Every year, six talented, new filmmakers are chosen from hundreds of applicants to make a short film for Crazy8s.
Crazy8s provides filmmakers with a significant boost to their projects. Six finalists receive $2000 each, plus an in-kind production package and post-production service valued at up to $50,000. This includes professional equipment, mentorship, and access to locations, helping them complete their short film within eight days.
There is a huge gala screening at the Vancouver Centre.
We met with writer and director Ely Davidson to talk about their career and Full Asian.
HNMAG: Where did you grow up?
Ely Davidson: I grew up in Abbotsford, which, I guess it’s kind of interesting because I always thought Abbotsford was this really, massive city then when I moved to Vancouver, I realized that most people think it’s like a pit stop town.
HNMAG: It has become a Vancouver suburb.
Ely Davidson: Yeah, there’s not much to do there except go to Walmart or Denny’s, to be honest.
HNMAG: Growing up in Abbotsford, were you interested in acting or film as a kid?
Ely Davidson: I was definitely interested in a lot of theatre, actually. I did a lot of acting. I went to this art school called Creative Edge.
HNMAG: Oh, cool.
Ely Davidson: Creative Edge was very important to me.
HNMAG: You’re lucky for that.
Ely Davidson: He taught me all the way from seven until I was fifteen. 0h my gosh, it was just such a life changing experience. In a weird way, just starting off with acting in theatre, I got very lucky to play Pinocchio. It was my first show. And doing that was so cool.
HNMAG: Have you found a film community?
Ely Davidson: The crew on Full Asian, are my Capalano friends. It was such a great experience to be able to hang out with them again and make something really cool. It was super awesome.
HNMAG: Is it your father or your mother who’s from Japan?
Ely Davidson: It’s my mother actually.
HNMAG: Do you have any siblings?
Ely Davidson: I do. I have one older sister.
HNMAG: Okay. Did your parents meet in Abbotsford?
Ely Davidson: My parents met Burnaby, I believe, because they both went to Simon Fraser University (SFU) at the same time.
HNMAG: Your mom grew up in Vancouver, but she’s of Japanese heritage.
Ely Davidson: Yeah, well, she she lived in Japan, all the way up until college. Then moved to moved to Canada for university at SFU.
HNMAG: Have you ever been to Japan?
Ely Davidson: Yeah, oh, I love it. Oh my gosh, I gotta go back though. It’s been too long.
HNMAG: That’s amazing. Do you speak any Japanese?
Ely Davidson: I used to, unfortunately, I lost it all. I think I used to go to Japanese school as well. Just like keep up my language. As you get older, you kind of stop going to the Japanese school and then kind of prioritize making friends in elementary and middle school. And the languages, unfortunately, just dissipates, especially my vocabulary. I’ve been meaning to get back into it so I can talk to my grandparents better.
HNMAG: They’re in Japan?.
Ely Davidson: Yeah, they’re both in Japan.
HNMAG: Have you ever heard the song by the Vapors called Turning Japanese?
Ely Davidson: Actually it’s crazy. I didn’t know about the song until the production designer from The Last Caller suggested I end the movie with it.
HNMAG: That’d be expensive.
Ely Davidson: It’s nuts that I never heard it before.
HNMAG: How did how did you get involved with Crazy8s? How did that happen?
Ely Davidson: I’ve always heard about Crazy8s. This is an awe inspiring thing. In film school, you’ll hear about alumni who made a Crazy8s film.
HNMAG: Right.
Ely Davidson: You know about it beforehand just through word of mouth. My friend Lorenzo, after four years, he asked, what are you gonna do now? What’s your plan? And I said, I don’t know. He suggested I pitch a Crazy8s short. Then the day that the pitch video was due. He’again asked if I was going to do it. I said maybe. They Lorenzo told me it’s due tonight. You should just do it. Luckily for his confidence in me, I was able to put my my camera up, record the pitch video. I submitted it at 11:55 PM.
HNMAG: Just in the nick of time.
Ely Davidson: I was lucky enough to make it into the live pitch rounds, and after that, it just kept going.
HNMAG: Is it set in Vancouver?
Ely Davidson: It’s generally somewhere in British Columbia (BC). In my eyes, it takes place in Vancouver, but I’m not incredibly uptight about that. It doesn’t have to.
HNMAG: It seems like Canada is finally getting the chance to play itself a bit more.
Ely Davidson: When it comes to Canada playing itself, we’re definitely doing a lot better. Heated Rivalry and Nirvanna, The Band, The Show, The Movie definitely ups those numbers for sure.
Ely Davidson is a passionate filmmaker with an appreciation for culture and Canadian content. He is starting his film career with a fun short film and has the drive to make a solid contribution. Full Asian embraces identity, desires to connect with your heritage but then realizing that accepting your authenticity is the best path. It’s a fun, action packed comedy that has heart. We are going to follow Ely Davidson’s career and catch up with him soon.