Emerging Voice, Fearless Vision: Yohann Kamto’s Creative Ascent - Part 2

By Oluwayemisi Mafe

Photo of Film Co-op ED Tony Merzetti and member Yohann Kamto

In this issue of the NBFC Weekly E-news, we spotlight a rising creative force in the New Brunswick film community: NB Film Co-op member Yohann Kamto. A multidisciplinary storyteller with a penchant for tackling society’s complexities through humour, emotion, and imagery, Yohann’s journey from high school poetry to producing and directing original films is a testament to talent forged through persistence, mentorship, and the courage to dive in headfirst.

Through the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund’s provincial Mentorship Program, an internship with Strike Pictures, and academic training at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), Yohann has been cultivating a unique voice, one rooted in experimentation and resilience. In this candid interview, Yohann reflects on navigating creative breakthroughs, lessons from cramped film sets, and what it really means to “just give it a shot.”

Whether you’re a fellow student, a member filmmaker, an aspiring creative in the community, or a future JL applicant or Film Co-op member, Yohann’s story will both inspire and energize you.

From frozen poetry to blood-splattered rom-coms, Yohann Kamto is shaping New Brunswick’s creative landscape one bold script at a time. Dive into his story in this week’s NBFC Weekly E-news interview.

6. Can you share a bit about a specific school project or moment that affirmed your path as a filmmaker?

Yohann: My most recent project. There was another film I did before that, but my most recent one was a film that I received a grant from the NB Film Co-op for. I was the director, writer, and producer on it. It was a great experience that showed me that I want to continue making films and telling my stories.

7. Congratulations on being part of the 2024 JL Mentorship Engagement Program! What drew you to apply, and how has the experience shaped you as a creative?

Yohann: I was looking for more. My life was all about school. My classes were mainly theoretical, and I needed more hands-on film experiences, so I started discussing my concerns with my teachers. It was a teacher at UNB who recommended that I apply to participate in the program. Initially, I wanted it for writing because I was more focused on writing at that point, specifically creative writing. I also didn’t feel like I had enough experience yet to undertake a film mentorship. Luckily for me, Thandiwe McCarthy chose to be my mentor, and it was a great experience. It was one of the pivotal moments in my career. My mentor taught me how to improve my writing and poetry, but more importantly, he taught me how to make a living from my art and how to write grants, allowing me to pursue the projects I wanted to undertake. I’m very grateful to him for that.

8. Mentorship can be a powerful force. What have you learned from your mentor through the program that has impacted your journey?

Yohann: Do you know the saying? “Give it a shot.” I would say that’s probably the most important thing I have learned from my mentor. It’s okay if it doesn’t work out, but you have to do it. That’s powerful because I received other creative opportunities by incorporating that new belief into my life.

9. What advice would you give to other emerging filmmakers considering applying to the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund for a grant or seeking mentorship?

Yohann: Use your time wisely and ask your mentor questions. Ask why they do the things they do, even if it seems insignificant. Often, they do things that are successful automatically, and that could be a key creative step that you are missing in your creative toolbox.

10. You’ve had some exciting placements with film companies. Could you tell us about those experiences and what you learned from them?

Yohann: I’ve worked with several film companies. I learned how to utilize a location space and position it to achieve the desired look. These internships helped develop my creativity, as well as small things like bringing an extra clip or tape to set to make the minor adjustments that are often needed. Additionally, I learned how to produce a script within budget constraints.

11. What was it like stepping into a professional film environment for the first time? Any memorable moments or“aha” learnings from the set?

Yohann: My aha moment came when I realized how small film sets can be. There are numerous people on set, each with a specific role to play. It's crucial to remain very quiet once the camera and sound start rolling. If any noise is made, the sound recordist will ask everyone to be silent. Ultimately, I had a lot of fun during the experience, which reassured me that this is the right path and career for me.

