Actor/ Writer/ Producer

I'm Dana Carrabon, a screenwriter, actor, and producer from Scarborough, Ontario, raised by Caribbean immigrant parents from Jamaica and Trinidad. My artistic journey began with middle school theatre, eventually leading to a B.F.A. in Performance Acting from Toronto Metropolitan University. Through this training, I produced, co-wrote, and acted in two successful productions of my play, "Reefer Madness," at the university’s 2018 New Voices Festival and the 2019 Toronto Fringe Festival.

Since cannabis legalization, Canada's cannabis industry has experienced exponential growth. However, many remain unaware or dismissive of the unjust and racist origins of cannabis prohibition. As a person of colour, my family and community—both in Canada and abroad—have directly felt the harmful effects of racial discrimination embedded in drug laws.

With "Reefer Madness," I seek to artistically confront these historical injustices, exposing audiences to a critical yet overlooked chapter of our past. Years of collaborating and engaging with cannabis activists, patients, historians, lawyers, doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs have deeply informed my commitment to portraying this subject authentically.

My ongoing dedication has been recognized through two Ontario Arts Council grants for "Reefer Madness," mentorship from acclaimed screenwriters Jessica Hinds and Adrian Colussi, and participation in industry events such as TIFF and Content Canada (2022–2024). Now adapted into a completed one-hour TV pilot, this project aims not only to raise consciousness about cannabis history but also to provide essential insights as Canada and other nations navigate the complex transition from illicit markets to lawful, thriving cannabis industries.

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Schooling: Bachelor of Fine Arts (Performance Acting), Toronto Metropolitan University      (2018)

Academic Achievements: Valedictorian of both Middle and High School graduating classes. Winner and President of Agincourt Collegiate’s Business Luncheon, a competition among four senior business classes tasked with designing and executing a themed event for teachers and local community leaders, including police officers, firefighters, and charity representatives. Teams were evaluated based on atmosphere, catering, speeches, entertainment, and effective budgeting.

Scholarships: 

Toronto Metropolitan University - School of Performance - Sarmad Award (2016)

Grants and Awards:

• ISA Diversity Initiative - Finalist (2026)

• Stage 32 + Color Farm Media Screenplay Contest – Semifinalist (2026)

• Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay Competition – Semifinalist (2026)

• Canada Council for the Arts - Professional Development for Artists (2025)

• Creative Screenwriting Pilot Screenplay Competition – Semifinalist (2025)

• Palm Springs International Screenplay Awards – Semifinalist (2025)

• Emerging Screenwriters Sci-Fi & Fantasy Competition – Semifinalist (2025)

• BlueCat Shorts Screenwriting Competition – Quarterfinalist (2025)

• Santa Barbara Screenwriting Competition – Semifinalist (2024)

• ScreenCraft TV Pilot Script Competition – Semifinalist (2024)

• Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition – Quarterfinalist (2024)

• Creative Screenwriting – Short Contest – Quarterfinalist (2024)

• Screencraft Film Fund Competition – Quarterfinalist (2024)

• Creative Screenwriting – Unique Voices – Quarterfinalist (2024)

• Bluecat T.V Screenwriting Competition - Quarterfinalist (2024)

• ScreenCraft Film Fund Contest – Quarterfinalist (2024)

• Ontario Arts Council – Theatre Research and Creation Grant (2019)

• Ontario Arts Council – Recommender Grant by Cahoots Theatre (2018)

Produced Works:

• The CannabisWiki Christmas Show – A Reefer Madness Special (2020)

• Toronto Fringe Festival – Reefer Madness: Origins (2019)

• Toronto Met University’ New Voices Festival – Reefer Madness (2018)

• Short Film – Slenderman: The Encounter (2017)

• Short Film – Wreck-Mate (2016)

Written works:

• Feature Film - Red Hoods (2025)

• Short Film – The Thieves of St. Nicholas (2025)

• Short Film – Project Claudia (2024)

• Television Pilot – Reefer Madness (2023)

• Short Film: Reefer Madness: Thomas Devon Edition (2019)

• Toronto Fringe Festival – Reefer Madness: Origins (2019)

• TMU's New Voices Festival – Reefer Madness (2018)

• Short Film – Slenderman: The Encounter (2017)

Acting Works: 

• Chuck Rhoades, Billions, Artist 2 Artist Scene Study (2024)

• Bobby Axelrod, Billions, Artist 2 Artist Scene Study (2023)

• Jack, Reds, Artist 2 Artist Scene Study (2023)

• Thomas Devlin/Jazzy Devil, Reefer Madness: Origins (2019)

• The Jazzy Devil, Reefer Madness (2018)

• Yermolai Lopakhin, The Cherry Orchid, Scene Study (2017)

• King, Jack & The Beanstalk (2017)

• Pontius Pilate, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (2017)

• Doctor, The Venetian Twins (2017)

• Milord, The Artful Widow (2017)

• Clown, Ryerson Clown (2016)

• Peer Gynt, Peer Gynt (2016)

• Dr. Austin Sloper, The Heiress, Scene Study (2016)

• Oberon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2015)

