Jagdeep Dhadli’s journey in film began at Capilano University’s film program in Vancouver. Like many bright-eyed film students, he scoured the internet for different avenues to get a leg up in the industry. It was through a list of opportunities his school compiled where he discovered the CSSC and decided to submit what he considered one of his strongest works from his time at school, The Kicker.

Jag’s inspiration for the script stemmed from a mix of influences — film school camaraderie, bouncing ideas off his contemporaries, late-night writing sessions and the fascination of the high-stakes world of live TV like The Larry Sanders Show, Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock.

The Kicker, circa 1968, follows two competing writers vying for the best joke in the talk show host’s monologue.

“I was bouncing ideas around with my classmate and struck a visual idea but struggled with finding a story. It all came together on a walk,” he shares. “I tend to pace when I write, and I remember leaving to grab a drink from the store and coming back with the whole concept in my head.”

Although the script evolved, one thing became clear: his love for improvement. As a writer who strives to take feedback to heart; it not only elevates his work but refines it with each pass.

Some of Jag’s favourite authors include American poet Mary Oliver, and American auteur Jeremy Saulnier, both known for crafting stories with a unique voice & strong message.

While The Kicker showcased his bold voice and imagination, his school didn’t think as much. “This was a script that I thought would light my school on fire,” he recalls. “I pitched it for consideration for our end-of-year projects, but mine wasn’t chosen.”

After the minor hit to his ego as a result of this rejection by his peers, he woke up one day to an email from a screenplay competition he submitted his script to:

On Apr 29, 2010, at 1:47 PM, Canadian Short Screenplay Competition
<cssc@yearoftheskunk.com> wrote:
And the Top 13 short film scripts of 2009 are….
David Cormican, founder of the Canadian Short Screenplay Competition, is pleased to announce the top thirteen finalist selections for the 2009 CSSC…

For Jag, finding out he had placed in the CSSC’s top 13 finalists was more than just an accolade — it was validation. Then to find out he finished 3rd overall, was an incredible vote of confidence in his skills and instincts.

“As silly as it was, I remember it exactly.” he smiles as he recalls the moment. “I had a big ear-to-ear grin on my face, and it felt so good. I didn’t even fully understand what the email meant, I just thought that ‘Oh my God… I’m on the podium’. I never had any kind of recognition like that, especially for something I was really proud of. I’m excited that other folks will get to experience that because writing can be a very lonely thing. It sounds good in your head and on paper, but you’re never really sure how people are going to connect with or interpret it.”

The recognition boosted his confidence and reaffirmed his passion for writing in all genres, even if it was the only ‘comedy’ he’s ever written.

“I like to think I was funny around my friends and had some levity in my personal life, but in the art world, I always went darker.” Jag explains, “Drama is easier to write than straight comedy for me, and that’s still what I mostly gravitate toward. Watching these small moments of emotion or the way character decisions can ripple for a long time, even if they seem relatively minor in the moment, is a very interesting thing to explore.”

Jag’s creative writing pursuits have extended beyond film, most recently in his contribution of essays to Midlife, a uniquely Canadian non-fiction book series currently out with two volumes.

“The Kicker is something I wrote in my 20s, maybe I was 30 by the time it got picked up by the CSSC, but now I’m 44.” He reflects. “I’m curious to see if I’ll still see myself, or what kind of threads I draw from some of the writing I’ve done recently to what I did seemingly a lifetime ago.”

As a big believer in knowing that there’s nothing gained in not trying, his advice to new or aspiring writers looking to enter the CSSC; put your work out there beyond the file folders on your computer.

“Just submit. Even if you don’t win, you’ll learn something from the process. And if you do place, go to the festival. I couldn’t be there at the award ceremony at the time, as much as I wanted to, but I believe being around people who love what you love and at a place where people are just like you seems as good a place as any.”

Jag’s journey is a testament to the power of persistence and collaboration. The CSSC has long been a launch pad for writers like him, proving that a single short screenplay can open doors in ways one might never expect. With the competition back in full swing, a new wave of unexpected talent is sure to emerge — perhaps with their own stories of inspiration and success, just like Jag Dhadli.