Vancouver-born actor Bryce Hodgson is stepping behind the camera for his feature directorial debut, Thanks to the Hard Work of the Elephants.

The drama is now in production in Toronto, with filming scheduled to wrap on Oct. 27. Hodgson is the writer, director and editor of the film, which is produced by Hammerhead Ventures, CouKuma Productions, and Harrington Studio. The producers are CouKuma’s Caitlyn Sponheimer, Studio 104 Entertainment’s Mike Johnston, and Harrington’s Katia Shannon.

Thanks to the Hard Work of the Elephants stars Hunter Dillon (Riceboy Sleeps) and newcomer Kevin Nguyen as two teen boys who escape a youth treatment centre while high on LSD and try to start a commune in a nearby forest. Additional cast members include Fred Nguyen Khan (The Sympathizer), Tony Nappo (Four Brothers), Ryan McDonald (Seven Veils) and Kimberly Ha.

According to a news release, the script is inspired by a real-life incident in Oregon in the ’90s and was “closely developed” with one of the boys involved in the incident. The film is meant to spotlight the “troubled teen” industry.

Executive producers on the film are Matt Kerr, Charlie Kerr, Surgent Studios’ Abubakar Salim and Robert Montcalm. The project is privately financed, according to a spokesperson for the film. The budget was not disclosed.

Pictured (L-R): Bryce Hodgson (photo by Farrah Aviva), Hunter Dillon (photo by Jenna Berman) and Kevin Nguyen (photo by Ezra Gillera)