Sing the World Better will be closing out The Chagrin Documentary Film Fest on Sunday, October 11, 2026 5:00 PM EDT at the Chagrin Falls Intermediate School Theater
Following the film, enjoy a performance by RockAbility, an inclusive rock band created by NPower Services that unites experienced musicians with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, celebrating the power of music, community, and inclusion.
What a wonderful night! The Muse won Best Short Documentary at the Canadian Screen Awards. Thank you always and forever to Ting Ting Chen and Robert for letting me tell their story.
Thanks to the Canadian Academy, the National Film Board of Canada, my producer, Liz Cowie, executive director, Nathalie Cloutier and SO many other people who contributed to the film. The Muse is dedicated to the memory of Robert Tilley.
Also, a huge thank you to the Newfoundland and Labrador arts community! I’ve been helped and supported by so many people. It’s such a great place to live and make art
For the past seven weeks, I’ve had the privilege participating in the writing room run by the brilliant Stephen Dunn – sponsored by PictureNL . It was an incredible experience and a privilege to work along side these gifted writers.
Together, we developed Stephen’s new television series where we broke story, pitched ideas, developed characters, worked on pitch documents, outlines, and series arcs – and so much more. I’m forever grateful for Stephen’s leadership and high expectations. We worked hard and learned a ton. We also had mentorship on our own projects.
Today is a special day. The Muse is now streaming on the NFB website and app, available for anyone in Canada to watch.
I want to once again say a huge thank you to Ting Ting Chen and Robert for allowing me to tell their story. This film is in dedication to Robert who was very proud of their friendship and the beautiful work they did together. I’m also so happy to feature Ting Ting Chen Fine Art‘s stunning photography.
Thanks so much to NFB and everyone who helped me tell this story.
Today’s the day! Sing the World Better is on CBC GEM. The film features Lauda, one of a handful of youth choirs in the world to embrace all neurotypes.
If you want to feel some hope and that there’s some really good things happening in the world, please watch. I learned so much making this film with Lian Morrison, Annette Clarke, Glen Tilley, The Shallaway Youth Choir, and the Lauda choristers.
I’ve been really lucky to work as a story editor in the NEW GUARD development writer’s room with showrunner Sam Atwell, and writer Joel Thomas Hynes – two brilliant humans.
NEW GUARD is based on the novel Deadly Blind by Siobhain Bunni. It is an Irish Newfoundland co-production between Tri Moon Films and Blue Pinion Films.
The Muse has been nominated for Best Short Documentary at the Canadian Screen Awards.
With Robert’s passing, this honour is bittersweet. He was incredibly proud to be the subject of Ting Ting‘s work. I’m so grateful to them both for allowing me to tell the story of their beautiful friendship and collaboration.
Huge thanks to the Canadian Screen Awards, to the NFB for their support, and to all the people who contributed to the film.
In loving memory of Robert Tilley 
The Muse will have it’s US premiere at the oscar qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival. Congrats to CIFF on their 50th year!
April 14, 2026 = 11:50 am – 1:33 pm Playhouse Square Campus
April 15, 2026 5:00 pm – 6:43 pm Cedar Lee Theatre
In loving memory of Robert Tilley 1948 – 2025
The Muse will be playing at the Yorkton Film Festival in May. It’s been nominated for Documentary History and Culture.
The Muse is dedicated to Robert Tilley’s memory.
The Muse is an official selection of Festival REGARD and as a part of their 100% English High School Program will be touring schools in the Lac-Saint-Jean region from April 7 to 17.
It is also in competition for Best Youth Short Film.
In loving memory of Robert Tilley 1948 – 2025
The Muse is screening at Le FIFA on Saturday, March 21, 2026, 07:00 p.m., as part of their National Competition -Short Films. I’m so excited to attend this world class festival on art and media arts. Details can be found here.
With Robert’s passing this news is bitter sweet. He was very proud of his role in Ting Ting’s art, and I know he would be proud of this recognition, as well.
In loving memory of Robert Tilley 1948 – 2025
Do you have a feature film script you’d like feedback on? The St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, as a part of their winter industry programming, is offering five feature film screenwriters a script consultation with me :)
I love supporting writers and their work, see the link here for details.
The premiere of Sing the World Better is this Sat, Jan 10th, at 7:30 PM! It tells the story of Lauda – a pioneering youth ensemble within the internationally renowned Shallaway Youth Choir, one of only a handful of choirs in the world to embrace all neurotypes.
It was an absolute privilege to help tell the story of these talented choristers. We learned a ton from them and from the Shallaway process.
It will air on CBC Gem in the upcoming months.
