Bonus Episode: Documentary Dynamo Dawn Porter

In this bonus episode of Storylines, we hear from award-winning documentary producer Dawn Porter, known for films like Spies of Mississippi and Gideon’s Army. 

One of Dawn’s most recent projects is the critically-acclaimed four-hour Netflix original series Bobby Kennedy for President, which was released in 2018 and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. 

And Dawn is currently directing and executive producing an Apple TV multi-part documentary series with Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry that focuses on mental illness and wellbeing. Her most recent film, John Lewis: Good Trouble, documents 60 years of civil rights activist John Lewis’ life.

Here's part of her interview from the NYWIFT podcast Women Crush Wednesdays, hosted by Leah Curney and Janine McGoldrick. 

In this episode:

We hear one of Dawn’s tips for starting out in the industry, the power of film, and the importance of finding your own style.

Links:

• Women Crush Wednesdays
• NYWIFT
• Dawn Porter Director of John Lewis: Good Trouble & WCW Spotlight Member Meissa Hampton
• John Lewis: Good Trouble 

In this bonus episode of Storylines, we hear from actor and producer Alysia Reiner, known for her role as warden Fig in Orange is the New Black. Alysia’s interview is part of the NYWIFT podcast Women Crush Wednesdays, hosted by Leah Curney and Janine McGoldrick.

In this episode:

We hear about what it’s like to transition from actor to producer, falling in love with the artistic potential of film, and telling women’s stories on screen.

Links

• Women Crush Wednesdays
• NYWIFT
• Alysia Reiner talks Orange is The New Black and her latest indie film EGG

Bonus Episode: Riccie Johnson, a Make-up Artist by Mistake

In this bonus episode of Storylines, we take a look into the world of make-up artistry with industry veteran Riccie Johnson. Riccie’s interview is part of the NYWIFT podcast Women Crush Wednesdays, hosted by Leah Curney and Janine McGoldrick. 

In this episode:

We hear about how Riccie got her surprising start in the industry, accepting new experiences, and what she’s learned from over 65 years of experience. 

Links:

• Women Crush Wednesdays
• NYWIFT
• Designing Women Gala 2019 honorees: Riccie Johnson and Shunika Terry
  
  

Bonus Episode: Cross Border Collaboration with NYWIFT

In this special bonus episode of Storylines, we sit down with Leah Curney, co-host of Women Crush Wednesdays, a podcast by New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT), to talk about collaboration in a time of quarantine. And to announce how the Storylines and Women Crush Wednesdays podcasts will be working together. 

In this episode:

We hear about what it’s like in New York City during the coronavirus pandemic, the ongoing shift to remote auditions, and changes that go into maintaining a “six foot” (two meter) distance from each other on a film or television set. Stay tuned to hear about NYWIFT’s podcast, Women Crush Wednesdays, a biweekly podcast hosted by Janine McGoldrick and Leah Curney.

Links:

• Women Crush Wednesdays
• NYWIFT

Bonnie Thompson: Prolific Producer

Bonnie Thompson has over 80 producer credits. She worked for more than three decades at the National Film Board of Canada out of the north west studio in Edmonton. And as a creative producer, she has been the third eye behind projects like the interactive documentary Bear 71.

She was one of the producers on the feature documentary Angry Inuk, and she also was a producer on the Oscar-nominated animated short Wild Life.

Producing is in Bonnie’s blood. Even though she’s now retired from the National Film Board, she is still actively producing films, and helping young Alberta filmmakers find their way in the industry.

In this episode:

We hear about Bonnie’s start in the film industry, her experiences working on her first project, and some of the things she’s learned from working with others. Next, we hear about her experiences producing the Oscar-nominated animated short Wild Life, the role and importance of the producer, and Bonnie’s advice for emerging producers. Finally, we finish off with Bonnie’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

Links:

• Bear 71
• Angry Inuk
• Wild Life
• Birth of a Family
• Wiebo's War
• nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up

Raevn Brasch: Master of All Things Design

Raevn never imagined she’d work in the film industry when growing up on a farm in Australia. She moved to Canada for a road trip adventure over twenty years ago, and never left. It was connection and curiosity that led her onto film sets. More than two decades later, Raevn has worked in nearly every role in the art department on film and television sets. 

But production design is where her talent really shines. She’s created the props for the APTN sketch comedy show Caution: May Contain Nuts, and recently she was the production designer the APTN show Tribal, and the holiday feature

film Christmas Coronation.

