The new queer film “This Time” is in many ways the more serious current version of “But I’m a Cheerleader” as a young girl runs away from her family who is trying to send her to a conversion camp, to go on a world wind adventure searching for the secrets of her recently deceased elusive father. You will celebrate and cry with Grace as she comes to understand and accept herself and make real friends a long the way. Please read on to learn more about the film, our star Anwen O’Driscoll (Grace), and Jennifer Gibson (Producer and Anne) as they walk us through the importance of “This Time”.

Where are you based?
Anwen O’Driscoll: I’m based in Toronto, Canada.
Jennifer Gibson: Toronto, ON.

What inspired you to get into acting/producing?
Anwen O’Driscoll: My siblings and I were homeschooled, and a way my mom ensured we still got social interaction with other kids was by putting us in community theatre when we were young. I fell in love with acting then, it’s a great passion of mine.

Jennifer Gibson: I had to get into acting because nothing else gives me that rush, high, buzz, whatever you want to call it. It’s addictive, and I keep chasing it! I got into producing and directing because after almost 20 years in the business, I knew I had stories to tell, and I knew how I wanted people to be treated. I’ve done everything on set from background extra to director, and I learned a lot about how NOT to treat people. I’m so proud of how everyone was treated on our set.

Jejune loved your new film This Time! Can you tell us a little bit about the film, and what you hope audiences get from it?
Anwen O’Driscoll: It’s about a young girl's self discovery journey. Finding your chosen family, when you don’t feel like you have one any more. Discovering and loving your identity despite obstacles forced in front of you, and overcoming those. Grace has a great strength that I deeply admire, and I hope our audience can watch and be inspired by that strength and drive that she has.

Jennifer Gibson: Thank you so much, I love hearing that! To me, “This Time” is about finding your people, and the importance of having at least one person who really sees and celebrates you. The Trevor Project, an awesome 2SLGBTQIA organization did a study, and having just one supportive person in a queer person’s life decreases the risk of suicide by 40%. The world needs more Allies, and I hope this film encourages people to get involved.

What is the significance of the title?
Jennifer Gibson: It comes from the Lyrics to the song “Didn’t We” by Liza Minelli. It was originally called “Maybe this Time”, but when we were in editing, I watched Grace and Red sing “This Time”, and asked the director: what about “This Time”?

Jennifer, not only do you play Anne, but you are the producer of This Time. What started your journey with this film and why was it important for you to take that role in addition to acting?
Jennifer Gibson: I’m proud to say that I was part of the inception of the film, even if it was a tiny part! I had worked with our writer, Allie Jennings, on past projects, so when my husband and I wanted to make a coming of age, father-daughter story, I immediately set up a Zoom call with her. Once we had Allie’s amazing script, we brought it to our dear friend who has become family, Sahar Whelan. She so believed in the film and its message that she agreed to finance the film. This film is unique in many ways, including the fact it came together in less than a year with no government grants. We had a story idea in January of 2022, and by December of 2022 the film had been financed, prepped and shot. I have never, in my 25+ years in the business, had that happen. I have to think that everything came together so quickly because this story needed to be told.

Anwen, you play our lead Grace, who is struggling with her sexuality among other things. Why was this role significant for you?
Anwen O’Driscoll: Struggling with my sexuality was fortunately never an issue for me, it was never a problem in my immediate family either. My mother protected me from the people who were not so kind about it. I was very lucky. This role was significant because I could relate in other ways too, I could relate to the father daughter bond, and I also desire to be a part of films that have strong messages for the world. My hope is that I could connect with other queer teens and make them feel seen and heard.

Anwen, what part of Grace’s personality do you love best or can relate to?
Anwen O’Driscoll: I love how stubborn she is. She won’t take no for an answer, even when everyone saying no is supposed to love and support her. She becomes her own rock, and through that fight, finds a chosen family that doesn’t judge, and loves her for who she is.

Grace goes on quite the journey both in finding herself, who her father was, but also getting another father along the way, in Red. What are you hoping the audience got from Red’s character?
Anwen O’Driscoll: I hope something people take away is that there is always someone out there who will love you, and care for you. You just have to find them. You’re never quite alone, even when you feel you are. There is always a light in the darkness.

