West Galt's Elanna Rossdeutscher has been bold in the pursuit of her dreams.
At 18 years old, she moved out of Cambridge and into Toronto's east end to follow a passion for acting and filmmaking.
It was a decision that led her through the creative process for her latest film, Fire Escape, based in the heart of her hometown.
Each night she lived in the country's biggest city, she'd return to her apartment and sit with her feet dangling out the window listening to a neighbour play the saxophone on his balcony.
The smooth sound of the saxophonist started putting her mind to work.
"I kept hearing it every night and I thought it would be so interesting if that person and I, we just yelled over to each other," Rossdeutscher said.
"I started coming up with a story. If someone called across, or called below, what would that conversation be?"
But before being able to put her ideas into action, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Rossdeutscher moved back to Cambridge.
Her return taught her a critical lesson; the importance of community and personal interactions, an aspect of everyday life that can often be lost in a big city.
It all led her to the plot for her drama film that sees a young jazz musician fall for a woman fleeing a relationship of abuse, showing how love comes together.
Cambridge Community Players, Churchill Park, EVO Kitchen and Bar, Monigram Coffee Roasters and of course the fire escape at 13 Food and Beverage are all featured.
"This is me wanting to give back to my community," Rossdeutscher said.
"I think people from Cambridge that are coming to this premiere, it'll be like a little love letter to them."
Rossdeutscher was introduced to acting at a young age when her mother served as a theatre director. At 16, she received her first movie gig in what she describes as a "sketchy thriller."
Since then, she's acted, written and directed with a purpose of making people think through the stories she tells in front of the camera.
"I love how you can tell a story," she said of why she loves her job.
"Right now, what I'm trying to tell with all my stories, I want people to be able to empathize with their enemy. I think its fun to take people's first impression of characters, as we do with people in our lives, and flip it. Everyone's flawed and no one's perfect."
Regardless of where her career goes, Rossdeutscher wants to continue to stay grounded and connected to the audience she's responsible for entertaining.
"I want to always make sure that with my films, I'm still focusing on what I can show and tell people," she said.
"My biggest goal with any of my films is to give people a sense of euphoria, or just to leave for a second, but when they come back I want them to start answering questions in their life."
Farm League Brewing is hosting the premiere of Fire Escape on Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
