Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Getting to know the NSI Business for Producers students of 2020 (part 1)
RBC Emerging Artists Project continues investment in NSI IndigiDocs and NSI New Northern Voices training programs
Jennifer Holness, Darcy Waite join CMPA Board of Directors
Getting to know the NSI Business for Producers students of 2020 (part 3)
Getting to know the NSI Business for Producers students of 2020 (part 2)

Getting to know the NSI Business for Producers students of 2020 (part 1)

Posted: 03 Nov 2020 10:24 AM PST

Top row from left: A.J. Demers, Andrea Feltrin, Ervin Chartrand, Fonna Seidu, Jacob Pratt, Kate Fenton, Stuart Matheson; middle row: Carmen Forsberg, Bram Timmer, Flore de Bayser, Ian Bawa, Jen Viens, Richard Agecoutay, Priyanka Desai; bottom row: Alex Sangha, Carla Robinson, Alex Duong, Hedyeh Bozorgzadeh, Jason Arsenault, Kulbinder Saran Caldwell, Seth Williams

Last week NSI welcomed 21 participants via Zoom to begin the NSI Business for Producers training program – a distance learning and mentorship program designed to help emerging producers nurture creative ideas (of all genres) while navigating the logistics and legalities of screen-based storytelling in a COVID-19 environment. Read more about this year’s participants.

Each was tasked with a writing assignment at the end of their first week. We asked about why they applied for the program, what they hope to get out of it and a little about the project they’re developing through training.

Since there are 21 talented participants, we’re rolling out the writing pieces in three separate posts to avoid publishing a very long post.

Read: part 2 and part 3.

• • •

Richard Agecoutay – Spirits of Summer (Toronto, ON)

I’m Saulteaux/Assiniboine/Cree from Saskatchewan.

I’ve been visiting the NSI website for a few years now and I’ve always been intrigued by the program offerings. I’m employed by CBC as a full-time video producer in Toronto so I don’t really have a flexible schedule to take part in some of the NSI programming.

That was until I read about NSI Business for Producers – an online training program. I figured this may be an opportunity for me to keep my full-time job and develop my producing skillset. Fortunately, I have a supportive manager and he agreed to support me if I was accepted.

To my delight I was accepted into the program and I have the ability to arrange my work schedule around the online training sessions.

By delivering the program online, NSI allows participants to upgrade their skills without having to worry about costly travel and living expenses. The price points are reasonable, allowing a lot more candidates to participate.

I’m hoping to develop a solid, useful skillset that will allow me to bring my projects to market. The line-up of teachers and lecturers NSI chose are top notch industry professionals. I enjoy learning from people who can share their lived experiences. It’s important that these experts share their knowledge and experiences with others in order to build a stronger Canadian filmmaking community.

No man is an island, I’m looking forward to networking with other participants in the future.

I am focusing on a project I call Spirits of Summer – a powwow road trip documentary about cultural discovery, kinship, spirituality and resilience.

Spirits will follow a hard-headed Indigenous mother of three scrappy pre-teen girls. She is fiercely determined to make sure her girls learn the ways of their ancestors.

Spirits has been in my mind’s eye for over 30 years. I first ventured out on the powwow trail to document this unique subculture with my SLR camera. With a grant from the SaskArts Board I eventually held an exhibit of 20 black and white photographs. I called the exhibit Spirits of Summer.

I love the diversity and equity of the participants. It’s encouraging to see that NSI has taken steps to strengthen the Canadian film community by picking up the torch and leading the way to social justice. Eagle feathers to NSI!

Jason Arsenault – Off The Wharf (Charlottetown, PEI)

I applied to NSI Business for Producers for a couple of reasons. Having nearly finished my first feature film, I’m looking to expand my producer toolkit by learning how to develop my first television series called Off The Wharf.

NSI Business for Producers helps each student by tailoring training according to each producer’s individual needs, along with mentors who can help with specific goals. All of this in addition to having an excellent series of lectures from industry experts, a place to work out ideas with peers, and networking opportunities, makes this a unique opportunity to develop a project with support and direction which isn’t easy to access. It’s often so easy to feel like you’re spinning wheels with new ideas, unsure of what to do next.

I know this from experience, having been part of the 2016 NSI Features First program. That program was instrumental for me in making the leap as a producer of web content and short films to feature films by clarifying the process of feature film production. With all of this support, and my previous experience with NSI, my expectations for NSI Business for Producers are very high; I’m sure they’ll be met. I know I’m going to finish knowing much more about producing with a clearer direction about my own project and a new list of friends and networks.

I’m developing a project called Off The Wharf. It’s a 30-minute single camera comedy-drama set in a blue collar fishing village on Prince Edward Island. It follows a reluctant lobster fisherwoman who struggles to take care of her eccentric family by running the family fishing business while dealing with the challenges of living in a small town whose residents think she’s responsible for her own mother’s accidental death. While PEI’s film industry is small, it’s quickly growing and often punches above its weight in terms of creative talent. I’d love for this to be the first homegrown comedy television show to be produced on PEI.

While COVID-19 has moved many parts of our lives to online platforms, it hasn’t really affected my expectations of the program thus far. NSI staff have managed to create an open and friendly environment that lives up to my past experiences, and so I’m very excited for the coming weeks of learning.

Flore de Bayser – The Outsider (Waterloo, ON)

I am a female, Toronto-based, emerging producer and the co-founder of Velvet Icons Productions.

I applied for the NSI Business for Producers program to get the Velvet Icons’ first feature film The Outsider off the ground. While developing this project, I became very much aware of my responsibility as a producer towards the artists we collaborate with, the people who will work on the film, and the $1.5M of public funding we plan to invest in it. It became clear to me that we could not realistically expect to bring the film to the screen – engaging other people’s work and money – without the involvement and guidance of experienced people to back us.

