Marketing NSI Global Marketing provides training and professional development for producers with TV projects ready to sell internationally.

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1 ABOUT NATIONAL SCREEN INSTITUTE CANADA (NSI) The best thing about NSI is that it has the development of producers, directors and writers as its main interest and follows through on training & preparing them for the industry. The money & in-kind services are helpful, but so is the support, flexibility and genuine desire to see people succeed. - Jason Charters Producer NSI Alumni, Riddle Films The National Screen Institute Canada (NSI), a non-profit organization with headquarters in Winnipeg, is Canada's national film, television and digital media training school for writers, directors and producers. Training is anchored in the philosophy that the best way to learn is by doing. Our market-driven training programs have led to employment and successful careers for graduates by giving them a competitive edge. According to the 2008 NSI alumni survey, 96% of respondents are working in the film and TV industry. Short film production NSI Drama Prize is a short film training program for emerging Canadian filmmakers. Teams apply with a short film script of ten (10) minutes or less. Training is provided in writing, directing and producing. Teams must successfully complete an assignment to be eligible to receive 10-month mentoring from established industry leaders, $10,000 in cash support and, over $30,000 in services toward production of a short film. Filmmakers on their first or second feature The NSI Features First curriculum includes script and story development, market research, legal requirements, pitching, financing, distribution and marketing and sales training. Applicants must submit a feature film script. TV writers & producers NSI Totally Television is a TV series development program for writer/producer teams who go on to attend the Banff World Television Festival to pitch their projects. Marketing NSI Global Marketing provides training and professional development for producers with TV projects ready to sell internationally. Introduction to film and television NSI New Voices is a full-time program for young Aboriginal adults aged 18 to 35 offering skills development training and a paid internship in an industry setting. Filmmakers The NSI Online Short Film Festival shows short films all year round. New films are added every week. NSI calls for films four times a year and presents a $2,500 prize to the best film. Aboriginal feature film development The Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program, launched by Telefilm Canada, in partnership with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) and the National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI) encourages established Aboriginal audiovisual professionals to move into feature film. 1

2 USEFUL LINKS Here are some places to check out on the web to familiarize yourself with the film and television industry. Film & TV Training database Film Training Manitoba Saskatchewan Motion Picture Association (SMPIA) On Screen Manitoba Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) imaginenative Film + Media Arts Festival Director s Guild of Canada Writer s Guild of Canada ACTRA Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) Telefilm Canada Motion Picture Industry Association of British Columbia (MPPIA) Praxis Centre for Screenwriters PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL FILM COMMISSIONS British Columbia Film Alberta Film SaskFilm MANITOBA FILM & MUSIC Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) New Brunswick Film Film Nova Scotia Technology PEI Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation (NLFDC) Yukon Film & Sound Nunavut Film Development Corporation Northwest Territories Arts 2

3 POST-SECONDARY FILM SCHOOLS AND TRAINING CENTRES Further education in Film/Television College or university is an option if you wish to continue your education and specialize in film and television production. Film school allows students to develop their skills under the guidance of industry professionals, network with other individuals and organizations, and often complete internships. Many major universities have production schools within them (ex. Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University), and frequently offer production courses through their Fine Arts and Media departments. Extensive non-degree/diploma granting programs also exist. Many of these institutions provide the professional training required to enter unions and guilds. Others may offer workshop/seminar combinations and funding opportunities aimed at assisting filmmakers develop and produce their films. Below is a partial list of postsecondary schools and training centres arranged by province. Contact the institution in your area for more information on the programs they offer. Please note these listings are not endorsements for any of the schools listed. British Columbia British Columbia Institute of Technology { } Capilano College { } Columbia Academy of Radio { } Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design { } Gulf Islands Film and Television School { } Pacific Cinematheque { } Praxis Centre for Screenwriters { } Simon Fraser University { } Trebas Institute { } University of Victoria { } Vancouver Film School { } Victoria Motion Picture School Ltd. { } Alberta Banff Centre for the Arts { } Northern Alberta Institute of Technology { } Red Deer College { } Southern Alberta Institute of Technology { } University of Alberta { } University of Calgary { } Saskatchewan University of Regina { } Manitoba Film Training Manitoba { } National Screen Institute Canada { } (national school based in Winnipeg) Red River College { } University of Manitoba { } University of Winnipeg { } 3

4 New Brunswick New Brunswick Film { University of New Brunswick { } Newfoundland Sir Wilfred Grenfell College (Memorial University) { } Nova Scotia Acadia University { } Dalhousie University { } Mount St.Vincents University { } Nova Scotia Community College { } Nova Scotia Film Development { } Nova Scotia School of Art and Design { } Ontario Algonquin College { } Brock University { } Canadian Film Centre { } national school based in Toronto Canadian Screen Training Centre { } national school based in Ottawa Canadore College { } La Cité collégiale { } Fanshawe College { } Humber College { } International Academy of Design, Toronto Film School { } McMaster University { } Mohawk College { } Niagara College { } Ontario College of Art and Design { } Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology { } Queen's University { } Ryerson Polytechnic University { } Seneca College { } Sheridan College { } University of Toronto { } University of Waterloo { } University of Windsor { } University of Western Ontario { } Wilfred Laurier University { } York University { } University of Ottawa { } Prince Edward Island University of Prince Edward Island { } Quebec CinéCours { } Collège de Maisonneuve { } Concordia University { } Institut National de l'image et du Son { } (national school based in Montreal) 4

