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Actor/writer/producer and now director, Laura Adkin.

Photo courtesy Ashley Ross

B.C. director delivers powerful debut film

By Jim Gordon and Leeta Liepins

Published 12:30 PDT, Fri March 15, 2024

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We continue our TV show and print/digital spotlight on more B.C. born talent that we encounter each year at the Whistler Film Festival. In this case, it is long-time actor, Laura Adkin, who has enjoyed two decades as an actor in film and TV. She also has a decade worth of credits behind the camera as a writer and producer. She earned Best Short Film at the Edmonton International Film Festival plus eight Leo Awards nominations for her short-film directorial debut The Goodnight Kiss which went on to play at festivals around the world and she was awarded a Bravofact grant.

In addition to this, Laura was chosen for a female director’s program with Disney. She was picked to pitch for the MPPIA short film award, and she entered screenplays and short films to be announced as finalists in the Austin Film Festival Diversity and inclusivity on set and behind the camera is one of Laura’s most important mandates as a filmmaker. It was at the recent 2023 Whistler Film Festival where Our City Tonight had a chance to chat with Adkin about her new film Re: Uniting and taking the reins for the first time as the full-length film’s director.

OCT: First, thank you for the wonderful film Re: Uniting—which is in theatres now and will be available for home viewing in April—it really has that feel of the 1983 classic film, The Big Chill. Old friends getting together again, catching up, talking about old times. You take it from there.

LA: Speaking of The Big Chill, years ago I was at the Toronto Film Festival, and there was a Big Chill reunion, and all the cast were there, and I was watching it wondering, why we don’t make these movies anymore? I love 80’s and 90’s ensemble dramas like Steel Magnolias and The Breakfast Club, and so that thought was in the back of my mind, and years later when I was trying to figure out what my first feature would be, that thought kind of came back and I had access to all these amazing actors, so that is really where that spark came from.

OCT: Watching the first part of the movie—and we are trying our best not to give away anything as there are some twists and turns—but our first thought was, okay, everyone brought their baggage and their luggage. And this is the kind of film that everyone can relate to: everyone has glory days, “salad days”, but then life can kick in and things happen.... you mentioned the amazing actors, your cast is superb, starting with Jesse L. Martin. Talk about bringing this ensemble cast together.

LA: Well, starting with the character of Danny, he’s played by my husband in real life, David James Lewis, so that was easy casting. I really wanted to write a role for him that he doesn’t normally get the chance to play—he’s usually the murderer or the CIA agent, or the General, these kind of “not fun” characters, and he is fun in real life.

For a location, I knew I wanted to film on Bowen Island, and have Michelle Harrison as the lead in the film as I’ve known her forever. She came onboard which was great. Bronwen Smith and I worked at an acting school and she’s incredible. I had seen her on stage and told her I wanted her in my movie. And then everything kind of came together, with Jesse as the last piece of the puzzle. He and Michelle Harrison had worked together on The Flash, and she asked him if he wanted to be in the movie. Carmen Moore was not who we had planned to have in the film, but three days before filming we lost our actor, so we called Carmen and she showed up, and she too is incredible.

OCT: We should mention that part of what we love about filming Our City Tonight at the Whistler Film Festival is that, year in and year out the festival does a great job of putting the spotlight on artists, talent, and product, and you really are a product of this festival and all it does.

LA: Absolutely! I did my first Q&A with a film I was in back in 2011 or 2012. I have had short films screen here, I’ve been in talent labs here, I just love this festival, it is just awesome.

OCT: Congratulations on this debut film, Re:Uniting, we so enjoyed this film. Where can people find out more about the film?

LA: Instagram would be the best, our account, is @reunitingfilm

Vortex Media and Flat Head Films announced that BC-based writer/director Laura Adkin’s feature film debut Re: Uniting will have its theatrical premiere at Cineplex theatres across Canada starting Friday, March 15. It will also be available on VOD in April. The film world premiered at the Austin Film Festival and was a special presentation at the Whistler Film Festival. Laura Adkin was recently nominated by the Vancouver Film Critics Circle for Best BC Director.