NSI provides exactly the kind of support my company and I need to safely move this project forward into production: intensive and high-quality production training, the resources to fill the gaps, the industry network and a label that will allow us to stand out in a highly competitive market.

This program will give me the tools and the confidence to start off the production of The Outsider on the right foot. I hope to gain creative and business insights into pitching and developing a story, and managing a production in the COVID-19 era.

I also hope to find the right mentor for The Outsider. This program is a very unique opportunity to learn about all aspects of production from expert professionals, making me more attuned to what I know and what I don’t know, better able to assess the risks associated with a production, and aware of where to find the information and experience necessary to achieve our goal.

Beyond serving our current project, I see this program as a launch pad for the Velvet Icons and for my career in the Canadian film industry. I expect to build lifelong professional relationships with the NSI family, including my fellow participants and the speakers, and to get the inspiration, advice and tools that will make me a better producer and play my role advocating for diversity and social change within the industry.

The Outsider is exactly the kind of meaningful and stylish story that we, at Velvet Icons, want to bring to the world. It is a horror film, currently in its final phase of development (V4), written by a talented team of writer/directors. Their first feature film, brought to life with a micro-budget of just $25K, won the audience choice award for best Canadian film at Fantasia Film Festival.

In The Outsider, the soft-spoken Sam must defend her entire family from a deadly creature which has forced its way into their house. What makes the film unique is that the original sin that brings consequences in any classical horror movies is, in this case, ‘good intentions.’ The protagonist, Sam, is both the ‘good person’ of the story, and also the one whose mistakes lead to the death of her loved ones. The film is at once a well-constructed classic genre piece and a thoughtful exploration of how what are commonly seen as ‘good intentions’ are actually quite often shaped by a personal or social need to be seen as ‘good.’ In a very subtle and efficient way, The Outsider addresses an urgent need for questioning the social status quo.

In times of COVID, I feel very good about joining a group of 20 others online. On a practical note, the online format will save commute time and help me manage my different professional and parenting commitments.

I also believe the virtual format won’t compromise the quality of the program. I find these months in lockdown have brought, with all the frustration of not being able to physically interact, a deep sense of solidarity in the industry, and hunger to support, inspire and collaborate with each other. The first week at NSI, seeing the quality of the speakers and being given the chance to work in smaller groups, reinforced my conviction that we will be able not only to connect with each other, but also to make our projects advance as well as everyone’s careers.

I do hope to meet with everyone in person when the pandemic is over, but I am also glad that NSI didn’t wait for better days to make us all connect and move forward together.

Hedyeh Bozorgzadeh – Brother, Man (West Vancouver, BC)

I have completed quite a few producer trainee internships in the past but, unfortunately, came out with gaps in my producing skills. Even basic things like budgeting, which was part of the internship objectives, were not met and overlooked by the mentors. Some would talk about going over them but never did.

So, when the NSI Business for Producers program came up, I wanted to make sure I finally bridged these gaps in my knowledge, which I hope will go a long way as I apply them to my first feature film project.

Like other producers, I create my budgets and finance plan for each project, but I need an established producer to look them over and make sure they are solid and address all the needs of the project. Like other filmmakers, I read and re-read the ever-changing funding guidelines, but I am uncertain as to whether I have understood them clearly as I apply them to my own projects.

Over the years, I have learned more about the legal and business affairs side of producing, but I need to know more about negotiating deals and contracts. These are some areas where I need to build my skills, knowledge and confidence, and I am glad we will be focusing on these areas and more while addressing (post) COVID production challenges.

With all this in mind, this opportunity couldn’t come at a better time and I feel blessed to have the chance to be a part of an institute and NSI family that continues to nurture up-and-coming talent and creatives. Special thanks to Ursula Lawson [program manager] and Jeff Peeler [program advisor], our mentors, and the hard-working team at NSI for creating a distance learning program at such uncertain and disruptive times when we need the support the most. With gratitude – Hedy

Ervin Chartrand – Highway 45 (Selkirk, MB)

I applied to NSI Business for Producers because I wanted to become more educated and informed about producing. I didn’t enter the film industry to be a producer, necessarily. Being a producer is a role I have undertaken somewhat reluctantly; my passion is writing and directing.

I find producing to be very daunting and stressful. I prefer the stress that comes from working on the creative side of things. I believe the program will give me the skills and insight I need to embrace the producer role with greater confidence.

I’m hoping to gain skills to help me produce my own projects because the hustle to get the next gig is almost endless, and there are days when it seems there are more opportunities than I have time.

NSI Business for Producers allows me to use Highway 45 as the choice project, which is my first feature funded by Telefilm Canada. I have been passionate about developing this story into a screenplay since I discovered the book Nowhere to Run in 2015, after which I acquired the rights to the book.

In 2018, I produced and directed a documentary about the story of Constables Dennis Strongquill and Brian Auger, which was also entitled Highway 45. This allowed me to investigate the crime, including the impact that the tragedy had on Constable Brian Auger, the victim’s family and the communities.

I’m really grateful to be included in this program and for the opportunity to connect with this rich group of seasoned professionals. Hearing different perspectives and learning from their experiences is very motivating and reassuring. Despite the pandemic, I feel that I am in the right place in my career path and not alone.

A.J. Demers – Old Growth (Toronto, ON)

With content creation and the media industry changing so rapidly, lifelong learning isn’t a passion, it’s a necessity.

After spending the last few years focusing purely on creative work, I applied to the NSI Business for Producers program to expand my feature film producing skills. Through the program I’m seeking to refine my feature film project to position it strongly in the marketplace. I want to ensure that the film has an appropriate budget and financing to support the strong creative that has been established. As a passionate creative producer I believe that keeping my business skills sharp is essential to bringing my vision to life and my content to audiences.