5 L Institut Teccart { } John Abbott College { } Montreal Radio and Television School { } Trebas Institute (Montréal) { } L'Université Laval { } L'Université de Montréal { } Northwest Territories Aurora College { } Nunavut Nunavut Arctic College { } Yukon Yukon College { } INDEPENDENT FILM COOPERATIVES/ORGANIZATIONS Want to get involved in your local film/video community, searching for equipment rentals or volunteers for your film? Where a community of filmmakers exists, often an independent film cooperative will too. Offsetting the high cost associated with film production, shared ownership of facilities and equipment offers independent filmmakers reasonable rates. Members can rent cameras, light meters, mics, lights, editing suites, etc., at much lower rates than at commercial rental houses. If you re unfamiliar with the equipment, film cooperatives also provide training for their gear and often require new members to take a workshop before renting. Often, these organizations will also offer visiting artist lectures and screenings. It is also common for volunteer time to be reimbursed with discounted rental rates. Below is a partial list of film cooperatives (and other helpful organizations) arranged by province. Please note these listings are not endorsements for any of the organizations listed. British Columbia Vancouver Cineworks Independent Filmmakers Society { } Indigenous Media Arts Group { (Link provides contact information.) Women in Film & Video Vancouver { } ICTV: Independent Community Television Cooperative { } Video In { } Western Front { } Victoria CineVic { } Victoria Film Producers Association { } Alberta Calgary The Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers { } 5

6 EMMEDIA Gallery & Production Society { } Quickdraw Animation Society { } New University Television (NUTV) { } Edmonton Film & Video Arts Society of Alberta { } Saskatchewan Regina Neutral Ground { } Crew Call { } Filmpool { } Sâkêwêwak { } Saskatoon Video Verité: Paved Art + New Media { } Manitoba Winnipeg The Winnipeg Film Group { } Video Pool { } Film Training Manitoba { } New Brunswick Fredericton New Brunswick Filmmakers Co-op { } Newfoundland St. John s Newfoundland Independent Filmmakers Cooperative { } Nova Scotia Halifax Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative { } Centre for Art Tapes { } Ontario Toronto Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre { } Centre for Aboriginal Media { } Charles Street Video { } Liaison of Independent Filmmakers { } Pleasure Dome, Film and Video Exhibition Group { } SAW Video Co-op { } Toronto Animated Image Society { } Trinity Square Video { } Women in Film & Television Toronto { } Ottawa Independent Filmmakers Cooperative of Ottawa { } Saw Video { } Artengine { } 6

7 Windsor Artcite { } Guelph Ed Video { } Prince Edward Island Charlottetown Island Media Arts Co-op { } Quebec Gatineau/Hull Centre De Production Daïmõn, Video Production Collective { } Montreal Groupe Intervention Video { } Main Film { } Oboro { } Studio XX { } Les Films de l Autre { } Quebec City Video Femmes { } Videographe { } Antitube { } Spirafilm { } Northwest Territories Yellowknife Yellowknife Arts Festival Society { } (Website promotes arts and culture in the greater Yellowknife area.) Nunavut Igloolik Tarriaksuk Video Centre { } Yukon Whitehorse Yukon Film Society { } FINDING A JOB IN FILM To get your foot in the door, sometimes you will have to take on a junior position in a company and hope that by working hard, the position will grow. One of the best ways to find a job in film is to talk to as many people as possible and approach different production companies and just offer to volunteer or intern. If you want to work in a specific field, it can help to get a job in that field while you look for work in film. For example, if you would like to work in construction in film, it would help to gain some experience working in the construction industry. 7

8 Or if you prefer a do-it-yourself approach, then creating a project and putting together a crew yourself is always a great option. There are no special requirements to work on a film set, other than to say YES! when you re asked and be punctual when you arrive. Nevertheless, you have options and opportunity to make yourself a more qualified candidate when the Production Coordinator is reviewing resumes. Here are some TIPS to increase your chances: Know what you re getting yourself into. The film industry is a terrific and fun industry to be a part of, but did you know you ll be working an average of a hour day? You are expected to dress appropriately and provide your own outerwear. As a bonus, crews are usually provided with a simple lunch. If you have any special dietary needs, it is up to YOU to accommodate them. Be prepared: it s a good idea to bring a backpack with the essentials. Complete the entry level course offered at the nearest film-training centre. In Manitoba this is known as Set Etiquette. In Saskatchewan it s called Film Set Safety and Protocol. You are more likely to get hired if you are familiar with the basics of a set and aren t going to be walking in front of rolling cameras and tripping over cables. In Manitoba Set Etiquette is also required for entrance into all motion picture guilds and unions. The Saskatchewan Motion Pictures Industries website ( is an excellent source of information for people wanting to enter the industry that includes definitions of jobs in film and information about training courses. Click on the Resource Database tab and then choose the Career Development Program (formerly known as Crew Call) where you will find New to the Industry? pages. Film Training Manitoba has similarly useful information for people wanting to enter the industry under the Getting Started > First Steps tabs at Know what department you are interested in. There are numerous departments in a film production, and plenty of roles to fill within each. Knowing what you re interested in will assist the Production Coordinator in forwarding your resume to the appropriate department. Specialize. Take additional courses, workshops, or a post-secondary program. By doing so, you will develop a familiarity with the equipment and process specific to your chosen discipline. Volunteer on, or make your own short films! It s a fun way to familiarize yourself with the filmmaking process. Working on these low budget projects will display your creativity and resourcefulness. REPUTATION! Your livelihood depends on it. Film is an expensive medium, and time equals money. Be punctual, work hard, dress and speak appropriately, and accumulate experience. Be late, lazy, or inappropriate and your career will be so short you will not have time to develop a bad one. Remember: You are a freelance worker, which means you are employed on a production-to-production basis. People like you, people refer you, and people hire you. REPUTATION! This document is an abridged and revised edition of the resource package created for the NSI FilmExchange 2007 Youth Outreach Program which was funded by Human Resources and Social Development Canada and The Winnipeg Foundation with training assistance from Film Training Manitoba and the Winnipeg Film Group. 8