The National Screen Institute recently wrapped the first edition of NSI Intro to Production, a unique initiative designed for 10 newcomers and refugees in Manitoba. The program was delivered in two parts focusing on working in film and TV production and culminating in the creation of a short film.
Part 1 was delivered as a series of three online workshops in late January and early February 2024. Participants learned the essential elements of scriptwriting and engaged in group discussions, sharing and refining ideas on each other’s story ideas through constructive feedback. With each workshop, the comfort and confidence levels of participants grew allowing them to take bigger swings with their script ideas and offer honest, specific, supportive feedback. Participants also had one-on-one meetings with screenwriter and director Jeffrey St. Jules to review their short film scripts.
Part 2 of the program was an exhilarating six days of in-person, on-site training in Winnipeg in March 2024. The cohort worked together to produce a short film written by one of the participants during part 1. This provided participants with the opportunity to increase their knowledge and understanding of how a film is made from start to finish. In addition to learning about scriptwriting, they also gained hands-on experience with location set-ups, editing and production. The skills developed during this program will be a great stepping stone to further training and future career opportunities in film and TV production.
Throughout the program, participants showed a sensitivity towards, and awareness of, each other’s varied cultural backgrounds. They approached every story shared with respect, curiosity and empathy.
This pilot program was overseen by advisor Lesley Oswald, story consultant and director mentor Jeffrey St. Jules and manager Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill.
Congratulations to the NSI Intro to Production graduates!
