Wooden Spoon
Kitchener, Canada | Film Short
Drama, Family
Wooden Spoon is an excerpt of Robin's life...a tightrope walk navigating around her mother's dementia, her ex-husband's abuse and her young son's pain. Wooden Spoon touches your heart, as you watch Robin stumble over her personal obstacle course with clumsy grace and the best of intentions.
Wooden Spoon
Kitchener, Canada | Film Short
Drama, Family
1 Campaigns | Ontario, Canada
Green Light
This campaign raised C$15,120 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
68 supporters | followers
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Wooden Spoon is an excerpt of Robin's life...a tightrope walk navigating around her mother's dementia, her ex-husband's abuse and her young son's pain. Wooden Spoon touches your heart, as you watch Robin stumble over her personal obstacle course with clumsy grace and the best of intentions.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Wooden Spoon: A Dramatic Short Film
Dementia, the plague of modern-day’s aging population, squeezes Gen-Xers into tenuous and often confusing roles as the parental caregivers of today. Robin confronts this head-on when her 69-year-old mother Judith struggles to come to terms with a disease she can barely recollect, never mind accept.
Wooden Spoon tells the story of 32-year-old Robin, egg-shell-stepping her way through the minefield of her mother’s hostility during dementia-induced personality blackouts, while simultaneously shouldering single-parenting of her four-year-old son following marriage breakdown…all on the insubstantial finances gleaned from intermittent shifts at the local diner.
Robin is trying to make the best of it for her son Noah, though she is painfully aware she can’t give him much; not even her full attention. Meanwhile, her ex-husband Sean does his level best to exacerbate the situation, flaunting his money when he can, highlighting her every inadequacy in a monumental effort to undermine Robin’s flagging confidence.
The idea for Wooden Spoon was an easy pick for me. My great grandad had dementia. My grandad is heading down the same road. My neighbor, an adorable German lady of grace and kindness, turned into a small demon following diagnosis of rapid-onset dementia and died within six months, unrecognizable at the end. Bill, across the road, is slowly disintegrating at the hands of the same horrible disease. Dementia is on the rise, and is projected to afflict 82 million by 2030.
The knowledge and capabilities--the training--for families, to prepare them (both mentally and spiritually) to accept an irreversible diagnosis leading to the robbery and eventual death of their one-time leaders...their parents, advisors, the very cement that helped to form their own personalities...is not keeping pace with the ever-increasing numbers of the disease itself.
Divorce, and the alienation of children trapped between fractious separating parents, is common. Roughly half of marriages today end in divorce and few are amicable. As a society, we need a process of marriage dissolution that is kinder to children, whom of course are not involved in the decision to split.
The subject of marriage dissolution with kids may be my bailiwick; I've seen it from afar and experienced it firsthand. The immense strain it puts on the children caught in the middle is oft overlooked in the midst of the battling ex-couple who are dividing finances, possessions and family members while grappling with injured feelings, anger and hatred. In Wooden Spoon, I show the guts of it. Robin is in the weaker position, and her son is partially paying the price right along with her, despite her efforts to contain the ugliness.
My goal is twofold: firstly, to increase awareness of a disease many of us will one day face, and secondly, to record the fight-over-children battleground that many young people will unwillingly be stuck in the hot seat of, where two people they love are seeking solidarity from the one person who must love them both.
My intent is to do so, in both cases, with intelligence, kindness and empathy.
The story is set, for mass appeal, in an ordinary suburban house that once was nice, but is now showing some raggedness due to neglect, such as is almost always the case when the dementia-afflicted at first resist the diagnosis and attempt to carry on.
A bit of background on me…
I fell for the excitement of filmmaking in a high school class. All of a sudden, instead of being that talkative dreamer with visions of who/how/what should/could/must be, I was a creator. A creator whose thoughts, ideas and enthusiasm for this place we call life were embraced and applauded.
I enrolled, post-secondary, at Toronto Film School, to learn everything I could about film from the Canadians who were already doing it best. And man…how I learned. TFS was a great experience, and led to much personal growth.
At TFS, I made my first short, Red Secret.
Right out of school, I made my second short, Reboot, with the help of Marissa and Callum, who have also teamed up with me for Wooden Spoon. Reboot is set to launch at the film festival run this spring.
Please join me in my quest to add to the ever-growing body of work that clearly demonstrates why Canadians belong in filmmaking. And thank you so much for helping!
We will shoot Wooden Spoon in my hometown, Kitchener (Ontario), to capitalize on my comfort zone and Manu’s (my righthand man), who also grew up here. With two locals teaming up, finding the right locations, running errands and utilizing the best ‘secret’ outdoor locations will be a breeze. Besides. It is time for Kitchener to be in the limelight; this is a beautiful city with a rich history all its own.
