“Night Work: A Sawchuk Poem” – a dramatic short film based on the book Night Work: The Sawchuk Poems by Randall Maggs.

“I was attracted to the work because it’s rife with incredible powerful imagery right from the first page,” states Justin Simms, St. John’s-based Director of “Night Work: A Sawchuk Poem” by long-time Corner Brook resident and poet Randall Maggs. “For ten years, Randy immersed himself in the cult and culture of hockey in the early days of the sport, before they wore much equipment, before a goalie wore a mask. What kind of man puts himself in the path of a rubber missile travelling straight to his head at the velocity of a Bobby Hull shot? That’s what we explore in the film.”

Director Justin Simms called on his colleague, award-winning talent Greg Spottiswood to adapt the screenplay from the book. For the BookShort film, they delve into the mythology of the man as sports legend, but also touch upon the very human side of Sawchuk, who suffered from untreated depression and died at the age of 40 after a scuffle with a teammate.

Featuring Des Walsh as Gerald; Phil Churchill as young Randall; Lois Brown as the voice of reason.

Shot entirely on location in Beachy Cove, Newfoundland – close to one of the towns that the real Terry Sawchuk visited during the 1956 exhibition tour arranged for the Boston Bruins that year. With thanks to Beachy Cove Cafe.

David Gray, original music; Chris Darlington, Editor / Graphics; Nigel Markham, Director of Photography.

Produced by Justin Simms and Judith Keenan. Judith Keenan is the founder of BookShorts. For more information, visit www.bookshorts.com