Two wanna-be players in Hollywood North meet with actor/producer Lorne Cardinal to pitch ideas for a blockbuster sequel.

Creative team

Writer/director/producer: Jay Cardinal Villeneuve
Producer: Doreen Manuel

Director’s statement

Jay Cardinal Villeneuve says:

“Reserved for Hollywood was conceived from an original TV series concept which was created by me and fellow supporting actor and friend Christopher Thiele.

APTN had a contest for their shortcuts program, in collaboration with the Indigenous Independent Digital Filmmaking (IIDF) program at Capilano University in Vancouver, so we decided to enter last minute and I quickly wrote up a script that couldn’t be any longer than five pages.

We somehow managed to get Lorne Cardinal on board (I thank IIDF program co-ordinator Doreen Manuel for that) and with his generous support, guidance and expertise, not to mention the small outstanding crew, we ended up with a little short film that won first place thanks to online votes from viewers. It was broadcast to a national audience on APTN in February 2011.

I’m proud of the win and feel honoured the short has been selected for the NSI Online Short Film Festival. I’m now developing Reserved for Hollywood into a half-hour comedy series for television.”

About Jay Cardinal Villeneuve

Jay (Cree/Metis) grew up in Slave Lake, Alberta and currently lives and works in Vancouver, BC.

After graduating high school with drama honors, Jay received a performing arts scholarship and studied Theatre and Visual Fundamentals in College before moving to the west coast to pursue a career in the film industry.

He graduated on the Dean’s List from Capilano University receiving a Diploma in Indigenous Independent Digital Filmmaking and a Certificate of Achievement in Cinematography for Film & Video.

Specializing in writing and directing with a passion for cinematography and editing, Jay’s numerous short films have played at film festivals across North America.

His cult favourite Plethora of Idiots was an official selection at the 2008 Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival, while his experimental music video no dogs and no Indians allowed was an official selection at the 2010 imagineNATIVE film festival.

His documentary The Hanging of Louis Riel premiered at the prestigious 2010 American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco CA.

In the summer of 2010 his controversial and stunning neo-noir crime drama Indigenous Streets – a Native Gangster tale screened at the legendary Rio Theatre in Vancouver and received an Honorable Mention for Best Student Film at the 2011 Los Angeles Movie Awards Film Festival.

A natural performer and full member of the Union of BC Performers, Jay’s award-winning acting credentials range from theatre to independent film and television including a stage rendition of George Orwell’s 1984 in college and Global TV’s The Guard. Jay also has a reoccurring role as the Trickster on the APTN animated series Animism – The God’s Lake.

Jay aspires to produce dramatic and documentary feature films and hopes to inspire youth through cinematic storytelling. It is said that storytellers have the power to heal the spirit and he encourages our next generation to be creative and follow their dreams just like he did while growing up in a small town in northern Alberta.

Jay is a proud family man who volunteers in his community and works part-time as a 35mm film projectionist.