Becky Parsons, Halifax, Nova Scotia
A decade-long filmmaking collaboration takes shape in Nova Scotia
In Halifax, a curling rink has been transformed into a full production studio as the apartment set of the psychological horror The Miseries. It’s where more than 60 Nova Scotian cast and crew members are bringing a feature film to life after years of local collaboration.
For producer Becky Parsons, this project started more than a decade ago. A cinematographer by trade, she and writer Sarah Gignac first worked together on short films, realizing there was more they wanted to build together.
“One of us had to be a writer and one had to be a producer,” Becky says. “I’m not a writer.” That decision began a shared journey into feature filmmaking. With mentorship from fellow producer Terry Greenlaw and support for development, they started building momentum.
Producing, Becky says, is about enabling creativity; providing the conditions, resources, and support to bring a story from draft to set to screen. It’s a role she’s embraced fully. “I really enjoy it,” she says. “I’m surprised at how much I enjoy it.”
Co-producer Terry Greenlaw shares a similar sentiment. She stays in Nova Scotia for the region’s beauty, quality of life, and a filmmaking community where people create together and lean on one another.
“My heart is in the Atlantic region,” she says. “I can’t imagine leaving to make films somewhere else.”
That sense of community is part of what appealed to director Ashlea Wessel when she came east.
“Everyone’s so immediately kind,” she says. “It’s going to be hard not to shoot here again.” For her, stepping onto this set for her second feature film has been both exciting and energizing, surrounded by crews who meet every challenge with professionalism and enthusiasm.
For screenwriter Sarah Gignac, after countless hours of writing drafts alone at home, she now walks onto a set brought to life from her imagination. “It feels really magical,” she says. “Sixty people are here bringing their ideas, talents, and inspiration to translate words on paper into all of this.”
From each of their perspectives, it’s clear this project was only possible with funding that invests in local artists and local stories. Since 2013, the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation has supported arts, culture, and heritage in communities across Nova Scotia through its Support4Culture program, funded by the proceeds from designated lottery products. To date, Nova Scotians have raised almost $42 million for Support4Culture.
Early development funding gave Sarah the time and support she needed to shape her script, support that helped attract additional funders, collaborators, and talent. It also created opportunities for Nova Scotians to work, learn, and build their careers on a professional set close to home.
As Becky puts it, “Because Nova Scotia Gaming has Support4Culture, we were able to take this script to an elevated level that attracted incredible talent and passion to this project.”
Without projects like this, opportunities to build and celebrate community are lost. “I really believe a society without culture is just an empty society,” says Terry. “I think that a fundamental piece of being alive is to be aware of and celebrate your own culture and those around the world.
Today, the project stands as a full production employing local artists, strengthening the creative workforce, and contributing to a thriving film community. And for everyone involved, seeing it happen here, in Nova Scotia, makes it even more meaningful.