A Friendship, a Film Project and Fighting for Many Lives

“This is my part. I have a talent and I have a voice and Iʼm not afraid to use it.”

By Katherine Folkers | Twitter: @KatherineSHill
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I was in the shower when my husband burst in with the phone: “Sorry, Katherine, but it’s Annette. I thought youʼd be upset if I didnʼt give you the phone now.”

I’d been waiting all day for this call.

“Hi,” I said. “So?”

“Well youʼre talking to a cancer patient,” she responded.

Crash! My heart and everything with it fell to the floor. After we talked, I stepped back in the shower, unable to face my family. As the water gushed over my head, the weight of the situation hit as heavy droplets swept tears away from my face and down the drain.

Our Friendship

As an actor I’ve always been able to stand my ground, to not be bullied into doing something compromising and yet it’s often been very lonely. Where were all the Christians artists? I often wondered. I so badly wanted to meet another Christian actor who shared the same vision, so we could run together and support each other. I kept praying for that person and at an acting workshop in 2007, I saw this woman who literally shone!

Annette seeemed happy, full of life, exciting to be around and had a real peace about her. I didnʼt talk to her that day, but after the workshop I emailed her and asked if she, by any chance, were a Christian. “Yes,” she responded. We met up and talked for hours, discovering a mutual dream in our hearts and we shared a similar take on life, acting and faith.

After a few years of good friendship, we started a company together. It was a huge feat as we launched EVE Entertainment Inc. Our mandate “Seek First the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” –Matthew 6:33 directed our every decision.

As it turned out, Annette and I worked incredibly well together and it strengthened our friendship.

We saw many young and older actors struggling to figure out how the industry works in Vancouver and how to navigate through the pressure. It was our role to step in and guide them through the process of finding an agent, learning how to behave on set and how to create their own career. As talent consultants, we essentially want to be the “mamas” of the industry. My dream is to encourage, inspire and draw out potential in actors. There isnʼt enough support out there and we want to fill that gap.

But the dream didnʼt stop there. Our next goal was to create a production side of the company and shoot films. Not only did we want to be filmmakers but also educators–bringing people on our set and giving them an opportunity to learn about filmmaking. Through our films we want to tell truthful stories about real people, give a voice to the voiceless and do it in an entertaining and artistic way.

In 2011, we got to shoot our first film under EVE Entertainment Inc. It was such a big deal to see this dream come to a reality. We started with The 168-hour Film Project and made a short film for their competition. The 168-Hour Film Project is a Christian film festival in LA where a new theme is introduced each year and every team is then given an individual verse to inspire their films. There are 168 hours to shoot and edit the project before turning it in. The process was amazing and we got to work on incredibly talented individuals. Our first film did very well, making it to the top 20 films of the festival with two nominations. It is now being entered into film festivals around the world.

A New Idea

With a great success behind us, we were eager to create another film for the following year. As we started planning for the next project, I initially wanted to write a comedy but then an idea came to my heart to tell a story that isnʼt told enough. I had been talking to a few women from church lately about Human Trafficking and what goes on in Canada and discovered that one of the malls near where I live, is the highest trafficked area in all of Canada. This is my backyard; the place where I’m raising my children. I wondered if anybody else knew about this? Is there enough information out there to help parents teach their children how to avoid the traps? Do girls know what to look out for and more importantly, how to say NO!? I didnʼt see the answers.

To me, film can be an answer. Film is such a wonderful medium to get a message across by simply telling a story.

Then, in the midst of raising money for our next short film, Annette, my best friend and business partner was diagnosed with cancer in late November last year. She is 30 years old, married for only five years and has a one-year-old daughter. With all the dreams she has and the dreams we have together, it doesnʼt seem fair. I know in my heart and my spirit and my soul that God is a Healer. I know she will recover, that she will be stronger, that God will do a miracle here. But … in all honesty I donʼt want her to go through this. And so here I am doing my best to be her great friend and great supporter.

I wanted to stop the film, put everything on pause and wait for her to be well again. Sheʼs my partner-in-crime. How could I do this without her? As I thought about this, however, I realized I couldnʼt NOT make this film. I have to move forward and keep going because even though Iʼm a little scared to do it alone and I do not have the resources, I have God and Heʼs come through before and Heʼll come through again. Plus: There are young girls who could actually be prevented from being trafficked.

I hope to use this short film to create a campaign and bring awareness to the community about human trafficking. I want to teach young girls how to value themselves and stand up for themselves. I want to encourage parents to get educated on this matter and I want people to stop shying away from the subject because itʼs too hard to conceive. I want people to GET TALKING and I want Human Trafficking to be abolished. Many people and organizations around the world are working towards this, but more has to be done. This is my part. I donʼt have money to give, but I have a talent and I have a voice and Iʼm not afraid to use it.

If you would like to find out more about what I am doing with this next film, would like to participate or donate please click here.

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About Katherine:

Wife, mother of two little ones, business owner, entrepreneur, actor/writer/director, filmmaker. I like to keep myself busy taking care of my family and chasing my dreams! I am passionate about encouraging others to follow their dreams and giving a voice to those who have no voice. Always ready for a fight, I love to take on new battles that seek justice while secretly dreaming about being Wonderwoman. Often quiet around those I’m getting to know, you’ll find me blunt and honest, outspoken and goofy with my besties.

My taste in film and music is likened to that of a 60-80 yr old. I’ll be watching psychological thrillers, period films, indie flix and listening to jazz, motown, opera etc.

I love education, constantly learning and sharing what I have learned.

In the mornings you’ll find me grumpy and crawling for my soy, hazelnut latte. At night you’ll find me energized and hammering away on the computer or getting into a good TV show with my hubby, who, might I add, is an incredible supporter of my career and of fighting for women’s issues (which I do on a daily basis).