Ensemble Film Group Productions is Miriam Laurence’s production company. Its aim is to create quality low-budget films based on a cooperative model. From 1999 to 2003, Ms. Laurence produced and directed four short films featuring actors from her intermediate and advanced classes. In these projects 6 to 8 intermediate actors were part of a class that worked in a process-oriented short film. Group and individual on-camera craft work, personal investigative work and character creation led to video-taped reality-based improvisations. These improvisations became the basis for an original shooting script. The projects were shot and edited by professionals on digital video.

In 2004 Miriam directed an experimental short, Wheel and Clay, for which she received a grant from the Ontario Arts Council as well as Rue the Day, a short film with three characters.

In 2007 Miriam received a substantial grant from the Ontario Arts Council for her upcoming short, The Proust Swindle, which will feature Madeleine Sherwood and Alex Rice. Rue the Day, premiered at the Los Angeles International Film Festival in 2005. Smokin’ Joe was accepted and screened at the 2003 Toronto Online Film Festival. Miriam is currently developing a few more shorts as well as her first feature film.

For more information on Rue the Day, or to see the poster click here.

Thanks to: Devin Gallagher for EFG Logo
Special thanks to: Lilah, Caleb & Laurence Gilman;
Cara Gallagher; Sundance Nuttall; Ryan Hanna; Emmerson Denney;
Seneca College and Rose Dubin, Programme Coordinator of the
Performance Certificate Programme, Seneca College
Stephen Petrie and Shawn Smith
Castaway Casting Facility
Brenda Darling