In this episode:

We hear about Raevn’s not-so-glamorous first job in the film industry, the highs and lows of the production process, and the difficulty of maintaining a work-life balance. Next, we hear about the importance of good leadership skills, what being a production designer entails, and the invisibility of good graphic design. After that, Raevn talks about her experience on the APTN sketch comedy Caution: May Contain Nuts, her advice for graphic designers, and what working in the prop department entails. Then, Raevn talks about her time in the prop department on Wynonna Earp, the secret to a good chair smash, and her advice for script writers. Afterwards, Raevn explains the importance of the art department and gives her advice for prospective production designers. Finally, we hear Raevn’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

Links:

• Caution: May Contain Nuts
• Tribal
• Puppy Love
• Wynonna Earp
• Black Summer
• The Ballad of Audrey Earnshaw

Tasha Hubbard: Telling Indigenous Stories

Tasha is an award-winning Cree filmmaker. Her documentaries primarily focus on social issues faced by Indigenous people in Canada. In 2004, her first solo project, the documentary Two Worlds Colliding, won a Gemini Award. It looked at starlight tours– a practice where Saskatoon police would abandon Indigenous men in freezing winter conditions.

And Tasha’s most recent film, nîpawistamâsowin: We will Stand Up, tells the tragic story of the Colton Boushie case. It’s been receiving positive reviews and was named the Best Canadian Feature at the 2019 Hot Docs Film Festival where it opened the festival and made its premiere. Most recently, it won the Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary Award at the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards.

In this episode:

We hear about how Tasha got her start in the industry, the story behind Two Worlds Colliding, and the impact it had on her career and those around her. Next, we hear about the Colton Boushie case, the storytelling decisions behind nîpawistamâsowin: We will Stand Up, and the premiere of the documentary. After that, Tasha explains her goals and experiences as a filmmaker, the relationships that are developed between filmmakers, and her current projects. Finally, we hear Tasha’s three tips for starting out in the film industry.

Links:

• Birth of a Family
• nîpawistamâsowin: We will Stand Up
• Two Worlds Colliding
• 7 minutes
• Big Bear

Meghan Westelmajer: The Art of Production 

Meghan has always had a passion and love for film. But she got into the industry in a less traditional way– It was an online job ad as an executive assistant that got Meghan into the industry. A few years later, and after lots of hard work, she was well into television production in Canada.

Now based out of Calgary, she’s used to spinning a lot of plates. She’s worked as a production coordinator on large projects like the FX series Fargo, that can be watched on Netflix.

She’s also worked on high-budget Hollywood films like Ghostbusters: Afterlife and the Disney+ film Togo.

In this episode:

We hear about Meghan’s start in the film industry, her experiences as an executive assistant, and some of the challenges of being a production coordinator. Next, we hear from Meghan about some of the highs and lows of her career, her experiences on set for productions like Fargo and Togo, and her relationship with Alberta. After that, we hear about how Meghan thinks the COVID-19 pandemic will impact her job and the industry. Finally, we hear Meghan’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

Links:

• Fargo
• Togo
• Ghostbusters: Afterlife
• Wynonna Earp
• The Detour
• Diablo

Lisa Fryklund: Daring Director of Photography

Lisa has seen the world through the lens of a camera. She cut her teeth as a camera operator working in news at a small town TV station in Saskatchewan in the 1980s. After years of working in news and sports, she made the switch to documentary and lifestyle projects.

She’s shot projects like the National Geographic program $100 Taxi Ride, the travel game show the Amazing Race Canada, Intervention, and Adoption Stories. Lisa now calls San Francisco home, where she works as a freelance director of photography.

In this episode:

We hear about how Lisa got started in the industry and some of the difficulties she faced in her early career. Next, we hear about $100 Taxi Ride, the importance of adaptability for DPs, and the challenge of filming for Intervention. After that, we hear about the challenges of filming on emotional sets, the importance of communication and relationships for freelancers, and life as a DP. Finally, we hear Lisa’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

Links:

• $100 Taxi Ride
• Intervention
• Amazing Race Canada
• Adoption Stories
• The Quon Dynasty

Emily Renner Wallace: Fantastic First AD

Emily got started in the film industry right out of high school. At 18 years old, she began working at the Calgary International Film Festival. That opened up doors for her to then work on film sets, and Emily has worked her way up.

