Lasagna Run
Local Filmmaker Tackles Anxiety with Humour and Comfort Food
By Taylor Onski
Inspired by his childhood love for Nintendo 64, adventures with his siblings in “the magic field” by his house, the thrill of seeing Jaws for the first time, and struggles with anxiety, local filmmaker James Livitski created his first short film, Lasagna Run.
“Making Lasagna Run was to embrace my anxiety, because I can’t get rid of it. Instead of it making me feel terrible, I'll make a movie to work with it,” says Livitski.
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Livitski was (and still is) a kid with a big imagination. When he was laid off from Universal Music Canada this past April, he decided to use his time (and severance) to re-connect with his inner child.
“With turning 40 this year, I realized I stopped dreaming. So I'm gonna honour little James and start making movies, because that's what I wanted as a kid,” says Livitski. “Four years ago, I was living across from the Port Arthur Clinic and all the houses looked the same. I thought it would be hilarious if someone is late for something, but they're just going next door and the whole adventure of getting there is in their mind, spiraling out of control.”
Livitski then wrote the script, and cast Dani Pollari as the lasagna runner and recruited Matt Popowich of Westfort Productions as his cinematographer. Filmed from April to August of last year, Lasagna Run encapsulates the stress, pressure, and lack of control anxiety can put on someone.
“I said to Matt, ‘We gotta get a close-up of her face when she realizes that she's late.’ I wanted people to sit in anxiety, but also laugh at it,” says Livitski.
Livitski honours this beyond the narrative itself, with end credits acknowledging those with anxiety are not alone, and providing a link to resources across Canada.
Livitski received the Outstanding Director Award at the Northern Ontario Music & Film Awards for Lasagna Run, and is now showing the film on the festival circuit, including Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, the New York City Indie Shorts Awards, the Venice International Short Film Festival, and the Indie Fest Film Awards in Los Angeles, where he received an award of merit
“I want to give audiences something to talk about,” he says. “The idea of hearing something and making your own story about what it means to you is something I've always found super awesome. I have dialogue, but I don’t want to tell people what it is. I want them to watch it, and then make what they want of it.”
To keep up with Lasagna Run, Livitski, and his future projects, follow @lasagnarun, @thegentlemanbronco, and @quietfieldstudio on Instagram.
