Happy Monday and Happy New Year!
Before we dive in, we want to hear from YOU!
What do YOU want to see from Marquet Films in 2026?
More films? Different content? Less of something? More of something? Thoughts on the newsletter? If you’ve got an opinion you’ve been sitting on, we’d love to hear about it! Feel free to email [email protected] or [email protected] or both!
We’re in the big 2026 now, and every new year comes with that familiar urge to reset. A quiet pressure to improve, to start fresh, to find the motivation to chase whatever goals we’ve been circling.
For us, that reset usually shows up in the same place it always does: the stories we want to tell next, and where those ideas actually come from.
Well that’s today’s topic: Inspiration and where to find it. If you know Adrien, you know he’s rarely standing still. When he’s not grinding away, he’s out collecting experiences, sometimes halfway across the world, sometimes just downtown Toronto. He’s always reminded me: Ideas don’t come from staying put. They come from paying attention to the world while you’re in it.
We have an upcoming project called A Single Serving Friend. The entire idea came from an experience Adrien had in an airport, a single conversation with a complete stranger. One of those rare, honest exchanges that feels memorable right when you’re in it. Then the person got up and left without saying goodbye. Not even a wave or head nod. Adrien was left baffled.
That experience turned into a voice note. A day later, we were outlining what would become our first written feature. From there, we decided to distill the core idea into a short film, something that could stand on its own while capturing the heart of what we’re building toward.
Of course, inspiration also comes from studying the greats, those who shaped cinema and those still keeping it alive. A Kubrick watch-through sparked I’m Not Supposed To Be Here. Damien Chazelle’s films pushed us toward our tap-dancing project. And some of the films we saw at Camerimage? You’ll hear about those soon enough…
Personally, I find that a lot of my ideas start with music. Music creates images. Scenes. Decisions. Entire character arcs. There’s something powerful about how sound and story fuse, how a single track can unlock a moment you didn’t know you were looking for.
And inspiration isn’t limited to filmmaking. I’m using obvious examples that pertain to us, but it shows up everywhere: a video you scroll past, a conversation you overhear, something you read that sticks with you longer than expected. Those sparks matter. Whether your New Year goals involve the gym, a new hobby, or finally putting yourself out there, every change starts with one spark.
Every year since we’ve met, Adrien and I make a list of our own resolutions for what we want in the upcoming year. It’s nice to reflect on the work you put in, those wins you’ve earned, and what you’ll improve on this year.
Don’t forget to click Read Online to be gracefully blessed with our thumbnail for this week, it’s an inspirational one ;)
So here’s to a year of momentum, curiosity, and actually following through.
Cheers,
Pat and the Marquet Films team