Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

John, an unsuccessful man-child and failed musician, comes up with a perfect plan to get money from his wealthy, unsupportive father.

John soon finds out that his father has some skeletons hidden in his closet, and the plan quickly spirals out of control.

Creative team

Writer/director: Shikher Kalyan
Producer: Emily Sudds

Filmmaker’s statement

I love making comedy films with a message. It has always been my first choice as it brings a smile to peoples’ faces. The concept of this film came to my mind years ago when one of my best friends casually mentioned it when he was going through a similar phase.

It is a fun little comedy of errors but also throws some light on how people feel entitled to something even when they don’t do anything to deserve it.

A huge credit on this film goes to the actors as they were great at improvising and we did a lot of on-the-spot changes, trying to make it funnier for the audience, but it turned out to be a nightmare for the technical crew (big thanks to them for their hard work). In the end, it all turned out great!

About Shikher Kalyan

Shikher Kalyan is an aspiring writer/director. In 2012, he did his undergrad in mass communication and journalism at Amity University, Noida, in India. While studying he made a number of short films and also won the award for best story in the All India Mobile Film Festival.

In 2015, Shikher got his first job as a third assistant director on a well-known Indian sitcom, Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain? He then worked as a second assistant director on another sitcom, May I Come in Madam.

In 2016, he came to Canada to pursue his post-graduate studies in filmmaking. He did advanced television and film at Sheridan College. During that period he directed a lot of short projects and two major short films. He also worked as an assistant director and PA on many different projects.

In 2017, after graduating, he got offered work as an assistant director for a Discovery Channel docudrama TV show.

He is currently working as an AD on television shows, along with his passion projects.

The post John vs. The Parents appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

A narrative music video, Alien Scars tells the story of a boy and his childhood pal and of finding comfort through a powerful memory.

Creative team

Writer/producer/music: Adam Halstrom
Director/animator: Martyna Koleniec

Filmmaker’s statement

This film is a collaboration between myself and animator/director Martyna Koleniec.

The song Alien Scars was just released on my solo EP, Brainwashed Proper Citizens: Anomalies. For the video, I wanted to use traditional animation to tell the story in a way that would inspire the viewer’s imagination. I spent a few months pondering the concept and searching for a stop-motion animator with a unique and quirky style.

As soon as I came across Martyna’s work, I pitched my idea for a collaboration and she was instantly on board. We spent a few weeks on script revisions and storyboards, then Martyna went to work on set/prop/puppet construction and animating. The animation process took about a month.

I couldn’t be happier with how the project turned out. At its core the song is about personal struggle and coming to terms with things we can’t control. The video takes this idea and shows us how one person managed to overcome that struggle. – Adam Halstrom

About Martyna Koleniec

Martyna Koleniec is an independent stop-motion animator, character designer and photographer based in Warsaw, Poland. In 2017, she graduated from Clay Animation’s Stop Motion Animation course in Valencia, Spain and now continues her passion for building scenographies, designing puppets and storytelling.

Martyna is currently experimenting with different textures and perfecting her unique ‘creepy-cute’ style.

The post Alien Scars appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

During a bizarre series of events, a vampire discovers that harmless forest creatures, and even his own body, have turned against him.

Creative team

Writer/director/producer: Christopher Angus

Filmmaker’s statement

Although this film is a comedic and playful nod to old horror films, it is also intended to be a subversion of those films in a way that hopefully leads towards questions about justice and mercy – how these concepts might work together with questions of how any possible divine justice might function in ways different than some expectations.

About Christopher Angus

Chris began dabbling with animation in 1993 as part of the commercial arts course he was taking at that time. Becoming fascinated with the animator’s craft, he began attending workshops held by the Manitoba Society of Independent Animators (MSIA).

Chris received funding from MSIA in the form of space and equipment usage and set up shop in MSIA’s studios, working on his first film, The Urge, when time permitted. The Urge was completed in spring 2001.

After several years of production, Chris completed The Urge 2 – It Lies Within. During this time, Chris taught an animation course at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in studio programs, worked on several small animated commercials and began working on a screenplay for a feature film.

The Urge 2 – It Lies Within has won over 15 awards at international film festivals, including best film, best filmmaker and best animator.

Chris recently completed his latest film, Futureworld, which is beginning its film festival run. He is in the storyboard stage of his next film.

The post The Urge 2 – It Lies Within appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).