Through the program I will continue developing a supernatural thriller/horror feature film from my slate entitled, Old Growth. The project is an elevated monster/survival movie set in the old growth forests of the Rocky Mountains. The film has elements of paranoia and isolation, themes of division, unity, and environmentalism, an excellent monster, and strong visuals. These factors will make Old Growth a scary and thrilling monster movie than will rise to become an allegory about how we are destroying the planet and ourselves.

Priyanka Desai – Fearless Inks of the Nisga’a Nation (Vancouver, BC)

I am a journalist turned executive producer with extensive work experience in India in reality TV and documentary film.

When I moved to Canada, in spring 2018, I either had to change my stream of work or start afresh. I chose to give my career a fresh start – working as a production assistant on film sets, as an assistant director on independent films and occasionally volunteering to build my Canadian work experience. My creative journey in this new country is leading me to be a producer for stories that impact and entertain.

I want to learn Canadian producing from the very best in the industry. I want to grow my network of industry professionals. I seek to gain validation for my skills and knowledge. These are the very reasons I applied for NSI Business for Producers.

With this program’s help and guidance I aim to direct and produce my first feature documentary film in Canada. I look forward to collaborating and making use of each other’s potential for future projects and to having a thorough understanding of budgeting, scheduling and funding for documentary projects in North America.

In the last two years I was fortunate to work as a story producer, production coordinator and producer on some prestigious projects like the six-part TELUS STORYHIVE docu-series Red Chef Revival, a pan Canada video documentary for the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, a wheelchair boxing documentary for Accessible Media Inc. and an artist’s profile video series for BC Achievement Foundation’s First Nation Awards 2020.

As a BIPOC filmmaker, I seek to take greater control of the narrative. And in order to do so, I understand that I must equip myself with the business aspect of producing.

The project I’m developing through the program is Fearless Inks of Nisga’a Nation. I see myself as a representative of the project which I am developing with an Indigenous artist Nakkita Trimble. More than being a film about tattooing and reclaiming identity through body designs, this film is about shedding the idea of fitting in and challenging the culture of shame.

This film is dear to me for several reasons. It gives me unique access to the community. I feel COVID changed the course of our lives in more ways than one. There was a serious loss of opportunity to network with people in the industry. During COVID, I felt the need to connect with more people, to battle my loneliness and to reach out and find more work. This program has brought those opportunities and people to me, in my home. I feel grateful to learn from such a talented bunch of individuals who are extending a sense of camaraderie and kindness towards each other. There is also a sense of purpose and discipline that the program is adding to my daily work schedule. I am enjoying every bit of it.

• • •

NSI Business for Producers is funded by Program Partner Canada Media Fund (CMF); Strategic Sponsors Telefilm Canada and The Winnipeg Foundation; Supporting Sponsors Corus Entertainment and Super Channel; Industry Consultants Executive Education Centre, Asper School of Business, Facilitated Solutions and People First HR Services. NSI Core Funders are Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council.

The post Getting to know the NSI Business for Producers students of 2020 (part 1) appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

RBC Emerging Artists Project continues investment in NSI IndigiDocs and NSI New Northern Voices training programs

Posted: 03 Nov 2020 10:21 AM PST

The National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) is proud to announce RBC Emerging Artists Project is supporting NSI IndigiDocs for the eighth straight year and NSI New Northern Voices for year two.

“RBC Emerging Artists Project is an incredible partner to the National Screen Institute,” said Joy Loewen, NSI CEO. “They provide valuable financial support to develop underrepresented Indigenous voices and storytellers from northern Manitoba, and RBC team members personally invest their time and talent getting to know NSI participants, staff and faculty, and celebrate their achievements.”

This summer RBC’s 2020 Indigenous Partnership Report A Chosen Journey highlighted both programs, program manager Kaya Wheeler and NSI IndigiDocs participant and NSI New Northern Voices mentor Erica Daniels. Additionally, they published a feature about NSI IndigiDocs film As the Smoke Rises by Jennifer Ille and Sharon Heigl in recognition of Orange Shirt Day on September 30.

“RBC Emerging Artists Project supports programming committed to helping diverse artists bridge the gap from emerging to established,” said Herb ZoBell, Vice President Commercial Banking, Indigenous Markets & North of 60, RBC. “We look to support artists who are creating the innovative conversations that shape how we see the world and how we engage with our communities. That’s why we’re proud to continue this partnership with the National Screen Institute – graduates from their programs are building careers, winning awards, returning as mentors for the next generation, and becoming leading voices in the Canadian media arts industry.”

In 2020, graduates of NSI IndigiDocs celebrated several significant award wins.

NSI IndigiDocs film êmîcêtôcêt – Many Bloodlines, directed by Theola Ross and produced by Alex Fisher-Bailey, won the Betty Youson Award for Best Canadian Short Documentary at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, an award for Documentary Work – Short Format at imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and Jury Choice Top Short Film at Winnipeg’s Reel Pride Film Festival.

Tasha Hubbard won the Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary Award at the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards for her multi-award-winning feature documentary nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up.

Alexandra Lazarowich was one of the honourees of DOC NYC’s 40 Under 40 – an award celebrating emerging talent in the documentary world.

Michelle St. John, producer of the recent documentary TV series Amplify on APTN, returned to NSI IndigiDocs as producer advisor in 2019.

About NSI IndigiDocs

NSI IndigiDocs is a two-phase program offering customized training for Indigenous filmmakers to develop a short documentary.

During phase 1, up to eight students attend an online boot camp to learn about writing, directing and producing a documentary film. At the end of phase 1 all students have a market-ready film proposal.

