From humble beginnings to....

By Executive Director Tony Merzetti

Thirty years ago, on March 1st, 1979, the New Brunswick Filmmakers'
Co-operative was legally incorporated. Its founders were: Charles MacLellan, Benoit Duguay, Harold Hatheway, G. Robert McNutt, Eric L. Bagnell, George Frederick Clarke Jr., Art Makosinski, Wendy Sexsmith, Terry Brown, Truman Veysey and Joseph Hudon, all of Fredericton and H. Leigh Elman and Richard Davis of Saint John.

From diverse backgrounds, they banded together to create an organization with a mandate to support independent film production in New Brunswick. At that time, film was not common with its few practitioners producing industrial films, documentaries or working for the two federal film agencies: CBC and NFB.

Art Makosinski was elected the first president of the Co-op. Early meetings of the membership dealt with issues such as setting up a bank account, bylaws, a co-op logo, mounting a membership drive and plans to purchase equipment to be accessible to the members on their independent, non-commercial projects.

Charles MacLellan, the Co-op's first production manager, eagerly worked to establish contacts with funding agencies and put together grant applications to help get the Co-op on its feet.

In 1979, the Co-op was committed to the 16mm film format and with assistance from the NFB, the Canada Council and the Province of New Brunswick , it was eventually able to move its base in a member's apartment to 51 York Street.

Since 1979, the organization has expanded its membership base to over 200 members province wide, its artistic practice to include digital and high definition video, its production activity level and its equipment pool. As well, It has moved from 51 York Street to the Charlotte Street Arts Centre. Through it all, the goals of the early pioneers to create a space, where like-minded individuals could work together cooperatively to make moving picture art works remains the same.

Thirty years have passed and the Film Co-op is still going strong. Here's to the next Thirty!

David Clarke opens up doors to the
NB Filmmakers' Co-operative
back in the early days!