Bachelor of Creative Arts student Olivia-Autumn Rennie recently wrapped shooting on a documentary project that fuses her twin passions for filmmaking and disability advocacy.Lights, Camera, and a Call to Action is a documentary short that the 3rd year MD-PhD student made in hopes of challenging stereotypes surrounding disability by exploring the work of three artists – a theatre artist, a painter and a musician – who are using their work for disability advocacy.
“Each artist has lived experience with disability themselves, and a great deal of wisdom to impart about their process, how they are challenging stereotypes, and where we have to go from here in terms of making society more accessible,” said the researcher and Emergency physician-in-training, who, in addition to her medical studies at the University of Toronto, also recently graduated from the Writing for Film & Television program at Yorkville affiliate, Toronto Film School, and is currently enrolled in Toronto Film School Online’s Video Production program.
The film, she said, represents the ‘collaborative filmmaking’ methodology she’s developing in her PhD, whereby those whose stories are presented onscreen are involved throughout the creative process and are key members of the team. For example, the featured musician on Lights, Camera, and a Call to Action is also the film’s composer, as well as a part of the post-production team.
“As someone with a lifelong disability myself (which was a large driver in my decision to go into medicine), this film is close to my heart – filled with messages of both hope and positivity, as well as a call to action for improved access and rethinking the disability narrative,” Autumn said.
“My biggest takeaway from the experience was the inspiration and wisdom that our participating artists brought to the project. As we worked together on this film, their own insights and experiences were incredibly insightful, and I’m very excited for audiences to be able to witness the beautiful final product that emerged from this collaborative endeavour,” she added.
“It is my hope that, after watching this and seeing the many ways disability and advocacy can manifest, viewers will have a new perspective on the topic and be called to action to fight back against ableism and inaccessibility.”
When asked how she manages to juggle all of her studies – from her Bachelor of Creative Arts, to her Video Production diploma, to her medical school courses – together with her filmmaking pursuits and role as the Artistic Director of Toronto-based production company, Exuvium Productions, Autumn admitted that it isn’t easy.
But, she reasons, everyone in the film industry is in the same boat, whether they’re in med school or not.
“We’re all working our hearts out for what we believe in, which is the power of film to change lives and get important stories out there,” she said of the driving force that keeps propelling her forward.
“Seeing the challenges that patients face, and recognizing the issues that continue to exist in society that impact health – for example, housing and food insecurity, addiction and mental health, racism, ableism, and ageism – reminds me every day why I’m doing this.
“I can’t thank TFS enough for the film-specific training I have and am currently receiving, and YU for the skills in creative leadership that I’m developing to carve out a niche in the film and television industry.”
Among Autumn’s other recent projects is The Feast – the story of a young woman fighting back anorexia back in the most defiant way possible: by reclaiming her autonomy in eating.
Written, directed and produced by Autumn, the narrative short not only screened at the Bravemaker Film Festival in California in July, but also recently won the Best Psychological Film at the 2024 Best Film Awards, and an Award of Merit from the One-Reeler Short Film Competition.
