Shayla's Money (2020)

Shayla's Money is a fictional short film that is a satirical drama that explores the dynamics of a contentious relationship between two Caribbean-Canadian immigrant sisters who meet for a drink at a in Vancouver, BC. One sister believes that she's meeting her sister for a fun, sisterly-bonding mid-morning chat, while the other sister has an alternative agenda. As the film progresses, viewers will learn that the older sister wants money from the younger sister to travel to their birth island St. Lucia to participate in Carnival. However, the older sister quickly realizes that getting the money is going to be a lot harder than she thought. Shayla is a 34-year old free-spirited party animal who challenges the traditional perception that women in their 30s should have their life figured out. Shanice, 27, is Shayla's younger sister. As Shayla's self-appointed life, career and moral compass, Shanice wastes no time in pointing out Shayla's zany, disastrous financial escapades with her several of her ex-boyfriends. Through the use of flashbacks, viewers are taken on a humorous and quirky tour filled with an exaggerated key moment with one of Shayla's wacky, narcissistic ex-boyfriends and the ensuing monetary faux pas. Set in a studio, the film also explores complicated interconnections between sibling rivalries, immigration, financial and career instability, nostalgia, feminine sexuality, breakups, gender and cultural identity and romantic relationships. The film's ending is an homage to having fun with viewers who will be given an opportunity to make their own interpretation-will Shayla resort to using her feminine charm or will she use another method?