Cast and crew hark from St. Catharines, Toronto and Barrie. Transportation has been organized to ensure everyone gets to and from set safely.
Between the lot of us, equipment is covered, except for a lens kit (small rental) for crisp imaging.
We also hired a young, up-and-coming baker to provide food on set. Catered, home-cooked and safe, and all on budget. Fresh bread every day. Excited!
So, in a nutshell…we’ve got every angle covered and are ready to roll.
Wooden Spoon is a short film of approximately 20 minutes runtime. This format makes it eligible for entry into film festivals all across Canada, with an eye towards TIFF as the crowning achievement.
I also hope to present it to the US market to promote our Canadian film industry there.
Wooden Spoon is not a story confined to a particular country or region. It has mass appeal in any country facing ever-increasing numbers of Alzheimer’s and dementia in populations comprising a larger-than-ever percentage of aging citizens. As such, presentation to the European market is a possibility, since Wooden Spoon will resonate equally there.
We need 15 thousand to bring this project to life. If you are able to contribute, we would be most grateful. If you are unable to contribute at this time, but know someone who may, please share this with them. In fact, if you can share this all over social media, shout it from the mountains, that would be awesome. We want to tell this story...it needs to be told. Our great hope is that together, we really can move mountains.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cash Pledge
Costs C$0
Cast
Costs C$2,800
They are called "Talent" for a reason. Let's not pay them in "Exposure."
Crew
Costs C$6,550
Team work! Woot Woot!
Locations
Costs C$2,000
Location! Location! Location! We need this. A field won't do
Transportation
Costs C$1,000
Transportation to various set locations. More trucks are need to keep it socially distanced
Catering/ Craft
Costs C$1,200
This will cover the food cost of the 4 days of filming. Hot drinks are needed for the cold nights.
Insurance
Costs C$950
We have the equipment now lets protect it.
Art
Costs C$500
Judith's home gives it a cluttered 90s vibe. The house shows the dementia.
Share this update!
About This Team
Savanna Oliver, an avid enthusiast of all things 'movie', is determined to join the ranks of the many talented women already blazing a trail in Canadian film.
Toronto Film School kickstarted the process, and it is from this program that her short film Red Secret was born. Following graduation, her first solo foray--a super short titled Little Red--won best in its class.
Reboot, awaiting its debut in the film festival circuit this spring, is a quirky little story of the intervention of a robot to rekindle a couple's love.
In Wooden Spoon, Savanna wades into the dramatic realm with a hard-hitting short that tackles the subjects of marriage breakdown and abuse of power in the same breath as dementia...both growing problems in modern-day society that need to make mainstream in an effort to spark dialogue and effect change.
That is the direction, the path, of Savanna in film. It is her mission to bring into the spotlight, with her quiet compassion and sensitivity, those tricky subjects that we need to face, to address, to solve or at the very least, to accept.
Marissa and Savanna met at Toronto Film School. She has worked on many projects together including two of Savanna's short films, Red Secret and Reboot.
She has produced two shorts with Savanna's helping hand, named Dirk and The Beauty Of.
Marissa has produced a variety of shorts in many genres including thriller, rom-com, comedy and art house. She recently worked as Production Coordinator on a feature film titled Letters To Satan Claus, and is currently working in the same capacity on a second feature, Albatross.
Savanna met Manu during the filming of his short film Bonded. Savanna was hired on through a mutual friend. Manu then brought her on for another project, a commercial for new Canadian residents. Manu lent a hand during the writing process of Wooden Spoon, providing feedback that was invaluable. After the script was locked, Savanna asked him to join the team, which he did with great enthusiasm. Manu has enjoyed success with many of his shorts, and he has also achieved success in acquiring grants and funding campaigns for his personal films. Bonded was a finalist for the the European Cinematography Awards. Manu is well known for shorts in the drama genre.
Callum’s interest in film began when he tried his hand at acting in high school and blossomed into writing and directing at Toronto Film School, where his directorial debut Dirk was filmed.
Since TFS, Callum has written and directed six shorts, all of which showcase an experimental, artistic style he has developed into his own brand. Currently, Callum is in post-production of his festival-debut short The Beauty Of, a story of a man’s struggle to rediscover life’s purpose after a tragic loss.
Callum’s ‘calm and cool’ lends positivity to any project, and his organizational capabilities, his keen eye for detail and his artistic flair will be most welcome during the filming of Wooden Spoon.
