Film alum takes feature film from the classroom to the big screen

When Film alum Luke Villemaire was halfway through the Image Arts program a few years ago, he had an idea for a micro-budget feature film. With scriptwriting, fundraising and filming starting in 2016 and post-production completing in 2022, the mystery and drama-filled film Goliath is now available for viewing online. 

A powerpoint and a dream

The film, which was written, directed and produced by Villemaire himself, was originally conceived at The Creative School while Villemaire was a student in the Film program. He explains that he wanted to see if he and his peers could produce a micro-budget feature film that looked and felt competitive to what larger companies were producing. 

With an original goal of spending just $30,000 with a team of his peers working on the film, the project soon exceeded expectations and became bigger than Villemaire ever expected.

“In the Summer of 2015, I had a powerpoint and a dream: To produce a feature film with a crew of my peers from across The Creative School for approximately $30,000. The project ended up costing significantly more, and became much larger than I could have anticipated,” he said. “We ended up working with film students across the GTA - and the project helped many of us get our start in the industry. We also raised over $50,000 through crowdfunding, and secured additional grants and sponsorship from the community where we shot the film.”

A stepping stone to success

During the Film program, Villemaire was heavily involved with extracurriculars, experiential learning opportunities and networking to increase his skillset – and he encourages current students to do the same. 

“I am very grateful for the hands-on and experiential learning opportunities I had during my time at TMU, and I encourage students to seek extracurriculars as a way of further honing their soft skills and building a network of support,” he said. “I ended up doing my undergraduate degree in six years instead of the traditional four. It allowed me to take full advantage of the wonderful extracurricular programs that the university provides.”

For students looking to break into the film industry, Villemaire advises to find a strong support system to guide you and to always give back to your community.

“I’ve found that finding mentors and allies you trust, who can help guide you along the way, is key. Also making sure to keep the door open for others as you make advancements in your career,” he said. “Filmmaking is a team sport, and should be treated as such. It’s also an immense privilege to tell stories using this medium.”

Spotlighting Goliath

What started as an idea in a classroom is now a full feature film available for streaming on all major video-on-demand platforms. Even with obstacles and hurdles along the way, Villemaire says he is grateful for how the film turned out and expresses gratitude to those who supported and encouraged him during the process. 

To learn more and watch the film, visit the Goliath website (external link, opens in new window)  and follow the team on social media (external link, opens in new window) .

The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University

The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.