In phase 2, a jury chooses up to four students to go into production and receive a cash award of up to $16K and approximately $10K of in-kind services. Students are paired with an industry mentor to help with the development and production of their film. Final post-production is completed at the National Film Board.

Films are broadcast as part of a one-hour special on APTN, plus individually on documentary Channel, APTN lumi, nfb.ca and nsifilms.ca.

Phase 2 students attend Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival.

Led by program manager Kaya Wheeler, the call for applications for the next edition of NSI IndigiDocs will be announced this fall.

About NSI New Northern Voices

In fall 2019 NSI launched New Northern Voices – designed to eliminate barriers for northern residents wishing to access creative media arts training.

With the next edition of the program, NSI will further its goal of building workforce capacity by engaging the industry, community and alumni they previously worked with to advance training opportunities for writers and producers in northern Manitoba.

As part of this training framework, NSI New Northern Voices is intersecting with NSI Business for Producers to provide a fast-track for one alumnus who will develop their emerging producing skills alongside experienced industry professionals. Additionally, training for up to three regional writers will be provided. They will work with the producer to develop local stories for production. Production will be scheduled to allow for hands-on experience and training for above- and below-line positions.

Led by program manager Ursula Lawson, more information about the call for applications is expected in the coming weeks.

NSI programs are made possible with ongoing funding from: Core Funders: Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage, the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council; Benefactors: TELUS, Telefilm Canada; Patrons: Bell Media, CBC; Builder: APTN; Indigenous Training Programs Partner: Directors Guild of Canada; Strategic Sponsors: Super Channel, Corus Entertainment, Blue Ant Media, Manitoba Film & Music, RBC Emerging Artists Project, documentary Channel, Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD); Canada Media Fund (CMF), The Winnipeg Foundation; Industry Partner: National Film Board of Canada; Friends: Stantec, William F. White International, Deluxe.

For more information

Liz Hover, Director of Communications at liz.hover@nsi-canada.ca

The post RBC Emerging Artists Project continues investment in NSI IndigiDocs and NSI New Northern Voices training programs appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

Jennifer Holness, Darcy Waite join CMPA Board of Directors

Posted: 03 Nov 2020 10:04 AM PST

CMPA Board of Directors

Jennifer Holness (top right) and Darcy Waite (bottom middle) are among six new additions to the CMPA board

The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) announced two NSI alumni will join their board of directors.

Jennifer Holness (NSI Drama Prize, Telefilm – Canada Spark Plug Program, NSI Global Marketing) and Darcy Waite (CBC New Indigenous Voices, NSI IndigiDocs) are two of the six new additions elected to the board.

NSI is well represented on CMPA’s board, with Erin Haskett (NSI Drama Prize) as the interim chair. “On behalf of the CMPA board, staff and the entire membership, I’m extremely pleased to welcome these six individuals to the board of directors, whose talent and experience will be a huge asset to our organization,” said Erin in CMPA’s media release.

Jennifer and Darcy will join fellow alumni Kyle Irving (NSI Global Marketing), Tom Cox (NSI DramaLab), Lauren Corber (NSI Totally Television), Marc Almon (NSI Drama Prize) and Mary Sexton (NSI Features First). The CMPA board’s goal is to create broader inclusivity within CMPA and across the industry.

The post Jennifer Holness, Darcy Waite join CMPA Board of Directors appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

Getting to know the NSI Business for Producers students of 2020 (part 3)

Posted: 03 Nov 2020 09:35 AM PST

Since there are 21 talented participants, we’re rolling out the writing pieces in three separate posts to avoid publishing a very long post.

Read: part 1 and part 2.

• • •

Alex Sangha – Emergence – Out of the Shadows (Delta, BC)

I applied for the NSI Business for Producers program because I am passionate about social justice documentary filmmaking. I am a social worker and counsellor by profession. I feel film is another avenue to do social advocacy and social activism and reach a global audience through film festivals, broadcast, streaming sites as well as high schools, colleges and universities.

I want to empower people to share their lived experience and give a voice to the vulnerable. I am working to produce films with the following themes:

LGBTQ+ community
Human rights
Immigrants and refugees
Social justice issues
South Asian people
Indigenous communities and People of Colour
Vulnerable and marginalized peoples
Educational documentaries

My first short documentary film, My Name Was January, was about a transgender Filipina woman, January Marie Lapuz, who tragically lost her life in September 2012 in New Westminster, BC.

The film won 14 international awards and 64 official selections at film festivals around the world. The film entered the Canadian Screen Awards for Best Short Documentary and was an official selection in the NSI Online Short Film Festival.

My Name Was January reached audiences all over the world and had an impact in its own small way. This further sparked my interest in becoming a documentary filmmaker.

I expect to absorb knowledge, skills and expertise from the NSI Business for Producers program. I am excited about:

Networking with fellow students, staff, instructors and guest speakers to gain knowledge and expand my professional circle of industry contacts
Developing a relationship with an experienced mentor in the film industry who lives in metro Vancouver
Learning about pitching, storytelling for producers, budgeting, Indigenous protocols and pathways, conditions for successful negotiations, tax credits, finance structure and cash flow, post-production and distribution

I am currently working on a feature documentary film called Emergence: Out of the Shadows.

Synopsis

Explore the taboo topic of being gay and lesbian in the South Asian community of metro Vancouver and abroad. Kayden tells a poignant story of family rejection and self-discovery while embracing his newfound family and life. Parents and their children discuss the struggles they have endured and overcome to preserve the family through generations to come. Success often means setting aside long-established culture and tradition for compassion, love and acceptance.

I feel very blessed and have much gratitude for having been selected to participate in NSI Business for Producers with so many distinguished staff, students, instructors and guest speakers.

