and motivated as we go throughout the shooting days," Eldridge said.

"When I took on this film, I wanted to make a really good film with the limited resources we had," he said.

Blueprint stars Marlaina Lombardi, Matthew Lombardi, Doug Randle, Gunild Spiess and Jennifer Dale.

YMCA benefit screening takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 25, light refreshments served at 7 p.m., screening from 7:30 to 9:15 p.m., Q and A with director from 9:15 to 10 p.m. Regent Theatre, 551 Mount Pleasant Rd., south of Eglinton Ave., on the east side of street.

Tickets are $25, call 416-225-7773, ext. 488. Tickets can be paid for and picked up at the North York YMCA membership desk. Seating is limited. All proceeds will go directly to the North York YMCA Women's Fund (a part of the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign).