Endings & Beginnings, Ashley Phinney style. (Photo by Joy Cummings)
|
NBFC member Alex Vietinghoff shares what he has learned as a member of the co-op and a freelancer in the wider film community in NB.
|
US
ENDINGS & BEGINNINGS - ASHLEY PHINNEY
After spending the last 6 months here at the NB Film Co-op on a 'one time only' job program through Post Secondary Education, I am sad to say that the time has come for me to go. I’ve had a blast working here with Cat, Tony and Matt, and will miss seeing their beautiful faces everyday.
During my time here I have had a lot of cool filmy opportunities that many people never get to experience. I have met a lot of talented people, gone "on tour with Tony and Cat to showcase member films shown at SWFF over the years" (Bathurst, Sackville, and Moncton), talked about local film legends & inspiring people on the radio for all to hear (Thanks CHSR and Mark Kilfoil for helping us promote SWFF!), watched a lot of New Brunswick films, tinkered with old film tech (thanks Tony for showing me in great detail some pretty old film cameras and projectors), and, ate a lot of Milda’s pizzas (YUM!).
I am off to the Northside for a new adventure and a new job in a completely different field, but I will still be around volunteering at the NBFC as a full member in good standing.
I would like to give a huge thank you to Cat and Tony for giving me this incredible opportunity and for helping me realize how insanely awesome we all are as filmmakers here in New Brunswick and how lucky we are to have the Film Co-op.
Thanks to Matt Carr for teaching me how to take things apart, and then leaving me to figure out how they go back together and for helping me improve my Nerf game ten-fold.
Thanks to UNB intern and SWFF sponsor Carlee Calver for helping me cut up an endless piles of viewer's choice ballots, and for our trip downtown to gather festival swag; without her I never would have made it!
WHAT I'VE LEARNED (SO FAR) AS A FREELANCE VIDEOGRAPHER AND EDITOR IN NEW BRUNSWICK- ALEX VIETINGHOFF
It’s been about a year and half since I left my cushy full-time job as a videographer and video editor to go freelance. I’ve learned a lot about business and creativity along the way. As a freelancer I feel liberated in my day-to-day schedule -- getting to sleep in and work when I feel creatively motivated, and take breaks or procrastinate when I need to without pissing off a client, boss or co-workers. That said, it can sometimes be harder to focus or stay motivated when editing, or I would struggle with stress (and finances) when going through a period of little to no work. I’ve had my fair share of highs and lows, but overall I’m glad I took the plunge into the freelance world.
The landscape for video production in New Brunswick is changing. It feels like there are new video production companies and freelancers popping up every month, which means there is more and more competition for work. But I think everyone in the industry can agree that in New Brunswick, we all want to get along amicably and further the provincial film and video industry as a whole. People here aren’t afraid to share advice, equipment, workers, and sometimes even clients when the work required falls outside of our ability.
In that spirit, I want to share some tips for anyone who is just starting out as a freelancer. I wish I’d known some of these when starting out! I believe that this will help everyone; it will keep New Brunswick video clients’ expectations realistic when budgeting, it will aid people just starting out in deciding whether they’re making the right career choice, and it will help improve the overall quality of work, which can lead to a more professional industry reputation that will bring in even more outside work. Some of these tips apply no matter where you’re working, not just in New Brunswick.
-Most, if not all, of the gigs I’ve gotten have been through word-of-mouth or networking, not from advertising or LinkedIn. While it’s important to have a professional website and social media presence, don’t waste all your time polishing those pages. Connecting with old contacts who might need work and meeting business owners and handing out business cards is the tried and true method that actually tends to get me the most work.
- Always get the client to sign a contract, and *usually* have them pay half the budget upfront. This protects you if the client tries to get out of paying you later or pay very late.