• Roger, Streamers, Scene Study (2015)

• Jerry, Voices From The High School (2012)

• Romeo, Romeo and Winifred (2011)

• Ferdinand, The Tempest (2009)

Media:

• Reveal Cannabis - What caused prohibition? Meet Harry Anslinger (2023)

• Kelly’s Green Lounge – Spiritual Sundays w/ Dana Carrabon (2022)

• High! Canada Magazine: Top 50 Canadian Cannabis Heroes #50 (p.23) (2019)

• High! Canada Magazine: Reefer Madness Origins Review #45 (p.63) (2019)

• NOW Magazine: Reefer Madness Origins Review (2019)

• Mooney on Theatre: Reefer Madness Origins Review (2019)

• Girth Radio: Reefer Madness Origins Preview (2019)

Public Speaking:

• CannExpo Main Stage: The Truth About Cannabis Prohibition (2023)

• Canadian Association of Business Students: Cannabis Seminar (2021)

• The CannabisWiki Christmas Show (2020)

• CBC Cannabis News Report (2019)

Writing Training:

• Adrian Colussi – Screenwriting for Television Pilots (2023)

• Jessica Hinds – Screenwriting Alchemy Workshop (2022)

• Jessica Hinds – Meditative Writing Level One (2022)

• David Titcher – Screenwriting 101: Writing for Film & TV (2022)

Combat Training:

• Steve Wilsher – Introduction to Stage Combat (2017)

Story Editor:

• Ripples of Mind – Application for the IPF & Ontario Creates (2024)

• We Killed Kyle – TMU’s New Voices Festival (2017)

Writer/ Producer

I’m Mehdi Sidali, co-founder of D&M Creative, a first-generation Moroccan-Canadian writer and producer holding an Honours B.A. in English Literature from the University of Toronto. My passion for storytelling started early—from theatre performances in high school to studying dramatic literature at university, I became fascinated with how characters symbolize universal human experiences in powerful, visceral ways.

Entertainment has always deeply intrigued me—books, films, TV shows, stand-up, and live theatre. Even when I find myself watching or reading something flawed, I’m compelled to finish, driven by the need to experience the character’s journey fully. I seek stories that are fresh, immersive, and authentic.

Inspired by a love for creative writing, I initially wrote short comics and stories, evolving naturally into theatre and film. At university, I studied literary classics from Shakespeare to Congreve, focusing on dramatic narratives that continue to resonate today. This foundation deeply informs my creative work, encouraging me to craft scenes grounded in brutal realism, offering audiences an intimate connection to historical moments and characters.

The project "Reefer Madness" began as a creative exploration and evolved into a personal mission to illuminate the overlooked, unjust history of cannabis prohibition. Growing up, cannabis was portrayed as a gateway to shame and ruin, but through extensive research and conversations with activists, historians, medical experts, and entrepreneurs, I realized the deeper story was one of systemic racism, propaganda, and injustice. With Canada now embracing legalization, it's more important than ever to confront and accurately portray this critical history.

Together with Dana Carrabon, I’ve successfully produced two stage iterations of "Reefer Madness," showcased at Toronto Fringe and other festivals, earning recognition and semi-finalist placements in screenwriting competitions across North America. My professional experience in business, from tech sales and consulting at Sage Software to relationship-building and negotiation, complements my artistic work, enabling me to strategically manage partnerships and funding opportunities for our creative projects.

Looking ahead, D&M Creative remains committed to pushing boundaries, telling honest, impactful stories, and bringing this crucial chapter of history to life. My hope is not just to entertain but to elevate audiences and help them question the narratives they've been told.

Schooling: Bachelor of Arts (English Literature), University of Toronto (2016)

Grants and Awards:

• Creative Screenwriting Pilot Screenplay Competition – Semifinalist (2025)

• Santa Barbara Screenwriting Competition – Semifinalist (2024)

• ScreenCraft TV Pilot Script Competition – Semifinalist (2024)

• Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition – Quarterfinalist (2024)

• Screencraft Film Fund Competition – Quarterfinalist (2024)

• Creative Screenwriting – Unique Voices Contest – Quarterfinalist (2024)

• Bluecat T.V Screenwriting Competition - Quarterfinalist (2024)

• ScreenCraft Film Fund Contest – Quarterfinalist (2024)

• OAC – Theatre Research and Creation Grant (2019)

• OAC – Recommender Grant by Cahoots Theatre (2018)

Produced Works:

• Toronto Fringe Festival – Reefer Madness: Origins (2019)

• Short Film: Reefer Madness: Thomas Devon Edition (2019)

• Toronto Met University’ New Voices Festival – Reefer Madness (2018)

Written works:

• Television Pilot – Reefer Madness (2023)

• Short Film: Reefer Madness: Thomas Devon Edition (2019)

• Toronto Fringe Festival – Reefer Madness: Origins (2019)

• Toronto Met University’ New Voices Festival – Reefer Madness (2018)

Writing Training:

• Adrian Colussi – Screenwriting for Television Pilots (2023)

• Jeffrey Thomas – Writer's Craft (2012)

Story Editor:

• Red Hoods (2024)