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  • About
    • About
    • Specifications
    • Director, Peter Pasyk
    • Meet the Cast
    • Stratfest@home
    • Meet the Crew
  • Screenings
    • Upcoming
    • Previous
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • More
    • Home
    • About
      • About
      • Specifications
      • Director, Peter Pasyk
      • Meet the Cast
      • Stratfest@home
      • Meet the Crew
    • Screenings
      • Upcoming
      • Previous
    • Gallery
    • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Specifications
    • Director, Peter Pasyk
    • Meet the Cast
    • Stratfest@home
    • Meet the Crew
  • Screenings
    • Upcoming
    • Previous
  • Gallery
  • Contact

About the film

Watch the official trailer

An understudy actor receives a fateful call that he must go on last-minute to replace the star of a major stage production of Shakespeare's The Tempest, all while caring for his young granddaughter.

A STRATFEST@HOME ORIGINAL. BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL.

STRATFEST@HOME

Specifications

Project Type:

Project Type:

Project Type:

Short.

Genres:

Project Type:

Project Type:

Comedy, Drama

Runtime:

Project Type:

Country of Origin:

13 minutes 50 seconds

Country of Origin:

Country of Origin:

Country of Origin:

Canada

Language:

Country of Origin:

Shooting Format:

English

Shooting Format:

Country of Origin:

Shooting Format:

Alexa 35

Director, Peter Pasyk

Biography

Peter Pasyk is a film and theatre director, working in Canada and Poland. Peter co-wrote one of Poland’s highest grossing feature films: Planeta Singli (Planet Single), which launched a film and TV franchise. Recently he directed the pilot of a new TV comedy series, Simon & Magda for Poland’s Polsat network. Peter’s short film Pole, was shortlisted for TIFF's Top Ten Short Films. As a theatre director Peter has worked at Canada’s top theatres including Stratford Festival, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and Tarragon Theatre. His career highlights include directing the critically-acclaimed world premiere of Jordan Tannahill’s Late Company; and the 2022 flagship production of Hamlet at the Stratford Festival, North America’s largest repertory theatre.

Director's Statement

This is a very personal film for me because it marries my two artistic spheres: theatre and cinema. I am a stage and screen director, and The Understudy is a peek-behind-the-curtain story of the unique theatre world I belong to. The film’s authenticity is achieved by working with a hybrid of film and theatre professionals on location at the world-renowned Stratford Festival. With this film I wanted to shine a light on the little known role of the understudy. Understudy actors have a tough gig: they must always be ready to replace an actor, but never know for certain if they will go on. This film is an ode to the unsung working people that dedicate their lives to the arts.

Meet the Cast

Tom Rooney

Mia SwamiNathan

Mia SwamiNathan

TOM

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Mia SwamiNathan

Mia SwamiNathan

Mia SwamiNathan

ILLY

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Maria Vacratsis

Mia SwamiNathan

Maria Vacratsis

STAGE MANAGER

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André Sills

Mia SwamiNathan

Maria Vacratsis

ACTOR

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Meet the CREW

Paolo Mancini

Producer

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Genna Dixon

Producer

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Debra Hanson

Production Designer

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Christian Bielz

Cinematographer

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Kris Von Kleist

Editor

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Richard Feren

Composer

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Ian McGettigan

Sound Designer

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Media Gallery

Tom with Mia

UPCOMING SCREENINGS

12/20/2024

Stratford Film Festival

6:00 PM (GMT-9)

City Hall 1 Wellington St, Stratford, ON, Canada N5A 2L3

Event Details

12/20/2024

Stratford Film Festival

Pre-show QnA with Director, Peter Pasyk and stars: Tom Rooney, Maria Vacratsis, and André Sills starts right at 6pm.  A full screening with ...

Event Details

6:00 PM (GMT-9)

City Hall 1 Wellington St, Stratford, ON, Canada N5A 2L3

PREVIOUS SCREENINGS

12/08/2024

Anchorage International Film Festival

3:00 PM (GMT-9

Anchorage Museum 625 C St, Anchorage, AK 99501, United States

Event Details

12/08/2024

Anchorage International Film Festival

Playing a part of the Strange Love Shorts time block.
Screening Ticket Page

3:00 PM (GMT-9

Anchorage Museum 625 C St, Anchorage, AK 99501, United States

11/08/2024

St. Louis International Film Festival

5:00 PM (GMT-5)

Chase Park Plaza Cinema 212 Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108

Event Details

11/08/2024

St. Louis International Film Festival

Playing a part of the Narrative Shorts 1  program.
Screening Ticket Page


Parking: 


CHASE GARAGE
Enter garage behind the hotel, from Maryland P...

Event Details

5:00 PM (GMT-5)

Chase Park Plaza Cinema 212 Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108

11/08/2024

Coronado Island Film Festival

1:00 PM (GMT-8)

Carousel Room: Hotel Del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118, United States

Event Details

11/08/2024

Coronado Island Film Festival

Playing a part of the STAGES OF EXPRESSION time block
​Q&A will happen after the program with attending filmmakers
Screening Ticket Page

1:00 PM (GMT-8)

Carousel Room: Hotel Del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118, United States

10/31/2024

Austin Film Festival

3:30pm - 5:27pm CDT

Galaxy Theatre 6 GALAXY HIGHLAND THEATRE 6700 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX 78752, United States

Event Details

10/31/2024

Austin Film Festival

Playing a part of the SHORTS PROGRAM 5: ALL THAT JAZZ time block.
Screening Ticket Page

3:30pm - 5:27pm CDT

Galaxy Theatre 6 GALAXY HIGHLAND THEATRE 6700 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX 78752, United States

10/24/2024

Austin Film Festival

9:10pm - 11:07pm CDT

Rollins Theatre at the Long Center 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704, United States

Event Details

10/24/2024

Austin Film Festival

Playing a part of the SHORTS PROGRAM 5: ALL THAT JAZZ time block.
Screening Ticket Page

9:10pm - 11:07pm CDT

Rollins Theatre at the Long Center 701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704, United States

More Events

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Do you have questions or comments about our film? Do you have a theater where we could arrange a screening? Send us a message, and we will get back to you soon.

The Understudy Film

gdixon@stratfordfestival.ca mr.paolomancini@gmail.com

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