A fictional autobiography about an insecure, awkward and lonely actor who goes on an unwitting journey of self-love in the midst of an eating disorder relapse.

Interview with Writer/Director/Producer/Actor Taylor Olson

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

My first memory is the shame of being called chubby by my Auntie when I was five years old. Since then I've struggled with my self-image, and eventually bulimia. I'll be honest, I'm pretty socially awkward, and I've been bulimic since I was thirteen years old and have never been 'cured'. However, I have been on an ongoing, refreshing, failing, and - at times - unwitting journey towards something resembling self-love, and bonus, my bulimia is in frequent remission (woohoo!). Look At Me is the movie I've been eager to make since I started directing short films. I am so grateful this film exists. I was inspired by the Tribeca & Rotterdam hit I Am A Sex Addict where the filmmaker plays himself in the most honest, uncomfortable, and vulnerable work I'd seen at that point (six years ago). I saw an opportunity to adapt my play Heavy to the screen and tell my own story as honestly and with as much vulnerability as I could. Allowing my journey towards self-love to hopefully impact and ignite someone on their own journey to loving themselves.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

If you're a fan of boundary-pushing filmmaking that takes risks, I hope Look At Me is the kind of film for you. It's an authentic exploration of my personal journey with self-image, body image, and bulimia. Through this film, we aim to break down stigmas surrounding mental health, encouraging open and compassionate discussions. The unique storytelling, with me portraying myself in a vulnerable role, provides an immersive experience, inviting you to connect with my journey.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

In Look At Me, I've woven together personal and universal themes to craft a narrative that's hopefully relatable. On a personal level, the film dives into my own experiences, tackling issues like self-image, body image, and my ongoing struggle with bulimia. These themes draw directly from my life, offering an unfiltered and authentic portrayal of my journey toward self-acceptance and self-love. These personal elements infuse the film with raw emotion, allowing you, as a viewer, to connect with me on a profoundly personal level.

Simultaneously, Look At Me touches upon universal themes that resonate beyond my own story. These include the universal human yearning for self-acceptance, the effects of societal pressures and expectations on mental well-being, and the common struggle to discover one's true self. By addressing these universal themes, the film becomes accessible and relatable to a broad audience, regardless of their personal experiences.

By combining these personal and universal elements in Look At Me, I aim to create a multi-layered narrative that enables viewers to both empathize with my specific journey and reflect on the broader themes that apply to many people's lives. This dual approach hopefully makes the film not just a personal exploration but also a catalyst for essential conversations about self-identity, mental health, and the shared human experience as a whole.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

The film changed dramatically over the course of the creation because she shot in five sequences over a year and a half. Therefore, I would write and shoot a section of the film, edit it, and then we'd rewrite the next section, shoot it, edit it on repeat. This meant that as we saw cuts of the film coming together we would evolve and change the story to organically shift as we saw it coming together.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

None yet! This will be our world premiere.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I don't know yet!

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I hope that we can find more film festivals to screen our film at and generally get eyes on the film so more people can catch the film both at Slamdance and in the future.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

We are wide open atm! We are looking for sales agents and distributors to come on board the film to get the film out there!

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I hope that the film offers an opportunity for other folks struggling with similar issues to feel seen and to create more awareness around the realities of eating disorders.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

What are we as a society doing to combat the body shaming we have created through media and false expectations?

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I'm in prep for my third feature film Unseen which is shooting this spring!

Interview: January 2024

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

Look At Me

A fictional autobiography about an insecure, awkward and lonely actor who goes on an unwitting journey of self-love in the midst of an eating disorder relapse.

Length: 1:26:50

Director: Taylor Olson

Producer: Taylor Olson

Writer: Taylor Olson

About the writer, director and producer:

TAYLOR OLSON is a Canadian Screen Award & eleven-time ACTRA Award nominee. Taylor’s feature film directorial debut Bone Cage swept the awards at the Atlantic International Film Festival and earned over 30 additional accolades at festivals around the globe. Bone Cage appeared in competition at Camerimage, competed in the Forward Future section of the Beijing International Film Festival, and was nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards for Adapted Screenplay & Supporting Actress.

Key cast: Taylor Olson (Taylor), Koumbie (Mia), Sam Vigneault (Simon), Stephanie MacDonald (Kayla).

Looking for: sales agents, distributors, buyers

Facebook: Look At Me

Twitter: @taylorolson1993

Instagram: @lookatmefilm2024

Hashtags used: #lookatmefilm

Website: www.taylorolson.ca

Other: IMDb

Funders: Canada Council for the Arts, Arts NS, the province of Nova Scotia

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

Slamdance Film Festival in Park City Jan 21-23rd.