Spencer Maybee’s Man v. Minivan

Spencer Maybee is the fourth of four Canadian short filmmakers we’ve featured in issue#61

Stories and images have always gone hand in hand for Spencer Maybee. Well-known as an actor from many films and the TV series The X-Files, Spencer has spent an unusual amount of time around film.

“I watched a lot of films and began to take in stories that way,” he says. “When it came time for my turn to tell a story, I was like, ‘Okay so where’s my camera?’”

His Toronto International Film Festival short, Man v. Minivan, plays on the cold-footed groom cliché. The sheer horror of being given a minivan on the morning of his wedding day leaves Shane, who has spent his life abiding by the rules, questioning whether he’s doing the right thing. A troublemaking brother, a kind-hearted stripper and the extended family all get involved.

The idea for Man v. Minivan is personal. “I’ve been at weddings where I felt the two people were getting married for all the wrong reasons,” says Spencer. “They’re going to fuck up whatever love they have for one another.” Drawing from this thought was the idea for a story about a guy who doesn’t want to get married. With help from producer Jordan Gross and editor Dane Clark “banging the story around the room,” the idea finally came together.

“I wanted to make a film that said to guys out there about to get married, you should really examine whether you’re doing it because you want to, or because it’s what is expected of you.” Shane doesn’t stop asking that question until he gets a definitive answer.

Shane’s feelings come from his family’s notions of what he is “supposed to do,” rather than his fiancée Jen. Like Spencer, he grew up with divorced parents and had to take the role of the adult in the family.

“I’m a romantic,” Spencer admits. “It pisses me off that people expect marriage to do something for them. It’s like a university degree: it’s not going to do shit for you unless you make it.” He hopes that people will come away feeling like relationships are less about the roles two people are supposed to play and more about the bond between them.

A new style is adopted for every project he does. Little Miss Sunshine influenced his filming techniques, mixing comedy with sincere human struggle—a true-to-life sort of humour, with a happy ending.
When asked whether his future plans involve features or short films, he responds, “It’s like, are you making sandwiches or are you cooking dinner?”

Words: Alicia-Rae Light