I think it’s wonderful that the program is online in part due to COVID. I feel NSI is not only nurturing our careers as filmmakers but ensuring we are safe!

Feel free to contact me at alexsangha@gmail.com

I love to learn and meet new people!

Kulbinder Saran Caldwell – The Nightbird (Toronto, ON)

I was eager to apply for the NSI Business for Producers program because I wanted a formal education in how to produce the correct way.

I was drawn into producing by an associate producer on a docudrama. I was in a volunteer position. He was impressed by my business acumen and asked me to become his partner in a production company. Overnight, I was the decision-maker and lead producer on all the projects on our slate. Although much of producing is entrepreneurial in nature, there is something to be said for having a consistent process to follow every single time you produce a project.

I expect to leave the program with not only a quantity of valuable information but also a toolkit I can reference on future projects. I expect to benefit from being part of a cohort which supports one another. I will be able to reach out to class members with questions drawing on their experience and expertise in situations that are unfamiliar to me. And I will be available to them for the same. We are the next generation of filmmakers and, over the time we spend together, there is as much to learn from each other as there is from the course itself.

I’m adapting Anita Rau Badami’s novel Can You Hear the Nightbird Call? into a limited series called The Nightbird. I fell in love with the story when I read it years ago and it stayed with me until I was compelled to option the book. It is about three South Asian women and how their lives intersect from the Komagata Maru all the way to the Air India bombing and how it impacted the Vancouver Sikh community.

The tragedy has been the 9/11 to the Sikh diaspora since that day. Originally, I intended to make it a feature film, but the story was too epic – spanning many decades and countries – between Canada and India. As I pitched the story to my fellow participants, it was wonderful to hear from Hedyeh Bozorgzadeh that she loved the author and her books. Producers read a lot of books and stories as they search for the IP they want to develop into a film or series – so hearing she was familiar with Anita’s work helped us connect right away.

I enjoy meeting and working with the group of 20 others online. There’s something about seeing everyone’s face and their living space in a small square on the screen to put everyone on a level playing field. We’re all juggling producing with family and life obligations which are heightened as a result of everyone working from home. This is indicative of the daily juggling act we do as producers that isn’t always apparent to others. It humanizes us all that we’re in this together … and if one of us succeeds, so do the rest of us. Which is a pretty lovely place to be in the middle of all this uncertainty.

Fonna Seidu – What Comes After (Toronto, ON)

Hi, I’m Fonna (pronounced “Phone-Ahh). I’m a producer that champions QTBIPOC teams and projects. With five plus years of working in the non-profit sector as a project manager, I translate my experience and skills to film and media production.

Why did I apply for the program?

It was February 2020 at the Afro Prairie Film Festival when Promise Me was premiering. I remember meeting Joy Loewen [NSI’s CEO] at a mixer and she told me about the fantastic programs at NSI and, since then, I’ve been keeping my eye on upcoming programs.

In July 2020, an initiative called #StartWith8HollywoodNorth paired me up with a mentor and previous NSI alumnus, Daniel Bekerman. One of the questions I asked was why he participated in so many incubator programs. He talked about how the stakes aren’t as high as a new producer and “It’s a safe space to ask ‘dumb’ questions and bounce ideas off other people.” A few days after, he forwarded me the call for applications.

The final piece to me wanting to apply for the program is because I am looking for Black queer women producers. Folks in my network who produce mostly do so because they have to and would rather write and direct. If I have to be one of the first then I want to soak up as much information as possible to give the projects on my slate the best possible chance of success.

Here’s a little bit about the project I’m developing through the program:

The impetus: Oyin Olalaken (the writer of What Comes After), took part in a three-month writing intensive to develop the story. Oyin was compelled to tell this story because when she turned 19, she was confronted with the realities of her family’s dynamics changing drastically. What Comes After grapples with the myth of certainty that every entry-level adult must face. The theme of the inevitability of change is most clear in the crumbling dynamics of Adésola’s family, Adésola’s hypervigilance of her gentrifying neighborhood, and her daydreams of transforming her mother’s salon. Additionally, the film is an ode to friendship as the soft place to learn the vulnerable lessons of healing, growing, daring and trying something new without knowing the outcome.

How did I get involved: do you remember that MASSIVE CBC Creative Relief Fund callout for projects? Oyin asked Sasha Leigh Henry and I to join the project as a producers. Since then, we’ve been developing the project further with Sasha helping Oyin with the script while I’m helping with grant applications and other non-creative deliverables.

Learn more about What Comes After.

Although the program is virtual, luckily I’ve had the pleasure of attending other virtual events such as Gimli Film Festival’s The Future is Ours! mentorship program and film markets like Banff Media Festival, Cannes and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). I deeply wish I could meet folks in person and connect, but what I value most is the information and hands-on experience gained from the program.

Bram Timmer – Netherworld (Calgary, AB)

After two decades as a creative in the digital media space where rapidly consumable content is the norm, I’ve grown weary of continually feeding the insatiable and ever-expanding digital space with advertising content that has an extremely short lifespan.

When my second child was born, I gave ‘legacy’ a great deal of thought. I took time to reflect on past work and whether my kids would be proud of my accomplishments. Was there a sense of pride coming through a portfolio or any shiny statues on a shelf? Would it help them? It took some doing but I realized that it’s not about materialistic things – it rarely is – but simply about being a good father. Being there for them in the now, and always.

That spiralled into thinking about my own upbringing in the Netherlands and the steps my parents, grandparents, uncles etc. took to get to where they are today. When I dug deep into my family history, some laughable but also deceitful truths revealed themselves. Simultaneously, I found this article in Vanity Fair‘s archives about the influence the Dutch have on Trump’s government. Some of it all got a bit too close to home. All this work that doesn’t seem like actual work – because it’s feeding your curiosity – laid the foundations for the dark comedy drama series Netherworld as the project I’m developing through NSI Business for Producers.

