The coming-of-age film, 'You Are the Blue' is a meaningful project to me as I wanted to share a personal story that I had yet to see captured on film. I began writing poetry over the course of a year, then wrote a piece of music on the piano, and thereafter the images and characters started to emerge.

The story details elements of my own journey with a challenging autoimmune disease, and harbouring its secret. During my deepest struggles, I searched for any films or representation on screen of what I was going through to try to ease my experience. When nothing could be found, I set out to create a piece of art that captured the grief, loss, fear and isolation of those affected by invisible illness and autoimmune disease.

My artistic vision was to create nostalgic and ethereal imagery to capture the lead character's longing. I wanted her world to feel of a different time, where memories still linger, and our lead feels enveloped in a dream-like haze.

Our Vancouver, BC team shot over the changing of the seasons, starting in the Fall to six months later in the Spring, to showcase the transformative arc of our lead, played by rising star Eden Summer Gilmore. I’ve had the pleasure of being Eden's acting coach from the young age of 11 to 16 yrs (when ‘You Are the Blue’ was filmed).

Together with our incredible team, we utilized innovative visuals to create a dramatic and emotional film that will take audiences on a journey that savours the bittersweetness of life.

My intention with ‘You Are the Blue’ was to create a narrative film that illuminates and brings hope to the millions of people affected by autoimmune diseases, many of whom suffer in silence. Our film allows those impacted by these health conditions to feel seen, heard, and less alone on their journey, while providing them with the courage to open up and share with others, even in moments of great vulnerability.

You are not your illness or disease… You Are the Blue.