Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Sonya Ballantyne makes Birdie trailer for CanadaReads

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 12:56 PM PDT

CanadaReads recently paired five Canadian filmmakers with the five books nominated for this year’s CanadaReads contest.

Sonya Ballantyne, alongside Luther Alexander who shot the clip and Sage Daniels who edited (all NSI New Voices, NSI Aboriginal Documentary), made a trailer for Tracey Lindberg’s novel Birdie.

Here’s what Sonya had to say about the book and her interpretation of it:

“What drew me in about the book was how Birdie is in two worlds trying to navigate them both. She is on the rez and in the city, in her dreams and in reality. I liked the idea of putting her both in that urban setting and in a rural setting. I really wanted to capture how Birdie’s path doesn’t end at the last page of the book. She is going to continue. It’s a great message for how resilient she is as a character.”

Watch the trailer here.

Watch new teaser for Todd & The Book of Pure Evil animated feature

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 12:19 PM PDT

The team who brought you Todd & the Book of Pure Evil, developed through NSI Totally Television, is back with news and a new teaser for their project Todd & The Book of Pure Evil: The End of the End.

The Todd & The Book of Pure Evil animated movie finale will pick up from the show’s season 2 cliffhanger and drop you right into a new hilariously inappropriate adventure from The Gang of Pure Evil (written by the original writers and starring ALL the original cast!)

The TV series was developed by Anthony Leo, Charles Picco and Craig David Wallace.

• • •

Apply for NSI Totally Television

We’re currently accepting applications for NSI Totally Television. If you’re interested in developing your TV series idea, find out how to apply.

About NSI Totally Television

The course provides hands-on series development training for producer/writer teams serious about getting their series concept made.

Each team is paired with execs from major Canadian networks, story editors and executive producers to help hone each concept and make it pitch perfect.

NSI Totally Television is made possible by Presenting Sponsor Bell Media; Program Partner Telefilm Canada; Supporting Sponsors Entertainment One, Super Channel, Corus Entertainment and Breakthrough Entertainment; Provincial Sponsor Manitoba Film & Music; and Industry Partner Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. NSI Core Funders are Manitoba Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council.

‘Da Kink in my Hair play revived for Theatre Calgary

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 11:10 AM PDT

Acclaimed play ‘Da Kink in my Hair from NSI grad Trey Anthony is returning to the stage. The production will be produced by Theatre Calgary for its 2016-17 season.

The play will run from September 6 to October 1 at Theatre Calgary.

‘Da Kink in My Hair follows the lives of a group of women at Letty’s, a bustling hair salon in Toronto’s Caribbean community.

A TV adaptation of ‘Da Kink in my Hair was made through NSI Totally Television in 2004-05 and ran for two seasons on Global.

• • •

Apply for NSI Totally Television

We’re currently accepting applications for NSI Totally Television. If you’re interested in developing your TV series idea, find out how to apply.

About NSI Totally Television

The course provides hands-on series development training for producer/writer teams serious about getting their series concept made.

Each team is paired with execs from major Canadian networks, story editors and executive producers to help hone each concept and make it pitch perfect.

NSI Totally Television is made possible by Presenting Sponsor Bell Media; Program Partner Telefilm Canada; Supporting Sponsors Entertainment One, Super Channel, Corus Entertainment and Breakthrough Entertainment; Provincial Sponsor Manitoba Film & Music; and Industry Partner Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. NSI Core Funders are Manitoba Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council.

Kyle Rideout and Josh Epstein’s Eadweard screening in Beijing

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 11:07 AM PDT

Eadweard, from Josh Epstein and Kyle Rideout (both NSI Drama Prize, NSI Features First, NSI Totally Television), has been accepted into Beijing International Film Festival and is nominated for a Tiantan Award.

The 6th Beijing International Film Festival will be held in Beijing from April 16 to 23, 2016.

Eadweard is a psychological drama centered around world-famous turn-of-the-century photographer Eadweard Muybridge who photographed nude and deformed subjects, became the godfather of cinema, murdered his wife’s lover, and was the last American to receive the justifiable homicide verdict.

NSI and TELUS bring screen training workshops to BC and Alberta

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 11:00 AM PDT

The National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) is pleased to announce its newest training initiative presented in partnership with TELUS Optik™ Local, a series of workshops entitled FROM CONCEPT TO CAMERA: Developing Your Story for the Screen.

The workshops take place in March and April and are open to the diverse community of producers and content creators in Alberta and British Columbia.

Workshops will be held in Fort McMurray, Red Deer, Edmonton, Kelowna and Prince George and are free to attend. Training is delivered by NSI facilitators Rudy Thauberger, Mike Fly and Angela Heck.

Emerging filmmakers and mid-career professionals are encouraged to attend this professional development opportunity to help develop their own projects and network with other filmmakers and content creators. TELUS will also provide information about its TELUS Optik Local grants and TELUS STORYHIVE.

“NSI is pleased to partner again with TELUS in offering these development workshops to writers, directors and producers in BC and Alberta,” said Angela Heck, NSI digital media programs manager. “Through offering creative development and networking opportunities to filmmakers of all genres, we look forward to taking NSI’s storytelling expertise on the road.”

“We’re thrilled to have NSI deliver training across five cities in western Canada for TELUS Optik Local,” said Kim Guise, director of TELUS Optik Local. “With these five workshop dates, we are proud to provide concept-to-camera creative and production development, as well as the opportunity to introduce ourselves to storytellers in BC and Alberta.”

All workshops take place from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Workshop dates and locations

Workshops are free of charge but registration is required. To register, email your name, contact information and which session you would like to attend (community and date) to: OptikLocal@telus.com.

About TELUS Optik Local

TELUS Optik Local supports compelling, original stories told by filmmakers from BC and Alberta by providing production funding, training and exposure to new audiences. Programs are distributed for free on TELUS Optik TV on Demand and online.

About the National Screen Institute

Renowned for having given many emerging filmmakers, television writers and producers their first breaks, the National Screen Institute provides training and production support through courses like NSI Totally Television, NSI Drama Prize, NSI New Voices, NSI Features First, Movie Central Script to Screen, Shaw Media Diverse TV Director, NSI Aboriginal Documentary and TELUS STORYHIVE.

NSI also offers exposure through the NSI Online Short Film Festival and provides vast resources and support to those in the film, television, and digital media industry at nsi-canada.ca.

All media enquiries

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