NBFC E-news - Thursday, April 30, 2009
Spotlight!
MEMBERSHIP STUFF, MEMBERSHIP STUFF, MEMBERSHIP STUFF
Recent Renewals and New Members for 2009: Jordan Roherty (Miramichi), Bernard Cormier (Moncton), Josh Linton (Fredericton), Mitch Biggar (Fredericton), Mohamed Issa (Fredericton)
Memberships run from Jan-Dec annually for all members and we appreciate members renewing in January/February every year. Please email Cat to renew soon if you have not already.
NEW MEMBERS: Things you can do to get your required volunteer hours in: For new members specifically who need to get their volunteer hours in. Check in with Cat about volunteer work on member shoots coming up as she can give you the filmmakers names and emails and you can directly get in touch with them.
Click here to send Cat the volunteer hours you have put in so far as a member of the Film Co-op.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
- Thank you to Film Co-op member Josh Linton for his incredibly generous donation to the Film Co-op recently! It's wonderful when the members help out the Film Co-op in these tough economic times.
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FREDERICTON: A CULTURAL CAPITAL FILM PROJECTS
We will be spotlighting the Film Co-op Fredericton: A Cultural Capital film and video projects over the summer. Some projects have begun principle photography while others are in development and pre-production.
These projects are made possible due to the financial and resource support of: Canadian Heritage: Cultural Capitals Program, City of Fredericton and the New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative.
Creating "The Apostles of Beauty"
(Photo of Josh Linton as Charles G. D. Roberts by Amy Mabee)
By Glendon McKinney
When I first heard of the proposal for ten short films celebrating Fredericton's past and present culture I was, as an eager student of history, eager to participate. It is to be a coproduction of the New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-op (celebrating its' 30th anniversary), the City of Fredericton and Heritage Canada. The past can inspire us as well as educate us, and after all, it's where we all come from! Far too few people study history or even read it for entertainment, which I think is a shame, as it can supply an endless amount of inspiration for us whatever our endeavour. As I feel inspiration is important when this modern day challenges us so very much, I recalled a story about two artists meeting here: Oscar Wilde and Charles G. D. Roberts.
Fredericton was once a destination for people of importance on lecture tours, speaking at the Opera House (city hall), and Wilde had stopped here in 1882 to lecture. Already notorious for his sartorial style and wit, he had yet to pen the many books and plays he would become so famous for. He was touring the U.S. and Canada, lecturing on the English Aesthetic Movement and concerns of decor yet while he had met many people in social circles, he would find a fellow artist and aspiring writer in Roberts. Roberts would eventually become known - and knighted - for his work on behalf of Canadian literature, but at this time he had only a couple of privately printed books to his name. Following Wildes' lecture, the two men retired to Wildes' room at the Queen Hotel where they read their work to each other and drank gin and ginger beer, despite Fredericton being a 'dry' city at the time. Roberts would write enthusiastically to his cousin and fellow writer Bliss Carmen of meeting Wilde, and voice his beliefs to Carmen on the need for Canadian artists to create and define the culture of Canada, a country not even twenty years old at the time.
This story I found itself inspiring - one does crave interaction with other artists - and so, taking verbatim speeches from the many who attended Wildes' lecture and Roberts' own letters, I crafted a short screenplay to give a view of this moment in our history. This process took a significant amount of time, as seemingly endless books and newspapers needed to be read and sifted for information and the voices I sought.
The next phase began when the project was approved: determining the look of the characters. I had deliberately chosen a stylized approach to telling the story, using costume and props to give a sense of their world and letting the actors become the focus. It took weeks of reading and library trips to build a bank of information on how people dressed and lived before I could sit down and create each characters appearance. Being a designer as well as a director is both a curse and a joy, as the work increases dreadfully, but designing the details of each character helps me as a director in considering directions for the actors to pursue. While the research was an effort to strive for accuracy, at the same time each characters' costume will help to indicate that persons place in the Fredericton of 1882, and the details are especially pleasant: all the buttons, for instance, are the real thing, as I purchased over 2500 buttons at a farm auction I went to, most of these being from the 19th century. It is important that each actor wears not just period clothes, but that specific characters' clothes as we almost always, in real life as well as film, see a person before we hear them and instantly begin to understand them by the way they dress. As I write, materials (hats, gloves, set dressings, etc) are still being sought but the costumes are being built daily, in fact it is now a seven day work week for me, handcuffed to my sewing machine as I am. But the actors are already reacting to the clothes, to the difference in time in simply getting dressed, in a way that helps them to begin to approach the world that their characters occupied. Here is a picture of Josh Linton, who plays Charles G. D. Roberts. While his wardrobe isn't yet complete, just dressing him for this photo (and quickly!) took twenty minutes. This will impact our schedule for shooting.
I am a firm believer in preparation, as something horrible inevitably happens during every shoot, and if one is prepared, one can overcome problems much easier. Two sorts of rehearsals are planned, one for the actors speeches, and one to block their movements. This last will be planned with my cinematographer, Jon Collicott; as the actors and I work out their characters' movement through a scene, Jon shoots it on video so we can design camera and actor movement and plan shots, which saves a considerable amount of time on the day of the shoot. We used this method on my first film, "They Only Come Out at Night" and on Jon's film "A Song for the Homefront" and it remains a valuable tool for planning the film.
Most of the principle actors are already doing homework, reading 'their' written works, studying etiquette books, and so on. A crew is being put together. Schedules are being planned. All the usual preproduction activities are under way, and I am stressed and hyper and I wouldn't have it any other way! I hope that my small story of an unexpected but important meeting between these two budding artists will itself inspire others to both learn the history of this wonderful city of Fredericton, but also to commune with the other artists here, as once did Oscar and Charles.
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ANNIVERSARY MEMBER ARTICLES
Direction to maya
By Conrad Steeves
As the New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative celebrates its 30th anniversary I have been looking over my folder of scripts and notes I have written the past ten years since joining the Co-op. The reason I have been searching through my folder is because I have been trying to decide what screenplay I should concentrate on for my feature film directing debut. Last year Maria For Ever was intended to be my first feature film and I had a great Production Manager and the talented Line Pelletier as Maria but other factors were sabotaging my efforts. The search for suitable cast and crew members was difficult and futile so the
production could not be realized. This sort of problem has been plaguing me for years as many of my previous productions have fallen by the wayside. This was very discouraging as I am very proud of the Maria For Ever screenplay but I could not compromise my script and make a mediocre film with the limited options offered to me. I will make another effort to get the project produced in the future once I have the resources to compliment my vision. Presently I am in preproduction of some modest short films that are within my means.
In my folder I read my screenplay Absence of Belonging and the memories of how the story originated and the circumstances after the first draft's completion came back to me. In March of 2004 I suffered from writer's block because I was drained creatively since I was writing everyday for about three weeks. Roughly six weeks transpired of no writing until I saw an advert by Faucet Media Arts Centre seeking proposals from New Brunswick artists for the production and presentation of media art works. The purpose of the proposal was to develop projects for online exhibition on the Faucet website and immediately I was inspired!
I could make a music video, a short film or a video poem and I decided on the video poem. The challenge to write poetry, the opportunity to explore the aesthetics of experimental filmmaking and the video poem is an ideal format for online exhibition were legitimate reasons for my decision. After all of that work and inspiration my proposal was not accepted but that has not deterred me since I have included the video poem as a plot device in my feature length screenplay Atonality.
It is ironic that I should suffer from writer's block after Absence of Belonging because the inspiration for the script began when I saw the cover of a book called The Sense Of Being Stared At by Rupert Sheldrake. On the cover was a man wearing a bowler hat with his back turned and the back of the hat had two eyes staring directly at whoever looked at the cover. This surreal image intrigued me and I immediately thought of a scene where such an occurrence would happen in a film. I had been researching the French avant-garde films of the 1920s before this inspiration appeared and this influenced me to write a brief scenario
of an encounter between the protagonist and another character wearing such attire. That was all I wrote at that moment but I had to think of why such an event would occur in a story. I decided to explore existential angst and illusion in contemporary society and from that point on I wrote the screenplay. All of that writing happened because of an image on a book cover!
In the past similar illuminations have occurred to me such as the time I was driving home one afternoon when I was trying to come up with a short film idea. Images of the crucifixion and of people rejecting Christ were coming to me which I believe were slightly inspired by the opening shot of a film called Perdita Durango. These images were not to be ignored and I knew I had a script immediately and with the inspiration of these initial images I completed the first draft that night. I utilized my recent readings of the philosophies by Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche regarding religion and relationships into the
narrative and these ideas quickly fell into place including the protagonist; a woman questions her Christian faith after discovering that she will never have children.