She’s now an active First AD on sets in and around the Calgary area. Emily was the first AD on the hit series Wynonna Earp, she worked on the Disney Plus show Togo, and she’s also been making strides to direct her own short films too.

In this episode:

We hear more about Emily’s position as first AD, some of the projects that she took on in her early career, and what her job entails. We learn about what it’s like on set for Wynonna Earp, Togo, and other projects. Next, we hear about burnout, the importance of prep, and how social distancing has impacted her job. Finally, we hear her 3 tips for starting out in the industry.

Links:

• Togo
• Fargo
• Tin Star
• Alpha
• Wynonna Earp

Alexandra Lazarowich: Documentary Trailblazer

Alexandra started her career as a child actor, but then made the switch to producing and directing documentary films when she discovered that the real change for what’s shown on the screen is made from behind the camera.

Alexandra produced the documentary short Cree Code Talkers. It tells the story of the elite unit during the second World War that was tasked with developing a coded system using the Cree language to disguise military intelligence for allied forces.

Alexandra also directed the documentary short Fast Horse, that follows the Siksika Nation Indian Relay team as they make their debut at the Calgary Stampede. Fast Horse was screened at Sundance, won numerous awards, and it is nominated for a Canadian Screen Award.

She’s also a founding member of the COUSIN collective, a group that supports Indigenous artists through film.

In this episode:

We hear about how Alexandra got started in film as a child actor, how she made the switch to documentaries, and the challenges she faced as a director. Then, we hear about Cree Code Talker and Fast Horse, the reasons behind the production of these documentary shorts,  and why indigenous representation is important in film. Next, Alexandra tells us about the opportunities for women and indigenous people in film, the COUSIN collective, and some of Alexandra’s upcoming projects. Finally, we hear Alexandra’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

Links:

• COUSIN collective
• Fast Horse
• Cree Code Talker
• Alexandra Lazarowich
• LAKE

COVID-19: Impact on Actors with Angela Palmer

As we make our way through week 7 of the coronavirus quarantine here in Alberta, the way we live our lives has certainly changed. For actors like Angela Palmer, we wonder what life is like right now. 

Angela grew up always watching TV, but she never imagined that she would actually be on TV.

But after being inspired by her mother, she immersed herself in the world of acting seven years ago and hasn’t looked back. After taking acting classes and getting roles in several short films in her hometown of Edmonton, she relocated to Vancouver.

And the move paid off. Since relocated she’s scored roles on the ABC medical drama The Good Doctor. She then switched gears for the role of Alex in the supernatural web series Spiral, and she recently played the role of Sally Bishop on the NBC Sci-Fi series The InBetween.

In this episode:

We hear from Angela about how her life as an actor has changed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, her expectations for the future, and her three tips for starting out in the industry… even during a pandemic!

Links:

• Angela Palmer on IMDb
• The Good Doctor
• Spiral
• The InBetween

Susie Moloney: Literary Scream Queen

Susie has been a writer for decades. She’s penned books like A Dry Spell, The Dwelling, and The 13. Her work focuses on the supernatural, and she’s been dubbed as the Canadian Stephen King.

And now, she takes her pen to the page to create screenplays. She wrote and co-produced the short film the Suburbanight, a film that shows what can happen to a nosey neighbour interrupts a single mom trying to feed her kid.

She’s also the writer behind the award-winning short Romi which tells the story of a recently widowed young woman who’s terrorized by her digital assistant.

And this year, she’ll be releasing Bright Hill Road, a story she wrote about an alcoholic on the run who must face her demons at an eerie little inn.

In this episode:

We hear about how Susie got her start as a writer, her advice for aspiring writers, and what her writing process looks like. Then, we hear about the learning process of producing The Suburbanight, what it’s like to watch your character come to life on the screen, and her upcoming production, Bright Hill Road. Next, we hear about some of Susie’s writing themes and interests, and the transition of a character from mind to paper. Finally, we hear Susie’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

Links:

• The Suburbanight
• Bright Hill Road
• The Thirteen (book)
• A Dry Spell (book)
• The Dwelling (book)

Nisreen Baker: Bridging the Cultural Gap

Originally from Egypt, she honed her craft in her native country where she got her start in the film and television industry. Nisreen moved to Canada in 2001 and her debut Canadian-produced film was A Day in my Shoes; a film that explores the lives of three Palestinian women living in Canada, and how they managed to raise Canadian children while still holding on to their culture and heritage. 

