As mentioned last week, I also spoke to Sasha Duncan for RNG2025. As we all know, Run N Gun has been happening for a decade, and there’s been lots of interesting submissions, me being in one of them. Now back to Sasha, who works on the team of RNG helping out Joel McCarthy. What does she do in her job for the festival? Here’s the scoop.
HNMAG: RNG has been around for 10 years now. When did you first get involved?
Sasha Duncan: I got involved in 2020 as a co-organizer and I ran the Quarantine Performance Project where everyone has to make films within their household and do monologues. Then when everything came back open in 2021, I stayed working with Joel and we ran that first Run N Gun together.
HNMAG: And how do you feel about it lasting so long?
Sasha Duncan: I think it’s really amazing, I know that when Joel, Ashton, and Charles started the festival, they just wanted something to let people make films with their friends. That’s what the festival’s rooted in and it’s really cool to see it grow into this big celebration of creativity and a throng of filmmakers across BC. I think it’s really cool that it’s gotten so big and so long, and I think the reason for that is because so many people are hungry to just tell stories and make things. I hope it keeps lasting because I think it’s great to have an excuse to make something you love.
HNMAG: And what are your prime responsibilites as a co-director?
Sasha Duncan: I’m the co-director who’s like the grownup in the room (laughs). I deal with all our partnerships and sponsorships, and grant applications and sort running the business part of Run N Gun, like the business for Non-Profit. We got off the profit status in 2021, so we are kind of official and I do bulk of the programming, Joel obviously weighs in. I was the programmer in Vancouver Short Film Festival for a couple of years, and I think that’s it.
HNMAG: How difficult can the job be sometimes?
Sasha Duncan: I think the trick with Run N Gun is so much happens when you’re done and there’s about 6 or 8 weeks between the shoot and the festival which means a lot of work has to happen and I think that can be stressful on the team. Keeping a non-profit these days, economic times are hard to get people into seats and sustain it that way. But I’m hopeful because so many people worked on our films this year and we’re very stoked we’ll have a full theatre.
HNMAG: What major discussions do you have with Joel about planning things out? With venues and event dates?
Sasha Duncan: We love being at the Rio, the Rio is where it started. That’s where we keep a lot of our screenings. It is an independent theatre, Karin has worked so hard to keep it open. The Rio’s sort of like a given, and honestly the Rio has gotten bigger, the Orpheum is sort of the only theatre in Vancouver proper. It has enough seats and the capability to play these movies. But it’s less of a discussion and more of a necessity. As a team we look at what venues make sense, but also it’s just how many people come to Run N Gun.
HNMAG: What are some the advantages of the job?
Sasha Duncan: Advantages? (Laughs) I get to see everyone’s work and it’s definitely great so we’re being aware of all the amazing creatives working in BC. I kind of like picking one of the 6 themes that go on our dice when getting drawn in prize elements. Some of the organizations that sponsor us like DGC BC, Sun Belt and all of those. I think number 1 is definitely getting to see and meet all of the creatives.
HNMAG: Besides working at RNG, what else do you do?
Sasha Duncan: My day job is a creative executive at an animation and live-action TV company. But I’m also a writer/director, I won the 2023 MPPIA Short Film Award, and I worked on pitching a feature. It was based on that short, and it premieres this summer. I like to make things with my friends too, I just don’t happen to be making films now, with running the festival.
HNMAG: Have you ever tried making a RNG film before?
Sasha Duncan: Yeah, I almost made a Run N Gun the first year. Joel and I actually met, we got funded for Storyhive, and the first round of web series that they did. My friend and I just wrapped the pilot then and she was like “They’re doing a 48 hour film festival, should we do it?” And I was like “No, I’m too tired. I’m editing this pilot and I can’t end work” and then I had to leave the city. By the time I came back, Run N Gun was over and I missed my chance. I’m hopeful to be taking on Shits N Giggles this year because Joel will be taking over and I’ll get to participate.
HNMAG: Why do you help with co-directing?
Sasha Duncan: I really believe in creating community and supporting artists. I also really like developing things and Run N Gun. I definitely helped support it by getting not-for-profit status and financial sponsors and all those other great supportive things. I exposed my personal love of taking something that’s great and making it even better. Bringing people together, especially creative people.
HNMAG: What would you really like to see happen in a RNG film or at a future event?
Sasha Duncan: For it to be shorter than 4 minutes? No, it’s hard to tell a story in less than 4 minutes. I feel like I haven’t seen mermaids, we should see a mermaid. I don’t know, seems like everything’s been done. I would just like to be surprised by a Run N Gun Film and I often am. At the event, we have some really cool surprise performers, so I’m pretty stoked for those this year.
HNMAG: What are you looking most forward to for this year’s?
Sasha Duncan: I’m looking forward to how far Run N Gun has gone these past 10 years.
I can’t wait to see the improvements either, and the time is coming super soon. Come on, grab those tickets while you can. It’s sure to be the best festival ever this year.
