‘NEVER BE DONE: THE RICHARD GLEN LETT STORY’ WORLD PREMIERE AT THE WHISTLER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ON NOVEMBER 29 AND 30, 2018

‘NEVER BE DONE: THE RICHARD GLEN LETT STORY’ WORLD PREMIERE AT THE WHISTLER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ON NOVEMBER 29 AND 30, 2018

 This raw documentary follows controversial stand-up comedian Richard Lett’s private struggle of addiction that sabotaged his promising career, lost everything and lived to tell the tale.

Filmmaker Roy Tighe is pleased to announce that the World Premiere of the documentary Never Be Done: The Richard Glen Lett Story will screen at the Whistler International Film Festival on November 29 at 5:30 at Village 8 – Theatre 6 and November 30 at 12:00 at Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre. This raw and immersive documentary tells the story of how controversial Vancouver stand-up comedian Richard Lett sabotaged his own promising career, lost everything and lived to tell the tale. Director Roy Tighe’s commitment to presenting Lett’s highest and lowest moments over the past nine years ultimately presents a message of personal redemption and shines a poignant light on the intensely private struggle of addiction.

Never Be Done: The Richard Glen Lett Story chronicles the seven-year journey of Richard Lett, a once-respected Canadian comedian whose addiction to drugs and alcohol lead to him becoming homeless, estranged from his daughter, and shunned by his community. With no one to turn to, Richard disappeared. He ran away from his problems; he ran away from his responsibilities; he ran away from his life.

In the summer of 2009, filmmaker Roy Tighe and comedian Richard Lett were ejected from a Vancouver nightclub. Richard started a verbal altercation with the club owner and was promptly told to take his cameraman and leave. Never one to pass up an opportunity, Roy began filming Lett in his day-to-day life and quickly learned that all was not right in the brash comedian’s world. So set in motion the saga of Richard Lett and Never Be Done.

Not merely a tale of one man’s downfall, Never Be Done is the story of Richard Lett’s struggle to forge a new life in the same environment that brought him down so completely. Filmed with candid intimacy and filled with archival footage and poignant testimonials, Never Be Done is a raw and unflinching documentary about the life and times of Richard Lett, who lost it all and lived to tell the tale.

Director Story

In 2003, I dabbled in the Vancouver stand up comedy circuit, performing and working with other comics. During my small stint at stand up comedy I was aware of Richard Lett due to his infamous reputation on and off stage. I was always intrigued to work with Richard, if the opportunity arose. In 2009, I was introduced to Richard through a mutual friend and fellow comedian. I had been living in Vancouver for 9 years at the time and had my own reputation for producing comedy content for the web. Richard and I originally met to talk about shooting a live one-man show he was working on. The next night we met at a local comedy club to shoot some stand up footage. That did not happen. We, instead, were ejected from the comedy club. Richard had started a verbal altercation with the club owner and was promptly told to take his cameraman and leave. Standing now in the rain out front of the comedy club, I still wanted to capture something. So right there on the street for pedestrians to watch, Richard performed one of his poetry slams. That night I saw something special in Richard and that moment became the opening sequence to this story. Never one to pass up an opportunity, I began filming Richard in his day-to-day life, and quickly learned that all was not right in this brash comedian’s world. As I followed Richard, recording the collapse of his career and his struggle with addiction, he becomes homeless. I felt a divine obligation to stick it out with Richard. Even though this was a dark, brutal time in this man’s life, I also was blessed to witness Richard find the miracle of recovery. This 7 year journey that I went on with Richard makes for a beautiful story to what’s called “Never Be Done: The Richard Glenn Lett Story.”

 

Director Bio

Canadian filmmaker Roy Tighe has been mentored by two time Oscar nominee, Bud Smith the Oscar-nominated editor of The Exorcist and Flashdance. Roy is currently a working director in Los Angeles directing numerous short films, web series and commercials. Working for such brands as Alcatel, TCL and Coors Light totaling well over 500 videos. Roy’s first film, Where’s Barry? was released on VOD in December 2016. Previously, Roy had spent time performing as a stand-up comedian, which led to his introduction to Richard Lett, the subject of his first feature Never Be Done: The Richard Glen Lett Story.

 

Richard’s Bio

Finding a home in the stand-up comedy scene in Vancouver, Richard began making a name for himself with his brash, unapologetic style of jokes and crowd interaction. After years of honing his skills on the stage, Lett found himself headlining tours for Yuk Yuk’s. In the mid 90’s Richard was a subject in the CBC’s Road Warriors, a documentary television series about the lives of touring stand-up comedians.

Never quite a household name, Richard Lett has become a sort of journeyman of the Canadian comedy scene over the past thirty years, respected by his fellow comedians and sought out by die-hard comedy fans. In the time since he began his career in stand-up, Richard has tried his hand at poetry, writing, and acting, landing small roles on the TV shows Supernatural, Dark Angel, andThe Firm, and as a playwright he has received two Jessie Richardson Award nominations for “Most Outstanding Original Play.” Most recently, Richard received a rare standing ovation at the London Poetry Slam for his one-man show “Sober But Never Clean”. His performance was described as such: “Richard grabbed our audience’s attention and didn’t let go. His ability to make the crowd laugh and reflect simultaneously by sharing intimate personal stories mixed with hilarious jokes is unparalleled. He has a unique talent in rolling poetry, comedy, and storytelling together.”

Today, Richard continues to tour across the country with his “Sober But Never Clean” show, which details his experiences in the stand-up comedy profession, his struggles with drugs and alcohol, and his complicated relationship with sobriety.

Roy Tighe and Richard Lett are available for interviews upon request and will be in attendance at the World Premiere at the Whistler International Film Festival.

NEVER BE DONE: THE RICHARD GLEN LETT STORY

Date Time Film Cinema Hall
29.11.2018 17:30 NEVER BE DONE: THE RICHARD GLEN LETT STORY Village 8 – Theatre 6
30.11.2018 12:00 NEVER BE DONE: THE RICHARD GLEN LETT STORY Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre

 

For more information, photos, interviews please contact:

Lesley Diana | Lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca| 604-726-5575

 

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