12. Were there any unexpected challenges, and how did you navigate them creatively or professionally?

Yohann: There are time-based challenges to consider when making a film. Many people assume that the process is quick, but that’s not the case. Once you get into the editing room, you often find yourself debating various aspects with others. For me, collaborating with others and being deeply involved in a project can be quite challenging. For instance, during the editing of a 10-minute project, it took us three hours just to agree on one scene! It's crucial to learn how to step back and appreciate perspectives beyond your own. We needed to figure out how to collaborate, reach agreements, and compromise. There are people in your creative network—like the Film Co-op staff and members—whom you can turn to for support, and that’s really what it’s all about. All these experiences have taught me a great deal.

NB Film Co-op ED/UNB film teacher Tony Merzetti and NBFC member filmmaker Yohann Kamto

Emerging Voice, Fearless Vision: Yohann Kamto's Creative Ascent - Part 1

By Oluwayemisi Mafe

In this issue of the NBFC Weekly E-news, we spotlight a rising creative force in the New Brunswick film community: NB Film Co-op member Yohann Kamto. A multidisciplinary storyteller with a penchant for tackling society's complexities through humour, emotion, and imagery, Yohann's journey from high school poetry to producing and directing original films is a testament to talent forged through persistence, mentorship, and the courage to dive in headfirst.

Through the Jane LeBlanc Legacy Fund's provincial Mentorship Program, an internship with Strike Pictures, and academic training at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), Yohann has been cultivating a unique voice, one rooted in experimentation and resilience. In this candid interview, Yohann reflects on navigating creative breakthroughs, lessons from cramped film sets, and what it really means to "just give it a shot."

Whether you're a fellow student, a member filmmaker, an aspiring creative in the community, or a future JL applicant or Film Co-op member, Yohann's story will both inspire and energize you.

From frozen poetry to blood-splattered rom-coms, Yohann Kamto is shaping New Brunswick's creative landscape one bold script at a time. Dive into his story in this week's NBFC Weekly E-news interview.

1. Let's start from the beginning: when did you first realize that film and storytelling were your passions?

Yohann: My passion for film and storytelling solidified during my last year of high school, influenced by the boredom during the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift towards creative writing. Current societal issues influence my comedic writing style. Mentors, including Tony Merzetti, helped me refine my writing and gain a deeper understanding of the film community.

2. Who or what has influenced your creative voice the most? Are there filmmakers, movements, or life experiences that shaped your vision?

Yohann: I don't have someone in particular that inspired me in the film industry. However, there are many things I like that influence my writing style. I enjoy writing about everyday issues affecting this generation and society. I write in a comedic way, adding my own creativity to it.

I'm fortunate to have had several mentors. My one-on-one mentor (Thandiwe Mccarthy) during the nine months of the 2024 JL Mentorship Engagement Program helped me with my poetry, my writing in general, and some grants, and then there was Strike Pictures (Gordon, Lance, and Arianna. The talented trio taught me a great deal about the film industry.I'm grateful to all these people and organizations, including the Film Co-op.

3. Your work often blends strong visuals with deep emotional themes. How do you approach the storytelling process?

Yohann: The storytelling itself is a driving force behind my writing, whether it's poetry, screenwriting, or short stories. I utilize emotional connections in visuals. Especially with poetry, I find it easier for the reader to share my emotional state when reading my work by combining an emotion with an image. I have a poem called Old Sun, and it's about being closed off and then becoming open through the sun. I combine that emotion of being completely closed off with the image of frozen water during winter, which everyone can picture. And then, through that, I'm able to include other things that come with water. For example, when you think about water, you think about waves, wind, and beaches. That's the way I approach it. I will close off like frozen water; how do I become open? The sun melts the ice, and it flows and ebbs, becoming waves; that's what life is like. The water then engulfs you, and you're turned around; you don't know where you are anymore.

4. You've been actively honing your craft during your time in school. How has your academic journey supported or inspired your filmmaking?

Yohann: It isn't easy to put into words the impact UNB has had on my career. As I mentioned, I first realized my passion for writing in high school. My university time has been crucial for me because it first introduced me to the film industry. I received valuable networking opportunities through internships with Strike Pictures, which taught me how to apply what I learned at UNB in a real-life film setting, including screenplay formatting, set etiquette, and other relevant skills.