I will add this script was written in long hand since I didn't have access to a computer and screenwriting software. The title A Dream of Life came from a sentence in the preface of a book containing the short stories of Anton Chekhov. I even thought of adapting one of the short stories by the Russian writer but I wanted to write something original and avoided the adaptation option. The resulting script became my first short film shot in November of 2002 and it was called a promising debut by an online film website. Line Pelletier was nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress and Tony Merzetti won for Excellence
in Cinematography at the Silver Wave Film Festival.
Another creative moment arrived when I wrote Unmasking the Creator as a prequel for another script called Ascension. Originally the prequel was written as a short play and submitted to a contest held by the NotaBle Acts Theatre Festival but it was not accepted. I turned this negative into a positive and transposed the play into an experimental short film script and tried to produce Unmasking the Creator to no avail. I still wish to direct this project perhaps combined with another short film script called Torn Pages since the latter was inspired by the former. The two projects could be developed into a feature film
production and produced in New Brunswick proving once again I can turn a negative into a positive.
The script for Ascension was originally written to be a short film but it developed into a feature length screenplay which I wish to direct in an international co-production effort. Ascension is a very ambitious project which needs European locales such as an ancient Greek Theatre, an opulent concert hall and locations in France & Germany as examples. In fact many of my scripts take place in Europe. The feature length version of A Woman for Every Man is set in Paris and in the south of France, an untitled project is set in England about the R&B music boom during the early 1960s and three screenplays are set in Spain. I am not naïve in thinking these projects will be simple to orchestrate but these are my long term goals I have set with my film ambitions.
The films of Jean-Luc Godard, Federico Fellini and Luis Buñuel, guitar playing and one of my ex-girlfriends were the inspirations for my feature film screenplay Porque Sí which I want to shoot in Spain especially in the province of Almeria. Lawrence of Arabia and the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone were shot in that area. It is a very playful creative yet dramatic film project which I look forward to directing in the future and I even entertained the idea of making a feature production out of the film within the film!
In retrospect I am writing this article to illustrate there is no structured formula to seek inspiration especially since I now have over 30 script projects (films, documentaries, television series, one stage play and even a novel!) in development or completed. This is something I have learned over the past ten years since I became interested in film production and joined the Co-op. Films, girlfriends, images, literature, music and philosophy have been my muse and as long as I remember these lessons I will continue to write endlessly for decades.
I have taken the first steps and empowered myself with the formation of my own production company called Maya Pictures to finally achieve success with my true calling as a film director after many years of struggles and naysayers. These inspired projects must be produced under my direction after all of the hard work I have and continued to put into them. I feel privileged to have this opportunity and to have this wealth of original creative material for my exclusive use. My prolific output of writing will provide me with enough work from the present until I have passed literally 100 years of age with no exaggeration! I look to the Portuguese filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira as a prime example of inspiration with a strong work ethic.
I have one final anecdote regarding the irony of inspiration which happened when I wrote an article five years ago called Seeking The Nine Goddesses about being inspired. After the completion of the article I was actually inspired to write a feature length screenplay named after the article's title and the story is about inspiration and positivity! I wish to film the production in the Mediterranean area once I am established with my film career. If you are wondering who the nine goddesses are, they are Muses. In Greek mythology they were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne and each daughter was assigned a particular art.
They have all visited me on several occasions and I am a grateful host. Creativity never stops!
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MORE CHANGES ARE NEEDED TO CANADA'S CITIZENSHIP LAWS, SAYS A FREDERICTON HISTORIAN
(photo by Stephen MacGillivray)
By MICHAEL STAPLES (Daily Gleaner Article)
NB Film Co-op member Melynda Jarratt holds two of the books she has written that deal with the subject of babies born to Canadian parents outside of Canada. Melynda Jarratt, author of War Brides: The stories of the women who left everything behind to follow the men they loved, said last week's alterations to the act don't go far enough.
The amendments, which came into effect Friday, mean that certain people who became Canadian citizens on or after Jan. 1, 1947 - when the first citizenship act took effect - but who then lost citizenship will have their status restored.
The changes, among other things, affect people born out of wedlock or those who lost citizenship when a person took on the citizenship of another country.
That's fine for post-1947, but what about pre-1947? Jarratt asked.
"Anyone born illegitimate pre-Jan. 1, 1947, and who wasn't born in Canada to a Canadian war veteran and a British war bride, for example, they simply are not going to get their citizenship - even if they lived here in Canada all of their lives (and) even if their parents got married after the baby was born," Jarratt said Monday.
