His Name Is Ray is a 2021 Canadian documentary film directed by Michael Del Monte. Scott Montgomery and Del Monte wrote the documentary and Hanan Townshend composed the music for the film.Jazz Tangcay, "L.A Latino International Film Festival Announces Full Slate — Film News in Brief". Variety, May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021. His Name Is Ray follows the precarious journey of a homeless man, Raymond Martin, for eight months on the streets of Toronto as he tries to achieve his dream of getting back on the water.Pat Mullen, "His Name Is Ray Review: Seen from the Other Side". Point of View, May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
Production Del Monte drove by the same man panhandling at an intersection close to his house. After months of driving by the intersection of Lakeshore and Jameson, Del Monte decided to talk to the man.His Name is Ray". mfilms.ca. Retrieved May 28, 2021. Ray invited Del Monte to see what life was like on the streets. Del Monte shot the majority of the film single-handedly, using no tripod and just one lens.
Del Monte approached Scott Montgomery, who was fascinated with the project and came on as a writer.". gat.ca. Retrieved May 28, 2021. Hanan Townshend was approached early about composing the music for the documentary. Townshend would send music sketches, which Del monte would listen to in one ear while filming."A Documentary About One Man’s Life on the Streets of Toronto". Breakfast Television, May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
Outside of a $10,000 grant from Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund, the documentary was self-funded, partially with the prize money from his prior film Transformer winning the Rogers Audience Award at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in 2018."Guelph's Michael Del Monte wins big at Hot Docs with Transformer". CBC News, May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2021. Derek Cianfrance, who has been a mentor for Del Monte, came on in April 2021 as executive producer.
Release Hot Docs premiered the documentary on their streaming platform for their members only on April 22, 2021 (Canada only)."'We all have addictions, we all have dreams and we all have a name,' says Guelph filmmaker of latest project". Toronto Star, May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021. The film was then planned to be sent to film festivals with representation by CAA.
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