Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Gharrett Patrick Paon on his journey to NSI Features First

Posted: 26 Apr 2019 10:24 AM PDT

Earlier this week we announced the 2019 NSI Features First students. Among this talented group is Halifax producer Gharrett Patrick Paon who, along with his writing partner Andrew Dryden Mortimer from Whitney Pier in Nova Scotia, will develop their feature film project The Undertow through the program.

Gharrett took to Facebook to share his thoughts on his journey to the program and kindly agreed to let us re-publish his post here.

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[I’m] incredibly proud to share that Andrew Dryden Mortimer and I have been selected for NSI Features First. I’m told they received a record number of submissions this year, so to have made the final four is a real honour.

When I first read The Undertow last September, I was floored by Andrew’s raw talent and the beautifully heart-wrenching story he imagined. It can’t be understated how much of an underdog Andrew is. He’s the perfect example of why you read scripts from PAs. I feel lucky to have found it before anyone else, ha!

In my letter of expectation to get into the program I ended with this, and I stand firmly behind it:

Emerging east coast writers desperately require outside investment to help them and the Maritime film community at large grow and become internationally recognized. Andrew is exactly the kind of writer brimming with talent that our entire community will benefit from in the future.

I can’t wait to embark on this journey with you, brotha.

One of the highlights of my time at the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) was the relationships I made with other residents and I can’t wait to do the same with these talented filmmakers over the course of this experience.

A huge thank you to my mentor, Damon D’Oliveira, for writing a kick-ass recommendation letter; [program manager] Shelly Quade for her continued support of the project and our team; and Al Magee [program advisor] for having a hand in our selection.

Four months ago I was broke, hitchhiking in and out of town from our family cottage in the dead of winter. The only thing I could do was keep my head down, focus on the work and believe in myself, the filmmakers I was producing and the stories we’re trying to tell.

Jump ahead four months and, between being in production on Spirit Talker and now this, I feel humbled by how my fortune has changed.

I know these posts can be triggering for some people who haven’t been as fortunate as I have been lately, so I hope that instead you use this as fire.

Hitchhike if you have to, eat McDonalds every day if that’s what takes. Just stay in the game for as long as you can. The people whose successes you’re comparing yours to have probably recently gone through secret hardships.

Hold fast, stay inspired and just believe in your taste and vision.

‘K, now back to this Shaw Rocket Fund application due in … definitely not enough hours.

With gratitude,
Gharrett

About Gharrett Patrick Paon

Gharrett Patrick Paon is an actor/producer with Acadian and Mi’kmaq ancestry from Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is a recent alumnus of the Canadian Film Centre Producer’s Lab and holds a bachelor of commerce degree from Dalhousie University.

In 2018, he won Telefilm Canada’s Pitch This! competition with writer/director Bretten Hannam at Toronto International Film Festival for Wildhood, a two-spirit, coming-of-age road film currently in development with CBC Films.

Gharrett is the president of Rebel Road Films Inc. The company is in production on season one of Spirit Talker, a 13 x 30 minute documentary series for APTN. Gharrett recently produced Wildfire, a short film version of Wildhood, which had its world premiere at BFI Flare, the largest LGBTQ+ film festival in Europe, and was one of 10 Canadian shorts selected for Telefilm Canada’s Not Short on Talent showcase at Clermont-Ferrand.

In 2017 Gharrett was the recipient of the prestigious Nova Scotia Talent Trust Young Artist of Excellence Award and The Shelagh Mackenzie Award for filmmaking.

Follow Gharrett on Instagram at Rebel Road Films and Gharrett, and on Facebook.

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NSI Features First provides development training for writer/producer teams looking to produce their first or second feature film with strong commercial appeal. Over 20 feature films developed through the program have been produced since 1997.

Most recently, Level 16 from Danishka Esterhazy and SuperGrid from Todd McCauley and Hugh Patterson have been released in festivals and theatres, and are streaming on a variety of platforms. All-In Madonna from Arnold Lim and Susie Winters completed principal photography last month in Victoria. A Small Fortune from Adam Perry and Jason Arsenault has been green-lit for production.

NSI Features First is funded by Presenting Sponsor Telefilm Canada; Supporting Sponsors CBC Gem, Super Channel, Corus Entertainment and Breakthrough Entertainment; Provincial Sponsor Creative BC through the Daryl Duke and William Vince Scholarship Fund; and Industry Supporters William F. White and Deluxe. NSI Core Funders are Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council.

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Announcing the 2019 CBC New Indigenous Voices students

Posted: 26 Apr 2019 10:09 AM PDT

Top, from left: Bethany Fontaine, Isaac Kakegamic, Avery Kewistep, Kane Kirton; Bottom, from left: Chyann Maracle, André Nault, Marissa Stevenson, Celeste Sutherland, Kale Swampy

The National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) is pleased to announce the nine students participating in this year’s CBC New Indigenous Voices training program presented by NSI.

