By Teagan Anderson-Léger

On June 21st and 22nd 2025, I spent my weekend thrust into the magic of filmmaking, bringing to life my latest screenplay, No Straws, a story about friendship, guilt, and the inevitability of letting go.

This is the second film I’ve directed, but easily the most complex, challenging, and exciting one thus far.

With a team comprised of a number of talented, passionate, and creative individuals, I felt (as a bit of a film newbie who barely slept the night before day 1 of shooting) like I couldn’t have been in better hands.

There was a hum of excitement as the weekend unfolded. People bustling with purpose like busy worker bees, confident in knowing exactly what to do. At times, I felt like I was learning to walk for the first time, but was desperate to take off sprinting. As a child of the world of 4H, its motto became my mantra for the entirety of the shoot: “learn to do by doing”. I stumbled a time or two (like, yelling “ACTION!” before the 2nd AC was out of camera frame, or misinterpreting, misreading the slate) but with such exceptionally experienced and knowledgeable human beings involved, I was able to dive right in. I focused on immersing myself fully in the process with adequate support and guidance, embracing the newness of it all. Coming from the world of theatre, there were a number of beautifully transformative moments where my mindset evolved from the stage to the film set. That subtle but necessary shift in perspective was impactful and a valuable takeaway.

This experience was marked with surprising joys at nearly every phase of the filmmaking process. From laughter bouncing around in the coloured lights to collective giddiness in watching footage back, there was a palpable, positive energy despite any setbacks (like some mishaps with the location, for example).

There’s something truly remarkable about the power of passionate people. People who derive such joy from practicing their craft and sharing it with others, wholeheartedly and generously. I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to witness and work with people like this.

People like Donovan Richard (a master Production Manager/1st Assistant Director and incredible mentor), Robert Gow (a brilliant and creative Cinematographer), Denis Cormier (an outrageously helpful and hilarious Script Supervisor), Samuel Grove (Gaffer extraordinaire), Tibor Pece (Sound wizard), Jessica McCloskey (masterfully skilled understudy, continuity assistant and runner), Jenna Bourque (a magnificent production assistant and runner), Celeste Chiasson (a bright 2nd AC), and of course, Nadyne Kuhn and Jessica Whalen, my cherished and outstanding actors who were perfect for their roles.

I was also incredibly fortunate to receive the 2025 JL New Brunswick Creative Award from the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund in June, which helped make this film possible.

No Straws is currently in post-production, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the day I can share this story with others.