Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Supporter spotlight: Michael Levine

Posted: 20 Jan 2021 11:18 AM PST

The National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) wishes to gratefully acknowledge a very special donation made by Robert Eisenberg in honour of current NSI board member Michael Levine.

During the giving season in late 2020, NSI received the largest single donation to its Annual Fund in support of training for Indigenous storytellers. At NSI, we serve and help develop the gifts of Indigenous creators.

The generous donation came from Robert Eisenberg and will provide expanded training and career advancement opportunities to develop more Indigenous stories and storytellers across the country.

The entire NSI team extends much gratitude and love to Michael for being the inspiration behind Robert’s generous gift. With joy overflowing: we thank you.

President of Generic Productions Inc. and chairman of Westwood Creative Artists, Michael has been an NSI board member for over a decade. He is committed to creating equal opportunities within the industry and believes these opportunities start with access to proper education.

“The National Screen Institute is opening a new world to extremely talented, committed and passionate young people,” said Michael. “As the organization strengthens creative opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities, it promises to educate a new generation of artists from more diverse backgrounds properly reflecting Canada.”

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NSI launches Art of Business Management – Indigenous Edition, invites applications from Indigenous screen content creatives committed to a career in producing

Posted: 20 Jan 2021 10:23 AM PST

Learn business management, negotiation and leadership skills and receive customized mentorship to develop your next project

The National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI), in association with founding and presenting sponsor the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), invites Indigenous screen content creatives, committed to a career in producing, to apply for the inaugural NSI Art of Business Management – Indigenous Edition.

This four-month, part-time online training and mentorship program is designed to foster the growth of Indigenous producing professionals and increase the network of Indigenous production companies across Canada. Participants must have some prior producing experience or relevant industry practice, and possess the rights to a feature film or web series currently in development.

“At the National Screen Institute we proudly serve and help develop the gifts of Indigenous creators, and we’re honoured to partner with the Indigenous Screen Office for the first time to deliver enhanced training for Indigenous producers,” said Joy Loewen, NSI’s CEO.

“This customized program has been developed in collaboration with an advisory of senior industry leaders to ensure training best meets the needs of Indigenous storytellers. The curriculum is designed to empower participants with skills to advance their projects and producing careers.”

“The Indigenous screen sector will be strengthened with the graduates from this program,” said Kerry Swanson, managing director of the Indigenous Screen Office. “We’re excited to partner with the National Screen Institute as First Nations, Métis and Inuit content creators receive specialized training and mentorship to bring their stories to the world supported by strong producing skills.”

Applicants must apply with a feature film or web series which has at least one source of confirmed funding. Eligible projects can be fiction, non-fiction or documentary in all genres and formats.

Read more and get application details. Apply by Friday, February 12, 2021 at noon Central Time.

Indigenous creative professionals who would like to expand their business management skills are encouraged to apply.

An independent industry jury together with NSI staff will select up to eight emerging to mid-career Indigenous creative entrepreneurs.

NSI Art of Business Management is divided into two six-week phases and takes place from March to June 2021.

In phase 1 participants will attend 24 online mandatory sessions ranging in length from one to two hours. They will attend three to four sessions each week and be involved in interactive group discussions, round tables, peer reviews, presentations and masterclasses.

Topics will include business affairs/contracts; labour and employment law; fundamentals of running a workplace; principles of human resources and effective people management skills; financial planning and modelling; production finance and distribution (understanding tax credits, finance structures and cash flows); negotiation as well as case studies and masterclass presentations.

During phase 2 participants will be matched with an industry mentor to coach them through the development of their project plan. Mentors will assess participants’ skills and help them cultivate a successful career in producing. They’ll get advice on long-term goal setting and how to establish and maintain industry connections.

On-Screen Protocols and Pathways: A Media Production Guide to Working with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities, Cultures, Concepts and Stories will be used to guide all decisions and actions. The document is mandatory reading for all participants, faculty, subject experts, presenters and mentors.

NSI sought program and curriculum guidance from an advisory that included: Tyler Hagan of Experimental Forest Films (The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open), Jason Brennan of Nish Media (Rustic Oracle), Lauren Grant of Clique Pictures (Ojiibikaan), Lori Lozinski of Violator Films (The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open), NSI co-founder and international consultant Jan Miller and Catherine Bainbridge of Rezolution Pictures (Mohawk Girls).

Program advisors are Tyler Hagan, Lauren Grant and Lori Lozinski. Applicants who require assistance with the application process or application fee should contact program manager Cheyenne Bruneau (cheyenne.bruneau@nsi-canada.ca).

The inaugural edition of NSI Art of Business Management is exclusively for Indigenous content creators. The program will address specific barriers which prevent Indigenous storytellers from getting their stories made.

About the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)

The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) is an independent national advocacy and funding organization serving First Nations, Inuit and Métis creators of screen content in Canada. The ISO’s mandate is to foster and support narrative sovereignty: Indigenous stories told on screens by Indigenous storytellers.

Launched in 2017, the creation of the ISO is the result of decades of advocacy from Indigenous industry professionals and creators who identified that an organization supporting Indigenous storytellers was a crucial component to a healthy and robust media landscape in Canada.

ISO currently funds a number of programs and initiatives for Indigenous screen creators and professionals with a focus on the key areas of training and mentorship, project development, production support and market development. ISO also hosts regular training and workshops around the document On-Screen Protocols and Pathways: A Media Production Guide to Working with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities, Cultures, Concepts and Stories.

About the National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI)

Propelled by a visionary network of donors, private and public organizations, the National Screen Institute supports diverse creators from across Canada to tell unforgettable stories. Through industry-informed training and mentoring in film, television and digital media, NSI students and alumni find their voice and place on the global stage, inspiring us to shape a better world.

NSI is committed to selecting participants from a diverse community of voices including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and two-spirit (LGBTQ2S+), people with disabilities, those outside large urban centres, those from regional and remote areas, and various religious groups.

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NSI Art of Business Management – Indigenous Edition is funded by Founding and Presenting Sponsor the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO); Indigenous Training Programs Partner Directors Guild of Canada; Strategic Sponsor Telefilm Canada; Supporting Sponsor Super Channel; NSI Core Funders are Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council. We gratefully acknowledge the private donors whose gifts support this program.

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