CBC New Indigenous Voices is a 14-week, full-time, culturally-sensitive training course offering exposure to a variety of creative and challenging employment opportunities in film, TV and digital media. The program kicks off on Monday, April 29 in Winnipeg with a pipe ceremony and traditional feast.

The 2019 CBC New Indigenous Voices students are:

“Every year we get to work with a promising cohort of students and this year’s group is another example of the skill and enthusiasm they’re bringing to the course,” said program manager Ursula Lawson. “The training provided by the National Screen Institute through CBC New Indigenous Voices is vital to nurturing the next generation of Canadian storytellers and giving them the tools to break into the industry and make positive change.”

Workshops and seminars in the classroom phase, covering story development, directing, producing, casting and more, are led by industry experts. Students also intern full-time with a broadcaster or independent production company giving them firsthand knowledge of the business. Training includes the production and screening of three short films made by the students. Minimum wage is provided throughout the course.

CBC New Indigenous Voices is led by program manager Ursula Lawson with associate program manager Kaya Wheeler and Indigenous programs and administrative assistant Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill. NSI’s Indigenous training programs advisor is Lisa Meeches.

The program gets results: 73% of CBC New Indigenous Voices graduates work in the media industry, arts sector or are pursuing further education.

Forgotten, made through the program in 2017 by Jesse Spence, Alexis Leask and Andrew Lown, has screened at festivals throughout the US and Canada, including LA Skins Fest and Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival in Ottawa. You Will Go Home, made through the program in 2018 by Rhonda Lucy, Damian Frazee and Cynthia Murdock, has screened at festivals including the 2018 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto. Dead Bolt, made through the program in 2018 by Jon Berg, Shauntelle George and Joe Courchene, will screen at the 2019 Dreamspeakers International Film Festival in Edmonton.

CBC New Indigenous Voices is funded by Title, Presenting and Tuition Sponsor CBC; Program Partners Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage, the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD) and Telefilm Canada; Supporting Sponsors Corus Entertainment, Super Channel and CBC Gem; Provincial Sponsor Manitoba Film & Music; Industry Partner the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC); Industry Supporters IATSE Local 856 and imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival; and Service Sponsor William F. White. NSI Core Funders are Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council.

All media enquiries

Laura Friesen, Manager, Communications & Alumni Relations
Tel: 204.957.2999 or email: laura.friesen@nsi-canada.ca

Meet this year’s participants

Bethany Fontaine

Bethany Fontaine is a member of Sagkeeng First Nation but was born and raised in Winnipeg. Currently she works as a horse racing broadcaster and recently edited a music video.

Bethany just completed her third year of studies in the joint communications program at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College, and aspires to continue with film and video editing.

Isaac Kakegamic

Isaac Kakegamic is an Oji-Cree writer and director from Thunder Bay, Ontario.

He studied theatre with Debajehmujig Theatre Group before studying film at Weengushk Film Institute on Manitoulin Island. He graduated from Weengushk in 2018 and continues to work on writing projects for film and television, and is currently working on his first teen novella.

Avery Kewistep

Avery is a Saulteaux man from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He is in his fourth year of university and plans to work behind the camera in the future.

Kane Kirton

Kane worked at Manitoba Theatre for Young People as a teacher assistant in summer 2014 and at Winnipeg’s Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art in 2015 and 2016. He attended Vancouver Film School, graduating from film production in June of 2017.

Kane then returned to Winnipeg to follow his career and has since worked with Kono Films, Rajotte Productions and Frantic Films. He has volunteered at the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival since 2015, most recently as technical director.

Chyann Maracle

Chyann Maracle is a proud Mohawk, originally from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Ontario.

She recently graduated from Sheridan College with a BA in film production and looks forward to learning from others and using her skills to help tell stories through documentary and short narratives.

André Nault

Graduating from the University of Winnipeg with a degree in language and culture, André is interested in eastern classics and folk traditions. Of Métis decent, he now hopes to expand his understanding of his own traditions through film. Fascinated always by myth and legend, he seeks to explore how stories can connect us across distance, generations and culture.

André has written for independent features and worked in production for both live events and film, most recently working on Burden of Truth‘s second season.

He is excited at the prospect of collaborating with the other CBC New Indigenous Voices participants and is grateful for the program’s commitment to training and developing young voices. He calls Winnipeg home.

Marissa Stevenson

Marissa Stevenson has operated camera positions at the Assiniboia Downs horse racing track during the live season and has done some graphics and worked as a simulcast operator.

She operates a camera as a contractor for acting classes and looks forward to pursuing a career in film and TV.

Celeste Sutherland

Celeste Sutherland is an Oji-Cree storyteller and illustrator. She recently illustrated and published an Indigenous children’s book (written by CBC New Indigenous Voices graduate Sonya Ballantyne) called Kerri Berry Lynn.

She is currently in the digital media design program at Red River College and plans to pursue video and motion graphics.

Kale Swampy

Kale Swampy is a two-spirit Anishinaabe storyteller from Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. Dibaajimowin (storytelling) is a medium that our peoples use to share histories and teachings.

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