Rain Packota is an actor and interdisciplinary artist hailing from the Canadian prairies. She graduated with honors from the University of Saskatchewan with a BFA in Drama-Performance and continues to study regularly under the tutelage of Matthew Harrison (Actors’ Foundry) and David Rotenberg (Professional Actors’ Laboratory).
Some of her recent acting credits include the short films Happy Place and Hannah’s Symphony, as well as the lead role in an upcoming independent feature-film Wildfire (Page-2-Picture Productions).
Outside of her acting work, Rain is an active visual artist (painter, illustrator) and has been a long-time volunteer with various animal welfare causes, including the Toronto Humane Society. She is also a martial artist (Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai) and a classically trained cellist.
She lives in Toronto with her two special-needs felines and the occasional convalescing animal.
Jeanne Souter is a Canadian actor and Dramatic Arts teacher with over 30 years of experience. She has been in several award winning films featured in TIFF: Out in That Deep Blue Sea directed by Kaz Radwinski, Enemy of the State by Ines Hoffman Kannes, and The Hotel Dieu by Adrian Thieson. Saint Tropez was featured in the Niagara Film Festival and Don't Shoot the Messenger by Oscar Karman was debuted in the Hamilton Film Festival.
Ms Souter has also been featured on several television shows such as Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal Night Shift and Fear Thy Neighbour.
Jeanne has a passion for dogs and has volunteered for COPE Service Dogs as a puppy trainer and foster for many years.
Jeanne is honoured to play Judith in Savanna Oliver's Wooden Spoon.
"I am grateful to be part of a production directed by a woman dealing with timely issues."
This young Canadian actor began his entertainment journey in Ottawa where in 2019 he was selected by Premiere to attend their showcase at Walt Disney World in Florida.
Earlier this year, Ewan was cast in an independent short film, and most recently, played “Georgie Boy” and a variety of other creepy characters during an epic 3 weeks of live nightly Halloween performances in Toronto.
With a passion for performance ranging from physical comedy to drama, acting has always been his biggest interest. In his spare time, Ewan likes to practice martial arts, play with his friends and clown around with his two dogs.
Ewan is represented by Star Quest Talent Management in Toronto.
Nick is obsessed with creating. Born and raised in St. Catharines, Nick is a graduate of Toronto Film School with a degree in Digital Film and Television Production. He is the creative director and co-owner of MRP Studios, a Niagara-based video production company whose mission is simple: let's create something awesome.
Nick has directed commercials, films and documentaries, written screenplays and web series (and hosted a travelling craft beer show)...all of which stems from his insatiable desire to explore the layers of humanity through the art of acting. Hence his excitement to dive into the role of Sean, a half-assed father who loves his kid, but not as much as he loves himself.
When he's not creating, he's spending time with his wife and three kids; likely having dance parties in the kitchen and eating baked goods.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Wooden Spoon: A Dramatic Short Film
Dementia, the plague of modern-day’s aging population, squeezes Gen-Xers into tenuous and often confusing roles as the parental caregivers of today. Robin confronts this head-on when her 69-year-old mother Judith struggles to come to terms with a disease she can barely recollect, never mind accept.
Wooden Spoon tells the story of 32-year-old Robin, egg-shell-stepping her way through the minefield of her mother’s hostility during dementia-induced personality blackouts, while simultaneously shouldering single-parenting of her four-year-old son following marriage breakdown…all on the insubstantial finances gleaned from intermittent shifts at the local diner.
Robin is trying to make the best of it for her son Noah, though she is painfully aware she can’t give him much; not even her full attention. Meanwhile, her ex-husband Sean does his level best to exacerbate the situation, flaunting his money when he can, highlighting her every inadequacy in a monumental effort to undermine Robin’s flagging confidence.
The idea for Wooden Spoon was an easy pick for me. My great grandad had dementia. My grandad is heading down the same road. My neighbor, an adorable German lady of grace and kindness, turned into a small demon following diagnosis of rapid-onset dementia and died within six months, unrecognizable at the end. Bill, across the road, is slowly disintegrating at the hands of the same horrible disease. Dementia is on the rise, and is projected to afflict 82 million by 2030.
The knowledge and capabilities--the training--for families, to prepare them (both mentally and spiritually) to accept an irreversible diagnosis leading to the robbery and eventual death of their one-time leaders...their parents, advisors, the very cement that helped to form their own personalities...is not keeping pace with the ever-increasing numbers of the disease itself.
Divorce, and the alienation of children trapped between fractious separating parents, is common. Roughly half of marriages today end in divorce and few are amicable. As a society, we need a process of marriage dissolution that is kinder to children, whom of course are not involved in the decision to split.