Many employers and clients seem to want to have a “casual” relationship where the line between chill acquaintance and client can get blurry. The prospect of sending a contract might make you worried that you’ll scare them off, but in reality it helps prevent awkwardness down the road if they are asking for more revisions that weren’t agreed upon, or want to go out of budget. To ensure payments on time, include a clause that charges interest on late payments.
-You will have different rates depending on who you’re working for. I have a day rate when clients come directly to me, but that rate is lower for other production companies who hire me as extra crew. Where a client might do only one project with me, other companies tend to hire me frequently, so I know I’ll get more work down the road and build a working relationship. You will also likely be able to quote a higher budget to clients or companies that aren’t based in New Brunswick. The reality is that with our provincial economy the way it is, what is a fair day rate in Nova Scotia or Ontario can sometimes scare away potential businesses based in New Brunswick. That said, always value your work and don’t undersell yourself. Charging $600 for a five-minute video (or worse, doing it for free/“exposure”) means that that client now expects every video from you or other companies to be dirt cheap, and that harms the industry as a whole. If you’re unsure what you should be charging, there are many resources online that can help you calculate a rate based on what you need to survive each month. (ex: https://freelanceboost.com/freelance-hourly-rate-calculator/ )
-If you’re considering leaving your job to freelance, you should have an emergency fund of at least six months’ worth of living expenses saved up for any period of time that you might not get work/ want to go on vacation/ if you’re sick. There WILL be times where you aren’t getting work but you still need to cover rent and bills. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you could become homeless!
-It pays to have a variety of skills. I’m lucky to be a camera owner/operator, video editor, narrator, and I can create and animate effects and titles. This has afforded me more opportunities than if I was only a videographer and/or editor. In 2016 I was the narrator of Hemmings House’s big documentary The Millennial Dream, and I did some animation work for another freelancer who could shoot and edit but wasn’t fully comfortable with animation. It also means that if one of my client needs those things, I can earn more money by doing them myself rather than outsourcing that work.
-It pays to be an active member of the New Brunswick Filmmakers’ Co-op!
I’m not being paid to say this -- volunteering on film shoots and helping my fellow co-op members has gotten me camera and editing work from other members who referred me, and even from the Film Co-op when people approached them looking for someone experienced in guerrilla, one-man band style shooting. You also make friends and can learn new skills that will help your work improve.
There are so many more useful things to know, but I’ll cut it off here this time. Down the road I’ll have some more tips. Remember that these are things I’ve learned through my personal experiences, and yours might vary depending on your location and the types of clients you’re getting. Best of luck!
Alex Vietinghoff is a freelance videographer and video editor based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. For work enquiries, please email alexvietinghoff@gmail.com
PAYPAL LINKS ARE UP FOR NBFC MEMBERSHIPS AND RENEWALS FOR 2017
It's time to renew your co-op membership for 2017, renewals are due annually in January for ongoing members. If you email Cat to ask for her help, the first thing she will ask you to do is renew as her focus is the co-op members in good standing. The paypal links for memberships for 2017 are up on the co-op website - http://nbfilmcoop.com/joining
Renewed and New Members: Alex Brewer (Keswick), Shane Walsh (Fredericton), Scott Brownlee (Saint John), Arianna Martinez (Fredericton), Mark Walma (Fredericton), Jon Dewar (Fredericton), Paul Erskine (Rothesay), Jamie Oon (Rothesay), Pierre Cormier (Dieppe), Jennifer Mawhinney (Fredericton), Mary Jane Banks (Rothesay), Pauline Cronin (Saint John), Gerard Bourque (Welshpool), Melynda Jarratt (Fredericton), Rosi Jory (Saint John), Rotem Fenichel (Saint John), Susan Thompson (Fredericton), Andrew Long (Fredericton), Ashley Phinney (Fredericton), Carlee Calver (Fredericton), Matt Carr (Fredericton), Peter de Niverville (Riverview), Stephen MacGillivray (Fredericton), Tracey Lavigne (Fredericton), Doug Sutherland (Fredericton), Carol Ann Hanley (New Maryland), Sarah Hicken (Dieppe), Tyler Macfarlane (Fredericton), Colin Smart (Fredericton), Jillian Acreman (Fredericton).
