Echo Post Production
Vancouver, Canada | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
Isolated and in the throes of a deadly eating disorder, Lana is confronted with the life altering reality of a positive pregnancy test. Born from personal experiences of our creative team, Echo aims to remove stigma, raise awareness and give a voice to those suffering in silence.
Echo Post Production
Vancouver, Canada | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
2 Campaigns | British Columbia, Canada
Green Light
This campaign raised C$4,250 for post-production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
12 supporters | followers
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Isolated and in the throes of a deadly eating disorder, Lana is confronted with the life altering reality of a positive pregnancy test. Born from personal experiences of our creative team, Echo aims to remove stigma, raise awareness and give a voice to those suffering in silence.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Isolated, and in the throes of her deadly eating disorder, Lana's carefully controlled life is thrown into chaos when she is confronted with the reality of a positive pregnancy test. With the ever tumultuous presence of her vacuous mother, along with the concerned and hawk-like eye of her impressionable little sister, Lana is forced to admit the severity of her illness. She must now battle to protect her eating disorder and the world she feels safe in, against the inevitable and triggering changes coming for her body, even if that means feeding the generational trauma she was born into.
MEGAN writer + director II At 17, I experienced a severe trauma which I did not have the coping skills or life experience to process. Controlling my food intake, over exercising and purging became my coping skills. It was a few years until I was officially diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, and it consumed my entire life for many years. My family didn’t have any experience with anorexia but did the best they could to support me. Eating disorders are pervasive, insidious and deadly, and while I am now in recovery, it is something I manage every day of my life. In finally opening up about my experience, I have been astounded by the volume of people affected. Eating disorders are multifaceted, they morph and transform, and they are not one size fits all. If our film can help one person feel seen, then my experience has been worth it. It’s extremely important to me to bravely tell this story with honesty and integrity to honour those who are suffering, and those who love us through our journey.
ROXANNE writer + director II I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at the age of 15. I thought I was just eating better and doing what every woman did at a certain point in their life to lose weight and therefore be the most attractive that a woman can be. I battled with my mum for months on end when she started saying she was going to take me to see a doctor, that she had been watching me and knew exactly what was going on. She herself had experienced an eating disorder as a young woman which had never been attended to due to her own mother denying that there was ever anything wrong with her at all and it was all in her head. From that moment on, a toxic, competitive relationship ensued between us, that encapsulates all of my teenage years and most of my early twenties. Almost two decades later, I stand recovered, and strong and yet still trying to forge a healthy relationship with my own mom. This may not be everyone’s story with an eating disorder, but through my work volunteering with The Looking Glass Foundation and talking to so many different individuals that have experienced an ED, it seems to be a very common one.
LANA || A writer and a poet, struggling under the weight of her pervasive eating disorder, Lana is a survivor. Perfectionistic and feeling as though she is never enough, she is a fierce defender and caretaker of those she loves. Protective over her little sister May and tolerating of her mother, she prefers the company of her own thoughts. Desperate to conceal her anorexia, she also isn't willing to acknowledge the depths of her illness.
MAY || Wise beyond her years, and wildly emotionally intelligent, May is driven to do good in the world. Confident and precocious, yet struggling with the secret of her sister's illness. Desperate to save her big sister, May must navigate this new revelation of Lana's pregnancy with tact, but her overwhelming fear of losing Lana might just make things worse.
MOM || Self-focused and obsessed with social currency, Mom is not the parent either Lana or May needs. Loving her daughters in her own way, she is deeply insecure and vacuous. Afraid of being with her own thoughts and dealing with her own body dysmorphia, Mom is blindly unaware of how her actions have had immeasurable consequences on her girls.
At the true core of Echo, is a desire and deep passion to propel change in the world, surrounding Eating Disorders; how they are portrayed and spoken about, and how those suffering are consequently made to feel.
