TRYING (2021) | ADHD Short Film | Sam Labrecque

“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.

The film 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 in January 2023 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, CA as part of HollyShorts' Screening Series. It was then presented at both the 2023 and 2024 Annual International Conferences on ADHD. Fun Fact: the film was made as a proof-of-concept for a TV series pilot, and creator Sam didn't know she had ADHD until 1 year after shooting the film.

"Trying"

Starring:
Sam Labrecque, Rose London, Kingston Zelaya, Michelle Murphy, Tyler Shilstone, Brandon Delsid, Bryce Harrow, Sheena Georges

Written & Directed by: Sam Labrecque
Producer: Nicole Campbell
Director of Photography: Catherine Heath
Executive Producers: Sam 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.

Tags: adhd, add, adults, children, women, woman, men, man, girls, boys, neurodivergence, comedy, drama, women in film, filmmaker

Copyright Samantha Labrecque 2023 ©️

[OfficialSamLabrecque]

COMMENTS SPOILER ALERT: Don't read the comments until you've finished the film! Spoilers galore! 😅

[Heuheuheu]

The realization you haven’t actually missed an event is something I felt in my soul wow

[claudialandgraf]

The urge to correct a spot on the painting to get it finally right. Because details matters - even when its not the "right" time to do it.

[Lego_bruuuhhh]

THE RELIEF I FELT AFTER “Isn’t the interview at one? Don’t you do Pilates at 11?” OH MY GOD

[jenmovies]

This was a fantastic short! Thank you for sharing it. The only thing you missed is re-entering the house at least 3 times because you forgot your glasses, phone, wallet, hat, coat, bag you meant to bring, haha :)

[AP-vjsv]

This would be a particularly bad day for a normal person. But for an ADHD-er, or similar challenges, it's every day

[daneesledge]

The opening… checking to make sure everything is off… the way a strangers words feel like heavy criticism… the toothpaste on the jacket… all the notes… so much of this… thank you

[TylerJustyn]

The entire range of emotions this sent me through: anxiety, stress, relational empathy, frustration, relief, annoyance, grief, excitement. I felt like I was watching myself TRYING.

[samagog]

Oh man, at the beginning, when she stopped and was just standing there, I knew exactly what was going on and I could narrate exactly what was going on in her head…which was “what was I doing?”…and she blew out the candle for the second time, and I felt like I was watching me…I’m a guy, but this hits home hard! The school stuff got me straight tearing up, cuz I too was that kid…

[camez]

This is so accurate. I cried when she said, "Thank you for your time, Mrs. Hazel." The lifelong, unrelenting cycle of lifting yourself up and then rock-bottoming yet again because you're such a f-up.

People without ADHD will see this as the story of a nervous, disorganized, insecure, quirky but loveable goofball who can't quite adult. People with ADHD will squirm and tense up when the toothpaste drops, when the keys aren't there, when she has to tell her friend that she messed up yet again... It's so real it hurts.

Congratulations and thank you for making this 🙏

[ApproximatelyCee]

Imagine someone who has ADHD but hasn’t been diagnosed. There are many people who have these issues and symptoms that don’t understand why they’re so different from others. Everything they do is a complicated task. Bravo to the writer of this story and the amazing actress who plays her part so convincingly.

[AtoZAnimationsandStories]

Yikes this is everything. Lack of control on the expressions, the anger flares, forgetfullness, the fighting to be taken seriously, the overthinking, the notes everywhere, the second guessing of oneself and others doing it, the nervous ticking, the compulsive need to check everything FOR SURE, the gas situation, bringing things you don't actually need because you think you MIGHT need it because you are forgetful and it might just save you... The things that fall through the cracks so easily and having to live with needing to push them to the side... Wow this was it all.

[sharonhinds]

This needs to be a network series!!! Please Please Please 🙏
I was diagnosed at 68 yo; imagine spending your entire life believing you’re somehow broken.

[Lindokuhle.Nkwanyane]

The title is so perfect.
I genuinely feel like my whole entire life is just me trying and hearing everyone tell me about my unused potential. 💀💀

[SN-szkw]

It explains why many of us become recluses as we get older - conforming, constantly apologizing, worrying. It’s all too much. I need peace to be me.

[KiriB]

Augh this is too relatable, started tearing up. The oversharing about personal stories with random strangers and not realizing it. The difficulty in controlling emotions. The difficulty of remembering to do things, the constant fight to avoid distractions.

[linachristopoulou]

That bit Where she piles up the things that she needs to have together before she leaves the house. I thought that was normal. I do it every morning. It's so true to life. I don't know how other people manage to leave the house so quickly.

[Jo-khyo]

The word "TRYING" reeled me in. I was diagnosed with ADD at uni, at the age of 46. The diagnosis put my whole past into perspective. I have had 30 jobs. I was finally starting to accept my diagnosis and feel more empowered, when I visited my sister who`s a mental health nurse and she decided to tell me that I just need to try harder. And that I can do things if I really want to. This video strikes a cord! It shows the reality of what many of us have to deal with on a daily basis.

[pariahmouse]

The finger flicking while trying to reboot is insanely accurate...

[ILuvThunderclan]

This was supposed to be a comedy in many ways, but I cried through the entire thing. The pain, shame, and disgust in yourself for constantly feeling like you can't do anything right is so overwhelming. I loved this. I genuinely feel seen.