Call for Submissions: Paid Film Project work for filmmakers in NB!
|
BUZZ
TELEFILM CANADA MICRO-BUDGET CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Recommendation Phase Application
Film Co-op Website: http://nbfilmcoop.com/content/telefilm-micro-budget-programme
The NBFC is now accepting applications from full NBFC members in good standing for another installment of the Telefilm Canada Micro-Budget Production Program for 2017. The deadline for all proposals is now January 25, 2017.
Telefilm's Micro-Budget Program is a production opportunity for first-time feature filmmakers, with an emphasis on digital and online distribution models. the NBFC is eligible to recommend one feature film application and one narrative web-based project for competition at the national level.
New this year Telefilm Canada is putting in place measures to diversify its portfolio of projects, aiming in particular to achieve, by 2020, gender parity in each of the key roles of director, writer, and producer. Based on consultations held this year, Telefilm has determined that its first action area for 2017 will be to favour projects written or directed by women.
The Telefilm Micro-Budget Program will provide financing for the development, production, digital distribution and promotion of a first feature-length film or other format of narrative-based audiovisual content made specifically for online distribution. Once completed, the projects must be made available to the public through one or more digital platforms (e.g. web portals, video portals such as YouTube or Netflix, video on demand, mobile platforms/devices, etc.).
As its name indicates, this program is for micro-budget productions, meaning those with budgets under $250,000. Telefilm will support eight to ten projects per year through a non-repayable financial contribution of up to $127,500 for feature films and narrative-based web projects of 75 minutes and more in total length. The contribution amount for narrative-based web projects under 75 minutes will be prorated based on the total number of minutes of the project, each full 10-minute segment providing access to $15,000 up to a maximum contribution of $112,500. Telefilm’s financial contribution must be used to cover direct expenses relating to the development, production, postproduction, distribution and promotion of the project.
An amount of $7,500 of Telefilm’s total contribution amount must be reserved for the hiring of a digital marketing expert that will help applicants elaborate and put in place a promotion and digital marketing strategy for their project. Further, at least 15% of Telefilm’s total contribution amount (excluding the amount reserved for the hiring of the digital marketing expert) must be used for promotion and distribution expenses.
The NBFC is eligible to recommend one feature film and one narrative web-based project for competition at the national level in English and French.
The NBFC invites current NBFC members (any members who have outstanding projects not completed are not eligible for this program) seeking a recommendation letter from NBFC to forward a complete Recommendation Phase Application to the NBFC on or before Jan. 25th 2017 at 11:59pm for review by an NBFC assembled peer jury from outside NB.
NEW DEADLINE: Jan. 25th, 11:59pm, 2017
Eligibility:
NOTE: You must already be a full NBFC member in good standing to apply for this grant for projects. You can't join and then apply.
Emerging - All the key members (producer, writer and director) of the project must be emerging talent i.e. they must already have produced, directed and/or written at least one short film (i.e. 30 minutes or less) but must not have produced, directed or written a feature length film (i.e. 75 minutes or more). NBFC Member - All the key members (producer, writer and director) of all recommended projects must be either current NBFC members (Full).
Please confirm your eligibility with NBFC prior to submitting your application (contact Cat info@nbfilmcoop.com). To submit, please email your completed application form, required documents (PDFs only, please) and a link to your video pitch, trailer and support material to: info@nbfilmcoop.com
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
For more information:
Film Co-op Guidelines and Application Form (pdf):
nbfc_form_telefilmmicro_17.pdf
Telefilm Guidelines (pdf):
guidelinesmicro-budget-2017eng.pdf
ABOUT THE NBFC:
Established in 1979 the New Brunwick Filmmakers' Co-operative (NBFC) is a non-profit Charitable Film Co-op for the production of creative films in a collaborative, learning environment.