We were so thankful to team up with The Looking Glass Foundation during our first fundraiser! It was so inspiring to have them present at our event, providing guests with accurate information and resources, and allowing people to freely, and safely, converse about the reality of ED’s and share their stories, whatever they may be.
Since then, we are so proud to say that our wonderful producer, Makayla, has been actively speaking at events, and on podcasts, focused on ED awareness and recovery; sharing Echo and our mission with the outside world!
In March, Makayla spoke to the wonderful Caise McHale, on her podcast, Mental Health Spotlight: Eating Disorders & More! Her episode was so powerful and honest, and we couldn’t be more proud of her sharing Echo, and hearing Caise’s reaction to our project, as a professional in mental health.
"ECHO masterfully personifies the daunting impact of ED through stark, bold and innovative use of sound, lighting and angles. It is bold and unabashed in turning the ripple that is ED awareness into a crashing wave that cannot be ignored." - Caise McHale, Mental Health Spotlight.
At the beginning of May, Makayla then gave a speech at the Every Body Fashion Show, in Ohio, sharing her own journey with an eating disorder, and inspiring those present with her recovery story and all the amazing work she has been doing since then.
Megan and I were so grateful to also speak to Caise on her podcast just a few days ago! We can’t wait to share our episode with you all when it drops in the next month, it was so fun to chat to Caise all things mental health, film, recovery, and so much more!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Sound Design
Costs C$750
From day one, the sound design in Echo has been a crucial element in bringing the reality of an eating disorder to life.
Colourist
Costs C$500
The colouring is so important in representing Lana's tumultuous world, with all its ups and downs.
Posters
Costs C$500
Our posters are so gorgeous, and we want to ensure that the uber talented folk at Small Dog Design are compensated for their fantastic work!
Festival Submissions
Costs C$1,750
We are so excited to be able to share Echo to the world! Festival screenings will be vital in making this happen.
Editing
Costs C$1,500
A good editor can make or break a movie! Kyle was truly crucial in making ours what it is.
Cash Pledge
Costs C$0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MEGAN PETA HILL is an award-winning & Leo nominated actor who has worked professionally in film, television and theatre internationally. Megan has experience directing in theatre, and also works professionally as a coach for actors on network television and feature films. Megan's credits include 'Riverdale', 'The X-Files', 'The Flash', 'Kung Fu', 'Big Sky', 'The Irrational' and Amazon's upcoming limited series '56 Days', to name a few. Megan has a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Theatre, Psychology) and her team includes Play Management, Characters Talent Agency and ADB Publicity. Megan is a dual Canadian and Australian citizen.
ROXANNE FERNANDES is an award-winning actor who has been working in film and television for well over a decade. Born and raised in Perth, Australia, Roxanne made the move to Vancouver in 2014, after joining forces with an LA based manager. Her credits include 'Star Trek Beyond', 'Continuum', 'Sight Unseen', and 'Madame Hollywood', for which she won Best Supporting Actress in a Web Series at the 2017 LA Web Festival. Inspired by the incredible teams on the numerous sets she has worked on in the past 10 years, Roxanne recently started to get the itch to explore other roles in the industry, especially that of writer and director. She is represented by Lucas Talent.
MAKAYLA MCINTOSH is a dynamic U.S./Canadian artist based in Vancouver, BC, known for pushing boundaries as an actress, performer, producer, and writer. She is the powerhouse behind Siren of the Pacific Productions, where she brings bold, female-driven stories to life with raw and edgy authenticity. Last year, she produced and co-write her first feature film, Shredded. Before transitioning to the film scene, Makayla toured with Disney Cruise Lines, "A Chorus Line," and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," snagging a Broadway World Award for "Best Choreography" for her work on Chicago. Beyond film, she rocks out with her band, The Miss Americanas, and runs Castle On A Cloud Entertainment.
