No small talk required at film maker’s silent dating fundraiser

By Kimberly Spice –

Independent writer and director, Tricia Lee, in need of money for a new feature film, will try a new form of fundraising on March 5 when she launches her nonverbal speed dating event.

Lee, the Toronto-born 28-year-old producer, is taking away the awkwardness of clumsily talking your way through a first-time date and replacing it with pen and paper. No talking allowed.

“Instead of having the intensity of speaking one-on-one, as in conventional speed dating, they write notes to each other,” the recent Waterfront resident disclosed to The Bulletin. “There are three guys and girls at each table and you can write to who ever you want and after six minutes the guys move to the next table.”

Lee borrowed the successful idea from a singles party she attended five years ago at a College St. bar where she met her current partner Mike Street. She also has friends who have gotten married that connected at the same event.

“The main thing is about getting a group of human beings together in a room for the sole purpose of connecting,” stated Lee. “Who knows what unexpected friendships and even relationships can come out of it?”

Money raised at the event, which will also include a silent auction and a 50-50 draw, will go toward the production of the thriller feature film “Driving Mr. Edwards,” which Lee hopes to start shooting in the fall of 2011.

The story follows an ex-convict, Ray, who befriends a wealthy man, Mr. Edwards, while being his driver. Edwards wants to die and asks Ray to kill him in return for a large sum of money. It is after the killing that the realization of deception takes shape.

Information about Silent Connections, which will take place at the Devil’s Martini, 473 Adelaide St., W., can be found at www.filmmonkey.ca/silentconnections.html.