Derica Lyn Lafrance is coming to a screen near you, thanks in part to a timely encounter at a convenience store.
It was a rainy Thursday, Lafrance recalled, a regular day working at the band office in Garden Village, when someone from the community, who knew Lafrance was pursuing acting, told her there was a film director in the area scouting locations for an upcoming movie.
“I heard they were at Tim’s Convenience” on Semo Road, Lafrance recalled, “and I got into the car and we just kind of ambushed her. I introduced myself and said I’ve been pursuing acting, talked a bit about my experience and I expressed my interest in auditioning” for a role.
Lafrance told the story with a laugh, as if still a little surprised she took such a bold move. She’s had a desire to act for a long time but was hesitant to make the leap – “We all have these limiting beliefs or insecurities that stop us from going for our dreams sometimes.”
Insecurity was not an issue on that fateful day Lafrance drove to that convenience store to “ambush” the visiting director, and the meeting led to her booking a major role in the movie.
It was director Gail Maurice whom Lafrance met that rainy day, and the two hit it off. Maurice is perhaps best known for her film Rosie, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2022. She was scouting for her new film, Blood Lines, and gave Lafrance a chance to audition, and she was perfect for the role.
The film wrapped in late September and is now in post-production, so it won’t be released until next year at the earliest. The film was shot locally and includes a few scenes that were filmed in downtown Mattawa.
This wasn’t Lafrance’s first film role, but it is her biggest, as she’s one of the principal characters. Before this, she drove to Sault Ste. Marie for a one-day shoot on Wingman, an upcoming film from Canadian comedy legend Harland Williams. Wingman also co-stars Russell Peters. It’s also in post-production, so we must be patient to see Lafrance in action.
Lafrance’s first break came as an extra on Shoresy, and working on the set – her first professional film production – hooked her on the experience.
“That was kind of the beginning of everything for me,” Lafrance said, “and I’m so grateful for that experience.”
Born in Sturgeon Falls, Lafrance now lives in North Bay and is a member of Nipissing First Nation. From an early age, music was a muse, and she was only three when she first took the stage. She’s been writing songs and performing ever since.
Lafrance said, “music’s my first love for sure. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember, and I picked up a guitar for the first time when I was six.”
She was also into theatre as a student and performed in productions by TOROS and Summer Challenge. However, there was something keeping her back from auditioning for film and television roles – those limiting beliefs and insecurities she mentioned.
“I just believed that I didn’t have the look for TV, so I never went for it,” Lafrance said. That changed when a friend convinced her to audition for Shoresy, and although she didn’t get the part she read for, the producers offered her another role. Turns out her look was just what they wanted.
With that confidence boost, Lafrance continued to seek auditions, secured an agent at the Nexus Talent Group, and now has two feature films coming to a screen near you, one of which, Blood Lines, was recently mentioned in the Hollywood Reporter.
Working on Blood Lines was a great experience all around, Lafrance emphasized. “Everything fell into place,” she said, “and its one of the best things that has ever happened to me.”
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
