Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

National broadcaster Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) has issued its first-ever short film request for proposals.

They’re looking for unique, creative, edgy, scripted or unscripted short stories between five and 22 minutes in length, suitable for a general audience that feature Indigenous culture in either English, French or an Indigenous language.

To be eligible, applying producers must be Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) and reside in Canada. They’re also required to be part of an Indigenous production company with at least 51% Indigenous ownership. See all eligibility requirements on APTN’s website.

The deadline for applications is December 20, 2019 at 5 p.m.

The post Opportunity: APTN issues RFP for short stories, deadline December 20 appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

With the deadline for NSI IndigiDocs just days away, we had one last talk with a program graduate to get their thoughts on the course.

Michele Mundy (pictured) produced the award-winning documentary Leave it on the Water through NSI IndigiDocs with director Steve Sxwithul’txw.

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

When I first entered into NSI IndigiDocs, I was quite nervous because I had limited experience working in film. Extensive research led me to the program. My area of interest was to learn more about line producing.

The training and support we [me and program partner/Leave it on the Water director Steve Sxwithul’txw] received from the staff and mentors in the program more than surpassed the education I imagined we would receive.

As the producer, I was fully responsible for budgeting and ensuring our team met all the deliverables laid out by our funders. NSI staff continually supported us to ensure we completed each deliverable on time and they were available if we needed additional support.

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

I would just suggest that if you have a story you are passionate about, apply. The NSI staff and other students you’ll work with are extremely supportive and want everyone to be successful.

Let go of any inhibitions you may have because it’s an incredible opportunity to fund your film project, receive guidance and embark on an extremely valuable experience.

Why would you recommend NSI IndigiDocs?

It’s an amazing opportunity to bring your film project to life, with incredible support and funding to complete it. The mentoring and full engagement with staff and fellow students isn’t something you will always receive in the field, so it provides an incredible learning experience.

As well, the networking opportunities that NSI facilitates throughout the course are so valuable. It’s a program I really appreciate being involved in and one that I would recommend to anyone considering it.

• • •

Keep the story going and donate today

At NSI, we’re passionate about nurturing storytellers because stories connect us all.

As we enter the season of giving, please consider a donation to support our students as part of your charitable giving. Big or small, your gift will provide value-added essentials that make their training experience really special.

For as little as $10, you can help fund an item from the NSI Gift Guide. Things like a weekly bus pass, the cost of hiring a van for a student trip, food for a traditional feast or help hiring a mentor are all ways you can help.

Tax receipts are issued for all gifts. Thank you for considering a donation.

The post Producer Michele Mundy on the support she received through NSI IndigiDocs appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

A young couple have a romance fit for a storybook. They live happily ever after until their child diverges from the classic narrative.

Creative team

Writer: Jessica McLeod
Director: Annette Reilly
Producers: Annette Reilly, Greg Delmage, Avi Glanzer, Keli Moore, Brandon McKay, Chris Orchard, Rozlyn Young

Filmmaker’s statement

A Typical Fairytale has been at the forefront of my heart since the moment I read the script back in September 2016. I was on a weekend trip with friends who, when I told them I had a script to read, complained that I had brought my work with me. I hid in a room and, when I emerged, the tears rolling down my face were cause for concern.

I told them that I had just read the most beautiful script and I HAD to make this movie. The world needed a film like this that takes a classic narrative-style fairytale and twists it on its head. It’s almost subversive in its ability to lull the audience into a sense of security by using a classic format, but uses it to teach a modern lesson of acceptance and inclusivity. One so desperately needed in our world today.

After a year and a half of cycling through different directors and team compositions, being rejected for funding once or twice, our passion for this project kept us going until finally our third funding application proved to be the charm. TELUS STORYHIVE granted us the remainder of the funds needed to make A Typical Fairytale, with me as the director, and I couldn’t have been more honoured and excited to get started.

After an intense process that included building our own sets, preparing to both direct and act, and guiding a brilliant team of imaginative, diverse, and generous artists and craftspeople, I cannot be happier with the outcome … especially given our resources. I am proud to finally present to the world, with every ounce of our hearts on the screen, our story: A Typical Fairytale.

About Annette Reilly

Annette Reilly is an award-winning filmmaker and actor, known for her role as Diana Spellman, Sabrina’s mortal mother, in the Netflix original Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Growing up in small-town Alberta, she pursued her love of theatre with a BFA from UVic and was eventually led to film in an effort to bring pressing social justice issues into cinematic storytelling.

Her most recent film, A Typical Fairytale (which she directed, produced and acted in), is currently doing the film festival circuit, has been nominated for four Leo Awards and won an award for best art direction.

The post A Typical Fairytale appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

A sex toy mishap leads to a night in the emergency room where a just broken-up couple are forced to confront their issues on love and relationships.

Creative team

Writer/director: Corey Shurge
Producers: Emily Andrews, Laura Nordin, Jen Pogue, Kristopher Turner

Filmmaker’s statement

I like to say that we’re taking the romantic comedy to new places in this film.

When Kristopher Turner and I started talking about doing a short, it had been 10 years since we first worked together on my feature film, The Triumph of Dingus McGraw: Village Idiot, and both of us were anxious to just make something rather than wait for something to get made, as is so often our experience working in television.

So I set to work writing this self-financed passion project with the goal of simply making something honest – a snapshot of a relatable turning point in a relationship. It was Kristopher and Ruth Goodwin’s headfirst dives into this world of cynical romanticism that brought the perfect balance of humour and heart to the film, and allowed us to tell a story that has fortunately resonated with so many.

About Corey Shurge

Corey Shurge [surge] is a Canadian screenwriter and director whose filmography ranges from feature film to internationally-acclaimed television series.

After writing and directing his debut feature, The Triumph Of Dingus McGraw: Village Idiot, he went on to work in network television, including hit prime time dramas such as CTV/NBC’s Saving Hope and CBC’s Republic Of Doyle.

Corey wrote all eight episodes of the American Heroes Channel’s historical action mini-series, American Lawmen, and has also written episodes of National Geographic’s award-winning docudrama series, Mayday. He makes his return to his indie film roots with the award-winning short dramatic comedy, Stuck.

Most recently, Corey is working as executive producer and writer on the upcoming iHeartRadio scripted podcast series, Solve. His latest film, Lughead, had its world premiere at the 2019 Austin Film Festival. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles.

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