At UNB, the teachers were so willing to help and hear me out. I would go to them and seek advice, and they connected me to others. It was through my film teacher, Tony Merzetti, that I  met Cat LeBlanc, who works at the NB Film Co-op, where Tony is also the long-time Executive Director. This ongoing support motivated me to pursue more film-related experiences outside of school, and that's how I received additional opportunities.

5. How did you balance school life with creative projects? Were there any breakthroughs or lessons that came from that experience?

Yohann: During my first two years at UNB, I was more focused on school. Thanks to what I learned, I am now confident in my time management skills. I know what to prioritize, when to do it, and how long it will take to finish any given project. My time at UNB provided me with beneficial life skills, but it was also challenging and frustrating, as I often missed out on opportunities outside of school due to the need to study and attend classes. However, the school structure teaches you toughness, strength, and organization. It was hard but worth it.

END OF PART ONE, STAY TUNED!

Ty Giffin is Passionate about Filmmaking

By Jeremy Brubacher

When speaking to Ty Giffin, I find him experienced, passionate, and heartfelt about his film career. There is much to glean from him in terms of the art of filmmaking, and I believe the things that he has to say will resonate with many.

Like many who fall in love with film and filmmaking, for Ty, it all started when he was a child. He enjoyed watching films and was fascinated by the 'making of' featurettes and documentaries included on most DVDs. Ty's movie-watching spurred him to make silly videos with his friends, homemade Star Wars films, and skate videos here and there. However, the film Goodfellas in 1990, directed by Martin Scorsese, took his deep curiosity and turned it into an unbridled passion for filmmaking.

That passion grew as Ty sought out Martin Scorsese's filmography, firmly planting the seeds of his desire to make filmmaking a path in his life. Next, Ty looked for film schools, and that search ultimately landed him at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, where he completed an honours in Media Arts and Culture with a minor in Film Production. He was also introduced to the filmmaking community in New Brunswick through the NB Film Co-op, and he has been working on member's projects ever since. Some of the film roles Ty has taken on film projects are script supervisor and assistant camera or grip, but he feels fortunate to have had the chance to be director of photography on several projects.

Director of photography is a creative role well suited for Ty as any moving images he produces have a strong artistic flair and mood. The cinematographers who inspire his visual style and taste include some greats like; Roger Deakins, Sven Nykvist, Robby Müller, Sean Bobbitt, Robert Yeoman, Steven Soderbergh, and Gordon Willis. Some of the creative techniques that Ty loves in cinematography are deep shadows, high contrast, rich colours, dark blue evenings, and the quality of sodium vapor lights.

A recent film project that Ty had the privilege to work on was Ryan O'Toole's feature film Further Than The Eye Can See. While he was not the director of photography on Ryan's project, he did take on the crucial role of script supervisor. Ty formed strong bonds and friendships with many of the crew as being script supervisor put him in a position where he was in direct contact with all departments on the project. He also was the colourist, working closely with Ryan to create a look that Ty describes as, unlike anything he and Ryan have seen before. 

Ryan O'Toole is known for films that have been described as having an experimental quality that often seems to reach the metaphysical realm. This magic, combined with Ty's colour grading skills, should make Further Than The Eye Can See something exceptional.

Speaking of Ty's colour grading, he has gone through training to strengthen his skills. This involved him taking two intermediate courses, which certified him as an end-user for Da Vinci Resolve, a professional-grade film editor and colour grade software used on Hollywood films. Some recent films are Dune, The Green Knight, Godzilla vs Kong, and Black Widow. With these skills, Ty has created his own company for colour grading called Bison ColourWorks, where he has had the opportunity to grade music videos, short films, documentaries, and Ryan's feature film. In conjunction with Bison ColourWorks, Ty also created his production company called Bison FilmWorks. Hopefully, you will see his production company logo on many more film projects, as Ty will be producing all future film projects under this company banner. 