Several thousand people fall into that category, said Jarratt, who's writing a book on the topic.
Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney seems to think it's fine to judge these people by the values of pre-1947 Canada, Jarratt said. "Illegitimate children are bastards with no rights. They are not like terrorists. These are people who have lived in Canada and are being denied citizenship."
Jarratt said those who have been rejected or haven't been accepted by the minister can appeal. "Because the appeals are based on gender discrimination in most cases ... they will win," Jarratt said. "Citizenship and Immigration will appeal it, but in doing so they are forcing you to go to the Supreme Court. If you go to the Supreme Court, you'll win, too, because it's a charter right (violation)."
Don Chapman, the leader and face of the lost Canadians, is working on three pre-1947 cases. He successfully fought to have his citizenship restored after it was stripped from him by the 1947 Citizenship Act. He said he would like to see the government do what it has already promised. Chapman said former Immigration minister Diane Finley promised last year that all lost Canadians would be looked at and that the government wouldn't make people wait for their citizenship. "I am asking for them to do what they said they've already promised to do," said Chapman, who lives in Phoenix, Ariz.
Chapman said he originally had five pre-1947 cases he was championing, but two of those people died over the last year waiting for their citizenship. "Nobody should have died disenfranchised," he said.
Jarratt, meanwhile, said that even though there remains work to be done, there are positives contained within the recent changes. She said those who were here on Jan. 1, 1947, as a baby of a war bride are no longer in limbo. "They are going to be considered Canadian," Jarratt said. "That's wonderful because up until now, the situation for some of these people is that they've not been able to proceed. They can now get a Canadian passport and they will, in essence, have dual citizenship."
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Training & Development
The New Brunswick Film Co-op proudly presents its 2009 annual workshop program!
This year there are workshop programmes in
both Fredericton and Moncton
. Check out the new schedules at:
http://www.nbfilmcoop.com/activities.htm
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Guerilla Filmmaking 101
Film Co-op Training and Development - Coming Up!
Intro - Theory
May 5, Tuesday, 7pm - 11pm
Instructor: Pierre Huard
Location: New Brunswick Film Co-op, basement resource centre, 732 Charlotte Street, Fredericton
Fee: $15: For Film Co-op Members/$25 For Non-Members
Class Limit: 8
Guerilla Filmmaking refers to a form of independent filmmaking characterized by low budgets, skeleton crews, and simple props using whatever is available.
Often scenes are shot quickly in real locations. Guerrilla filmmaking can be tough on patience, nerves and money. Production designers must schedule feasible “gets” instead of reaching for the stars. It’s a killer when an entire sequence or master scene must be balanced against the solidarity of the film. Working with a video camera or hand-held steadicam takes practice to function efficiently.
The Instructor will go through his tips and tricks for getting a slick short shot on a low/no budget.
INSTRUCTOR'S BIOGRAPHY
Pierre Huard has been a filmmaker for over 13 years and has experience working on feature films, movies of the week, television series, commercials, short films and theatre. He was granted a Short Film Venture grant for “La Cousine” which screened at a past Silver Wave Film Festival. Pierre’s most recent projects, “The Cleanup” and “Blood Shed” screened at SWFF 08.
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Composing Music for Film
Film Co-op Training and Development - Coming Up!
Intro - Theory
May 10, Sunday, 11am - 5pm
Instructor: Jordan Roherty
Location: New Brunswick Film Co-op, basement resource centre, 732 Charlotte Street, Fredericton
Fee: $20: For Film Co-op Members/$30 For Non-Members
Class Limit: 8
Music is an integral part of any Film or Television project...it tells the audience how they should “feel”.
This workshop covers how music compliments and enhances film and video and how to choose the appropriate music style/theme for a project.
Learn what is involved scoring music for film and video...from the Hollywood budget perspective to the indie film perspective. In addition, techniques and approaches to
creating scores are discussed, including musical passage timeframes, instrumentation, rhythm, and conveying tension and tranquility. Further recording and post production of delivery music will be discussed as well.
After watching various clips from films, the class will discuss the musical approach used for each film.
INSTRUCTOR'S BIOGRAPHY
Jordan Roherty has been a NBFC member since January 2005. Jordan has scored short films, and won an award for Excellence in Music Composition for his 8-Bit work on “Gamer’s Manifesto,” which screened at SWFF 08.