ROBERT ZAWISTOWSKI is a Polish/Canadian cinematographer known for his narrative work, including feature film Pitfall (2024), TV series Passage (2024), and the award winning short film Queen of the Underworld (2024). He began his career directing and producing music videos in the Vancouver heavy music scene establishing himself through a rigorous work ethic and attention to detail.
ISOBEL ‘DIZ’ BAKER-SMITH is a multi-award winning Production Designer who has worked on a variety of film and commercial music video productions. She has worked for several notable production companies, such as the BBC, and most recently got nominated for Best Production Design at the Leo Awards.
TARA BELL-IRVING, originally from Australia, has been working as a Casting Associate for Jackie Lind Casting in 2018 and has helped cast many projects including Snowpiercer, Billy The Kid, Healing Powers of Dude, Fargo, Midnight Mass. Tara brings a contagious joy to the casting process, and in particular loves watching actors bring scenes to life, and appreciate how actors, through their talent and personality, sculpt characters that create emotion to take the viewer on a journey making each performance unique and personal.
Raised in rural Ottawa, Canada, CHRIS STUEWE was instilled with a desire to be as versatile as possible. In turn he developed a strong work ethic and reached respected positions in a variety of careers all over the globe. Much of his young adult life was spent in New York City and LA, within the dance community. When reading ECHO, it transported him to times in his life and those around him that struggled with eating disorders and body dysmorphia. Through many life changing events like these, Chris used skills developed as an Exercise Therapist and Wilderness First Responder to persevere forward. Learning from every situation to know when to step up and when to step back, became integral to his values. Chris has worked on both small, independent productions, as well as large Amazon, Netflix, and Disney projects in stunts and 2nd unit production. This work allows him to continue his passion with an emphasis on movement, wellness, and health & safety in the film industry.
Sound Recordist ALEX SHAMKU has been working in production sound since 2010. He graduated with honours from the VFS Sound Design program in 2013, and now focuses on production sound recording for documentary and short form projects. Alex has worked on productions for the NFB, CBC, Telus, and AMI. Alex is energized in the creative nucleus of independent filmmaking and aims to provide industry standard sound recording services to smaller budget film productions.
MEG NORDUIST (she/her) is an actor, writer, filmmaker, and script supervisor based in Vancouver, BC. Meg grew up in Winnipeg, MB, and has been performing since she was three. While getting a degree in English Literature in Ottawa, Meg played some great roles like Ursula in Sweet Charity, Egeon in Comedy of Errors, and Portia in The Merchant of Venice. Meg trained at BCIT to become a script supervisor. She has worked on a handful of wonderful short films and a hilarious web series.
XANDER TERRIN CHEN is a freelance makeup artist and creative working and living on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, also known as "Vancouver". Xander strives to achieve a unique balance of creative vision, collaboration, and compassion. With a love of storytelling and the exploration of expression, Xander has been able to work and grow alongside like-minded creatives, not only locally but also globally. They have been working in the Film, Fashion, Commercial, and Music industries for the past 6 years, and continue to fall deeper in love with their craft and the new experiences that come along the way!
LEIFENNIE ANG (she/her) is a trauma and somatic psychotherapist with over a decade of experience working in the commercial, film and TV industry. She works with individuals to move from protection to connection while cultivating curiosity, compassion, and sustainability in their lives. She is passionate about creating spaces where artistry and well-being thrive together.
KYLE SANBORN is an award-winning film editor with over a decade of experience in feature films, short films and television. He has collaborated with post-production facilities such as Sony Studios, Light Iron, MTI Film, Company 3, and Picture Shop. His feature credits include Diablo (2015), which won Best Feature at the San Diego International Film Festival and the AMPIA Awards. In 2022 he won the LEO Award for Best Editing in a Short Drama for black Ewe. With a sharp eye for pacing, rhythm, and visual storytelling, his work has been recognized by the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia, the Alberta Media Production Industries Association, and Oscar-qualifying international film festivals.