Lian Morrison and I co-directed and Annette Clarke, Ruby Line Productions, produced. Sound Design and Music Recording Glen Tilley.
Honoured to have The Muse screen at the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival. I am so grateful for the support this festival has given me over the years.
The Lunenburg Doc Fest awarded The Muse with the Best Canadian Short Documentary Award and the Audience Choice Award for Best Short Documentary. Thanks SO MUCH to the festival for showing the film and for these awards.
I’d also like to say a massive thanks to Ben Proudfoot who donated his Best Atlantic Canadian Filmmaker prize winnings to me. I am blown away by his kindness. I have literally watched his films over and over for inspiration, craft, and as teaching tools. I’m such a huge fan and I’m so moved by his generosity.
I’m honoured to have received the Best Atlantic Short Documentary from the Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF). Thanks so much to the festival, the NFB, and Ting Ting and Robert.
I’m excited for The Muse to be released this fall. It’s been an honour to tell Ting Ting and Robert’s story and to feature Ting Ting’s work. Thanks to the National Film Board of Canada. Stay tuned!
Sing the World Better is a documentary about the wildly talented and unapologetically original neurodiverse choir, Lauda. These young people are hilarious, smart, and can sing! We’ve spent the past two years capturing their journey, and we can’t wait to share it with the world.
I’m proud to be co-directing this film with Lian Morrison. It’s produced by Ruby Line Productions (Annette Clarke). It should be released in the Fall.
Sons, a feature documentary by Justin Simms, made with National Film Board of Canada, takes a deeply personal look at masculinity and raisings Sons. It’s a timely thoughtful piece of work and I am so proud to have been the story consultant on the project. It’s a must see!
This past winter I have been co-directing a documentary with Lian Morrison, produced by Annette Clarke, about the neurodiverse Shallaway choir, Lauda. We are in development and shot a demo for the project. More news about the full feature will be coming soon. It’s a magical project and I am so grateful to be involved in it.
Congrats to filmmakers Ashley MacDonald and Dominique Jean on their remarkable film September 7, 2012. Screening at the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival Wednesday, October 18 at 9:30 PM – The Majestic Theatre as part of WEDNESDAY LATE SHORTS.
Synopsis: 10 years after her sexual assault Ashley embarks on a journey to create new meaning for September 7, 2012, a day that has been synonymous with her traumatic experience.
I was the story consultant on this film and I am grateful to Ashley and Dom trusting me to support the telling of this sensitive story.
Congrats to Adrian Wills on the release of his heartbreakingly beautiful documentary, A Quiet Girl. This is a poignant, painful, and deeply moving film, masterfully told by Adrian. It not only tells the story of Adrian’s journey to learn about his adoption but he is also able to give voice to his mother and of many women who were in her situation in the 70s and 80s.
I was the researcher on the project, my job was to find the people to help Adrian in his quest to learn about his mother. The people we met in the process were so beautiful and generous. I cherish all of them.
I’m excited to be working on my next film The Muse – The Photography of Ting Ting Chen. It focuses on Ting Ting’s brilliant work and her relationship with her muse, septuagenarian and raconteur Robert Tilley.
Thank you to Dr. Heidi Tiedemann Darroch for including Mystery of the Secret Room in her curriculum for Canadian Studies course, Introduction to Canadian Contemporary Issues. It was used in her discussion around Canadian Healthcare.
Mystery of the Secret Room tells the story from the point of view of child navigating the landscape of her mother’s mental health and the healthcare system.
Advanced Screenwriting with Wanda Nolan
I’m teaching a 4 week advanced screenwriting class with the Nickel Film Festival from January 23 – February 13th. Check out the Nickel Film Festival for details.
The National Film Board of Canada presents Luben and Elena at The Rooms, on December 3rd. It was directed by the brilliant Ellie Yonova, produced by Annette Clarke, and I had the good fortune of being the story consultant on the project.
The Rooms is screening films from the National Film Board of Canada this fall, including my short Mystery of the Secret Room. It plays November 12th at 7 PM, along side Conviction, directed by Teresa MacInnes, Nance Ackerman, and Ariella Pahlke
The St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival’s Scene and Heard week is coming soon! It’s a week of professional development that includes chats with filmmakers, masterclasses, and screenings.
Myself and Deanne Foley will speak to Andrea Dunne about Finding Your Path. It’s happening on Thursday, March 18 at 1 PM. There’s more information here: https://www.womensfilmfestival.com/events/18/finding-your-path
Looking forward to talking about careers for women in film with Skilled Canada on February 9th from 4-5:00 PM.
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