He specializes in using Logic Pro for writing and producing music. Jordan recently graduated with an honours diploma in Audio Engineering from the Centre for Arts & Technology. He has recently launched his website (complete with a demo reel of works completed) at www.robotcousin.com
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Contact cat at: info@nbfilmcoop.com to register for all workshops please. Workshops can be paid for through PayPal, snail mail or in person, but check to ensure there are seats left before you pay by snail mail or online please.
NOTE: for those members hoping to use Co-op resources and equipment to shoot their own projects in the future, please remember there are 5 required workshops that you have to take before you can do that (Screenwriting, Directing, Digital Cam and Lighting, Production Management & One Editing Workshop). On top of the required workshops, volunteers hours must be put in and you must be a full member in good standing. Talk to Cat if you have any questions: info@nbfilmcoop.com
If you miss any required workshops or workshops you would like to take, there is also one-on-one training sessions with instructors for a fee that you can arrange with Co-op staff at any time.
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Festivals
Enter The Digital Age Short Film Competition and win the RED SCARLET independent filmmaker dream camera. Produce a one-minute short film. Revolve your story around a little red box, included as a prop. Upload as many entries as you wish. Sign-up at sKarlets.com to receive updates and become eligible. Submission Deadline: 9/1/09 at 6pm EST. Upload entries to the sKarlets screening room. Judging criterion based on originality and execution. Panel of judges TBD. Email sKarlets.com for sponsorship opportunities via: Click here
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Wyoming Short Film Contest: With the Wyoming Film Office providing the $25,000 first place prize, the contest is designed to foster film production in and about the state, giving filmmakers an opportunity and an incentive to shoot Wyoming. The contest requires all entries to take place in Wyoming, feature Wyoming, or present Wyoming as a character in the storyline. This state is a beautiful place, and that’s true if you’re a cowboy or a camera operator. We hope you choose to take advantage of the contest, and look forward to all of your entries: Click here
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The Writers Place 2009 screenplay contest is in full swing. Get your script to Hollywood. Get your screenplay produced. The Writers Place collaborates with studios, television networks, financiers and independent production companies. The co-founders have production credits and have jointly raised over $50 million for film and entertainment projects. Register for complimentary writers’ amenities and advice. We accept full-length features, teleplays and short screenplays. Early deadline: April 30th. Late deadline: May 15th. Take advantage of our electronic submission system – no postage, no copying, no hassle. Enter at:
Click here
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EMERGING FILMMAKERS INVITED TO SHOWCASE THEIR SHORT FILMS
The search is back on for Canada's newest film talent. Submissions are now being accepted for Air Canada's enRoute Film Festival, an annual showcase of short films by emerging Canadian filmmakers on board Air Canada flights. With a potential audience of almost 3
million passengers monthly, Air Canada is taking Canadian short films to new heights. In addition, in a first for Canadian airlines, Air Canada customers are able to start watching movies and enjoy other on-board entertainment from the moment they take their seats on the aircraft up to the time they disembark.
Short films will be broadcast on Air Canada's seatback entertainment system from July to December 2009. The public can watch the films inflight and online at enroutefilm.com and follow the competition in Air Canada's enRoute magazine.
"We are very proud to be supporting emerging Canadian filmmakers for a third year. Air Canada's inflight film festival provides talented young Canadians with a unique opportunity to bring their creativity to millions of viewers around the world," said Louise McKenven, Senior Director Product Design - Marketing, at Air Canada. "Our customers now enjoy viewing original Canadian productions before and during take-off and while landing, which makes flying even more fun and reduces the chance that the flight will end before their program is over."
Awards will be handed out honouring:
- Best Short Film
- Achievement in Animation
- Achievement in Direction
- Achievement in Cinematography
Awards will be decided upon by a celebrity jury and presented at a
special screening and awards gala in Toronto at the end of the year. The Best Short Film winner will be awarded a brand new Ford vehicle and all award winners will receive an all-inclusive Air Canada trip for two to a major international film festival.
The Festival is open to emerging Canadian filmmakers (currently studying in a film program, recently graduated or informally trained) anywhere in the world. For more information on eligibility, rules and regulations and an entry form visit http://www.enroutefilm.com
Entry to Air Canada's enRoute Student Film Festival is free of charge;
the deadline is May 31, 2009
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WINNIPEG GAY AND LESBIAN FILM SOCIETY
We are looking for short films for this years festival and we welcome your membership to send us their work. We are looking for queer short films that are either created by a queer filmmakers or contain queer content.