The NBFC operates with generous support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Province of NB as well as other supporters and sponsors
www.nbfilmcoop.com
FREDERICTON - WANTED: TWO ARTISTS FOR PROJECTS IN THE SCHOOLS
Wanted: Two artists for projects in the schools
The Fredericton Arts Alliance needs two visual artists for specific school projects.
One will work with primary students at Park Street Elementary on Fredericton’s North Side in a drawing project focused on beans; the other will help students at the Central New Brunswick Academy in New Bandon create a mural reflecting the school’s commitment to music.
Both artists will work closely with teachers to complete the projects. The FAA will pay each artist an honorarium of $500. Material costs, as itemized in the schools’ proposals, will be paid. If necessary, a modest travel honorarium may be included.
These projects are two of four the FAA is financing this year, the third year in which the local arts advocacy group has paid for artists to spend significant time working in the schools.
“We hope the projects give students an in depth arts experience that they would not otherwise enjoy, and we also hope this leaves the schools with a permanent work of art for other classes to enjoy well into the future,” said Katie FitzRandolph, president of the Arts Alliance.
Previous projects have resulted in a series of sculptured planters, murals in several schools, photography experiences, textile projects and more.
The FAA expects artists to spend about 25 hours working with students on the projects.
The Park Street School project will take off from the experience of growing beans in the classroom. The class will grow a variety of different beans, and sketch their development from dry seed to pole-supported transplants in the school garden. Students will record the development in writing and drawing. The selected artist will teach students how to draw from direct observation of the various stages in the seed’s development. In the fall, they plan to harvest their crop and share the results with the community.
This project is planned to start in late February, with the artist working in seven different classrooms for half-hour periods teaching drawing. The artist will also create a permanent piece of art based on the project for display in the school.
The bean project touches on science, art and literacy for about 140 kindergarten and Grade 1 students.
The Central N.B. Academy project envisages working in acrylics with about 100 students in Grades 6 to 9.
Students will work on one of two projects that link art and music. One group will work with the artist to create a mural next to the music room reflecting the school’s love of music. They will discuss instrument families, composers, theory, music history and rhythm in the process of creating their design.
The other group will work either individually or in partnerships to create a painting that reflects their personal love of music – a favourite instrument, band, musician or genre. Many of these will be selected to hang permanently in the school.
The selected artist will visit the school five times for about five hours each time: helping students plan the projects, outline the designs; and paint the mural and the individual works. Ideally the artist would be there from 8:30 to 1:30, working with two teachers on the project.
The experience will let students glimpse the possibility of a career in art, with a discussion of the challenges and opportunities involved in such a choice.
Interested artists can get more information by emailing president@frederictonartsalliance.ca. Artists who would like to be considered should send, to the same address, a short résumé and indicate which project they would like to work on and how they feel they can contribute to it. The deadline for applying is January 22.
– 30 –
For further information:
Katie FitzRandolph – 478-8045
or president@frederictonartsalliance.ca
NBFC MONDAY NIGHT FILM SERIES SCHEDULE: JANUARY - APRIL, 2017
We have just launched the programme for the Monday Night Film Series (January - April 2017) on our website.
Please check out all the details at: http://nbfilmcoop.com/exhibition/monday-night-film-series
We will have print programmes and posters available in our office later this week or early next week, and they will be available at Tilley Hall when the series starts up again on January 9th.
Have a wonderful holiday,
Tony, Cat and John

January 09, 7:30pm, Tilley Hall, UNB Campus, 2017
Little Men
Ira Sachs
USA, 2015
English
85 minutes
Principal Cast: Michael Barbieri, Theo Taplitz, Paulina García, Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Ehle
The latest from Ira Sachs (Love Is Strange, Keep the Lights On) is a poignant look at the close but fleeting friendship between two boys during their formative years, set against rapid gentrification in New York City.