More than a decade and several films later, she dove deeper into Arab culture in Canada with Things Arab Men Say. That documentary brought viewers into the lives of Arab men while gathered in a barber shop on a Saturday afternoon.

Now, she’s working on another documentary that looks into the world of Arab women with a film called Arab women say What?! Nisreen aims to bridge the gap between Arab and Canadian culture through her documentary films.

In this episode:

We hear about Nisreen’s start as a filmmaker in Egypt, Lebanon, and Dubai, the transition into Canada and Canadian film, and the challenge of convincing Canadian executives of her skills and experience. Next, we learn about the production and story behind some of Nisreen’s films, including ‘A Day In My Shoes’, ‘Things Arab Men Say’, and ‘Arab women say What?!’. Nisreen discusses the challenges of living as an Arab woman in a post-9/11 world, fighting against the stigma and lack of knowledge about the Arab community, and the diversity and variety behind the word ‘Arab’. Finally, we hear Nisreen’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

Links:

• Things Arab Men Say
• Arab women say What?! 
• Nisreen Baker on LinkedIn
• Nisreen Baker on Twitter

Georgina Lightning: Advocate & Academy Alumni

Georgina Lightning has had a vast and long career. In 1990, with her three Children in tow, she packed up and moved to Los Angeles to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. And there her career then took off.

She has played supporting roles in productions like Walker Texas Ranger, The West Wing, and Trickster. Georgina is known for her role in Blackstone playing the character of Tracy Bull. She most recently guest stars in the APTN series, Tribal.

She’s a big advocate for First Nations people on screen. In 2007, she founded Tribal Alliance Productions, which is dedicated to representing Indigenous people in front of and behind the camera.

In this episode:

We hear about what originally drew Georgina to film, balancing motherhood and education, and the empowerment that comes from overcoming past traumas. Next, we hear about Georgina’s journey into film, her experience as an acting coach, the impact of the #MeToo movement on the film industry, and creating opportunities for Indigenous people. Finally, we hear Georgina’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

Links:

• Older Than America
• Dreamkeeper
• Johnny Greyeyes
• Tribal
• Blackstone
• Tribal Alliance Productions

Jessica L’Heureux: Franco Filmmaking

Jessica straddles the world between fact and fiction. She started her career 20 years ago as a broadcast journalist at Radio-Canada in Quebec. It was long-form current affairs broadcast journalism that taught her the love of storytelling. Five years ago she opened her own production company, Far West Productions in Edmonton, with two business partners.

Far West started with a lifestyle show about food truck culture, Sel et Diesel.

Afterwards, she quickly jumped into scripted productions with Abigaëlle, a web series that follows the trials and tribulations of being a modern-day woman in her early 30s. The second season of Abigaëlle has just been released.

In this episode:

We hear about Jessica’s start as a broadcast journalist at Radio-Canada, the story behind Sel et Diesel, and the webseries Abigaëlle. Jessica talks about the Francophone community in Alberta, some of her favourite stories from working on Sel et Diesel, and the production of the French-language web series Abigaëlle in Edmonton. Jessica explains the learning curve behind the move from broadcast journalism to directing and producing, tips for prospective documentary producers, and advice for beginners starting production on a web series. Finally, we hear Jessica’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

Links:

• Far West Productions
• Jessica L’Heureux
• Sel et Diesel
• Abigaëlle
• Jessica L’Heureux: IMDb
• Far West Productions: Vimeo

Karen Ryan: Acting Aficionado 

Karen Ryan started her career as a Calgary-based actor later than most. But once she caught the acting bug, she realized being in front of the cameras in film and television productions is the right place for her. But it wasn’t always a smooth ride. She faced health problems that forced her to take two years off when her career was getting started. It’s been a slow build, but the hard work has paid off for Karen. She now has over 15 acting credits to her name, and she has appeared in television series like CBC’s Heartland and the Amazon Prime production Tin Star. Karen has been honoured by ACTRA Alberta this year as the 2020 Woman of the Year.

In this episode:

We hear about why Karen decided to go into acting, how she got started in the film industry, and maintaining a work-life balance. Then, we learn about what it’s like to be an actor in Alberta, the  acting community, and what it was like to work on the Amazon Prime production Tin Star. Finally, we finish with Karen’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

Links:

• Heartland
• Tin Star
• Rat Race
• Anna’s Wish
• Femme Fatale 
• Calgary Upstart

The Future of Filmmaking with COVID-19

Our world changed last week as the coronavirus spread globally. In the film and television industry, the pandemic brought productions to a screeching halt. The entertainment industry giant Netflix had to shut down its scripted productions. But Netflix has promised $100 million US in relief to help industry workers who are out of a job because of the virus. 