Last year, by producing CAMP‘s annual festival, I gained invaluable insight into Hollywood productions through an art-department walkthrough and set visits of Ghostbusters: Afterlife thanks to friend and production designer, François Audouy. It solidified in me, my strengths and capabilities, as well as the continued urge to create meaningful content for large-scale audiences that builds tribes but now through narrative.

After taking a deep dive, joining the Producers Association of America (PGA) and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), I became acutely aware of the National Screen Institute’s role in helping emerging storytellers find their way in the Canadian landscape. As such, when the opportunity to apply for this program came along and when I saw how it would provide mentorship, enhance my network and give my process structure instead of my ad-hoc approach, I jumped.

When I received the news that I was accepted into the program out of a record number of applicants, I felt extremely honoured. Before the program, it felt like I was living and working on an island even though I was landlocked with mountains to the west and prairies to the east.

Now, after the first week of NSI Business for Producers, I’m acquainted with fellow emerging and established producers across the country together with a swath of doors that have opened. I’m humbled and appreciative of every moment and nervously look forward to each and every session.

Jen Viens – Autonomic (Montreal, QC)

Hello everyone!

I’m an emerging producer, director and actor. Though I’m originally from Vancouver, I now call Montreal my home.

I began my career in film and television as an actor, but quickly gravitated to directing and producing. My experience up until this point has been largely in independent short form content.

I applied for the NSI Business for Producers program because I am keenly interested in expanding my portfolio and skillset as a producer. I have a fair amount of experience in guerilla, low-budget filmmaking, but I would love to move into larger-budget projects with grander scopes. As well, many of the skills I’ve cultivated to date have been the result of simply getting in and getting my hands dirty – I’ve learned most of what I know on the job and online. I’m excited to learn about producing in a formal setting and acquire new skills.

I’m also grateful to be part of NSI because it allows me the opportunity to connect with other industry professionals and get to know fellow emerging producers. All of whom I hope will continue to be friends and colleagues for the duration of my career.

The project I’m developing is Autonomic – a 60-minute episodic sci-fi series. It’s set in the not-too-distant future, when government and corporations have finally (and inevitably) merged, and the affluent entertain themselves by downloading their consciousness into the bodies of impoverished women.

The series follows one woman, Zero, who signs up to be a service provider – or ‘Hollow’ – as they’re known on the street. Zero struggles with a deep desire to crawl out of poverty and find her place in the world, while ignoring the feeling in her gut that something isn’t right with the process. It’s a grounded sci-fi story that explores themes of policing women’s bodies, the desperate search for belonging and, of course, capitalism.

We are definitely living in strange, virtual times, so being part of a cohort that meets and works entirely online is novel to me and therefore quite an adjustment. Having said that, if this program weren’t virtual, I might not have been able to take part this year. So, I suppose I have COVID to thank for one thing. But ONLY one thing!

Though it’s always more desirable to be able to learn face-to-face, I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone, to building lasting connections and to learning and sharing with the team.

Seth Williams – Baiter (Canmore, AB)

I’m an Alberta-based independent filmmaker and founder of Flip City Films – an award-winning production company specializing in cinematic storytelling. The scope of work we do ranges from music videos to branded content, short form narrative and documentary films.

As an independent filmmaker working with micro budgets, I’ve developed a diverse skillset, often writing, producing, directing, shooting and editing the projects myself. From script to screen, I’m passionate about the entire process.

As I develop my first feature film, I continue to pursue bigger projects and opportunities to collaborate with others in a key creative position.

Feel free to check out my work and drop me a line if you’re interested in collaborating.

The NSI Business for Producers program

An understanding of technology, communication, leadership skills and creative thinking are some of my strengths as a filmmaker. With the support of the NSI Business for Producers program, as well as industry leaders, I’m hoping to develop a greater understanding of business affairs, tax credits and financing structures.

This is also a fantastic chance to network with fellow filmmakers from across Canada. There are so many unique, diverse and fascinating voices in this program, it will be exciting to watch their careers grow as these projects come to fruition.

Project in development

The project I’m developing through this program is a feature-length film entitled Baiter – a gritty social drama about a man who works with sexually abused and at-risk youth. He becomes disillusioned by the systemic failures of the justice system when a sex offender is released into the community and reoffends. When a child he’s been working with is brutally raped and killed, he decides to take the law into his own hands.

This film will be unique because, in addition to exploring the themes outlined in the story, it’s a character study of a man who willfully surrenders to his own self-destructive tendencies.

Online learning during COVID-19

Having 20-something strangers visit my home several times a week via Zoom has been a welcome reprieve. My only sadness is not being able to meet in person. Hopefully soon …

• • •

The post Getting to know the NSI Business for Producers students of 2020 (part 3) appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

Getting to know the NSI Business for Producers students of 2020 (part 2)

Posted: 03 Nov 2020 09:06 AM PST

Since there are 21 talented participants, we’re rolling out the writing pieces in three separate posts to avoid publishing a very long post.

Read: part 1 and part 3.

• • •

Alex Duong – Breaking Bread (Burnaby, BC)

I’m the writer/producer of a rom-com feature film called Breaking Bread.

My short-term goal, as a visible minority and emerging producer, relates to breaking into this ﬁeld: I want to gain knowledge and fully understand what being a ﬁlm producer entails. It is essential to know the do’s and don’ts, to gain trust, credibility and learn multiple skillsets with an experienced team of producers.

My long-term goal is simple and straightforward: to be a full-time producer. I want to release movies with meaningful and engaging content that I have written with diverse casts. While the short-term goals are a priority now, the long-term plans will ignite my desire to work hard in this ﬁeld.

