CBC is commissioning Don’t Come Upstairs, a documentary feature co-written, directed by and starring Degrassi: The Next Generation actor Mike Lobel.
The film, which began production on Sept. 8, follows Lobel as he searches for answers to a secret that his father kept from him and his siblings for thirty years. Filming is taking place in Toronto and is set to wrap today (Oct. 15). Lobel’s co-writer is Mika Collins (Vagrant Queen).
The doc is produced by Alona Metzer (Learn to Swim) from Toronto-based Good Pal Productions and Joe Kicak (Detention Adventure) from Brain Upside Down Films. It is produced with the participation of the Rogers Documentary Fund and supported by the Canada Media Fund, according to a release.
The documentary is being distributed in Canada by Game Theory Films while CBC will broadcast the film after its theatrical release with dates to be announced at a later time. At press time, there is no distributor for U.S. or international rights.
Aside from his acting, Lobel has also worked as an editor on shows like Detention Adventure and composer in short films such as Kicak’s Must Kill Karl. He made his directorial debut in 2018 with the TakingITGlobal documentary Rising Voices, co-directing alongside Adrian Assoufi.
Photo by Kristina Ruddick