Films can be mailed to: Winnipeg Gay & Lesbian Film Society
Unit Y300
393 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6
Les Klassen
Board of Directors
ReelPride 2009
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SILVER WAVE FILM FESTIVAL 2009
November 12-15, 2009, Fredericton
(BLAST FROM THE PAST: SWFF 08 - Filmmaker Josh Linton holds his two awards from the festival - Excellence in Art Direction & Best NB Short Comedy)
The 9th annual Silver Wave Film Festival (SWFF) is now accepting submissions. This year's festival takes place from NOVEMBER 12-15, 2009, in Fredericton, NB.
SWFF is the annual film and video festival presented by the New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative. It has both curated and competitive streams, as well as a solid line-up of social activities and workshops that get the town buzzing.
This year, we are celebrating our 9th year with new programming and again we’ve waived the submission fee for filmmakers submitting so, it promises to be a good year. Save the dates and plan to attend!
Film and video projects that are accepted for screening into the SWFF and created by New Brunswick Filmmakers residing in the province and those filmmakers from away are eligible for the Silver Wave Awards.
The deadline for submissions is Monday, August 3rd, 2009, 5pm Atlantic Standard Time.
Incomplete applications and applications received after this deadline will not be accepted under any circumstances.
The following items must accompany the application:
· Completed Application form, on CD in an MS Word or .rtf type document;
· List of credits from project;
(NB filmmakers who, along with their cast and crew, wish to be considered for the various NB awards must show proof of NB residency for all those involved.)
· 3 DVD pre-screening copies of the finished project for jury consideration for awards; (NOTE: only Mini DV, Beta SP and 35 mm will be screened at the Festival. DVDS will not be accepted)
· Productions stills, in jpeg format at 300dpi resolution, on CD to be used in festival promotional materials;
· Press Kit (if available of past festival/special screenings of film/video);
· Director's Bio and headshot;
· Poster representing the film or documentary (if available);
NOTE: Submissions materials will not be returned to you by the SWFF. Please email: info@nbfilmcoop.com if you have any questions. You will be advised whether or not your submission has been accepted for screening in advance of the festival
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The Arts
FREDERICTON - ASIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF NB FILM FESTIVAL
Where Strangers Become Neighbors by Giovanni Attili
This story explores contemporary global issues of race relations by looking at one neighborhood in the city of Vancouver.
Trudeau's Other Children by Rohan Fernando
Nearly 40 years ago, under the eye of visionary prime minister Pierre Trudeau, Canada began turning itself into the world's first truly multicultural state-- a place where people from all nations could be at home.
UNB Head Hall, 15 Dineen Drive, Sunday, May 3, 3pm to 5pm
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FREDERICTON - AUDITIONS: BARD IN THE BARRACKS: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM IN ODELL PARK
Open auditions will be held for the Bard in the Barracks production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream May 4th and 6th at Memorial Hall on the UNB campus.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the fourth annual production of Bard in the Barracks, will be performed outdoors in a new location this year, Fredericton’s Odell Park. The play will run June 24-July 4 and will be directed by Len Falkenstein. The production will be rehearsed intensively (mainly evening hours) beginning the week of May 10.
Auditions are open to the public and roles are available for male and female actors of a variety of ages. Auditions will take place from 7:30-10:00 PM Monday, May 4 and Wednesday, May 6, with callbacks from 7:30-10 on Friday, May 8. Those auditioning are strongly encouraged (but not required) to familiarize themselves with the play beforehand. Auditions will consist of readings from the play; actors may also be asked to sing a short song of their choice. Appointments are not necessary for the auditions, but those attending should be prepared for the possibility of being on hand for most of the evening, depending on turnout.
Anyone interested in auditioning who is unable to attend on these dates, or anyone requesting further information, should contact the director at lfalken@unb.ca or 458-7406. Enquiries from persons who may be interested in assisting with the technical demands of the production (stage management, wardrobe, set, props, publicity) are also welcome.