DAVE CHICK is an award-winning composer and sound designer whose professional collaborations with directors, producers and other creatives spans almost two decades. Dave's love of continuous learning and pushing his boundaries led him to start exploring other aspects of the film audio department: sound design, foley, re-recording mixing and even location sound. He earned a degree in Music Education at the University of Western Ontario and then went on to receive a Masters of Business Administration degree from McMaster University.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Isolated, and in the throes of her deadly eating disorder, Lana's carefully controlled life is thrown into chaos when she is confronted with the reality of a positive pregnancy test. With the ever tumultuous presence of her vacuous mother, along with the concerned and hawk-like eye of her impressionable little sister, Lana is forced to admit the severity of her illness. She must now battle to protect her eating disorder and the world she feels safe in, against the inevitable and triggering changes coming for her body, even if that means feeding the generational trauma she was born into.
MEGAN writer + director II At 17, I experienced a severe trauma which I did not have the coping skills or life experience to process. Controlling my food intake, over exercising and purging became my coping skills. It was a few years until I was officially diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, and it consumed my entire life for many years. My family didn’t have any experience with anorexia but did the best they could to support me. Eating disorders are pervasive, insidious and deadly, and while I am now in recovery, it is something I manage every day of my life. In finally opening up about my experience, I have been astounded by the volume of people affected. Eating disorders are multifaceted, they morph and transform, and they are not one size fits all. If our film can help one person feel seen, then my experience has been worth it. It’s extremely important to me to bravely tell this story with honesty and integrity to honour those who are suffering, and those who love us through our journey.
ROXANNE writer + director II I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at the age of 15. I thought I was just eating better and doing what every woman did at a certain point in their life to lose weight and therefore be the most attractive that a woman can be. I battled with my mum for months on end when she started saying she was going to take me to see a doctor, that she had been watching me and knew exactly what was going on. She herself had experienced an eating disorder as a young woman which had never been attended to due to her own mother denying that there was ever anything wrong with her at all and it was all in her head. From that moment on, a toxic, competitive relationship ensued between us, that encapsulates all of my teenage years and most of my early twenties. Almost two decades later, I stand recovered, and strong and yet still trying to forge a healthy relationship with my own mom. This may not be everyone’s story with an eating disorder, but through my work volunteering with The Looking Glass Foundation and talking to so many different individuals that have experienced an ED, it seems to be a very common one.
LANA || A writer and a poet, struggling under the weight of her pervasive eating disorder, Lana is a survivor. Perfectionistic and feeling as though she is never enough, she is a fierce defender and caretaker of those she loves. Protective over her little sister May and tolerating of her mother, she prefers the company of her own thoughts. Desperate to conceal her anorexia, she also isn't willing to acknowledge the depths of her illness.
MAY || Wise beyond her years, and wildly emotionally intelligent, May is driven to do good in the world. Confident and precocious, yet struggling with the secret of her sister's illness. Desperate to save her big sister, May must navigate this new revelation of Lana's pregnancy with tact, but her overwhelming fear of losing Lana might just make things worse.
MOM || Self-focused and obsessed with social currency, Mom is not the parent either Lana or May needs. Loving her daughters in her own way, she is deeply insecure and vacuous. Afraid of being with her own thoughts and dealing with her own body dysmorphia, Mom is blindly unaware of how her actions have had immeasurable consequences on her girls.
At the true core of Echo, is a desire and deep passion to propel change in the world, surrounding Eating Disorders; how they are portrayed and spoken about, and how those suffering are consequently made to feel.
We were so thankful to team up with The Looking Glass Foundation during our first fundraiser! It was so inspiring to have them present at our event, providing guests with accurate information and resources, and allowing people to freely, and safely, converse about the reality of ED’s and share their stories, whatever they may be.
Since then, we are so proud to say that our wonderful producer, Makayla, has been actively speaking at events, and on podcasts, focused on ED awareness and recovery; sharing Echo and our mission with the outside world!