Breaking Bread is inspired by a personal story.

I was born and raised in France. My family owned a Chinese restaurant and, instead of serving the traditional fortune cookies, we would serve sesame balls or almond cookies for dessert.

Two stores down the street, there was this fantastic Boulangerie baking fresh croissants and baguettes every morning. The smell was so exquisite and delicious that I had to go there and get a croissant. However, I was not allowed to go to that French bakery because they were our competition. One day I snuck out and got caught red-handed when I still had some croissant crumbs on my chest.

Breaking Bread is a tale of passion and greed, backstabbing and double-crossing, desperation and determination, truth and destiny. It is hopelessly talented versus the doggedly determined, and the outcome is a naturalistic rom-com.

I’m thankful for NSI to have made me part of this online program with other emerging producers. As a producer, networking is really important and I’m glad I can share my project with them.

Andrea Feltrin – Natural Habitat (Vancouver, BC)

I’m a writer, director, and comedian based in Vancouver, BC.

The project I’m developing through NSI Business for Producers is Natural Habitat – a half-hour scripted comedy series about a Banksy wannabe who ventures out west to join a commune. It’s both written and created by me.

I have over seven years of experience working in the industry, mainly on an independent, zero-to-low-budget scale, but I’m striving to expand my skillset and learn how to play in the big leagues.

I generally act in my own projects as well, mainly out of necessity but I also really enjoy it as I have a background in theatre, stand-up and improv comedy. I’ve been working for Trish Dolman [NSI alumna] at Screen Siren Pictures for the past two and a half years which has been an invaluable learning opportunity and has given me insight into the more administrative side of filmmaking, both in the scripted and documentary space.

I’m so excited to be part of the NSI Business for Producers cohort along with so many great people with interesting projects and backgrounds. Through the program, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the business affairs side of filmmaking, specifically surrounding contracts, chain of title, budgeting and financing for scripted projects.

I hope to learn and employ pragmatic strategies and make industry connections that will ultimately help take my project from development to production. I also hope to better familiarize myself with the pitching process.

I look forward to connecting further with the other producers in the program and hearing about their individual experiences working in the industry. Even though the program is online, it has been so refreshing and energizing to be in a virtual room with so many ambitious and dedicated people from all across Canada. It’s been a weird and wild year but there’s never been a better time for Canadian content to shine so I’m optimistic about the future.

Kate Fenton – Filmores (Toronto, ON)

Why did you apply for NSI Business for Producers?

I applied to NSI Business for Producers with a commitment to transfer my skills from creating and producing in the theatre and in digital series, into a strong career in film and television.

I am excited to participate in discussions and debates about the industry in a more intimate setting while also establishing new and important relationships with people more experienced than me. Furthermore, I hope to strengthen my producing skills, particularly in the areas of managing people and productions and ultimately to develop a global understanding of the industry with broadcasters, distributors and development executives.

What do you expect to get out of the program?

I hope to gain lifelong holistic habits that prepare me for every aspect of the film and television industries starting with a strong network of colleagues, mentors and resources.

Tell us a bit about the project you’re developing through the program

Adam Seybold approached me with the initial idea. After living and working in Regent Park and experiencing first-hand the collision of culture, socio-economic status, systemic racism and gentrification, we decided to form a writer/creator team including Thirza Cuthand, Monica Mustelier, Adam Seybold and myself.

Inspired by the history of Filmores Hotel and Gentleman’s Club, a 250-year-old structure located on the edge of Regent Park, we started with the question: “How do we live together in a place that was never ours to begin with?”

Slogan: You are a guest here.

Logline: From longhouse to strip club, Filmores is a genre-bending anthology web series about the 400 years of characters who pass through a mysterious plot of land and the ageless Indigenous woman who witnesses it all.

Format: Told in 6 x 20-minute episodes. Each episode is its own short film, populated by a new set of characters, except for one central and unifying thread woven through the entire series, Nadowa, the most mysterious and vital character.

Story: Nadowa, a young Huron woman, gains immortality as her people are decimated by colonial settlers and absorbed into the Seneca nation. She falls in love with a Seneca woman, raises a family and watches as they all die while she is fated to remain on the grounds of her lover’s grave for centuries as the land becomes a building filled with mysteries, sex, ghosts, murder and the history of the city we now know as Toronto.

How do you feel about joining a group of 20 others online during COVID?

My 2020 lockdown has so far included directing a play, premiering a series, developing a new series and producing a short film, all over Zoom! So, joining a group online feels quite familiar.

Although, it might not be ideal, in the sense that you don’t spend the whole day together, sharing stories over lunches and chatting over coffee, instead we have the privilege of working with producers and content creators from across the country.

People who would not normally be together in the same city are now interacting over these online platforms. It means for us – this year’s cohort of producers – we have contacts from coast to coast, not just in our immediate towns and cities.

Also, as a mother, actor and content creator I might not have been able to manage participating in a full-time course like this. By conducting it online over several weeks NSI has allowed me to incorporate such a program into my otherwise ‘bonkers’ schedule! I think it’s great!

Carmen Forsberg – #generation:ocean (Richmond, BC)

As soon as I read NSI was bringing back the NSI Business for Producers program, it immediately interested me. Producing is ever-changing, with formats, platforms and audiences being some of the larger shifts – and then 2020 happened!

Being part of an incubator lab allows every one of us to not only strengthen the projects we came in with, but also those on our slate. The program brings to the table up-to-date insights, knowledge and strategies and, at the same time, the ability to connect with peers and industry at a roundtable level. These connections are priceless, and as we work together receiving feedback and giving feedback, relationships are built.

