Writer, co-director, executive producer

Named Vancouver's YWCA Woman of Distinction in the category of Arts, Culture & Design, Mary-Jo is an award-winning writer who has worked on brands ranging from Nike Canada to various Olympics-sponsorships. Her writing was called "A masterpiece in urban satire that will have you laughing so hard you'll glow," by Canada's Globe and Mail. Her one-woman show Glowing: A Reproduction Production was hailed a “real crowd pleaser” by the CBC and her TEDx Talk, which aims to debunk the "broken home" mythology and serves as the inspiration behind the live action short Never Broken, was deemed a “crowd favourite”. Her writing has appeared in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and the Huffington Post. She is the recipient of Canada's highest honour, a Governor General's medal in recognition of her philanthropic efforts, specifically as it pertains to single moms living in poverty. In 2022, she completed her Masters of Screenwriting at the University of London. Never Broken marks her directorial debut.

Co-director, editor

Jeff is the creator of the web series Tiki Bar TV, co-founder of the gaming company RocketChicken Interactive, Inc. and of the Virtual Reality start-up, Motive.io. During the Macworld 2005 Keynote, Steve Jobs showcased Tiki Bar TV, and the next day, Tiki Bar TV moved to the #1 slot in the iTunes Podcast charts. In a previous life, Jeff was a producer of music videos and television commercials, and he directed the feature Come Together which was part of both the Vancouver International Film Festival and the New York International Independent Film Festival. Jeff has been featured in Wired magazine, The National Post, Businessweek, CBC's The National, Forbes Magazine, and CBS News.

Producer

Joely is a Canadian, British award-winning producer, director, and actress, and founder of Million Faces Productions. She has worked with major studios, broadcasters, and networks and has created, delivered, and sold content to the global market.

Her feature film Becoming Redwood became an instant hit on the festival circuit and won the Best Canadian Feature Film Award at the Edmonton International Film Festival, the Most Popular Canadian Film Award and Honourable Mention Best Canadian Feature at the Vancouver International Film Festival. She is the producer of the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning TELUS digital series CODED, which was lauded with over 20 awards internationally on the festival circuit.

As an advocate for diversity and inclusivity in the film industry, Joely is passionate about creating more dynamic roles for women and underrepresented voices on and off screen.

She is the wind beneath our wings, the fuel in our tank, and the beat-beat-beat of our heart. (The day she agreed to join the Never Broken team, is the day this film took flight.)

Director of Photography

While his list of impressive credits is simply too long to condense, David’s work spans the last three-plus decades and includes hit titles like Lucifer, Cedar Cove, and the recent Netfix feature Rescued by Ruby. However, his contribution to the industry goes much deeper than just what we see on screen. Deeply committed to projects that – as he says – “fill my bucket” and give a voice to the underrepresented, it’s no surprise he hopped on board to tell the story of a single parent who will do whatever it takes to provide for her young child. (And we couldn’t be more thankful to him for it.) As a multi-award-winning filmmaker, he honed his craft from apprentice to cinematographer and is now directing, working alongside some of the biggest and most well-respected names in the business. He is a long-standing member of the Canadian Academy of Film and TV, the International Cinematographers Guild, the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, and the Directors Guild of Canada. Oh, and in case it’s not obvious, we positively adore him.

Production Designer

Who better to bring Never Broken’s uniquely 1977 set to life than this guy? Chris is as tireless as they come and when it came to turning back the hands of time 45-years, he dove right in. From Set Dresser to Set Decorator to Production Designer, his credits span the last two decades and include contributing to pop culture favourites like Juno, Alien vs. Predator: Requiem, and The 100. While we’re unsure just how many hours he logged making sure every detail was on point, we know from the rug-hooking on the walls to the macrame hanging from the ceiling, he got it right.

Composer

Amanda is an award-winning British-Canadian composer for film and other media. Her credits include original score for documentaries, TV series, contemporary art productions, and short films like Never Broken.

In 2022, Amanda was honoured to win a Leo Award for Best Musical Score in Documentary Series for Visionary Gardeners, and to receive a Canadian Screen Award and a Canadian Screen Music Award nomination for Best Original Music, Non-Fiction. She has also been nominated for three Leo Awards for Best Musical Score in Documentary Series in previous years. Amanda brings a diverse flavour to projects that demand a distinguishing edge and has a particular aptitude for finding moments to interlace a true sense of enchantment. To say that the Never Broken team felt blessed to have her would be a ginormous understatement.

Costume Designer

How do you recreate all the grooviness of the 1970s when it comes to bringing a character's wardrobe to life? You work with the genius of Tina Tam, that's how. In 2015, Tina shifted from the fashion industry to film and television and, in the years since, has since worked on several big productions such as X Files, Charmed, and Riverdale. Expression through style has been a big part of her creativity since a young age, inspiring her to customize and sew clothing -- and, in addition to overall look and feel, she's personally responsible for some key pieces on the set of Never Broken. She continues to learn about people, cultures, and lifestyles, while taking relevant elements to create believable characters and help bring them to life on the screen. We couldn't have done this without you, Tina!

Sound Engineer

Eric is proof that not all superheroes wear capes. Just ask Mary-Jo and the Never Broken team what they think of this guy, and they’ll all agree. From AC/DC to Justin Bieber, from cinematic soundscapes to soothing meditations and audiobooks – and, of course, short films like Never Broken – Eric will crack the code. Brought-up through the ranks of music production, Eric has worked with the entertainment industry’s most talented and disciplined artists and producers. In addition to hearing his work on household brands like lululemon, Tostitos, and Sleeman Breweries, now audiences around the world can hear every perfected detail from a strategically placed ambulance siren to a dog barking in the background in Never Broken.

Associate Producer

After working with Livent’s productions of Showboat and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Ladawne grew hooked on the thrill of production. A senior project manager and event producer with some of this country’s top advertising agencies, Ladawne has been producing unforgettable creative and promotional experiences for more than 20 years. From large-scale fundraisers to brand campaigns, she has managed almost every aspect of bringing a vision to life. Driven by details and passionate about making sh*t happen, Ladawne is pumped to make her foray into film, drawing inspiration from the various roles she’s occupied. (And you and your Google docs obsession positively nailed it, LDS!)