In March, Makayla spoke to the wonderful Caise McHale, on her podcast, Mental Health Spotlight: Eating Disorders & More! Her episode was so powerful and honest, and we couldn’t be more proud of her sharing Echo, and hearing Caise’s reaction to our project, as a professional in mental health.
"ECHO masterfully personifies the daunting impact of ED through stark, bold and innovative use of sound, lighting and angles. It is bold and unabashed in turning the ripple that is ED awareness into a crashing wave that cannot be ignored." - Caise McHale, Mental Health Spotlight.
At the beginning of May, Makayla then gave a speech at the Every Body Fashion Show, in Ohio, sharing her own journey with an eating disorder, and inspiring those present with her recovery story and all the amazing work she has been doing since then.
Megan and I were so grateful to also speak to Caise on her podcast just a few days ago! We can’t wait to share our episode with you all when it drops in the next month, it was so fun to chat to Caise all things mental health, film, recovery, and so much more!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Sound Design
Costs C$750
From day one, the sound design in Echo has been a crucial element in bringing the reality of an eating disorder to life.
Colourist
Costs C$500
The colouring is so important in representing Lana's tumultuous world, with all its ups and downs.
Posters
Costs C$500
Our posters are so gorgeous, and we want to ensure that the uber talented folk at Small Dog Design are compensated for their fantastic work!
Festival Submissions
Costs C$1,750
We are so excited to be able to share Echo to the world! Festival screenings will be vital in making this happen.
Editing
Costs C$1,500
A good editor can make or break a movie! Kyle was truly crucial in making ours what it is.
Cash Pledge
Costs C$0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MEGAN PETA HILL is an award-winning & Leo nominated actor who has worked professionally in film, television and theatre internationally. Megan has experience directing in theatre, and also works professionally as a coach for actors on network television and feature films. Megan's credits include 'Riverdale', 'The X-Files', 'The Flash', 'Kung Fu', 'Big Sky', 'The Irrational' and Amazon's upcoming limited series '56 Days', to name a few. Megan has a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Theatre, Psychology) and her team includes Play Management, Characters Talent Agency and ADB Publicity. Megan is a dual Canadian and Australian citizen.
ROXANNE FERNANDES is an award-winning actor who has been working in film and television for well over a decade. Born and raised in Perth, Australia, Roxanne made the move to Vancouver in 2014, after joining forces with an LA based manager. Her credits include 'Star Trek Beyond', 'Continuum', 'Sight Unseen', and 'Madame Hollywood', for which she won Best Supporting Actress in a Web Series at the 2017 LA Web Festival. Inspired by the incredible teams on the numerous sets she has worked on in the past 10 years, Roxanne recently started to get the itch to explore other roles in the industry, especially that of writer and director. She is represented by Lucas Talent.
MAKAYLA MCINTOSH is a dynamic U.S./Canadian artist based in Vancouver, BC, known for pushing boundaries as an actress, performer, producer, and writer. She is the powerhouse behind Siren of the Pacific Productions, where she brings bold, female-driven stories to life with raw and edgy authenticity. Last year, she produced and co-write her first feature film, Shredded. Before transitioning to the film scene, Makayla toured with Disney Cruise Lines, "A Chorus Line," and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," snagging a Broadway World Award for "Best Choreography" for her work on Chicago. Beyond film, she rocks out with her band, The Miss Americanas, and runs Castle On A Cloud Entertainment.
ROBERT ZAWISTOWSKI is a Polish/Canadian cinematographer known for his narrative work, including feature film Pitfall (2024), TV series Passage (2024), and the award winning short film Queen of the Underworld (2024). He began his career directing and producing music videos in the Vancouver heavy music scene establishing himself through a rigorous work ethic and attention to detail.
ISOBEL ‘DIZ’ BAKER-SMITH is a multi-award winning Production Designer who has worked on a variety of film and commercial music video productions. She has worked for several notable production companies, such as the BBC, and most recently got nominated for Best Production Design at the Leo Awards.
