Echo
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
Vancouver, Canada | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
2 Campaigns | British Columbia, Canada
Green Light
This campaign raised C$11,285 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
55 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
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.
Echo is a strikingly honest portrayal of daily life with anorexia nervosa and the impacts it has on loved ones.
With your support, we can create a meaningful and candid film that not only honours the true experience of life with an Eating Disorder, but provides information and resources to those affected. Please follow, pledge and share this page with your followers to help us reach our goal and make this film a reality! You can also follow us on Instagram @echoshort2024 for the latest updates on the production!
MEGAN writer + director || At 17, I experienced a severe trauma which I did not have the tools 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 life for many years. While I'm in full recovery now, it is heartbreaking to me how low the recovery rates are. Eating disorders are pervasive, multifaceted, they morph and transform. It's extremely important to bravely tell this story with fierce honesty to honour those who are suffering, and their loved ones.
ROXANNE writer + director || I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at the age of 15. I battled with my mom endlessly when she said she was going to take me to see a doctor and get help. All of my teenage years and most of my 20s are veiled with a certain darkness and isolation. Almost two decades later, I stand recovered, and strong and yet still retraining my brain on a daily basis that I deserve to be happy and healthy. Echo is a love letter to all those suffering in silence, and a story I wish I had had available to me when I felt the most isolated and helpless.
Subtle lighting and colour palette adjustments will track the eating disorder's hold over Lana, the influence of her mother and her relationship with her little sister, May. Shifting between warmer tones and cold harsh lighting, we will feel Lana's constant fight for calm and control, alongside the agonizing grip her anorexia has over her every waking moment.
The camera is always watching... Our lens will emulate the constant unease, discomfort and fear of living with an eating disorder - sitting in the tension with extreme uncomfortable close ups, mirroring shots and points of reflection, shifting in and out of focus and long sustained one-shots following Lana's every move.
Sound design will play a crucial role in highlighting the all-consuming and never ending torment of anorexia. With a combination of heavy erratic breathing, morphing and contorting words from the outside world jackhammering in her mind, and the constant buzz of anxiety and fear, we will replicate the sensation of suffocating and drowning that comes with living with an eating disorder.
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.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Lana's House
Costs C$2,000
Lana's house is so important in representing the isolation and loneliness she lives in on a daily basis.
Cast & Crew
Costs C$4,000
It is so important to us that we are able to pay everyone! This amount will give us a nice head start in doing just that.
Food
Costs C$1,000
It is vital to keep everyone's energy up on set!
Camera & Equipment rentals
Costs C$1,000
Rentals fees for camera, sound and lighting gear, and grip and electrical.
Production Design
Costs C$1,000
To create Lana's carefully controlled and curated apartment, that is almost it's own character!
On-Call Therapist
Costs C$200
As we are dealing with such a sensitive subject matter, it is our top priority that we create a safe and supportive work environment.
Mom's House
Costs C$800
Mom's house represents Lana's absolute worst nightmare and the danger of the outside world to her very controlled world.
Cash Pledge
Costs C$0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MEGAN PETA HILL is an award-winning & Leo nominated artist who has worked professionally in film, television and theatre internationally. Megan's credits include 'Riverdale', 'The X-Files', 'The Flash', 'Kung Fu', 'Big Sky', 'The Irrational' and Amazon's upcoming limited series, 'Obsession', to name a few. Megan has a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Theatre, Psychology).
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.
CAT SMITH is an Australian born, Vancouver based actor/writer/producer who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London, UK), ed5 International (Dance Major, Australia) & The Actors Centre (Australia). Cat runs her own production company - Feeling Fine Productions through which she is currently working on producing her short film - 'Squirrel' as well as a theatre production of 'Girls & Boys' with Carmel Amit.
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’s the powerhouse behind Siren of the Pacific Productions, where she brings bold, female-driven stories to life with raw, edgy authenticity. Last year, she produced and co-write her first feature film, Shredded. Makayla runs Castle On A Cloud Entertainment, a company that blends entertainment with a mission, creating unforgettable experiences for families, charities, and communities.
ROBERT ZAWISTOWSKI is a Polish/Canadian cinematographer residing in Vancouver, Canada. He is known for his narrative work including most recently 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. His work has been featured internationally among festivals and online publications.
