Blood Pressure (film)

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Blood Pressure is a 2012 Canadian film co-written, directed and produced by Sean Garrity. The film stars Michelle Giroux as a pharmacist who is unhappy with her life and marriage, who starts to receive letters from an anonymous admirer, asking her to undertake increasingly risky activities. [1]

Contents

Production

The idea for the film originated in a writer's group in the Neighbourhood Bookstore and Cafe in Wolseley, Winnipeg, and is based on a story by the film's cowriter Bill Fugler. Garrity then added narrative elements to bring the idea to the big screen. The director had planned to shoot the film in Winnipeg when a sudden career opportunity for his wife led to them relocating to Toronto. Garrity found the expense of shooting in a big city to be financially and physically draining, compared to his experiences in his native Winnipeg. In an effort to find a big enough house for the film's middle-class main characters, who would not be able to afford such a large residence in Toronto, Garrity ended up filming in suburban Richmond Hill, Ontario. [2] [3]

Giroux, better known as a stage actress and friend of cast member Jonas Chernick, was originally brought in simply to read with the male actors during pre-production. But she so impressed Garrity that she was chosen for lead role over other actresses with more film experience. [4]

Release

Blood Pressure premiered in Winnipeg on February 22, 2013 with sold out screenings at the city's Cinematheque, followed by a run at the Empire Theatres 8 in Grant Park, Winnipeg starting Mar. 8. The film opened in Toronto at The Royal Theatre on March 15, and was moved to the Carlton Theatre on March 22, where it was held over. The film reportedly averaged $3000 per screen in Toronto and Winnipeg, according to distributor Flying Horsie Films. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 Quan, Danielle Ng See (2 April 2013). "Sean Garrity's Blood Pressure rises on Toronto, Calgary screens". Playback . Brunico Communications. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Knight, Chris (3 March 2013). "Blood Pressure, reviewed: Indie film's pulse fiction will get under your skin". National Post . Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Lazowski, Anna (February 21, 2013). "Sean Garrity's "Blood Pressure" digs into our untapped desires". SCENE. CBC Manitoba . Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  4. ↑ Skinner, Jesse (March 14, 2013). "SEAN GARRITY'S 'BLOOD PRESSURE'". Toro . Archived from the original (Interview) on May 16, 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
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