Sometimes one phone call can change your life. Kate Swanson left her Michigan hometown behind more than a decade ago, reinventing herself in California as cult porn-star Tabitha Swann. An unexpected call from Michigan Child Services brings Kate’s troubled past to the forefront as Kate learns that Charlotte, the daughter she gave up for adoption in high school has been orphaned in a tragic double homicide.
Packing her things and going back home, Kate meets a broken, dispirited Charlotte, and hopes to make a connection with the child she never thought she’d meet. As the two start the awkward process of learning to live together, they find an opportunity when Kate bumps into Mike, a high school acquaintance with an empty house looking for a house-sitter. Through all this, there is still a lingering menace - a nagging feeling of people watching, stalking Kate, often right to her face. Is this all because of Kate’s other identity as a porn-star, or is something else going on? The mother-daughter duo will need to reckon with the collision of Kate’s past and present, their fledgling bond the only thing holding them together against unexpected terror and trauma. Stalkers is a Canadian narrative feature film directed by Paul Thompson.
Since completing his MA under David Bordwell at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2000, Paul Thompson has primarily focused on his career as a video tech in Toronto's busy film industry. Starting out of the gate on films such as Hedwig and the Angry Inch (dir. John Cameron Mitchell) and Bride of Chucky (dir. Ronny Yu), Paul established himself as one of the leading Video Assist operators in Canada. In addition to providing playback service to directors such as David Ayer, Jonathan Frakes, and Chris Columbus, Paul's lasting achievement might be in his role as Guillermo Del Toro's key playback tech, working on all of Del Toro's live action films since Pacific Rim, including providing on-set editing for the entirety of the films The Shape of Water (2017), Nightmare Alley (2021), and most recently Frankenstein (2025).
In his spare time, Paul has directed several short films and music videos, including "Quarantine" (2004), and "Let's Be Friends" for Toronto underground hip-hop artist Infinite. Paul’s pilot script for the zombie television series “Grave New World,” co-written with Luke Sneyd, won first place in the Page International Screenwriting Awards contest in 2006, as well as prizes from the Slamdance Teleplay Contest and the Cloud Creek People's Pilot Competition.
Paul Thompson's journey in the film industry has been marked by dedication and versatility. His expertise as a video tech has not only allowed him to work on a wide range of projects but has also earned him recognition from renowned directors. Collaborating with Guillermo Del Toro on multiple films showcases Paul's commitment to delivering high-quality technical support in demanding filmmaking environments. Beyond his professional achievements, Paul's passion for storytelling is evident in his directorial projects, where he explores different genres and styles, demonstrating his creative range and vision. His success in screenwriting competitions highlights his talent for crafting compelling narratives that captivate audiences and industry professionals alike.
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