TRYING Short Film (2021) | ADHD in Women | Sam Labrecque

Be notified with "Trying" updates here: www.samlabrecqu...
Behind the scenes, TV series, and ADHD/all-woman film crew info at www.samskapepro....
Filled with heart, humor, and a handful of expletives, “Trying” follows Meg, a millennial painter with ADHD, as she navigates her life on the way to an important job interview. What starts as a simple task turns into a race against the clock as she encounters society’s stigmas, unlikely allies, and challenges from her past.
Created by ADHD actor/writer Samantha Labrecque, "Trying" was shot by an all-woman crew to destigmatize ADHD in media and raise awareness around neurodivergence in girls and women. The film premiered in December 2021 at AMC Theatres in Burbank, CA, then screened at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, CA in January 2023 as part of the HollyShorts Screening Series. It is currently being adapted to pitch as a television series.
"Trying"
Starring:
Samantha Labrecque, Rose London, Kingston Zelaya, Michelle Murphy, Tyler Shilstone, Brandon Delsid, Bryce Harrow, Sheena Georges
Written & Directed by: Samantha Labrecque
Producer: Nicole Campbell
Director of Photography: Catherine Heath
Executive Producers: Samantha Labrecque & Allen Schatz
Production Designer: Andrea Monzon
Editor, Sound Designer & Colorist: Austin Sauer
Original Score: Edith Mudge
Artwork: Chasity Ramsey & Jennifer Charlee
First Assistant Director: Marilyn Flores
Sound Mixer: Ying Ding
Gaffer: Marci Garcia
1st Assistant Camera & B Camera Operator: Milena Mooradian
Costume Designer: Jhaton Holt
Make-Up Artist: Nadine Ortega
Script Supervisor: Mandy Schnatter
Grip & Production Assistant: Aisha Alhakawati
Production Assistants: Akansha Kakkad & Emma Powell
BTS Photographer: Rebeca Dourado
DIT: Carolina Rizzotto
Produced by SamSkape Productions Inc.
Behind the scenes and more information at www.samskapeproductions.com.
Copyright Samantha Labrecque 2023.

[@eyenmaiden5885]

ARE U KIDDING ME??? THIS IS SO GOOD

[@samanthacampbell375]

I have never felt so seen or represented in a movie ever. Thank you for your amazing work.

[@sluhbrek]

@@samanthacampbell375 thanks, fellow Samantha. This means more than you know. Hopefully more where this comes from 💥

[@Essential_lyNothing]

This is criminally underrated. Is this inspired by your experiences?

[@sluhbrek]

It is. Though I didn't know I had ADHD until 1 year after we wrapped shooting the film...🫠 next up is the series version.

[@Essential_lyNothing]

@@sluhbrek Wow, that's quite the incredible coincidence! I'm suspecting, myself.

[@meganchandler6267]

The moment I was thinking, "is this me???" her phone showed her name.. Megan.. which is MY NAME. What the heck. I relate to this so much, it gives me chills.

[@sluhbrek]

Get out that's so wild 😭 that just gave ME chills. You were meant to see this. So glad you did.

[@somebodyody]

My mum and I have a deal where she messages me “I did it!” in the morning to confirm she did her workout and remind me to exercise and if she misses her workout then I don’t have to do it either haha

[@Sdween]

Tears in my eyes. This is so relatable. I became a nanny as I felt that I could help those who are more sensitive and more “difficult” to understand (because people lack knowledge), it was in training to be a Montessori teacher and focusing on a more neuroscience based approach that I finally understood that I too belong to the category of autism and adhd. I suffered, trying, for about 30 years before I understood why I am the way I am. A beautiful unorchestrated mess ✨ And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Sadly the world judges us for being different and while we make accommodations for them all day every day - others in the world do not. Here’s hope to a more inclusive and caring future 💞

[@sluhbrek]

Thanks so much for watching and sharing, seriously. This means so much to me and everything you're speaking on is so important. A beautiful unorchestrated mess!

[@Timtam99]

I saw this a while ago and its always been in the back of my mind. I'm an AuDHDer and this is so damm relatable and really well done. Just saw this pop up on my home page again and had to do a double take because I thought this had like a million views. Insanely underrated. Keep at it!

[@sluhbrek]

Dang. This really means a lot to me, thank you for sharing and for watching. Had to take a break from the "Trying" world for a bit hence the low profile, but definitely more to come. Million views right around the corner 😤

[@darionepps4363]

Thanks Samantha!

[@sluhbrek]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@Sevenigma777]

Found you by our common last name. This was well done and produced. Good luck to ya!

[@sluhbrek]

Too funny! Thanks, Dan. Appreciate that! Labrecques FTW.

[@WiseSquirrels]

You nailed it! From one wise squirrel to another, this was brilliant!

[@sluhbrek]

Thank you, fellow wise squirrel! Appreciate this :') we gotta stick together out there!!

[@luftigfrei]

Beautiful! Criminally underrated. Perfectly captures the whole experience. From stress to imposter syndrome, to oversharing and having to constantly explain ourselves to the stereotypes that follow us all our lives. So well done! ❤

[@sluhbrek]

@@luftigfrei you nailed it. Thanks so much for watching. A lot of love, care, introspection, research, and collaboration made this film possible. So happy you enjoyed it!! 💚

[@user-zg4fb5kc9t]

Made me cry, I identify so much

[@sluhbrek]

@@user-zg4fb5kc9t you're awesome. Thanks for watching and you got this. 🫶

[@OceanWalk7]

Glad I watched beyond the first 10 minutes.

[@sluhbrek]

Me too! ;')

[@mindofchrist2301]

Well done! Beautiful movie. Thank you for representing us. Love from India

[@sluhbrek]

Thank you for watching and hi from Los Angeles!!! Really appreciate this and so happy you enjoyed it.

