Shelley Thompson

Broadcast Date – September 15, 2021

Our chats will be just that – very conversational not entirely sensible and with any luck totally enjoyable – and what a treat it was to connect with today’s guest. Just days before the East Coast premiere of her first feature film DAWN HER DAD AND THE TRACTOR – which will screen in a Gala Presentation at this year’s FIN ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. Welcome territory indeed as she’s appeared there many times before. Picking up multiple awards for her on-screen work in features like Michael Melski’s thriller THE CHILD REMAINS and Thom Fitzgerald’s dramedy SPLINTERS as well for her work behind the camera – for her short film DUCK DUCK GOOSE. And while she may be best known around the world for her portrayal of Barb Lahey on the long-running series THE TRAILER PARK BOYS… it was interesting to learn that her happy place lies in the role of writer and director… as well as proud mom. Indeed, so much of her real-life world informed her debut feature film – about “a young trans woman and her estranged father who reunite following the death of her mother they begin to restore an old family tractor along with their fractured relationship and come to understand the mechanics of the heart.”

With brilliant performances by Maya V. Henry (who is herself trans) as Dawn and THE TRAILER PARK BOYS‘ own Ricky – Robb Wells as her dad John Andrew – this family dramedy is packed with great laughs and plenty of tears…my favourite kinda combo – so we’ll talk about this marvellous movie and so much more – including the beautiful Nova Scotia spots that served as a backdrop and the awesome Nova Scotia crew that worked so hard behind the scenes. Plus we’ll get to First Things First, play an enlightening round of INsights IN 10 and spin some of the oh-so-amazing music that serves as a soundtrack for DAWN HER DAD AND THE TRACTOR – so with all that ahead we best get to it. Here’s my telephone conversation with the film’s writer-director, the one and only Shelley Thompson. (you’ll find the player at the bottom of the post)

For more on DAWN HER DAD AND THE TRACTOR visit their official website at dawnandherdad.com

To stream the movie as part of FIN Atlantic International Film Festival click here.

For a look at the entire #FIN2021 Program visit their official website at finfestival.ca

We played some great music on the show and all the tracks are available on iTunes. To get a copy for yourself just click no the title – “The Expert” by Rose Cousins, “The Return (Love Comes Back)” by Rose Cousins, “Bliss” by T.Thomason and “King” by Keonté Beals

Take a few extra minutes and watch the last time I had a chance to chat with Shelley Thompson – at the red carpet Gala Presentation of her award-winning performance in Michael Melski’s THE CHILD REMAINS…