In the Village
A film that looks into the relationships of the LGBTQ, and how that links back to a lack of safe spaces.
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'Safe Space' is referred to as a space where groups of people who feel marginalized in society can come together. In context to the LGBTQ community, this can be clubs on campuses, bars, nightclubs, or shops that are LGBTQ friendly. Over the years, Church and Wellesley has become known as Toronto’s main “Gay Village” due to the predominatly LGBTQ oriented crowed it draws. This is due to the number of gay bars, stripclubs, nightclubs there, including “Crews and Tango” and “Woody’s”. The village has normalized safe spaces that are all based on partying, clubbing, and drinking.
The LGBTQ community needs more spaces that are non-alcohol based. Community and commercialized spaces (Bookstores, coffee shops, lounges, game centres, athletic centres, etc..) that are run by LGBTQ people. In a sense, a term that could be used is a “risk free space” rather than a “safe space”. They would be spaces that are designated for LGBTQ people to feel safe and confident, without having to worry about people who disagree or impose on their lifestyles. Besides being safe spaces for all aged LGBTQ people, especially youth, they are a place for LGBTQ to meet outside of dating apps. In a 2017 article on online dating, nearly twice as much LGBTQ people use online dating apps compared to heterosexual people. “The simple truth is that spaces focused on sex and alcohol—as important as they have been and continue to be for queer survival—are always going to be somewhat exclusionary. The most obvious form of exclusion is age-related: LGBT youth can’t legally enter gay bars and LGBT elders don’t always feel welcome at clubs that cater to a younger, hipper crowd. The result is that many gay watering holes are fairly homogeneous in terms of the age of their clientele.” Samantha Allen (2018) |
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The Team
Steve Grabell - Writer & Director
Steve Grabell is a writer and director, using passion as a leading force in all of his work. He is driven to tell stories that matter. His most recent film, the short documentary “In the Village” is a piece of work close to home for him. Steve strongly believes that there is an insubstantial amount of safe spaces in our communities that are suited for all LGBTQ+ people. He writes and directs this piece from a place of experience. His hope is that this film can start a conversation about safe spaces in our communities, building change for future generations of LGBTQ+ youth.
Cassandra Goltsis - 1st Assistant Camera
Cassandra Goltsis is a Third-year student in the Bachelor of Film and Television at Sheridan College, pursuing cinematography and directing. She is constantly searching for new perspectives and creative ways to tell meaningful and important stories to today’s society. Cassandra is working on this short documentary as she feels it is important for everyone In the community to know the options for the LGBTQ+ community and how to be safe in regards to exploring the community outside of social media.
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Diana Dale - Producer & Editor
Diana Dale is the producer and editor of In the Village. Diana wanted to work on this film because she believes it is a topic that not enough people are talking about. This project is also important to her as she is a part of the lgbtq+ community, and understands the need for spaces dedicated to the lgbtq+ community that are not about drinking and partying. Diana hopes to be able to make a film that resonates with everyone, and sparks a conversation within the community to make spaces that are accessible for everyone in the community.
Lindsay Sever - Key Grip/Gaffer
Lindsay is a third-year student in the Bachelor of Film and Television program at Sheridan College, majoring in cinematography. As a visual artist, drawing and painting from the time she could hold a brush to today working with cameras, Lindsay is inspired to tell stories and share the way she sees the world. “I look forward to helping tell this story, I believe it could help someone out there!”
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Blake Newbold - Director of Photography
Blake Newbold is a student in his third year of the Honours Bachelor of Film and Television Program, excelling in cinematography and camera. He is highly experienced and sought after, brining knowledge and skills from a wide variety of student and industry productions. He is known for his passion, dedication, teamwork skills, and knowledge of film equipment. Blake is always seeking new and exciting opportunities and takes every opportunity thrown his way.
Maggie Hawman - Sound
Maggie is a third year student at Sheridan College putting her main focuses into sound recording and editing. Being a part of this documentary is super exciting because it’ll help to open the eyes of the people around us in seeing a common problem for the LGBTQ+ community that has still yet to be solved.
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Subjects
Sarah Marchese - Lesbian
Sarah is a third year Film and Television student at Sheridan College. By partaking in this film, she hopes to be a voice for queer women and can speak about the lack of social spaces targeted specifically towards WLW. She hopes that this film will help promote the idea of non-sexualized safe spaces for all LGBTQ+ identifying people and that we can do better to create these spaces in the future.
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Brad Bruder - Gay
Brad is a third-year student in the Urban Planning program at the University of Waterloo, specializing in environmental planning and management and land development planning. As a member of the gay community, Brad desires to promote LGBTQ+ inclusive spaces through urban design and public engagement. Brad is hoping this film provides a hidden perspective that will inspire community leaders to reimagine how we develop queer space in the future.
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Patricia Gomez - Bisexual
Patricia is a second year Art and Art History student at the University of Toronto Mississauga. As a Spanish-Filipino woman, the importance of family and culture is present in her day-to-day life, and she advocates strongly for the idea of ‘daytime’ LGBTQ+ safe environments in order to create a welcoming queer atmosphere for everyone. In this film, Patricia hopes to be a representative of women of colour within the LGBTQ+ community and to help promote the integration of culture and queerness.
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