Jake Jardine (Theo Taplitz) is a sensitive, artistic, and lonely kid who moves to Brooklyn with his Manhattanite parents, Kathy (Jennifer Ehle, Zero Dark Thirty, The King’s Speech), a psychiatrist, and Brian (Greg Kinnear, Little Miss Sunshine, As Good As it Gets), an out-of-work stage actor. There, he meets Tony Calvelli (Michael Barbieri), a magnetic, fast-talking charmer and aspiring actor whose mother, Lenor (Paulina García, Much Ado About Nothing, Gloria) has inherited the Jardines as the new landlords of her long-standing dress shop. The boys become fast friends and spend carefree summer days roving the streets on their scooters and rollerblades.
The friendship has a particular impact on Jake, who doesn’t normally connect with people as easily as Tony does. However, things quickly begin to fall apart when the boys’ parents have a falling out over the market value of Lenor’s shop.
As with Sachs’ previous film, Love is Strange, Little Men is a small, personal story with a larger political undercurrent. The writer-director subtly critiques the constant state of economic flux in a city that can swallow whole even the privileged if they hit a run of bad luck. Cinematographer Óscar Durán keenly alludes to this by observing meaningful details that include the glittering Manhattan cityscape, just out of reach on the other side of the river. Yet Sachs resists oversimplification and sentimentality in favour of nuance. Aided in no small part by superb performances from the entire cast, he portrays his characters with a rare honesty, portraying all sides with impartiality.
Little Men is a subtle, intelligent, and deeply moving look at community, family and friendship. It’s easily one of the richest and most beautiful films of the year.
Sachs is a wonderfully humane filmmaker. There are never out and out saints or demons in his films, but richly detailed, relatable lives offered for us to understand. —Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
THE LOST STORIES PROJECT - 2017 EDITION
Call for Submissions
lost_stories_call_for_filmmakers_sheldrake_island_en.pdf
histoire_retrouvees_appel_cineastes_sheldrake_fr.pdf
Documentary Film to Mark 150 Years of Canada
The Lepers of Sheldrake Island, New Brunswick
Deadline: 23 January 2017
Backstory
The Lost Stories Project collects little-known stories about the Canadian past, transforms them into works of public art on appropriate sites, and documents the process through a series of short films available in English, French and other appropriate languages. Based at Concordia University and led by Concordia historian Ronald Rudin, in collaboration with professors from other universities and artists working in various media, the project has received support from the Canadian government's Canada 150 fund to develop four new episodes for 2017.
Each of these episodes is built around a story chosen from those submitted by the public. In each case, a story will be paired with an artist who will have the task of interpreting it to create a permanent public artwork to be located on a site related to that story. The artist's creative process will figure prominently in the documentary films that we will be producing.
We welcome submissions from filmmakers who would be able -- in a roughly twenty-minute documentary -- to weave together the story from the past and the story of the artist sorting through the various choices that need to be made, along the way showing both those choices that were incorporated into the artwork as well as those that were rejected. Public art connected with the four stories will be inaugurated during summer 2017, in conjunction with significant public events. Interested filmmakers can get a better idea of the look and feel of the project's films by viewing the pilot episode for the series, Thomas Widd's Lost Story, at the project website.
Lost Stories 2017 Edition
The four stories selected to mark the 150th anniversary of Canada deal with various topics from the past and are from all parts of the country. Further details about these stories are also available at the project website. However, this particular call is aimed at artists interested in creating artwork that tells the story described below.
The Lepers of Sheldrake Island, New Brunswick: Leprosy was a public health challenge along sections of the eastern coast of New Brunswick. Mostly afflicting Acadians, the problem was so severe that in 1844 the New Brunswick government sent thirty lepers to Sheldrake Island, at the mouth of the Miramichi River. The lepers endured difficult conditions. Some escaped, and outrage over their situation resulted in their relocation in 1849 to a new facility, closer to their families. Artwork will be constructed on a site, on the grounds of St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Church, the white church building in the photo, that overlooks the island.
