Toronto writer and filmmaker Vanessa Magic recalls having her first nightmare when she was five — around the same time she saw someone die in a car crash. Her intense dreams, she says, were a way to cope with trauma.
Since then, Magic has taken note of the “storytelling” her brain does while she’s asleep, and has become fascinated with sleep disorders, which are the inspiration for her 2024 horror film, “How to Stay Awake.” The short will have its Toronto premiere at the Blood in the Snow Film Festival Monday at the Isabel Bader Theatre, where it has been nominated for two Bloodies Awards for best editing and best sound design.
“How to Stay Awake” is a five-minute black-and-white experimental silent film about sleep paralysis, depicting one of Magic’s real-life experiences with the frightening condition, when the mind is awake but the body is not.
Magic was dealing with a lot of stress when she felt what she describes as “skeleton fingers” digging into her left side after she woke up from a nap, as she struggled to move her body.
“It felt like skeleton fingers just pressing harder and harder,” Magic says. “And then I snapped out of it. And when I woke up, I could still feel the pressure on my side.”
Magic spoke to the Star about the art that inspires her and the therapeutic benefits of filmmaking.
How does directing and producing help you get through life’s challenges?
I used to have a lot of nightmares that would just throw my day off-kilter and put me in this state where I would feel really uneasy. So I would do this nightmare therapy, where you take your nightmare and you write it out. Then at the end, you write the more favourable ending. In doing so, somehow the brain would stop the nightmares. This always worked for me.
In my real life, it was sad how the story ended, but by making films I can make the ending. That’s the best thing about filmmaking, especially if you’re diving into something personal: you have the option to make (life) how you actually want it to be.
As a Toronto filmmaker, how does it feel to bring “How to Stay Awake” to a local audience? And what are you looking forward to the most at the Blood in the Snow Festival?
Blood in the Snow is such a special festival because they’re trying to get more diverse voices into genre and horror. I feel like marginalized people have more horror stories than anybody else, so that aspect feels so natural in a way. If you look at horror films besides the Jordan Peeles of the world, horror is still a very white male space, so I love Blood in the Snow because they’re always trying to push other voices.
I’m excited for Toronto audiences to see (the film) because I made it with Toronto people. Everyone involved just came out to help and do it, and we just made this weird thing. I feel very lucky.
Are there any recent films or TV shows you’d recommend?
I just saw “The Substance” when I was at TIFF and I really loved that. I keep telling people to watch it, but you have to like body horror, and I think it goes beyond body horror. I really like the filmmaker (Coralie Fargeat).
Any new music that has caught your attention or oldies that you can’t stop listening to?
Usually for all of my films, I’ll make playlists. For “How to Stay Awake,” there was a lot from this woman named Nala Sinephro and (her) space rock. I was listening to Alice Coltrane, Sun Ra and Julius Eastman as well. I feel like music and cinema goes hand in hand. It helps create a vibe and a mood.
Do you have any good reads to recommend?
Yeah, totally! There’s an anthology series of Black horror called “Out There Screaming” (edited) by Jordan Peele. It’s real good. And it’s nice if you want a short book on the go.
Another book I really enjoyed is “A Cosmology of Monsters” by Shaun Hamill. Another one that I loved is “Carnival” by Rawi Hage, a Montreal-based writer. I also like “River Mumma” by Canadian author Zalika Reid-Benta.
What is your favourite genre of film or TV to work on?
I like dramas and all genres. But whatever it is, there needs to be a dash of comedy. I think there’s so much stuff on TV that’s so heavy, and we need just one tiny laugh. I will do anything, but I just need one laugh.
How do other forms of art inspire you?
It’s great to watch what other people do. We’re not reinventing any wheels. It’s like every single story has been already told. But it’s just watching the lens through which they’re told. Cinema and art and music have been getting more progressive over time. It’s nice to see what other people are doing. Watching “The Substance,” I was like, “This is amazing,” because I’ve never seen body horror done by a woman in this way.
What do you like to do in Toronto during your free time?
When I have free time, I love to go to the movies. I love to go to Lightbox, or if there’s a play, I’ll go to a play. I love watching theatre actors; they’re just so remarkable and amazing. I think the last thing I saw was “Three Sisters” at Soulpepper, which was incredible. I like to go to comedy shows. Sometimes I go to Comedy Bar and check out improv or sketch or standup. I also train in Muay Thai and I love to bake. I make a killer chocolate chip cookie.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