[@friendlyfretsguitarinstruc7906]

😊 Very nicely done Sam - from start to finish! I was immediately captivated by the logistical hurdles, emotional landscape, and tension that felt very real to me as one with ADHD. You also did a nice job presenting the additional barriers of stigma, misconceptions, and misunderstandings of ADHD.

[@sluhbrek]

Thank you so much, Frets! So happy to you related to it and enjoyed the film. A lot of heart when into making this film by the team, so we really appreciate it. Keep an eye out for the next version… :)

[@oliveludicrous]

You can go real far after the gas icon blinks. It's all about experience.

[@sluhbrek]

From one icon blinker stretcher to another 🫡

[@karadecker8764]

And that’s precisely the problem, isn’t it? We learn that we can push the boundary and push the boundary and push the boundary… until finally the boundaries break over and over and over again. True story: I never used to be late anywhere until Waze and the like. This is because I always had to plan to be at least half an hour early everywhere because I couldn’t estimate travel times AT ALL. Now that I have apps that estimate travel times, I mess up all the other time estimations and am late almost all the time 😭

[@sluhbrek]

@@karadecker8764 I was just thinking about this the other day. I usually have my phone open and navigating to my destination on Google maps while I'm getting ready, so I see what time I'll be arriving as the clock ticks. Problem is, I cannot grasp the amount of time it will take me to get my bag, shoes, get to my car, and then park and walk to the location once I get there, which can be easily an extra 5 to 20 minutes. SMH!!!

[@karadecker8764]

@@sluhbrek Exactly! I wonder if I were to stop using navigation apps to plan and just go back to trying to always be there way early and read or something for 15-30 minutes would at least not make me late. Plus, I’d get back into reading again! (Or be on the phone all the time still but at least not late 😏) But these are the things that are important to mention when being late Dx’d. “No, I wasn’t always late as a child because I had STRATEGIES and was ALWAYS WAY EARLY because I have NO SENSE OF TIME 😁🥹🙈”

[@sluhbrek]

@@karadecker8764 EXACTLY!!!!! Yes to all of this. Inspired. Let's do it, comrade 🫡

[@lorisiccia5914]

congrats on teaching job! so good... This would definitely be a series I'd watch. and so would sooooo many others 🎨

[@sluhbrek]

Really appreciate this, thank you for watching and for the support. Excited to see what can/will come down the line :')

[@schwubs]

Excellent!!!

[@sonyaparkin7841]

💚

[@ludoadena]

🫶🤍Loved it! So well done. Relate to this way too much!

[@sluhbrek]

Thank you for watching and shout out relatable content :')

[@susancmeyer]

Sooooo relatable! Thank you!

[@sluhbrek]

@@susancmeyer relatability 4 lyfe! Thanks for watching! 🥲

[@Imobsessedlol]

Omg this is so relatable…Ty for this sm ❤

[@sluhbrek]

@@Imobsessedlol glad it felt relatable but also 🫂 at feeling relatable!! Thank you for watching.

[@therapistontheroad]

Wauw, spot on!

[@sluhbrek]

@@therapistontheroad truly wild. Thank you so much for watching!!!

[@colleenfromsydney4194]

On point! Excellent work, Sam.

[@sluhbrek]

Thanks Colleen. Appreciate you.

[@Carp5586]

Whoah! Brilliant Work!!! 😎👋

[@sluhbrek]

Thank you!!! And thanks for watching 💚

[@maiyapercy]

I got assessed a few weeks ago. Still waiting for my results. I really liked your film.

[@sluhbrek]

Congrats on assessment. That's huge. Thanks for watching and enjoying :')

[@maiyapercy]

@@sluhbrek 💛

[@OceanWalk7]

In my country, assessment are 20 questions, most of them relating to your childhood experience. The doctor said that you couldn't reliably assess for ADHD, because there are so many other things that can look like ADHD but aren't.

[@maiyapercy]

@@sluhbrek I got my diagnosis this week. I have ADHD.

[@maiyapercy]

@@OceanWalk7 My assessment was much longer. Almost three hours.

[@StarGazer-h1i]

Amazing, so much relevant 👍

[@sluhbrek]

Thank you for watching!! Be sure to share with your friends!

[@oliveludicrous]

But I would not recommend driving in the rain without windshield wipers. Not when snowing either. And definitely not on the highway. But if you really have to, it helps to moove your head from side to side and up and down, then you actually can see where the road is, now and then.

[@cariiinen]

Nice

[@lydianici1696]

underrated video

[@sluhbrek]

Thanks :') unsurprisingly hyperfocused on it for 10 months so this means a lot.

[@lydianici1696]

@@sluhbrek omg classic hyperfocus moment. and it happens when youre supposed to be doing smth elsd too😭

[@sluhbrek]

@@lydianici1696 literally like...paying rent? taking care of myself? nah I'm gonna make a short film 😭

[@lydianici1696]

@@sluhbrek HAHA RELATABLE SM

[@OceanWalk7]

Do many people with ADHD have OCD as a comorbidity? Or do people start OCDing as a compensation for their ADHD, and it gets out of control?

[@sluhbrek]

The character of Meg has both OCD and ADHD. I, Sam the filmmaker, only have ADHD (which I didn't know while creating and acting in the film). I was originally diagnosed with anxiety and depression before I knew I had ADHD. I don't identify as having OCD, Autism, or anxiety, but I do have depression, which I believe is a result of when my ADHD symptoms are "out of control". It's definitely different for everybody, and there are many comorbid symptoms within the neurodivergent world and mental illnesses. Thanks for watchin' :)

[@magictoast15]

Where did you get this footage of me 😂

[@sluhbrek]

@@magictoast15 we're all living the same life 😜 thanks for watching!!!