Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Riot Girls from writer Katherine Collins gets theatrical premiere in US and Canada, September 13

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 01:47 PM PDT

Apocalyptic adventure film Riot Girls from writer Katherine Collins (NSI Features First) has its theatrical premiere at theatres in Canada and the US on Friday, September 13. It will also be available on select streaming services that day, including iTunes and Amazon Prime.

After all the adults are wiped out from a mysterious disease in Potter’s Bluff, the surviving kids split into two groups: the have-not Eastsiders vs. the tyrannical Westside Titans. When one of their own is captured by the Titans, it’s up to punk rockers and best friends Nat and Scratch to lead the Eastside teens on a deadly, high-octane mission.

The film is directed by Jovanka Vuckovic and produced by Lauren Grant.

Find out more and see if Riot Girls is playing in your city.

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Gemma Holdway’s insights into the value of NSI Totally Television

Posted: 09 Sep 2019 10:57 AM PDT

Are you thinking about applying for NSI Totally Television? We talked to some of our program alumni to get their thoughts on how the program changed their careers and why they think you should apply.

We spoke to writer Gemma Holdway, program grad with project DeGeneration (and current NSI Features First participant), about what she got out of the training. Here’s what she had to say.

What were your expectations for NSI Totally Television going into it? Did these change over the course of the program?

I went into the program expecting to work hard and meet people from every side of the business.

I did not expect the program to be so tailored to our project’s needs. That was so refreshing.

Do you have any tips or advice for folks thinking of applying to the course?

Know your show as best you can. Write the pilot. Your story will change but try to hold onto what you loved about the series when you started out. Be constantly mindful of what you’re exploring thematically. Think about a global audience, but be specific.

Why would you recommend NSI Totally Television?

It’s an opportunity to hone your craft and educate yourself about a constantly-changing business.

If I could do the program all over again next week, I would in a heartbeat.

• • •

NSI Totally Television provides customized, hands-on training for Canadian producer/writer teams to develop story ideas into polished packages to present to buyers in the global marketplace. Now entering its 17th edition, NSI Totally Television continues to evolve its curriculum and deepen its faculty pool to best prepare students and their projects for next-level success.

Find out more and apply for the course by September 27, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. EST.

NSI Totally Television is made possible by Presenting Sponsor Bell Media; Program Partner Telefilm Canada; and Supporting Sponsors Super Channel, Corus Entertainment and CBC Gem. NSI Core Funders are Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council.

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What Does It Mean to Be Happy

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 11:55 AM PDT

After running away from home, Chris met Austin and they now live together in a rundown warehouse.

Although he loves Austin, Chris knows he has to make a decision about whether or not to leave him and his unhealthy behaviour behind.

Creative team

Writer/director: Jesse Gotfrit

About Jesse Gotfrit

Jesse Gotfrit is a 24-year-old musician, filmmaker and writer, currently operating in Montreal.

Previously he spent four years at Simon Fraser University doing English literature and film productions.

Originally from Vancouver, he has done a lot of journalistic work regarding the housing, arts and culture crisis undergone by the city in recent years.

As a storyteller in music and film, his subject matter thus far has focused on destabilization, emotional and otherwise, which many adolescents and young adults experience, whether from their sexuality, income status or mental health, for example.

He is now a film studies major at Concordia University in Montreal where he hopes to expand his engagement and understanding as a student and emerging artist.

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Biggest Things

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 11:49 AM PDT

Two failing East Vancouver artists embark on a road trip to photograph the world’s largest roadside attractions.

Creative team

Writers: Micah Henry, Cassidy Waring
Director: Micah Henry
Producers: Emily Bruinsma, Camilo Lopez

Filmmaker’s statement

Biggest Things is a film about connection and relation. I did what I could to portray a relationship in the most organic and honest way possible.

Sometimes the decisions we make and the things we say do not make sense. That is something I was exploring with these two characters in an experiment in human connection.

Fostering a style of naturalism in timing, I have done everything I can do to make this film nothing more than true to my reality.

About Micah Henry

Micah is a Vancouver-based filmmaker and sonic artist. Focusing on dialogue-driven films, he examines what it means to go through life learning the subtle nuances experienced interacting with one another.

Meanwhile, he’s also learning that the whole being an adult thing is, like, super hard.

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Rake

Posted: 05 Sep 2019 11:41 AM PDT

Tom, a thoughtful teenager who longs for acceptance, is goaded into committing an act of vandalism by the vindictive older brother of his best friend.

When caught in the act, he suddenly finds himself in an altercation that ends violently, forever changing him and his relationship with his friends in ways he never imagined.

Creative team

Writer/director: Jonathan Eagan
Producers: Tania Thompson, Jonathan Eagan
Director of photography: Nick Haight
Editors: Paul Jonas, Simone Smith
Starring: Sam Davey, Andrew Cox, Devon Hauth

Filmmaker’s statement

I wanted to make a film inspired by my own experience that examined the complicated stakes of teenage life and how one fateful choice can have grave and lasting consequences. Rake was born of this idea.

The film was a labour of love and indeed a challenging one to produce, but we had a fantastic, dedicated and hugely supportive cast and crew who gave everything they had to the project.

About Jonathan Eagan

Originally from Newfoundland, Jonathan Eagan is a Canadian Screen Award and three-time Canadian Cinema Editors Awards nominee who began his filmmaking career as an editor on such films as Ingrid Veninger’s The Animal Project, the multiple award-winning Cast No Shadow for director Christian Sparkes (nominated for four CSAs), and most recently The Lockpicker for director Randall Okita, inaugural recipient of the John Dunning Discovery Award (best micro-budget feature film) at the Canadian Screen Awards.

In addition to his feature film work, Jonathan has served as editor on multiple seasons each of hit TV comedies Letterkenny and Workin’ Moms, the latter a recent international Emmy nominee for best comedy. Jonathan’s first short film, The Last Supper, was awarded the BITE Comedy Award for Best Comedy in the NSI Online Short Film Festival.

Rake represents Jonathan’s first foray into writing, directing and producing. He lives in Toronto.

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