Anwen, you have a history of playing LGBTQ+ characters, is it particularly important for you to portray this representation? If so, why?
Anwen O’Driscoll: I think representation is important, I am queer myself, so I relate to these characters. Queer stories are rich in complexity, colour, and emotion — it’s why I’m drawn towards them.

Time has been changing a lot of LGBTQ+ representation in film and TV. What about This Time stands out against the other LGBTQ+ films and TV shows out there these days?
Anwen O’Driscoll: This film is also heavily about family, and finding that family who will nurture you as a person. We all deserve that, and crave it. That ties heavily into being queer, because not all queer people get to experience that. I think what’s unique about this film is the drive to find that love, to create those bonds, and that space for yourself.

Jennifer Gibson: We tried to cast authentically out queer actors in every queer role. It made life harder on our fabulous casting director, Larissa Mair, but we thought representation was important. Rob and I are straight allies, so we knew it was vital to prioritize hiring from the LGBTQIA community, both cast and crew. I think this movie is very representative of the folks who made it: Guys, Girls, Gays and Theys!

How can the film and TV industry continue to be more representative of the LGBTQ+ world?
Anwen O’Driscoll: Our worlds are not so separate, and I feel if we change that view it will help. If we stop creating the “us” and “them” mentality. We are all human, who crave friends, family, and love in general. More representation looks like casting more queer people, and I think not always making the queerness the characters entire identity. Making more queer movies!

Jennifer Gibson: More representation of ALL marginalized people! People need to see a version of themselves on screen.

We love how the film has partnered with Free Mom Hugs Canada and the Orlando Youth Association to provide free screenings of the film to LGBTQAI+ youth. Can you tell us a little bit about this and why it is important?
Jennifer Gibson: SO many people, especially queer people, have said “I wish I had this movie when I was a kid”. It made us realize that not everyone has the means or the ways to get to a film festival, so we want to bring the movie to them, at no charge. We have just partnered with Free Mom Hugs in the US for International Allyship Day, so on August 8th, we’ll be screening the film to all 50 chapters of Free Mom Hugs, followed by a live stream panel on how to be an ally to the 2SLGBTQIA community. Now, more than ever, we all have to fight for equality.

Jennifer Gibson you're a founding member of aftermetoo, can you tell us a little bit about this organization and what inspired you to found it?
Jennifer Gibson: I wish I could take credit for founding it, but I really just followed Freya Ravensbergen and Mia Kirschner’s lead, and jumped in after Harvey Weinstein’s crimes were exposed. As a survivor and a mom, I wanted to make sure there were no more #metoo’s, so when Mia and Freya asked me to join Aftermetoo, I was honoured and grateful to have a place for my rage and sadness. It has been really cathartic working alongside other survivors and activists. Aftermetoo.com is always available for anyone who is experiencing sexual harassment or violence at work.

How can we make the entertainment world a safer place?
Jennifer Gibson: With Aftermetoo, we have found overwhelmingly that having women in positions of power in the workplace is the best way to prevent sexual violence at work. It was this fact that led me to directing and producing, so I could make safe, respectful, artistic, collaborative sets.

It has been a crazy past few years, how have you been staying positive?
Anwen O’Driscoll: I have a wonderful family and boyfriend around me that keeps me laughing all the time. They are the most important, and keep my life joyful.

Jennifer Gibson: I lost my dad to cancer at the beginning of the pandemic, so I remind myself in the hard times of what I DO have. Gratitude is really important to me.

What is your motto in life?
Anwen O’Driscoll: Try to see the positive in everything.
Jennifer Gibson: It is what it is.

To learn more about Anwen O’Driscoll and Jennifer Gibson please check out the links below:
Anwen O’Driscoll:
Instagram: @axrrow

Jennifer Gibson:
www.thistimefilm.ca
Instagram: @thistimefilm, @jengibpics
TikTok: @thistimefilm
YouTube: @thistime_film

This Time with Anwen O’Driscoll and Jennifer Gibson