Tucked away in the heart of downtown Vancouver, there’s a condo tower that’s home to long-time members of Canada’s performing arts professions: singers, actors, costume designers, dancers, filmmakers, playwrights, jazz musicians, and more. Now picture this: on Easter Saturday, the residents of Vancouver’s Performing Arts Lodge wake up to discover jazz singer and beloved tenant Don Stewart has unexpectedly died after a Good Friday performance at a neighbourhood bar. But as news travels between his creative and colourful neighbours, the story of Don’s pass takes on a life of its own. Every resident has their own version of what really happened to Don on Good Friday and each version is stranger than the last—until an Easter Monday revelation takes these entertainers and artists by complete surprise. THE DAY DON DIED is a thought-provoking doc about gossip, false news, and the death of a jazz singer in a condo community for aging showbiz veterans. This 14min short film blends non-fiction interviews with musical performances and cinematic recreations. It takes a heartfelt look at the ways we knowingly and unknowingly spread misinformation and false news. Best Documentary Short, Reel Shorts Film Festival (Grand Prairie, AB), 2019 Best Canadian Short, Northwest Fest (Edmonton, AB), 2019
