Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Storytelling is more important than ever as we all face the unique challenges this year has brought us.

Stories entertain, inspire and transform. They remind us of where we come from and where we can go. We need more stories to free our imaginations and open our hearts to create a path of understanding and healing.

To mark the season of giving during December, we’re sharing impact stories from our alumni and board members to show the power of story in action.

Current NSI students are blessed by the commitment of NSI’s Board of Directors – 100% of whom have donated to NSI’s annual fund. Please join them in supporting our students by donating today and making the power of story even more powerful.

Today’s impact story comes from Matt Watterworth, NSI Features First alum.

Matt completed the NSI Features First program in 2014. He later went on to direct the feature film In Plainview in 2018.

The Alberta-based filmmaker was awarded the best filmmaker award from Best of Calgary in 2016.

Through his NSI training, Matt gained a better understanding of the filmmaking process – from writing to distribution and beyond. Matt learned the depth of the film industry, and how he can engage with the community around him.

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If you could describe your experience with NSI in three words what would they be, and why?

THE TURNING POINT.

Truly, attending NSI represented a real shift for me in the way I perceive, interact with, communicate, and engage the film community on the local and global level.

Film school taught me plenty of utility, hands-on ability to make a living in the film industry, but I look back on NSI as the moment I was finally given the tools to make more than a living, but to also truly find a path to becoming a creator in the filmmaking landscape.

How did your training through NSI help you get to the place you’re at in your career today?

NSI Features First put me in rooms and meetings with some of the biggest players in the Canadian film industry, and it taught me how to reverse engineer what the decision makers in our world want to program, broadcast, stream and distribute. It really was a paradigm shift in the way I perceived the industry.

How did your instructors, mentors and peers influence you to become a better storyteller?

One of the big things about the smaller group size was that it allowed us all to make mistakes and try things that might seem weird or off but sometimes worked great. So much support to experiment and see what might work best, and the real-world opinions they hold really allowed me to know if I was on the right track or not.

What advice or encouragement would you give a prospective applicant considering NSI programs?

Firstly, it’s always worth applying. Too many folks look at the application and get defeated. Even if you don’t actually submit, the process of applying in and of itself can whip your project into shape and frame it in a way you hadn’t previously considered, and probably really should have.

What has your career trajectory looked like between when you completed training and now?

Since the training, I’ve reached my biggest life goal: directing a feature film. Beyond that, I’ve produced a second.

I’m also a big part of enhancing and encouraging my smaller jurisdiction of Alberta to be a bigger and better place to make content through The Alberta Filmmakers Podcast, and community involvement and volunteerism through arts and media organization boards.

What was the most transformative part of your learning experience?

The most transformative thing for me has to be the fact that I was able to go to Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and meet decision makers in distribution and broadcast, producing and writing, creators and innovators. It gave me a much fuller understanding of the Canadian film landscape and helped me understand how to tackle it from a more macro perspective.

What skills did you acquire in your NSI program that you did not have before?

The ability to really listen and take adjustment and feedback in a whole new and constructive way. A much, much deeper understanding of what the development phase is and how to apply it to the industry through casting, development financing, collaboration and networking.

What project(s) are you currently working on?

Currently completing a documentary web series pilot as well as developing my first series. Also just got some development financing for a web series from the Alberta government.

Where can people find out more about your work online?

Mattwatterworth.com!

What is your favourite Canadian film / TV show / web series?

Superbad is an unofficial Canadian film in my mind, but I’ve got to give it up to Kim’s Convenience right now!

The post Matt Watterworth: NSI gave me the tools to make more than just a living – they helped me find my path as a filmmaker appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).