THE RIVER YOU STEP IN explores themes of loyalty and betrayal as it follows the efforts of a maverick social worker.

When a young First Nations client dies after being committed to police custody, Stevie Vandervliet struggles to keep the troubled people she works with away from the system she no longer trusts.

Opening her East End Toronto home as a safe haven for people ‘at risk’- George, an ex-con and chronic gambler, Tracy, a down and out musician with substance abuse issues, and then Mina, a battered wife – Stevie tries to mend some broken lives, but masks her own issues by burying herself in theirs.

“I’d say get a life,” says her paramedic boyfriend Ben, “but you already have more than one!” Only when she defends Mina against her abusive husband Karl – is Stevie confronted with the real dangers of crossing professional boundaries.

PRODUCTION NOTES

SCRIPT

Conceived as a contemporary character driven story foregrounding issues of particular concern to women, and inspired by a very particular local neighborhood environment, the script was developed with input from cast members, especially Astrid Van Wieren.

CAST

The movie was produced as an ACTRA (performers union) co-op.

SHOOTING SCHEDULE

Following a one day promo/test shoot the feature was shot over 17 days in over 20 locations, utilizing a modestly sized core crew.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, and local neighborhood merchants contributed a very generous amount of grass roots support towards realizing this project, enabling use of locations, loaning art works and props, and providing catering assistance. As well, over 100 individuals made cash donations towards the cost of equipment and vehicle rentals, and to helping to underwrite a portion of our Post production expenses. (The project was realized without government assistance.)

SOUNDTRACK

Original Music was composed by Andy Trithardt, with Songs from Jani Lauzon, Astrid Van Wieren, Jean Luc Bonspiel, Murray Foster, and The Cat House Dogs.

POST

Picture & Sound Editing & Mixing were completed in Toronto and Milton, Ontario.