TARA BELL-IRVING, originally from Australia, has been working as a Casting Associate for Jackie Lind Casting in 2018 and has helped cast many projects including Snowpiercer, Billy The Kid, Healing Powers of Dude, Fargo, Midnight Mass. Tara brings a contagious joy to the casting process, and in particular loves watching actors bring scenes to life, and appreciate how actors, through their talent and personality, sculpt characters that create emotion to take the viewer on a journey making each performance unique and personal.
Raised in rural Ottawa, Canada, CHRIS STUEWE was instilled with a desire to be as versatile as possible. In turn he developed a strong work ethic and reached respected positions in a variety of careers all over the globe. Much of his young adult life was spent in New York City and LA, within the dance community. When reading ECHO, it transported him to times in his life and those around him that struggled with eating disorders and body dysmorphia. Through many life changing events like these, Chris used skills developed as an Exercise Therapist and Wilderness First Responder to persevere forward. Learning from every situation to know when to step up and when to step back, became integral to his values. Chris has worked on both small, independent productions, as well as large Amazon, Netflix, and Disney projects in stunts and 2nd unit production. This work allows him to continue his passion with an emphasis on movement, wellness, and health & safety in the film industry.
Sound Recordist ALEX SHAMKU has been working in production sound since 2010. He graduated with honours from the VFS Sound Design program in 2013, and now focuses on production sound recording for documentary and short form projects. Alex has worked on productions for the NFB, CBC, Telus, and AMI. Alex is energized in the creative nucleus of independent filmmaking and aims to provide industry standard sound recording services to smaller budget film productions.
MEG NORDUIST (she/her) is an actor, writer, filmmaker, and script supervisor based in Vancouver, BC. Meg grew up in Winnipeg, MB, and has been performing since she was three. While getting a degree in English Literature in Ottawa, Meg played some great roles like Ursula in Sweet Charity, Egeon in Comedy of Errors, and Portia in The Merchant of Venice. Meg trained at BCIT to become a script supervisor. She has worked on a handful of wonderful short films and a hilarious web series.
XANDER TERRIN CHEN is a freelance makeup artist and creative working and living on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, also known as "Vancouver". Xander strives to achieve a unique balance of creative vision, collaboration, and compassion. With a love of storytelling and the exploration of expression, Xander has been able to work and grow alongside like-minded creatives, not only locally but also globally. They have been working in the Film, Fashion, Commercial, and Music industries for the past 6 years, and continue to fall deeper in love with their craft and the new experiences that come along the way!
LEIFENNIE ANG (she/her) is a trauma and somatic psychotherapist with over a decade of experience working in the commercial, film and TV industry. She works with individuals to move from protection to connection while cultivating curiosity, compassion, and sustainability in their lives. She is passionate about creating spaces where artistry and well-being thrive together.
KYLE SANBORN is an award-winning film editor with over a decade of experience in feature films, short films and television. He has collaborated with post-production facilities such as Sony Studios, Light Iron, MTI Film, Company 3, and Picture Shop. His feature credits include Diablo (2015), which won Best Feature at the San Diego International Film Festival and the AMPIA Awards. In 2022 he won the LEO Award for Best Editing in a Short Drama for black Ewe. With a sharp eye for pacing, rhythm, and visual storytelling, his work has been recognized by the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia, the Alberta Media Production Industries Association, and Oscar-qualifying international film festivals.
DAVE CHICK is an award-winning composer and sound designer whose professional collaborations with directors, producers and other creatives spans almost two decades. Dave's love of continuous learning and pushing his boundaries led him to start exploring other aspects of the film audio department: sound design, foley, re-recording mixing and even location sound. He earned a degree in Music Education at the University of Western Ontario and then went on to receive a Masters of Business Administration degree from McMaster University.