In The Seats With....Reza Dahya and 'Boxcutter'

Gotta celebrate the homegrown talent.... On this episode we dive head first into a brand new local production that just got extended for another week at the Scotiabank Theatre here in Toronto.  It's time for 'Boxcutter' Aspiring rapper, Rome, has all the talent and vision, but his crippling insecurity prevents him from sharing his music without a celebrity co-sign. When he learns that megastar producer Richie Hill will be making an appearance in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood, Rome devises a plan to get his album into Richie’s hands. However, disaster strikes when Rome’s apartment is burgled, and his only copy of the album is stolen. With the help of his activist-artist friend Jenaya, Rome sets out on a frantic mission to track down his four producers and reassemble his album. As they scour the gentrifying city, Rome struggles with self-doubt, while Jenaya challenges his need for industry approval, advocating for art that is as accessible as it is expressive. Hijinks ensue and their relationship is tested, but when Rome finally comes face to face with Richie Hill, he has a tough choice to make: finally pitch for that industry co-sign or take a leap of faith and bet on himself? While we've admittedly seen this kind of story before, it's rare to see a movie that is so specific to its surroundings as it oozes Toronto energy throughout and adds that many extra layers for those who live in the 416/905 getting to watch it. We had the pleasure of sitting down with director Reza Dahya to talk about the origings of the film, getting it all together, it's slick visual esthetic and the connections between music and film that run deeper then most of us realize. Check out 'Boxcutter' this weekend at the Scotiabank Theatre here in Toronto.