M for Minority

By Sam Littlefeather

In M for Minority, Jassleena Kaur, a struggling novelist attempts to adapt her novel on the Komagata Maru into a script for a producer more interested in grants than the actual story. When the producer tries to get Jasleena to write a 'revolutionary' story (a terrorist story)instead of a pioneer story she realizes the producer is not working alone and that his European-Canadian connections have a hidden agenda of retelling an old lie in a new way. This is both one writer’s journey and an eye-opener for anyone working in the Canadian film industry so heavily dependent on grants. Follow Kaur as she tries to consolidate two very different visions of the story of the Komagata Maru in a desperate attempt to have her first feature film produced without compromising her roots or vilifying her ancestors. Republished in digital format with permission by the author.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387233601

Book preview

M for Minority

M FOR MINORITY

Copyright

M for Minority © 2015 Sam Littlefeather.  All rights reserved. © 2017 Digital Edition by Black Lion Books. 

This is a work of fiction. All characters, their distinctive likeness and related elements featured in this book are registered or unregistered trademarks of the author(s). If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by an information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the author’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.  This is a work of parody and/or speculative fiction. All of the characters, names, products, incidents, organizations, religions and dialogue in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used satirically, as parody and/or fictitiously. Snakes and Ladders™ is an unregistered trademark of Sam Littlefeather. All rights reserved. Special thanks: Slaman Kapadia, Vinay Khan, Juss Singh, Sam Metha, Ajay Singh, Lily Tran, Pauline Gill, Deepa Nagra, Richie Dhillon, Asif Virmani, Rup Singh, Flores Magon, Naleena Kaur.

ISBN: 978-1-387-23360-1

1

I’ve never been here before, Hamilton, Ontario, but it’s pretty for a small town in Canada. I just sold the rights to my novel and some hot shot producer wants to make a movie and he insists I’m the only one to adapt the novel despite the fact that I’ve never written a screenplay in my life. I wasn’t so keen on writing it but at least I’ll be able to stay true to my novel. Now I approach First Draft Entertainment located in a small building next to a small café called ‘The Dominion.’ I enter, ascend metal stairs, and enter the office to find a middle-aged woman. The receptionist, Miri Choi. She’s corresponded with me for the last few weeks. I inch up to her desk and say, Jane Gill, to see Mr. Vikkas.

Miri smiles. You don't look like a Jane.

It’s my anglicized name. Makes it easier for Canadians of European descent. Jassleena. I smile back and she nods. I add, Jane makes it easier.

For who?

Wasn’t expecting that. What? 

Miri shrugs. Never mind. I get it. But just so we're being honest with each other here... I prefer Jassleena. Didn't read your book. I heard from friends it's interesting.

That doesn’t tell me anything. So annoying. Interesting?

That's a good thing. Better than boring.

I suppose. Still, I’d prefer… awesome… or a page turner… interesting…

Miri gestures toward a few empty black, plastic chairs in a waiting room plastered with films I’ve never seen before. All of them comedies. None really historical like my novel. She says, Mr. Vikkas will be with you in a moment. He's on a very important phone call.

They don't really make historicals.

They do now. Canadian grants they're all going to right the wrongs of the past. I'm guessing that's why you're here.

I guess.

You've never made a movie in Canada before?

Never written for movies at all.

In Canada… It's all about the grants.

I see.

You don’t… but you will.

What does it mean?

It means they need you… You and the other guy... they're playing to keep.

I have no idea what’s she’s on about. And who’s the other one? There’s another one. The other one?

Some Indian. Not Indian like you. Indian like Indian Canadian or Native or First Person. I can't keep up. Yup. We've got all the minority checkboxes covered for this year's grants. Biggest one... that story you wrote... Konmata...Komanana…

Not so tough. Komagata Maru.

Yeah. That one. It's like a tongue twister.

Not really. I guess. I take a seat, and wait for almost an hour. I look to Miri. She smiles and says, He's very busy. I guess he is. The ticking clock above my head doesn’t help. Tic. Toc. Tic. Toc. He’s very busy. I close my eyes, then open them to see a young Miri Choi standing before me. 

Young Miri says, Hey... Miri Choi... here for the roll of Chinese Waitress. Just for the record... I know my agent said it didn't matter... I'm not Chinese... I'm Korean... I mean I'm Canadian but my parents are from Korea. Seoul, Korea. Okay... well... here we go... Or here I go... 

Young Miri regards the script. Sorry sir... I didn't realize you were vegetarian. I'll bring the vegetarian menu out for you right away.

Young Miri stares at me. Nods as though I were giving her adjustment notes. More Chinese. Got it. Yeah, I can… not a problem… 

Young Miri says the lines with a slight, Chinese accent. She stares at me a slowly her eyes dim. Discouraged, she nods and says, More Chinese. I get it. No, no. Makes sense to the character. I mean... Chinese waitress... I guess I just assumed she was like Canadian cause it's not set in China but yeah... I'm you're the director. You want more Chinese I can do that.

Young Miri says the lines with a slight, Chinese accent. Sorry sir... I didn't realize you were vegetarian. I'll bring the vegetarian menu out for you right away. Suggest you eat cashew dumplings. New item on menu. Fortune cookie say you eat.

She stops, smiles and says, Last bit was a bit of improv just so you know that I'm not one of those difficult minorities. I get the whole mainstream mass audience thing, I do. And I want you to know that even though I'm Canadian of Korean ancestry I can do the whole Chinese Waitress fortune cookie thing even though I'm not sure it's necessary. Not that I’m complaining. Just saying… I'm not sure it give more depth.

Young Miri pauses, nods as she takes feedback from some unseen director and says, "I see.  It makes the character funny. Yeah. I guess. A moment of levity, I get it. Thanks. Oh... just so