The subject of marriage dissolution with kids may be my bailiwick; I've seen it from afar and experienced it firsthand. The immense strain it puts on the children caught in the middle is oft overlooked in the midst of the battling ex-couple who are dividing finances, possessions and family members while grappling with injured feelings, anger and hatred. In Wooden Spoon, I show the guts of it. Robin is in the weaker position, and her son is partially paying the price right along with her, despite her efforts to contain the ugliness.
My goal is twofold: firstly, to increase awareness of a disease many of us will one day face, and secondly, to record the fight-over-children battleground that many young people will unwillingly be stuck in the hot seat of, where two people they love are seeking solidarity from the one person who must love them both.
My intent is to do so, in both cases, with intelligence, kindness and empathy.
The story is set, for mass appeal, in an ordinary suburban house that once was nice, but is now showing some raggedness due to neglect, such as is almost always the case when the dementia-afflicted at first resist the diagnosis and attempt to carry on.
A bit of background on me…
I fell for the excitement of filmmaking in a high school class. All of a sudden, instead of being that talkative dreamer with visions of who/how/what should/could/must be, I was a creator. A creator whose thoughts, ideas and enthusiasm for this place we call life were embraced and applauded.
I enrolled, post-secondary, at Toronto Film School, to learn everything I could about film from the Canadians who were already doing it best. And man…how I learned. TFS was a great experience, and led to much personal growth.
At TFS, I made my first short, Red Secret.
Right out of school, I made my second short, Reboot, with the help of Marissa and Callum, who have also teamed up with me for Wooden Spoon. Reboot is set to launch at the film festival run this spring.
Please join me in my quest to add to the ever-growing body of work that clearly demonstrates why Canadians belong in filmmaking. And thank you so much for helping!
We will shoot Wooden Spoon in my hometown, Kitchener (Ontario), to capitalize on my comfort zone and Manu’s (my righthand man), who also grew up here. With two locals teaming up, finding the right locations, running errands and utilizing the best ‘secret’ outdoor locations will be a breeze. Besides. It is time for Kitchener to be in the limelight; this is a beautiful city with a rich history all its own.
Cast and crew hark from St. Catharines, Toronto and Barrie. Transportation has been organized to ensure everyone gets to and from set safely.
Between the lot of us, equipment is covered, except for a lens kit (small rental) for crisp imaging.
We also hired a young, up-and-coming baker to provide food on set. Catered, home-cooked and safe, and all on budget. Fresh bread every day. Excited!
So, in a nutshell…we’ve got every angle covered and are ready to roll.
Wooden Spoon is a short film of approximately 20 minutes runtime. This format makes it eligible for entry into film festivals all across Canada, with an eye towards TIFF as the crowning achievement.
I also hope to present it to the US market to promote our Canadian film industry there.
Wooden Spoon is not a story confined to a particular country or region. It has mass appeal in any country facing ever-increasing numbers of Alzheimer’s and dementia in populations comprising a larger-than-ever percentage of aging citizens. As such, presentation to the European market is a possibility, since Wooden Spoon will resonate equally there.
We need 15 thousand to bring this project to life. If you are able to contribute, we would be most grateful. If you are unable to contribute at this time, but know someone who may, please share this with them. In fact, if you can share this all over social media, shout it from the mountains, that would be awesome. We want to tell this story...it needs to be told. Our great hope is that together, we really can move mountains.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cash Pledge
Costs C$0
Cast
Costs C$2,800
They are called "Talent" for a reason. Let's not pay them in "Exposure."
Crew
Costs C$6,550
Team work! Woot Woot!
Locations
Costs C$2,000
Location! Location! Location! We need this. A field won't do
Transportation
Costs C$1,000
Transportation to various set locations. More trucks are need to keep it socially distanced
Catering/ Craft
Costs C$1,200
This will cover the food cost of the 4 days of filming. Hot drinks are needed for the cold nights.
Insurance
Costs C$950
We have the equipment now lets protect it.
Art
Costs C$500
Judith's home gives it a cluttered 90s vibe. The house shows the dementia.
Share this update!
About This Team
Savanna Oliver, an avid enthusiast of all things 'movie', is determined to join the ranks of the many talented women already blazing a trail in Canadian film.
Toronto Film School kickstarted the process, and it is from this program that her short film Red Secret was born. Following graduation, her first solo foray--a super short titled Little Red--won best in its class.
Reboot, awaiting its debut in the film festival circuit this spring, is a quirky little story of the intervention of a robot to rekindle a couple's love.
In Wooden Spoon, Savanna wades into the dramatic realm with a hard-hitting short that tackles the subjects of marriage breakdown and abuse of power in the same breath as dementia...both growing problems in modern-day society that need to make mainstream in an effort to spark dialogue and effect change.