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Biz & Indie Film News
L'ACOLYTE, the French version of our feature comedy THE BACKUP MAN starring Isabelle Cyr, Dennis Cutts, Patrizio Sanzari and Constantine Kourtidis, opens May 1 at Empire Cinemas in Dieppe, N.B and on May 8 at Starcite in Hull, Qc.
and:
NOW PLAYING ON NEWS-CAST.COM MOVIES - No cost, no commercial interruptions.
http://events.news-cast.com/events/Movies
HIGH RISK
Starring James Brolin, Anthony Quinn, Lindsay Wagner and James Coburn. Four rookie thieves try to rip off a South American drug lord. ‘Hugely enjoyable caper movie’ written and directed by Stewart Raffill.
Thanks,
Doug Sutherland
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SCENE FROM HERE
By Jim Lavoie
Ah yes, spring is with us and our thoughts turn to romance after almost all the Canadian NHL teams have been eliminated (Vancouver your games are too late for this old fella but live entertainment that's another story). Anyway guys/gals are moving out of their rec rooms, basements, TV rooms, and bars straight into the dog house instead of the love shack!
But seriously, it is a busy time at ye ole NB Film Co-op as the nice weather signals the start up of productions that have been but a gleam in the eye of Film Co-op members until now. There is also a special buzz at and around the Co-op studio and in the community as the 30th anniversary celebrations take off in earnest. Throw in the Cultural Capital Film Projects and all the other new member projects shooting this year for good measure and it will be as hard to book equipment as it is to get out of the dog house.
BE CAREFUL!
Speaking of equipment: if you happen to be a card carrying paid up and fully trained member, lets take it easy on the Co-op valuables shall we. When you sign equipment out or bring it back, do the responsible thing and ensure everything is there and working. Make sure everything is stored and handled properly when out. Nothing worse for the staff to find something missing and broken that you didn't tell them about.
Members at the Film Co-op are some plum lucky to get the resources they get and typically they get them at no charge (pretty amazing). Just because the equipment is insured doesn't mean that it can be always replaced as in some cases small damages aren't covered and because members are not paying rental, the Co-op doesn't have those rental fees to cover these things. Members should be willing and offer to cover for some damage they have done when the damages are too low for the deductible to kick in. This ain't the Trump Towers people!
Accidents do happen. The way I see it people are replaceable but equipment is expensive (lol) and despite what many may think there really is no pot of gold in the Film Co-op basement from days gone by. I am not lecturin' but just saying……be respectful people.
JEFF CRAWFORD
Now as many of you can attest, and I include myself, Co-op member Jeff Crawford has taken many great photos of Co-op events and on member productions a a golden volunteer. It was great to see my good friend and arts columnist for the Daily Gleaner Mirelle Egan, feature Jeff's upcoming photography exhibition. As I majored in plagiarism, and am hoping Mirelle has a sense of humor, here is the news:
Photographic exhibition at Playhouse Galleries May 1-31
After working for years as a lighting technician at The Playhouse, Jeff Crawford took a creative leap. His current photographic nude study project, he said, was a natural progression, his way of documenting his technique permanently - instead of having it only be a temporary experience during a show. For the month of May, Jeff Crawford will present his first solo photographic exhibition, entitled Capturing Within a Different Light. The work will be on display in the East and West Galleries at the Fredericton Playhouse.
ELIZABETH GOODYEAR
The Laramie Project: Thurs April 30 & Fri May 1 at 8 PM at the Black Box Theatre-Sir James Dunn Hall (STU Campus)-$5.00 Admission: codewhiteproductions opening production: Co-op member Elizabeth Goodyear's directorial debut with a great cast in tow. I will be attending tonight so I hope to see a lot of you out there. Don't worry Elizabeth I will stay off the stage, maybe!
Send me your news where ever you live members. If you ain't mentioned, it's because you didn't tell me!!
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Advertise
CASTING CALL FOR SHORT FILM!
SEEKING VOLUNTEER ACTORS for short drama "A Man's Passion"
Synopsis: A man is emotionally numbed after experiencing the loss of a loved one. He struggles for his sanity from the emptiness of the city and to seek comfort in nature and in the sacred.
KEVIN (35-45) - An attractive athletic professional photographer. Height 5'.8" to 6'.0"
MICHAEL (35-45) - Kevin's school chum from years ago. Height 5'.8" to 6'.0"
Where: Charlotte Street Arts Centre, NB Film Co-op's Resource Centre (basement). 732 Charlotte Street, Fredericton, NB
When: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 5:15pm - 9:00pm
Experienced actors only please.
Actors please bring headshot and resume to the audition (if possible).