Ty is a very talented up-and-coming director and writer. With a good number of short films under his belt. One short that caught my attention is his film Roles which he produced in 2017. The film displays his ability to create atmosphere and mood. And then, there is his other film, and even though the budget was tiny, the film was not. Ty made a Neo-Western called Sister's Dirge in 2018. It is an extremely intimate short film with a surprising scope that deals with loss, vengeance, and the deep bond between sisters. The story centers around the dark and relevant topic of the kidnapping and murder of indigenous women. Ty found the film challenging to research, and he was often in tears during the process. However, even with the difficult subject matter, he gathered many collaborators for the project professionally that he still keeps in contact with today. The film went on to win a major award at the New Brunswick Silver Wave Film Festival. An important lesson that Ty learned on this film project is that is you have to be careful how many hats you wear on a project as the art can suffer in the end, but at the same time, because of doing many of the roles himself, he was able to learn so much more. Ultimately, the project was immensely gratifying for him.

The lessons learned on Sister's Dirge are ones he took to heart and applied to his next short film Cicerone, which is currently nearing the end of the post-production phase. Ty gives special mention to his producers, script supervisor, and 1st AD as invaluable, highlighting the advantage of not taking on too much and having a good support network to help see things through. Without them, he could not have done it. 

Cicerone went through many script rewrites; in fact, the film initially started as a mockumentary, but by the end of the writing process had turned into a dramatic narrative short film. The film ended up with a much higher budget, as Ty was awarded the Short Film Venture Grant and an artsnb grant. Thanks to the additional funding, he was able to make a film that his younger self could only have dreamed of making. Ty describes Cicerone as a meta-text of writing and the gangster genre, bringing things full circle to the kinds of films that inspired him to make them in the first place. Though the film was his dream to make, it was not necessarily a cakewalk to produce. 

The initial shooting schedule in spring 2020 to make the film was postponed by the Covid-19 pandemic, and then when they finally were shooting the film in September 2021, he and his cast and crew narrowly missed another lockdown due to the pandemic. Ty also had setups and plans fall apart on set, but that is part of the process and can happen. These experiences showed him that you must adapt and be creative. A couple of scenes required re-shoots, which can occur sometimes. The film is now in a place that Ty is happy with, and he is looking forward to submitting it to festivals soon. He also told me to keep my eyes peeled as a trailer for the film will be released soon.

I will leave you with Ty's philosophy for the filmmaking process, "filmmaking is a collaborative medium, and you are only as good as your collaborators."

If you want to see Ty's previous work, including Roles and Sister's Dirge, you can check out his Vimeo page: vimeo.com/tygiffin. 

If you would like to reach out to Ty for advice or to collaborate with him, you can reach out to him on Facebook, Instagram, and Instagram for Bison FilmWorks and Bison ColourWorks.

Ty Giffin

Ty Giffin

Pay Attention to the Things that you are Naturally Drawn To - Vu Pham

By Brenda Malley

Pay attention to the things that you are naturally drawn to. They are often connected to your path, passion, and purpose in life. Have the courage to follow them. Ruben Chavez

This quotation poignantly describes New Brunswick Film Co-op member Vu Pham.

Born and raised in Saigon, Vietnam, he was in his mid-teens when he moved to Orange County, California, to experience the western culture. Despite his young age, no family, and only a few friends he made despite his shyness, Vu says he appreciated the experience. He learned some essential life skills from which he continues to draw today: independence, self-sufficiency, critical thinking, and problem-solving. 

Vu attended and graduated from high school in California. Then, his parents immigrated to Fredericton, New Brunswick, from Vietnam, and Vu joined them. He transferred to the University of New Brunswick, where he pursued a degree in Psychology. However, after one semester, he changed to Business and graduated in 2020 with a concentration in Marketing.

In 2016 while in the Business program, Vu discovered the filmmaking program at UNB. He decided to take a film production course as an interesting elective. His instructors were Toronto-based filmmaker Cam Woykin & NB Film Co-op film pioneer, Tony Merzetti. Little did Vu know that this one course would instantly unleash a passion in him that changed his life trajectory forever.

He continued taking film courses as electives throughout his time in University and participated in a number of film shoots around Fredericton. During this time, Vu worked in various roles ranging from production assistant to sound but discovered cinematography and editing to be his specific interest.

Vu is appreciative of every opportunity that has come his way, describing everything as a learning experience, each one another step on the road to perfecting his craft. For example, in 2017, the UNB Student Union hired him to make an orientation video, which resulted in more opportunities.

