It’s hard to see the funny side of high school shootings, but this didn’t stop Joel Ashton McCarthy, a recent graduate of Capilano University’s new Bachelor of Motion Picture Arts program, from swinging for the fences with his directorial debut, After Film School, which made its premiere last week at the 14th annual Whistler International Film Festival.

A pitch-black, low-budget mockumentary filmed in Vancouver that will surely hit close to home for Hollywood North’s small army of underemployed filmmakers, After Film School stars Bruce Novakowski (Mop King, The Super Alliance) as Adam Baxter, a pot-smoking jackass who steals a script from his more accomplished and serious-minded roommate (played by Lee Shorten) after he kills himself that he then turns into a dramatically reworked film called “High School Shooting: the Musical.” Hilarity, often uncomfortable, ensures.

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But don’t just take my word for it. See for yourself until Dec. 19 by trying out a new video-on-demand service launched by First Weekend Club as part of their ongoing quest to promote seldom seen Canadian films. The Canada Screens website, which is expected to fully launch in February, is an attempt to level the playing field for homegrown flicks that rarely get wide theatrical runs but that people will instead hopefully pay to see in the comfort of their own homes.

In spite of Vancouver being one of the top movie production centres in North America, only a handful of films shown in local megaplexes are Canadian and, even when they are, tend to be slipped quietly onto a screen or two on a Friday night. For example, take last week’s Corner Gas: The Movie, which spent all of five days at Tinseltown despite Canadians’ nostalgia for the hit show that spawned it and the fact that most of its stars live in Vancouver.

While Netflix features a considerable number of made-in-Canada films, they tend to be well-established movies rather than new fare, and Canada Screens hopes to help rookie filmmakers recoup some of their costs as well as provide additional interactive content.

“Our goal is to provide content, as well as connect filmmakers and talent with online audiences through moderated Q&As, panel discussions, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews,” said Anita Adams, who launched First Weekend Club back in 2003 as a way to get as many bums in seats as possible for the critical first weekend box office take so the movies potentially stay on theatre screens for a longer period of time.

“If successful, this could point to a different type of film distribution,” said Paul Gratton, the Whistler fest’s director of programming. “VOD sites will bring Canadian films directly to consumers online without the frustrations of token theatrical releases and minimal television sales, common for modestly-budgeted Canadian films. Canada Screens offers an innovative extension of the film festival experience, allowing events like WFF to extend their support for exhibiting Canadian films without geographic limitations.”

As an added bonus, the popcorn at home is also way cheaper, beer or wine is allowed and you can also check your phone without fear of pissing anyone off.

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