Class of 2024 Yorkville University grad William Gauthier ended the year on not one, but a trio of high notes – graduating from the Bachelor of Creative Arts program in September, and launching his new production company, Studio Vallion, and wrapping the studio’s first short, Resilient Hope, in November.
Founded alongside his fellow Toronto Film School alums Alyssa Duncan and Josh Boutros, Gauthier said he created Studio Vallion as both a vehicle for the stories he wants to tell and as a home for the “invaluable collaborators” that make it possible for him to do so.
“Launching Studio Vallion is an important step in my career. It’s more than just starting a company – it’s about creating the foundations of what allows me to maintain my independence as a filmmaker and bring to life the stories I truly care about,” he said.
“I feel fortunate, in this endeavour, to be surrounded by friends and collaborators who are invaluable to what we aim to achieve – many of whom I was lucky to first meet during my time as a student at Toronto Film School.”
In fact, he added, the studio’s first short, Resilient Hope, featured a crew that consisted primarily of TFS Film Production graduates – including Duncan as Producer, Boutros as Associate Producer and DMT technician, Emery Woods as 1st Assistant Director, Han Liu as 1st Assistant Camera, Kaeleigh Sinclair as 2nd Assistant Camera, Evan Veal as Production Sound Mixer, Christian Protogeros as Production Designer, Gabriel St-Louisas BTS Photographer, Roberto Lambraño as Best Boy, Alexander McDowell as Key Grip, Isabela Popolizio as Editor / Sound Designer, and Malcolm Green as Composer.
Written and directed by Gauthier, Resilient Hope is the story of a small family dealing with the painful reality of their mother’s struggle with addiction as she returns home from a long absence.
“While this story is fictional, the initial spark came from someone close to me struggling beyond what is reasonable through his own mother’s alcoholism,” he said of the short, which was was shot in November and is expected to wrap post-production in March 2025.
Once complete, Gauthier said his full attention will then turn to Studio Vallion’s first feature film – a French-Canadian drama called Le Phénix, which is currently in the final stages of writing. Principal photography is expected to begin on that project in 2026.
For more information about Studio Vallion, go to https://www.instagram.com/studiovallion/
Behind the Scenes of the ‘Resilient Hope’ Shoot:
