Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Storytelling is more important than ever as we all face the unique challenges this year has brought us.

Stories entertain, inspire and transform. They remind us of where we come from and where we can go. We need more stories to free our imaginations and open our hearts to create a path of understanding and healing.

To mark the season of giving during December, we’re sharing impact stories from our alumni and board members to show the power of story in action.

Current NSI students are blessed by the commitment of NSI’s Board of Directors – 100% of whom have donated to NSI’s annual fund. Please join them in supporting our students by donating today and making the power of story even more powerful.

Today’s impact story comes from Steve Sxwithul’txw – NSI IndigiDocs grad.

Steve entered the NSI IndigiDocs program in 2017 where he directed the film Leave it on the Water. Through this, he gained a broader understanding of directing and how best to collaborate with producers. Steve believes the challenges he faced during his training helped him grow and build relationships.

His recent short film, Finding the Balance, screened at festivals across North America, including Yellowknife International Film Festival and LA SKINS FEST.

• • •

If you could describe your experience with NSI in three words what would they be, and why?

Learning, caring, direct.

I use these words to describe the NSI IndigiDocs program as that is what this course offers. It has all this, and all taken in the best of light with well-meaning direction and open discussions on your treatment of your film.

How did your training through NSI help you get to the place you’re at in your career today?

Having had some experience in TV prior was nice – but there is always room to grow, learn and meet new people. These contacts are integral to my growth as I always still reach out to them for advice and offer assistance where I can.

How did your instructors, mentors and peers influence you to become a better storyteller?

Understanding the story arc, what is your focus for your story and how to best assemble the story. As well, knowing how close a good story is in your own life.

What advice or encouragement would you give a prospective applicant considering NSI programs?

My advice is to take the time if you are considered for this program. It’s worth the time, effort and, at times, money to get it done.

What has your career trajectory looked like between when you completed training and now?

It’s looking bright. I have now been contacted by other producers on varying projects to collaborate. It is something I am weary of, but need to do to grow.

What was the most transformative part of your learning experience?

Learning to understand the critical analysis of your work is part of the learning and much needed.

What skills did you acquire in your NSI program that you did not have before?

Broader understanding of being a good director, learning to work with your vision and alter when you have too. Understanding and working with another producer as well. A challenge which brought great clarity to my work.

What project(s) are you currently working on?

I just finished another short film called Finding the Balance about four First Nations who are fighting to protect their ocean waters on southern Vancouver Island. It’s currently on the film festival circuit. I am also in post-production as the producer for the third season of Tribal Police Files for release in 2021.

Where can people find out more about your work online?

Kwassen Productions Inc.

What is your favourite Canadian film / TV show / web series?

Trickster, it’s the bomb!

The post Steve Sxwithul’txw: the contacts I made through NSI were integral for my growth as a director appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

Inside Out and OUTtv recently announced their new initiative, Out On Set – an online database of LGBTQ+ crew and creatives in the film and television industries.

Out On Set connects production companies and networks with LGBTQ+ talent throughout North America. The database aims to eliminate employment barriers for the LGBTQ+ community and increase hiring rates throughout all elements of the industry.

The database can be sorted by geographic location and profession and covers all areas of the industry including actors, casting directors, writers and more.

The database was announced December 7, with the official launch set for March 2021. Inside Out and OUTtv are inviting LGBTQ+ crew, creatives, and all production companies, studios, networks and agencies to sign up now.

The post Inside Out and OUTtv’s new online database aims to connect production companies with LGBTQ+ talent appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

See For Me, from Randall Okita (NSI Diverse TV Director), has been internationally pre-sold following a showing at the virtual edition of the American Film Market.

The film has made deals in Europe, Spain, Latin America, Korea, South Africa and many other international territories.

See For Me follows a blind teenager who is house-sitting at a secluded mansion when thieves try to break in to obtain a hidden safe.

The film wrapped in August after a short suspension due to COVID-19. See For Me is currently in post-production.

The post Randall Okita’s thriller See For Me pre-sold internationally appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

The Christmas Setup, directed by Pat Mills (NSI Drama Prize, NSI Totally Television, NSI Features First, NSI Script to Screen), premieres this month on Lifetime and CTV.

The film is making history as Lifetime’s first Christmas movie about a LGBTQ+ couple. The film follows Hugo (Ben Lewis) – a New York lawyer returning home for Christmas. His mom (Fran Drescher) eagerly tries to set him up with his former crush, Patrick (Blake Lee).

Pat Mills spoke with CTV Morning Live about how audiences want to see themselves represented on screen – and he was drawn to the supportive, feel-good nature of the film.

The Christmas Setup airs on CTV Drama Channel December 18 at 8 p.m., and on Lifetime (US) on December 12.

The post Pat Mills directs Lifetime’s first Christmas movie about a LGBTQ+ couple appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

Storytelling is more important than ever as we all face the unique challenges this year has brought us.

Stories entertain, inspire and transform. They remind us of where we come from and where we can go. We need more stories to free our imaginations and open our hearts to create a path of understanding and healing.

To mark the season of giving during December, we’re sharing impact stories from our alumni and board members to show the power of story in action.

Current NSI students are blessed by the commitment of NSI’s Board of Directors – 100% of whom have donated to NSI’s annual fund. Please join them in supporting our students by donating today and making the power of story even more powerful.

Today’s impact story comes from Virginia Thompson, NSI Features First alumna and current board member.

Virginia, the president of Vérité Films, is an award-winning executive producer, producer and TV show creator known for her work on the hit series Corner Gas and Corner Gas Animated.

During Virginia’s NSI training, her mentors and peers encouraged her to be the best she could be. She credits the program with giving her the skills and knowledge to build her own film company.

• • •

If you could describe your experience with NSI in a few words what would they be, and why?

Impactful and career changing.

My experience with NSI gave me the confidence to evolve from a creative producer and writer to an executive producer where I could forge my own path in the industry.

How did your training through NSI help you get to the place you’re at in your career today?

I was involved in the NSI Features First program with my partner Robert de Lint. We were paired with producer Alex Raffé. What my experience with NSI really taught me was how the creative and financial aspects of a production come together to bring a project to fruition.

The expertise of NSI and Alex taught me that, as a creative producer/writer, you have to think about projects in both ways in order to be successful in our industry.

How did your instructors, mentors and peers influence you to become a better storyteller?

I was encouraged to be critical of a project I was deeply passionate about, to not be afraid to look at my project more objectively and be open to seeing the flaws in a project.

We were encouraged to look at every creative aspect of the production, ask why we are making this production, who is it for, are we being honest and authentic in our storytelling.

I learned that without honesty and authenticity your story can be fun and delightful, but without a groundedness to the story, the likelihood of it being successful is limited.

What advice or encouragement would you give a prospective applicant considering NSI programs?

I would encourage people to apply to NSI with a story that they deeply care about. They should answer the following questions: “Why am I telling this story?,” “Who am I telling it to?,” and “Does my story come from an authentic place?”

I encourage people to do the work, then apply. The chances of your project going through an incredible process where it just gets better and better is the likely outcome of an NSI program as long as you do the work prior to applying.

The people you meet as you refine your project will be excited by you and your work, and they will help lift both. Your NSI mentors will also likely become colleagues and lifelong friends.

What has your career trajectory looked like between when you completed training and now?

My career really took off after NSI. Prior to NSI, myself and my partner had produced our first television series called Incredible Story Studio, and it was very successful, running five seasons and selling internationally.

However, even with that success we were unclear as to what our next step should be in the industry. Thanks to the contacts we made at NSI and the learning we received from our mentors and trainers, we gained the confidence to executive produce and build our company, Vérité Films.

NSI really gave us encouragement and access to the tools we needed to start financing and executive producing our own projects. I will forever be thankful to NSI and the people I met, because they helped me build my company.

What was the most transformative part of your learning experience?

Gaining that confidence to realize I could be a writer, creator and executive producer, and making connections with people who would eventually go on to support my projects as I built Vérité Films.

What skills did you acquire in your NSI program that you did not have before?

I came to NSI with experience as a successful producer, writer and TV show creator, but the biggest skill NSI gave me was confidence to executive produce.

NSI’s encouragement and support gave me the confidence that I knew what I was doing and I had a community of people to help me with the things I didn’t know. I felt like I wasn’t alone anymore in the TV business. If I had questions I needed to answer to grow, I had a community of people ready to help me.

What project(s) are you currently working on?

Currently, we’re in production on Corner Gas: Animated season 4 and launching Corner Gas: Animated season 3 in the US, English Canada and Quebec. We are also producing a new animated children series called Jeremy and Jazzy. Additionally, we are developing exciting and authentic voices through the Vérité Films incubator for the world market.

Where can people find out more about your work online?

Vérité Films and Corner Gas.

What is your favourite Canadian film / TV show / web series?

Beyond Corner Gas, which I obviously adore, in the realm of comedy, I love Schitt’s Creek, Kim’s Convenience and Baroness Von Sketch. But, the show that is completely blowing my mind right now is Transplant. I’m amazed and humbled by how far Canadian television has come and it’s future.

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