That is the direction, the path, of Savanna in film. It is her mission to bring into the spotlight, with her quiet compassion and sensitivity, those tricky subjects that we need to face, to address, to solve or at the very least, to accept.
Marissa and Savanna met at Toronto Film School. She has worked on many projects together including two of Savanna's short films, Red Secret and Reboot.
She has produced two shorts with Savanna's helping hand, named Dirk and The Beauty Of.
Marissa has produced a variety of shorts in many genres including thriller, rom-com, comedy and art house. She recently worked as Production Coordinator on a feature film titled Letters To Satan Claus, and is currently working in the same capacity on a second feature, Albatross.
Savanna met Manu during the filming of his short film Bonded. Savanna was hired on through a mutual friend. Manu then brought her on for another project, a commercial for new Canadian residents. Manu lent a hand during the writing process of Wooden Spoon, providing feedback that was invaluable. After the script was locked, Savanna asked him to join the team, which he did with great enthusiasm. Manu has enjoyed success with many of his shorts, and he has also achieved success in acquiring grants and funding campaigns for his personal films. Bonded was a finalist for the the European Cinematography Awards. Manu is well known for shorts in the drama genre.
Callum’s interest in film began when he tried his hand at acting in high school and blossomed into writing and directing at Toronto Film School, where his directorial debut Dirk was filmed.
Since TFS, Callum has written and directed six shorts, all of which showcase an experimental, artistic style he has developed into his own brand. Currently, Callum is in post-production of his festival-debut short The Beauty Of, a story of a man’s struggle to rediscover life’s purpose after a tragic loss.
Callum’s ‘calm and cool’ lends positivity to any project, and his organizational capabilities, his keen eye for detail and his artistic flair will be most welcome during the filming of Wooden Spoon.
Rain Packota is an actor and interdisciplinary artist hailing from the Canadian prairies. She graduated with honors from the University of Saskatchewan with a BFA in Drama-Performance and continues to study regularly under the tutelage of Matthew Harrison (Actors’ Foundry) and David Rotenberg (Professional Actors’ Laboratory).
Some of her recent acting credits include the short films Happy Place and Hannah’s Symphony, as well as the lead role in an upcoming independent feature-film Wildfire (Page-2-Picture Productions).
Outside of her acting work, Rain is an active visual artist (painter, illustrator) and has been a long-time volunteer with various animal welfare causes, including the Toronto Humane Society. She is also a martial artist (Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai) and a classically trained cellist.
She lives in Toronto with her two special-needs felines and the occasional convalescing animal.
Jeanne Souter is a Canadian actor and Dramatic Arts teacher with over 30 years of experience. She has been in several award winning films featured in TIFF: Out in That Deep Blue Sea directed by Kaz Radwinski, Enemy of the State by Ines Hoffman Kannes, and The Hotel Dieu by Adrian Thieson. Saint Tropez was featured in the Niagara Film Festival and Don't Shoot the Messenger by Oscar Karman was debuted in the Hamilton Film Festival.
Ms Souter has also been featured on several television shows such as Haunted Hospitals, Paranormal Night Shift and Fear Thy Neighbour.
Jeanne has a passion for dogs and has volunteered for COPE Service Dogs as a puppy trainer and foster for many years.
Jeanne is honoured to play Judith in Savanna Oliver's Wooden Spoon.
"I am grateful to be part of a production directed by a woman dealing with timely issues."
This young Canadian actor began his entertainment journey in Ottawa where in 2019 he was selected by Premiere to attend their showcase at Walt Disney World in Florida.
Earlier this year, Ewan was cast in an independent short film, and most recently, played “Georgie Boy” and a variety of other creepy characters during an epic 3 weeks of live nightly Halloween performances in Toronto.
With a passion for performance ranging from physical comedy to drama, acting has always been his biggest interest. In his spare time, Ewan likes to practice martial arts, play with his friends and clown around with his two dogs.
Ewan is represented by Star Quest Talent Management in Toronto.
Nick is obsessed with creating. Born and raised in St. Catharines, Nick is a graduate of Toronto Film School with a degree in Digital Film and Television Production. He is the creative director and co-owner of MRP Studios, a Niagara-based video production company whose mission is simple: let's create something awesome.
Nick has directed commercials, films and documentaries, written screenplays and web series (and hosted a travelling craft beer show)...all of which stems from his insatiable desire to explore the layers of humanity through the art of acting. Hence his excitement to dive into the role of Sean, a half-assed father who loves his kid, but not as much as he loves himself.
When he's not creating, he's spending time with his wife and three kids; likely having dance parties in the kitchen and eating baked goods.