Shawn Desman’s new film ALIVE premieres tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern on MuchMusic, and its television debut follows a January 31 big screen premiere in Toronto that brought together the cast, crew, their closest friends and family, and a feature from The Magazine.
Shawn Desman joins Kaitlyn Leeb, who portrays the lead dancer Liv, in this Canadian drama about chasing a dream that begins in a quiet Fergus community and heads toward the bright lights of Toronto.
ALIVE follows Liv, a small town dancer with big ambitions who longs to perform on a larger stage than her community centre can offer. Her idol inspires her to take a leap, entering a dance contest that sends her to Toronto to pursue the dream. In the city, the road gets tougher than she imagined: she must secure a place to live, learn new routines, and contend with fierce rivals, including the talented dancer Roxy. Liv stays focused, listening to her heart as she fights to rise above the noise and come out on top alive.
The project stays rooted in Canada with a fully Canadian cast. Bree Wasylenko and Izaak Smith, known to some fans from So You Think You Can Dance Canada, are part of the ensemble. Ontario locations set the backdrop, and the major performance sequences were filmed at MuchMusic’s The Big Jingle concert in Toronto, inviting viewers who attended to spot themselves in the crowd. The film is also set to the soundtrack of Shawn Desman’s forthcoming album Alive, releasing on February 5.
Interviews at the premiere featured the cast and director RT as they discussed the film and the core message of listening to one’s gut when chasing a dream.
Pushing into the concept, the director explained that the idea grew from a collaboration between Desman and RT after a widely celebrated video that earned Best Video at the MuchMusic Video Awards. That success sparked a desire to craft something emotionally resonant again. When Desman presented the album that inspired the score, it felt like the perfect emotional underpinning for a character on a difficult journey. The team began shaping the project with MuchMusic and Universal.
Izaak Smith plays the character Matt.
How does the story of ALIVE relate to real life? Desman recalls his own beginnings, explaining that the dream of becoming a singer faced skepticism, yet perseverance and following one’s heart defined his path, and ALIVE mirrors that spirit.
Izaak Smith shares that he is a dancer himself and has moved to a big city to chase personal dreams. He notes that he was initially considered for a Liv role but instead found a counterpart in Matt, a character who supports a loved one as they pursue their dream.
Bree Wasylenko relates to Liv as well, coming from a small Alberta town and heading to Toronto to pursue dance, underscoring the constant hard work behind big ambitions.
RT comments that anyone in show business trying to make something happen can relate to the theme. The film amplifies the idea of following one’s heart and going for it, a sentiment that resonates with Shawn Desman’s music, and the cast sees Desman as a mentor figure who inspires others to chase their dreams.
Kaitlyn Leeb reveals the training commitment required for the role, describing a full week of intensive hip-hop workshops and the support from talented choreographers and fellow dancers that helped her grow comfortable on camera.
The collaboration between RT and MuchMusic host Liz Trinnear is highlighted as part of the premiere experience, linking the film’s narrative to the network that airs it nationwide.
The central message of ALIVE centers on a girl pursuing her dreams, and the cast offers a simple piece of advice for aspiring dreamers: believe in yourself, stay resilient, and trust the inner voice that guides you. Desman’s own song Dum Da Dum underscores that catchy moment when a melody suddenly echoingly sticks, a feeling shared by many performers who have found their own personal anthems.
Bree reflects on the joy of waking up every day to do what she loves—dance and sing—while Kaitlyn speaks to the satisfaction of finally mastering a challenging choreography.
RT expresses how the project triggered his own musical impulse, saying it was a dream come true to bring ALIVE to life. He adds a light note about his mom occasionally asking him to sing Dum Da Dum when the household mood swings playful.
Thanks to the cast and crew of ALIVE, viewers are invited to watch the premiere on MuchMusic as the film becomes available nationwide on February 5 at 7 p.m. Eastern.