Locally, here in Alberta, the Banff World Media Festival decided to cancel the festival in June this year due to the spread of the virus. And, of course, smaller productions have also come to a stop as well. So with all these changes, and in the era of social distancing: what does filmmaking look like?

For more on this, Storylines' host Sheena Rossiter speaks with Nauzanin Knight. She is the Executive Producer at 1844 Studios. Her production company is dedicated to telling stories about the diversity of the human experience. 

In this episode:

We hear from Nauzanin Knight of 1844 Studios about the impacts of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic on the film and television industry, Nauzanin's production company 1844 Studios, and the #UpliftQuarantine Film Prize.

Links:

• 1844 Studios
• #UpliftQuarantine Film Prize

Michelle Wong: Production Pro

Michelle’s career in film and television hasn’t been linear. She started out as a high school teacher but made the jump to film after going to a National Film Board meet up in Edmonton in the early ‘90s. This led her to make her first documentary, Return Home, in 1992. Michelle honed her skills through the learning-by-doing method. After joining a local production company, she made the jump to scripted production in the '90s when she and her business partner at the time helped to expand production services for television movies in Alberta. It was then that she learned her real strength was on the business affairs side of the film industry. Over the years, she’s helped build two production companies into successful ventures, and she’s now the head of business affairs at Seven24 Films in Calgary, the production company behind the hit series Wynonna Earp.

In this episode:

We hear about Michelle’s switch from education to filmmaking, her early career, and her first documentary, Return Home. Then, Michelle talks about the representation of women of colour in the film industry, building a reputation, and making connections. Later on, we learn about Michelle’s current job and projects, including the hit series Wynonna Earp. We finish off with Michelle’s three tips for starting out in the film industry.

Links:

• Return home
• Wynonna Earp 
• Fortunate Son
• Do Wok A Do
• Heartland
• Seven24 Films

Brenda Terning: Editing Powerhouse

Brenda makes magic from the edit suite. She’s been a documentary film editor for over two decades, and her resume is stacked. She’s edited documentaries for CBC’s the Nature of Things for a decade, and is currently editing feature documentaries for the National Film Board of Canada. Her work includes The Tipping Point, a documentary that looks at the impacts of the tar sands in northern Alberta. In the past, she’s been tasked with combing through 600 hours of footage to create the blue chip

documentary series The Great Human Odyssey, which won a Canadian Screen award and was then nominated for an Emmy. Brenda was also one of the editors for the documentary series Equus: Story of the Horse, which was nominated for seven Canadian Screen Awards.

In this episode:

We hear about how Brenda got her start as an editor, some of her most challenging projects, and the importance of good editing. Brenda gives her advice on how to make connections in the film industry, the role that story plays in editing, and working with a director’s vision. We finish off with Brenda’s three tips for aspiring filmmakers.

Links:

• https://www.brendaterning.com
• Vital Bonds
• Great Human Odyssey
• Equus Origins
• Tipping Point, The Age of Oil Sands
• Perfect Runner
• Inuit Odyssey
  
  

Rosvita Dransfeld: The Master of Cinéma vérité 

A documentary director and producer, Rosvita’s body of work is extensive. She started as a broadcast journalist in her native Germany, and made the transition into documentary film after moving to Canada in 2000. Over the past two decades, she’s produced and directed more documentaries than she can count, all in her adopted home of Edmonton where she runs her company ID Productions. Rosvita was recently nominated for an Emmy Award for her work on Vital Bonds, a documentary which explores the world of organ donations at the University of Alberta hospital.  Her Cinéma vérité-style films are character driven and look at the human condition in its many forms. 

In this episode:

We hear about how Rosvita got started directing feature documentaries in Canada. We learn about how she gets access to, and builds trust with the people in her films to create an emotional experience for the audience. 

Rosvita also talks about the importance of having a vision and telling difficult stories, marketing films that can't be easily categorized, and finding your voice as a filmmaker.

Finally, we hear Rosvita's three tips for starting out in the film industry.

Links:

• ID Productions
• Vital Bonds 
• The Ward
• Memento Mori: From Death Comes Life
• Broke
• Who Cares
• Queens of Dogville