The first week was interesting and a great foundation for the weeks to come, with a special focus on diversity in the workplace and our commitment to inclusion on the screen and behind the camera. Equally as important, the thorough understanding of how to work with Indigenous communities and stories, and I would even take the license to say that this respect and collaboration should be applied with Indigenous communities in every country.

The project I’m currently developing is a documentary series which includes a significant amount of travel. I was ready to shoot a sizzle reel on location in early March but when COVID hit, everything paused. The challenge now is how to adjust and re-shape development. Personally, this is how I want to approach the lab “producing internationally in times of COVID.”

While this year has created significant challenges, it has also opened a new way of communicating. Online conferences and video solutions have allowed us to tap into a larger network, from master classes and panels to communicating with friends and peers with much more simplicity and a willingness to appear on-screen. I look forward to the coming weeks as we dive deeper into all aspects of the producing role.

Stuart Matheson – True Hearted Punk (The Pas, MB)

I am an emerging producer and filmmaker living in The Pas, Manitoba.

I applied for the NSI Business for Producers to develop my project and my abilities as a producer. I also applied hoping that I would be meeting new people with similar interests to myself. I hope this program will help develop my skills in filmmaking as well as create long-lasting connections within the industry. I also hope the program will open doors that lead to my project becoming a reality.

The project I’m working on is an animated fantasy-adventure series called True Hearted Punk. It’s set in a steampunk-esque world called Ama where the forces of science and magic are in conflict with each other. The story focuses on a pilot and a girl with a metal arm who go on an adventure to stop an evil force from destroying Ama. The themes of the show will revolve around subjects like the old world vs the new world, industrialization and its consequences, duty and loss. The animation style of this series would be a mix of western and eastern, similar to how the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender was made.

I am very excited to be working with such a large and driven group of individuals. An opportunity to work online would have been incredibly rare pre-COVID and I hope more opportunities like this come up post-COVID for individuals living in remote areas.

Jacob Pratt – Lands Wandered (Regina, SK)

I am Dakota and Ojibway from the Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan. My career started in the entertainment industry as a performer. I was a powwow dancer, then started hoop dancing, training in ballet and advancing to become a choreographer.

I am also a traditional native flute player and won an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award with my first album. All my experience as a live performer revolved around storytelling. As my career developed I grew into becoming a film and television actor.

As an actor I had some success as a lead animated character for Louis Says, hosted Wild Archaeology, and even acted in large productions like Outlander. However, as an actor it’s a very passive position to be in because you are simply reliant on other people’s projects and hoping you are chosen to be a part of a project.

My problem as a storyteller is I wanted to tell more stories and didn’t want to wait for somebody to choose me to help maybe tell one of these stories one day. This naturally led me to explore my career development [opportunities] and become a director and producer.

My education has been a huge help to me. However, I never went to film school of any kind. I actually got my undergrad from the First Nations University of Canada in business administration. After completing this I moved to Southern California where I was accepted into the University of Southern California master of science in social entrepreneurship. I chose this program because it focuses on creating successful businesses that strive to make a positive social change in the world.

I focused on how to create diversity in the entertainment industry. This was my focus due to my understanding that as an Indigenous man the only opportunities I have been given were acting roles in period pieces and we don’t exist in modern society based on the entertainment industry. It’s obvious that the entire industry does not provide opportunities to People of Colour or women the way it should. So, my goal is to make a difference in that through creating high-quality entertaining content.

I applied to this program because, despite the fact I have learned a lot and been actively working within the entertainment industry, I have more to learn. There are specific areas like where to find funds and technical skills I would like to improve. I think this program will help me with that. I also want to establish more connections through the program because I am well aware of the fact the most important part of being successful in this industry is developing relationships.

Lands Wandered is my project that I developed as a web series for APTN. It is currently on APTN lumi but I still feel like this project can be improved and developed. I would like to expand the concept and pitch it to other broadcasters, and perhaps even to Disney. It’s an adventure series that explores the most well-known places across North America but also takes a look at the Indigenous history that is often forgotten either intentionally or unintentionally.

So far I have been very happy with joining the [other producers]. They seem like a great group with a host of different experiences. I think it’s great because there may be a chance we will work together in the future. I look forward to the rest of the program.

Carla Robinson – Bully (Brantford, ON)

Yowtz! Hello! I’m from the Haisla and Heiltsuk nations in northwestern BC. I’m extremely happy and grateful to be part of NSI Business for Producers.

I applied to NSI as I’ve always been impressed with its programs and the achievements of its graduates, and this program seemed like a perfect fit for my career goals of launching my own company; Wassum (“heart” in Haisla) Productions Inc., and taking the lead on developing my screenplay, Bully into a feature film.

Since graduating from Sheridan College’s film program in 2018 I have mostly focused on writing and producing in consulting, advisory and production roles. I’ve worked on projects such as Trickster (2020) and Monkey Beach (2020) and a one-year story-editing mentorship through imagineNATIVE with the Harold Greenberg Fund.

I am hoping through this program to develop executive-level producing skills such as project planning, pitching, forming partnerships, negotiating, building teams, budgeting, managing tax credits and assessing market and distribution trends. I also want to find more people I can connect with and collaborate with on projects.

My film Bully is based on a personal story and is about a young, funny, awkward and ambitious First Nations woman struggling to stay in university and get out of the world of bulimia and bad relationships crafted by her manipulative alter ego. Beyond my own experiences with these subjects, I hope to also draw on the humour I have grown up with in my communities that has helped lift us through many heavy or painful situations.

I am looking forward to being online over the next few months with my 20 talented classmates developing our ideas together and learning from the many experienced and generous presenters, teachers and mentors, and as a community making the most out of this unprecedented time in history.

• • •

The post Getting to know the NSI Business for Producers students of 2020 (part 2) appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).