Mini MUFF Profile: Sophie Jarvis
film still from Penny’s For Tea
Mini MUFF Profile: Sophie Jarvis
Film: Penny’s For Tea
We know we talk a lot about the awesomeness of cats here at MUFF, but you what else is awesome? DOGS, YOU GUYS. DOGS! This month’s mini MUFF selection, Penny’s For Tea, features some amazing canines at a teatime get-together where seedy indiscretions within the group come to light. You know you need to see that. Join us at Carlton Cinema this Wednesday, August 17th at 9PM and catch this short film masterpiece before our feature film masterpiece, Now And Then.
This month’s Mini MUFF directors, Sophie Jarvis and Kane Stewart, hail from Vancouver, British Columbia. They met in 2008 while attending film school at Simon Fraser University. Sophie has a background as a production designer that informs her visual storytelling process, and her award-winning shorts have played worldwide. Kane is part of the comedy troupe HumanTown and a special of their sketch show aired on CBC in June 2016.
Penny’s For Tea has screened at Vancouver International Film Festival, interFilm Berlin, Moonrise Film Festival, and was featured on CBC’s television show Canadian Reflections.
Get to know more about one of the amazing Canadian filmmakers behind Penny’s For Tea, Sophie Jarvis, in our short interview below!
film still from Penny’s For Tea
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT SOME/ALL OF THE OTHER AMAZING WOMEN IN FILM WHO WORKED ON PENNY’S FOR TEA?
Sophie Jarvis: We are very grateful to all crew members who put their time and creative energies towards this unusual project. Notable women include our producer Magali Gillon-Krizaj, whose calming energy and rational mind were vital. Liz Cairns is the production designer (and also the other half of Two, a design team formed with Sophie in 2013). She worked tirelessly to bring the specific aesthetic to life, and it turned out beyond our wildest dreams. Marni-Lyn Fox was the costume designer, and she expertly crafted dog-friendly dresses like it was second nature. Of course all our wonderful and patient actors deserve a credit here! Annie Arbuckle, Georgia Beatty, Christine Bortolin, and Taylor Hill. Many thanks to them for their infinite good attitudes and commitment to the roles.
film still from Penny’s For Tea
TELL US ABOUT WHY YOU ARE A FEMINIST AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO YOUR FILMMAKING.
SJ: Feminism is a commitment to equality. In a workplace where there are very few women in creative roles, it is important to make our voices heard and tell the stories that ring true to us as individuals. We are fifty percent of taxpayers/audiences/society, yet our work continues to be marginalized. How often have we been told that the work we create is "cute"? Or that a female cast is female-interest only? Change is not just numbers, it is also language. By continuing to create films, I hope that my voice can add to the many incredible female filmmakers who are committed to their work despite the odds stacked against us.
RECOMMEND ONE #MUFFAPPROVED FILM FOR OUR BLOG READERS:
SJ: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
Keep up with Sophie on her personal website, her vimeo channel, and her production design team Two Sceneography. Check out Kane’s sketch comedy troupe HumanTown, too!
The mini MUFF Society is our short film program. We aim to screen at least one local or Canadian short film at each of our monthly events. You know, because we have a lot of amazing female talent in Toronto and in our country and we want to celebrate it! Learn more here!