Call for Submissions: Deadline 23 January 2017.
We invite filmmakers who have some connection with this story to submit a dossier, no later than 23 January 2017. In your covering letter, please explain your ties to story, in addition to discussing your practice and whether you have experience in filming artists at work, as well as your CV.
Dossiers will be evaluated by the team directing the Lost Stories Project, which includes individuals with a wide array of experience in presenting stories about the past in public space. Short lists will be created in late-January, with interviews (most likely by Skype) to follow. Each of the selected filmmakers will receive $23,000 to cover all expenses connected with production of the film that would need to be delivered no later than 1 December 2017. Depending on the distance between the artist, the site for the public art, and the home base of the filmmaker, a small travel budget may be available. The films will be distributed by means of the project website.
For further information, or to submit your dossier, contact: historylost@concordia.ca, using the subject line: Lost Stories 2017 Films.
Your submission should contain:
•Cover letter outlining your ties to this specific story or to one of the communities involved. In addition, indicate whether you have experience in filming artists at work.
•CV
•Examples of previous film projects. Please send links to your website or other online site (such as Dropbox or Google Drive) to view examples of your previous film projects.
Applications must be received by midnight on 23 January 2017.
----------------------
Appel de propositions
Projet Histoires retrouvées – édition 2017
Films documentaires pour marquer le 150e anniversaire du Canada
Les lépreux de l’île Sheldrake, Nouveau-Brunswick
Date limite : 23 janvier 2017
Historique
Le projet Histoires retrouvées recueille des récits peu connus du passé canadien et les transforme en œuvres d’art public installées sur des sites appropriés. Il en documente aussi le processus par l’entremise d’une série de courts métrages offerts en français, en anglais et dans d’autres langues appropriées. Ayant ses assises à l’Université Concordia et dirigé par l’historien Ronald Rudin, en collaboration avec des professeurs d’autres universités et des artistes utilisant diverses techniques, le projet a reçu le soutien du Fonds Canada 150 du gouvernement canadien pour créer quatre nouveaux épisodes en 2017.
Chaque épisode est construit autour d’un récit choisi parmi ceux proposés par le public. Dans chaque cas, un artiste est jumelé au récit; elle ou il a pour tâche de l’interpréter pour créer une œuvre d’art public permanente qui sera installée sur un site connexe au récit. Le processus créatif de l’artiste jouera un rôle important dans le documentaire que nous produirons.
Nous sollicitons des soumissions des cinéastes qui pourraient -- dans un film documentaire de vingt minutes -- présenter à la fois l'histoire du passé et le processus de l'artiste. L'art public pour le projet sera inauguré pendant l'été 2017, en connexion avec les événements publics importants. Pour obtenir une meilleure idée de nos films, nous vous invitons à consulter l’épisode pilote de la série, L’histoire retrouvée de Thomas Widd, sur le site Web du projet.
Histoires retrouvées – édition 2017
Les quatre récits retenus pour marquer le 150e anniversaire du Canada se penchent sur des sujets variés de notre passé et proviennent de tous les coins du pays. Plus de détails sur ces récits sont aussi disponibles sur le site Web du projet. Cependant, le présent appel de propositions a pour but d’identifier une ou un cinéaste qui veut créer un film documentaire qui raconte le récit décrit plus bas.
Les lépreux de l’île Sheldrake, Nouveau-Brunswick: La lèpre était un grave problème de santé publique le long de la côte est du Nouveau-Brunswick. Touchant principalement les Acadiens, le problème était devenu si pressant qu’en 1844, le gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick décida d’envoyer trente lépreux à l’île Sheldrake, à l’embouchure de la rivière Miramichi. Leurs conditions de vie étaient difficiles et certains d’entre eux s’échappèrent. Leur situation souleva l’indignation et força leur relocalisation dans un nouvel établissement installé plus près de leurs familles en 1849. L’œuvre d’art sera construite sur le terrain de l’église Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul, que l’on voit peinte en blanc sur la photo, et qui surplombe l’île.