Vu was fortunate to work part-time for UNB Media Services for three years while studying Business. In early 2018, he secured a 4-month paid internship with Sabian Cymbals in Meductic, New Brunswick. This was followed by a contract with the Government of New Brunswick in Communications. In both positions, he was tasked to produce social media videos to promote the products & services of each organization. Through these jobs, he learned the importance of precision in words used to tell stories and the impact of words when communicating with the public. He stresses that it forced him to think critically and communicate in the most neutral way possible, thereby improving his storytelling craft.

Since graduating two years ago, Vu has been working full-time as a freelance cinematographer, focusing on commercial and training videos, as well as short films. He has produced videos for Loblaws, CBC, Symbodi (a massage product that receives funding from Dragon Den), and The Football Academy.

As well, Vu was involved in making a music video that was released in March 2022. He says it came about after realizing that the music scene in Fredericton is vibrant and filled with undiscovered talent; however, sometimes artists lack a platform to visually showcase their talent. In a bid to challenge himself, he and his long-time collaborator, director MacKenzie Kierstead, became acquainted with a Nigerian rapper (living in Fredericton since 2017) whose stage name is Josh the Killer or JTK. 

Sharing a similar work ethic and passion, they decided to support him by making a music video for him. Though disappointed in their failed attempt to secure government funding, they decided to go ahead and invest their own money. It has received excellent reviews, and they have garnered public exposure, including newspaper and magazine articles.

https://youtu.be/-ZK5COguQGQ

Check Out this cool article in Grid City about the music video!

The Artist: Formally named Chijioke Okorie, Josh the Killer (JTK) is the musical moniker for the emerging rapper currently based in Canada whose name plays off an alternate meaning of the word "kill", which is to overwhelm someone with emotions. He strongly ties its meaning to his intentions whenever making music. The rapper who is an iron-ring holder and graduate of the University of New Brunswick moved to Canada in 2013 for university and has since then released a steady stream of singles, covers and EPs, keeping his listeners engaged and excited with his raw and authentic sound. His slogan goes as follows; I paint pictures with words and sounds.

Vu acknowledges that the last two years have been hard on everyone given the global pandemic, and it has resulted in him reassessing his future career plans. While he is confident that he could secure employment in marketing, Vu knows he is happiest when making films.

If anyone wants to see some of his work or to contact Vu, visit his website at www.vuspectrum.com

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Josh the Killer (JTK)

The Wonders of “Hurry Up and Wait.”

By Kaitlyn Adair

I decided that 2022 would be the year I make a short film every month. I had a feeling that January would be a rough covid month, so I decided to go with an idea I could shoot all on my own. I wanted to shoot an ultra-short film about an influencer who, while on live, catches a radioactive snowflake on her tongue. I intended to shoot it found-footage style using my iPhone and playing with slow-motion effects.

Last year a large branch from a tree fell through my deck. I saw this as an opportunity for some eclectic natural decor and decorated it with lights. The lights created a soft, warm light at night—my ideal shooting scenario. Despite January being a fairly snowy month, not once did it snow at night. Patiently, I waited with everything prepared. Fake blood made. Faux prosthetic tongue made. Finally, a significant snowstorm was scheduled for January 25th. During the day, while big fluffy snowflakes fell, I thought I should take precautions and do a practice shoot just in case.

My first practice went OK but being too familiar with social media shooting; I still held my phone in portrait. Oops. So I went out again and shot it in landscape mode. I knew I wanted a slow-motion shot to kick off the film, so I set my frame rate to 60/fps. Unfortunately, I never changed it back for the regular shots and accidentally didn’t record the final shot. So again, I went back out. Again I screwed up. This time I got the perfect shot; everything worked, except my frame didn’t match the previous shot, so I had to wash the fake blood out of my hair and reshoot one final time. All this just for a test shot!

I watched the footage back and really liked it. Thank goodness, because didn’t it literally stop snowing when the darkness finally came. I learned several lessons on this small project, but the biggest one was not to wait for the perfect moment because the snow may never come.

In February, the short film will be released on my Youtube channel: CLICK HERE. Subscribe to my Instagram, CLICK HERE, to stay up to date with my journey!