i am a medical student a filmmaker a dreamer Autumn Sky
The story of Autumn Sky
Olivia Rennie is Autumn Sky.
Looking back, writing was never a conscious choice for me. Creating was never something I purposefully intended to do. It was always a beautiful, spontaneous process. Something that flowed organically from me, ever since I was a kid. I remember the wonder of those first disposable cameras, the passionate connection I had with my first digital camera, and the visions I had for my various creative projects over the years. I’ve come a long way from the first screenplay I wrote for my neighbourhood friends to act in.
But Autumn has always been there. Beneath the surface. Watching and reflecting on the world with careful eyes, absorbing every experience – good or bad – as writers do: with curiosity, and an eye towards how it could make for a remarkable story.
As I grew older, I discovered my second love: science. Where my art provided a beautiful chaos, science showed me the incredible order underlying all aspects of the world around us, from the smallest particles to the vastness of the cosmos. Nestled in between was the wonder of the human body. Experiencing medicine firsthand – through my own experiences, as well as my younger brother’s – drove me to pursue a career as a physician and a scientist. And so, a new journey began: to become a doctor.
I officially began creating under the pseudonym ‘Autumn Sky’ in 2019. Since then, it’s been an extraordinary time of both artistic and scientific exploration. Olivia Rennie is Autumn Sky. One person. Two sides. But both intertwined and in pursuit of a common goal: to bring stories of medicine and science to life through art.
We’ve all been given hopes and dreams. It’s been a wild adventure to get where I am today. But I truly believe there’s a reason why my impulse to create is so strong. There are stories all around us screaming to be told. I want to be one, of many other talented creators, to tell them.
Science.
I’m currently an MD-PhD student at the University of Toronto, in Toronto, Canada, with the hope to later specialize in Emergency Medicine. My background is eclectic: I originally studied neuroscience and psychology, as well as statistics. During my undergraduate degree, much of my research was in the realm of behavioural neuroscience, specifically how one part of the brain – the hippocampus – may be implicated in mental illness. I then went on to work in Genetics & Genome Biology (while simultaneously taking the plunge into formal artistic education – see below) before entering medical school.
Most recently, I’ve been involved with work the biotechnology sector, specifically in the field gastrointestinal surgery. Working alongside a passionate team of colleagues at FluidAI Medical (a Canadian biotech company), we’re working to provide earlier prediction of postoperative complications, supporting patients, healthcare providers, and medical systems to optimize surgical outcomes. I continue my work in genetics at the Hospital of Sick Children in Toronto.
Art.
While my primary artistic focus lies in film, theatre and literature are also very close to my heart. Following my undergraduate studies in the sciences, I went on to pursue formal training in theatre, literature, and film. I segued into film through screenwriting, and today function as a writer, director, and producer. In all my stories, I aim to move beyond the narrative itself and instill broader, more profound messages about the human condition. What does it mean to love? To lose? To be frightened? To dream? To fight for something that means the world to you? These questions and more – common to each and every human being – are what I explore in new ways. I completed additional film training at Toronto Film School, in both Writing and Production. I’m currently completing a interdisciplinary PhD that brings the worlds of science, medicine, and art together through a ‘research-creation’ framework (see below). Check out my projects page to discover more of what I’m up to.
Research-Creation.
Let’s face it: today, nothing is more powerful in getting messages across than screen-based media. Whether we’re talking about short-form content on social media, or longer projects such as television, films, or digital series, these platforms have incredible potential to get important messages out there. As I moved through the initial stages of my medical training, I realized there was a huge, untapped platform for raising awareness about key issues facing health and society – but also that it was essential this work be approached sensitively. When it came time to begin my PhD, I was curious about two primary questions: (1) How could we create a novel ‘collaborative filmmaking’ methodology, such that those whose stories are shared on screen (e.g. patients, caregivers, healthcare providers) have the chance to be core members of the filmmaking team themselves?; and (2) How alternative genres (horror and science-fiction) could enable us to explore these issues in provocative, memorable, and never-before-seen ways?
The result of these questions is the PhD I am working on today, a research-creation project combined with my medical training. Simply put, ‘research-creation’ combines creative processes with academic inquiry to generate new knowledge through innovation. This interdisciplinary approach integrates artistic exploration, theoretical research, and practical application, fostering unique insights and discoveries. By blending creativity with critical analysis, research-creation transcends traditional boundaries, offering dynamic solutions and fresh perspectives to complex questions.
About my production company
EXUVIUM PRODUCTIONS
[ɪɡˈzjuːvɪəm, noun]: something that is cast off, such as the exoskeleton of an animal.
Exuvium Productions is a visionary film production company dedicated to reshaping the way stories are told – both on-screen and behind-the-scenes. With a distinctive focus on the intersection of science, medicine, and unconventional filmmaking styles, we craft powerful, provocative, and ethically-driven narratives that challenge conventions to illuminate untold stories.
The name “Exuvium” reflects our mission to shed the layers of the familiar and reveal the unseen, much like the exoskeletons shed by animals and insects in their transformation. Through this lens, we aim to uncover the profound, the important, and the untold – delivering stories that leave lasting impressions on audiences worldwide.
'why do you call yourself AUTUMN?,' he asked,
his eyes twinkling with delight.
she paused.
gazed at him a moment.
then, her face growing cloudy like a storm, she replied:
'because,
AUTUMN shows us how beautiful it is to
let
things
go...'