ISOBEL BAKER-SMITH is a multi-award winning Production Designer who has worked on a variety of feature, short film, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Echo is a strikingly honest portrayal of daily life with anorexia nervosa and the impacts it has on loved ones.
With your support, we can create a meaningful and candid film that not only honours the true experience of life with an Eating Disorder, but provides information and resources to those affected. Please follow, pledge and share this page with your followers to help us reach our goal and make this film a reality! You can also follow us on Instagram @echoshort2024 for the latest updates on the production!
MEGAN writer + director || At 17, I experienced a severe trauma which I did not have the tools 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 life for many years. While I'm in full recovery now, it is heartbreaking to me how low the recovery rates are. Eating disorders are pervasive, multifaceted, they morph and transform. It's extremely important to bravely tell this story with fierce honesty to honour those who are suffering, and their loved ones.
ROXANNE writer + director || I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at the age of 15. I battled with my mom endlessly when she said she was going to take me to see a doctor and get help. All of my teenage years and most of my 20s are veiled with a certain darkness and isolation. Almost two decades later, I stand recovered, and strong and yet still retraining my brain on a daily basis that I deserve to be happy and healthy. Echo is a love letter to all those suffering in silence, and a story I wish I had had available to me when I felt the most isolated and helpless.
Subtle lighting and colour palette adjustments will track the eating disorder's hold over Lana, the influence of her mother and her relationship with her little sister, May. Shifting between warmer tones and cold harsh lighting, we will feel Lana's constant fight for calm and control, alongside the agonizing grip her anorexia has over her every waking moment.
The camera is always watching... Our lens will emulate the constant unease, discomfort and fear of living with an eating disorder - sitting in the tension with extreme uncomfortable close ups, mirroring shots and points of reflection, shifting in and out of focus and long sustained one-shots following Lana's every move.
Sound design will play a crucial role in highlighting the all-consuming and never ending torment of anorexia. With a combination of heavy erratic breathing, morphing and contorting words from the outside world jackhammering in her mind, and the constant buzz of anxiety and fear, we will replicate the sensation of suffocating and drowning that comes with living with an eating disorder.
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.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Lana's House
Costs C$2,000
Lana's house is so important in representing the isolation and loneliness she lives in on a daily basis.
Cast & Crew
Costs C$4,000
It is so important to us that we are able to pay everyone! This amount will give us a nice head start in doing just that.
Food
Costs C$1,000
It is vital to keep everyone's energy up on set!
Camera & Equipment rentals
Costs C$1,000
Rentals fees for camera, sound and lighting gear, and grip and electrical.
Production Design
Costs C$1,000
To create Lana's carefully controlled and curated apartment, that is almost it's own character!
On-Call Therapist
Costs C$200
As we are dealing with such a sensitive subject matter, it is our top priority that we create a safe and supportive work environment.
Mom's House
Costs C$800
Mom's house represents Lana's absolute worst nightmare and the danger of the outside world to her very controlled world.
Cash Pledge
Costs C$0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
MEGAN PETA HILL is an award-winning & Leo nominated artist who has worked professionally in film, television and theatre internationally. Megan's credits include 'Riverdale', 'The X-Files', 'The Flash', 'Kung Fu', 'Big Sky', 'The Irrational' and Amazon's upcoming limited series, 'Obsession', to name a few. Megan has a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Theatre, Psychology).
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.
CAT SMITH is an Australian born, Vancouver based actor/writer/producer who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London, UK), ed5 International (Dance Major, Australia) & The Actors Centre (Australia). Cat runs her own production company - Feeling Fine Productions through which she is currently working on producing her short film - 'Squirrel' as well as a theatre production of 'Girls & Boys' with Carmel Amit.
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’s the powerhouse behind Siren of the Pacific Productions, where she brings bold, female-driven stories to life with raw, edgy authenticity. Last year, she produced and co-write her first feature film, Shredded. Makayla runs Castle On A Cloud Entertainment, a company that blends entertainment with a mission, creating unforgettable experiences for families, charities, and communities.
ROBERT ZAWISTOWSKI is a Polish/Canadian cinematographer residing in Vancouver, Canada. He is known for his narrative work including most recently 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. His work has been featured internationally among festivals and online publications.
ISOBEL BAKER-SMITH is a multi-award winning Production Designer who has worked on a variety of feature, short film, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!