Morningside feels like a love letter to Scarborough. Directed by Ron Dias, the film follows seven individuals whose lives interconnect at a fictitious community centre in Toronto’s east end. As each of them navigate complicated relationships and big dreams, the threat of gentrification and violence in the region puts their hopes and safety at risk.
A passion project years in the making, Dias and co-writer Joanne Jansen (who also stars in the film) were able to bring this story to life with the help of some notable collaborators. Among them are Fear Street scream queen Kiana Madeira and Canadian pop-punk singer Fefe Dobson. They not only star in Morningside — Madeira as a caring community centre manager and Dobson as a considerate girlfriend of one of the centre’s security guards — but they are also credited as executive producers.
It didn’t take much convincing for both to assist the director in bringing his vision to life. Madeira received the script early on, and was quick to jump on a project that highlights underrepresented voices within the GTA. As for Dobson, who grew up in Scarborough, she had always wanted to partner with Dias creatively. A chat with him at one of her concerts was enough to get her on board.
In a conversation with SheDoesTheCity, both stars went into detail about their drive to honour the Scarborough community, their experience getting into character and working closely with their scene partners, as well as mentally preparing to shoot an intense Morningside sequence. They also talked about their upcoming career plans, which include a Malcolm in the Middle revival and a summer tour with Avril Lavigne.
On top of starring in Morningside, both of you came in as executive producers. What about this story convinced you to get involved in front of the camera and behind the scenes?
Kiana: I’ve been friends with Ron (Dias) and Joanne (Jansen) for a while, and I know how hard they worked to get this movie made for years. When they approached me to act in it, I really wanted to also jump on as an executive producer and do anything I could to help. It was a win-win-win. Working with friends and working with my husband, Lovell (Adams-Gray) has been amazing.
Fefe: Ron is a big part of why I was on board and it’s because he’s an amazing human. I was in Toronto doing a show, and he asked me if I would sit down and hear about this project. He told me about it, and I was like, ‘brother, I got your back’. We always wanted to work together on something. We tried to make a music video for a song called “She’s a Wild Bitch”. It had a ‘60s French noir vibe, but we never released it. I was also born and raised in Scarborough. I lived on Kingston Road in Galloway, so it meant a lot to me.
Kiana, you recently starred in Brother, another film that took place in Scarborough. How was the experience of returning to this community you’ve gotten to know through that previous project?
Kiana: It’s been amazing because the community is so welcoming. I learned that the first time around with Brother. Just the strong sense of unity, of care, of passion, of empathy. Although the movies are so different and the stories are so different, the heart of Scarborough has remained the same. Being from Mississauga, they continuously welcome me with open arms and allow me to speak on behalf of it in a way that feels like a big responsibility, because Scarborough is such an important part of Toronto. I’m really glad that stories are being told that highlight it and put it on the map, and I hope that Brother and Morningside are just the first of many.
Fefe, you’re primarily known for your music, but you’ve done a bit of acting here and there. Why was this the right moment to make an onscreen comeback?
Fefe: Ron’s an amazing friend, and he kind of carved out the character for me in a lot of ways. There was something about her. She’s got a sweetness to her. I would never wear blue and she wears a lot of blue. That was one of the things that Ron put me through. I always wear black and he was like, ‘there are going to be no black leather jackets in this.’ It was nice to steer myself away from my music and my identity. I like trying new things and challenging myself.
Kiana, your character is in some ways a motherly figure to Shanice (Joanne Jansen), and Fefe, your character grounds Josh (Alex Mallari Jr.). Can you share about your experiences working with your respective scene partners in Morningside?
Fefe: I wouldn’t classify myself as an actor. I’m a guest in the house of acting, and when I work alongside anyone in that field, I watch and learn. It’s very different from walking on set for a music video. Here you have to come in humbly and respect the craft. That’s really what I was doing. Paying attention to different things Alex does and trying to take it in and learn.
Kiana: Wow, that’s really cool Fefe. Being present and observant coming onto the set actually allows you to be an amazing actor. That’s why your performance is so strong.
Fefe: Thanks girl!
Kiana: Of course! Working with Joanne was incredible, because her heart is in the story as a co-writer of it. I could feel how much she cared about it, and that made me care about it a lot too. Anytime I was in a scene with her, she just gave it her all, and we really met each other right at that place. It was really nice to play a sort of maternal figure. This was also my first time literally playing a mom on screen with Sage (Arrindell), the actress who plays my daughter, which was amazing.
At the same time that this film highlights the talented and tight-knit community in Scarborough, it also points out the continued struggle with violence in the region. That is expressed through an intense moment in the movie. Can you share about how you approached that day on set, and prepared yourself to tackle the raw emotions that the scene demanded?
Kiana: It was definitely a more intense day on set. I know that sequence meant a lot to everyone involved, especially Ron. You could feel the energy was just quieter on set. I think everyone just really wanted to respect the story. It was definitely intense to put ourselves there mentally and I think everyone did a really good job of just respecting the stakes and respecting the story.
Fefe: There were some heavy days, for sure. For me, it was when we were going to do the outdoor scene with the police officer and I had to be pulled over. I’m super emo, so when we got there, we drove past my childhood home in Wilcox Creek. It’s the last home I lived in with my family before I left at 16 to start my first album, and it brought a lot of emotions. It for sure helped me to get into that scene.
With Morningside out now in theaters, what do you hope people take away from the film?
Kiana: I really hope story-wise, that people can see how much the community cares. It is really easy to think only about profit, even in terms of gentrification. I hope that this film shows people that the decisions of one person can affect a whole community, whether that’s in a good way or a bad way. As long as we can band together and actually have empathy and patience with one another, we can build the city in a way that truly matters.
Outside of the story, I really hope that filmmakers of all ages in Canada can see that it can be done. Ron and Joanne are paving the way for artists in the city and in the country, because of what they’ve done with the film and how hard they’ve worked to get it made.
Fefe: That’s true, I can’t say it better. Honestly, for me, it’s just to walk out of there and feel loved. Take the time to hug your people, because life is so short, and there’s just a ripple effect, and we’re all affected. Just walk out knowing that we all have stories, and some of them are painful, and some of them are inspiring.
After promoting Morningside, you will both be busy with other exciting opportunities. Kiana, you’ve been cast in the revival of Malcolm in the Middle and Fefe, you are going on tour with Avril Lavigne this summer. What can you share about what’s next on your plates?
Kiana: My inner child is beaming, because I’ve always been a huge fan of Malcolm in the Middle. It’s the original cast, and I already met Frankie Muniz in person during the chemistry read, and he was so kind. I cried when I found out that I was going to be in it. So I am very excited about that.
I’ve been doing a lot of intense roles. One is a survival thriller called Titan, which was shot in the Amazon rainforest. Another film that I starred in and executive produced is called Baby Love, where I played an MMA fighter on the brink of self-destruction. Those two are coming out this year, and now I’m really excited to pivot to a lighter and comedic space with Malcolm in the Middle.
Fefe: Malcolm in the Middle, hell yeah, that’s awesome! I’m in the middle of trying to get back in the studio and write a new album, but I have to wait until inspiration hits me. I write a lot about the heart and my mind goes very deeply into love, so I have to, I don’t know, get my heart broken or something. But yeah, I’m going on tour with Avril and then I have a bunch of festival shows, so it’s going to be a busy summer. I’m excited!
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