Appel de propositions : date limite, le 23 janvier 2017
Nous invitons des cinéastes qui ont un lien avec ce récit à proposer un dossier avant le 23 janvier 2017. Dans votre lettre de présentation, veuillez expliquer votre connexion à cette histoire. De plus, expliquez votre pratique comme cinéaste, et si vous avez eu l'occasion de filmer les artistes au travail. Veuillez envoyer aussi votre CV.
Les dossiers seront évalués par l’équipe qui dirige le projet Histoires retrouvées, qui regroupe des personnes possédant une vaste expérience à présenter des récits du passé dans l’espace public. De courtes listes seront créées à la fin de janvier et les entrevues se dérouleront par la suite, probablement par Skype. Le (la) cinéaste retenu recevra 23000 $ afin de couvrir toutes les dépenses pour la production d'un film qui sera terminé avant le 1er décembre 2017. Les films seront distribués par le site web du projet.
Pour de plus amples renseignements ou pour soumettre votre dossier, veuillez communiquer avec le projet à historylost@concordia.ca en inscrivant « Films documentaires Histoires retrouvées » à la ligne Objet de votre courriel.
Voici ce que votre proposition devrait contenir :
•Une lettre de présentation illustrant vos liens avec le récit ou les communautés touchées. De plus, décrivez votre pratique comme cinéaste, et indiquez si vous avez filmé les artistes au travail.
•Votre C.V.
•Des exemples de vos projets du film. Veuillez inclure des liens vers votre site Web ou d’autres sites en ligne (comme Dropbox ou Google Drive) afin que nous puissions voir des exemples de projets du film précédents.
Les candidatures doivent être reçues avant minuit le 23 janvier 2017.
FREDERICTON - FROM SHORTS TO FEATURES
Date: Sunday, February 5, 2017 - 11:00am to 5:00pm
Fee: Film Co-op Members: $35.00/Non-Members: $45.00
Class Limit: 12

Workshop Instructor: Becky Parsons
Location: NB Film Co-op basement resource centre, Charlotte Street Arts Centre, 732 Charlotte Street, Fredericton, NB, New Brunswick
Workshop Description:
This evening workshop will fully look at the unique relationship between a motion picture director and their cinematographer. What you, as director can expect from your cinematographer and what they need from you.
We will study some of the countless techniques of story telling through moving image and discuss comparisons between a short film and a feature.
The technical element will include a broad look at the language of the lens, the science of eye lines, how to keep your best possible image quality at screenings, the use of post production as an important tool to your motion picture medium and the prep to do to ensure your workflow works.
Instructor's Biography:
Becky Parsons is an award winning cinematographer (Rhonda’s Party) and fine art photographer (Kodak Achievement Award). A graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, she has 18 years experience in the photographic and motion picture arts. Mostly based in the Maritimes, Canada she has acted as director of photography and/or camera operator on a number of local productions, recently Cle du Studio and First Weekend. Throughout her career as a camera assistant (1999 to 2013) and as a cinematographer and camera operator (since 2002) she has been an integral part of the shooting team on award winning films screened at festivals and distributed for television and cinematic release. As a fine art photographer Becky has exhibited in London, England, Toronto and Halifax, Canada. Her work is found in Winnipeg Art Gallery rentals and in publications and books (Under the Broken Sky by Shandi Mitchell – portrait of the author) as well as various private collections. In 2012 she founded Oculus Arts, a photography and print based collective of artists, presenting ‘pop-‐up’ exhibitions and publishing photographic art books. Throughout her study and career Becky has mentored and instructed, lecturing and providing ‘on-‐the-‐job’ training with organizations like The Atlantic Film Co-‐operative and Viewfinders: International Film Festival for Youth, and lecturing for the Screen Arts program, Nova Scotia Community College. Samples of her work are at http://beckyparsons.com/reel1/index.html