For more information or questions, contact:
Conrad Steeves, producer/director at scineaste@hotmail.com or (506) 756-2357
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CASTING CALL FOR SHORT FILM!
SEEKING VOLUNTEER ACTORS for short comedy, “Super Geek Math Boy!”
Synopsis: A quirky, coming-of-age story about a teen math genius who learns that being smart doesn’t = bad.
Various roles for actors & extras needed!!!
Gender: Male/Female Age range: 16-23
Where: Fredericton Public Library, 12 Carleton Street, Fredericton, NB E3B 5P4
When: Saturday, April 25 (12:00 pm – 3:00 pm) & Saturday, May 2 (12:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
Experienced and inexperienced actors are welcome to audition!
Actors please bring headshot and resume to the audition (if possible).
For more information or questions, contact:
Bunthivy Nou, producer/director at bunthivy.nou@bunthivy.com or (506) 455-9607, or Jillian Acreman, production manager at jillianacreman@hotmail.com
Website: www.yellowwoodpictures.com
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SAINT JOHN - TECHNICAL VIDEO CREW NEEDED
Looking for volunteer camera crew or personnel to do survey outdoors in Saint John and surrounding area. Credits to be awarded.
Please contact E.R.N.C. with your experience and your equipment
Sarahlouise Brown
--
ethnicrainbows@aim.com
http://www.ethnicrainbownativecast.com
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MEMBER LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE
If anyone is interested in writing, acting in or working on a Sci Fi
action film over the summer please contact Fred at
fred@mediagiants.ca
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SCREENWRITERS LINKS AND RESOURCES GALORE!
Any Film Co-op member screenwriters can check out the online Film Co-op resource link at: http://www.nbfilmcoop.com/resource.htm
It's well worth the scrolling down you have to do to get to the screenwriter resources header and Cat updates and adds to the links each week.
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CALL FOR CREW
"A Saturday Affair" tells the story of how Bena Patel brought her samosas to the Saturday Morning Farmers Market and changed the way Fredericton eats on a Saturday morning. It is a revelation of the growth of multiculturalism in Fredericton over the last three decades through the food we eat. This film is part of the Fredericton Cultural Capital Project.
"A Saturday Affair" will be filming on the weekends of July 3-5 July 10-12. We are currently seeking to fill some key crew positions. If you are interested in any of the positions below, or would like to assist in roles not listed, please contact Production Manager Corena Walby at mwalby@nb.sympatico.ca
Positions we are currently seeking to fill:
Locations Manager
Makeup/Hair (able to do 70s looks)
Lighting Technician
Grip
On Set Wardrobe
Location Sound / Sound Editing
Craft Services
Continuity / Script Supervisor
Production Assistants
If you love making films, we would love to hear from you! Thank you to all who are already on board, and to all who are interested in helping. Making this film is going to be a lot of fun!
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CASTING CALL FOR SHORT FILM!
SEEKING VOLUNTEER ACTORS for short comedy "A Woman for Every Man"
Synopsis: The comedic adventures of an awkward clumsy man as he tries to connect with beautiful women.
Female Model 1 (20s) - Non-speaking role, attractive, healthy hourglass figure and able to do physical comedy.
Female Model 2 (20s) - Non-speaking role, attractive, healthy hourglass figure.
Female Model 3 (20s) - Speaking role, attractive and healthy hourglass figure.
Male Photographer (20s-30s) - Speaking role, athletic, attractive professional photographer.
Female Mime (20s-30s) - Speaking role, clumsy, attractive, healthy hourglass figure and able to do physical comedy.
Where: Charlotte Street Arts Centre, NB Film Co-op's Resource Centre (basement). 732 Charlotte Street, Fredericton, NB
When: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 5:15pm - 9:00pm
Experienced and inexperienced actors are welcome to audition!
Actors please bring headshot and resume to the audition (if possible).
For more information or questions, contact:
Conrad Steeves, producer/director at scineaste@hotmail.com or (506) 756-2357
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FESTIVAL PRESS KITS GALORE!
Any Film Co-op members now in distribution, who are looking for sample press kit info (written and graphics), email Cat at: info@nbfilmcoop.com
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NB ACTOR LOOKING FOR WORK
New York and LA trained actress looking for work. Presently living in N.B. after living in NY and Los Angeles for the past 15 years.
Independent, Feature Films or Commercials preferred.
Please contact for headshot and resume at 506-204 6944 or jaye1c@yahoo.com
Josette Cormier