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CONNECTING MEMBERS - SHORT FILM VENTURE RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2018

FREDERICTON - The recipients for this year's Short Film Venture Program are Tracey Lavigne, Kayla-Renee Ossachuk and Kaleight Stultz, Annick Blizzard and Lance Blakney. The filmmakers will receive financial assistance for the production of their short films of 10 minutes or less, to be shot in the province.

"We need to continually support promising filmmakers in New Brunswick in order to support the film community," New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative Executive Director Tony Merzetti says. "The Short Film Venture Program assists new generations of filmmakers to create works that will help their creative careers."

The Short Film Venture Program, administered by the New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture assists emerging New Brunswick filmmakers who have a serious interest in establishing a career in filmmaking.

The 2018 recipients

KALEIGH STULTZ (DIRECTOR)/KAYLA-RENEE OSSACHUK (WRITER)

Kaleigh: "I am grateful to have been selected by the jury, Province of New Brunswick and NB Film Co-op for the Short Film Venture Program. I am excited to direct my first short film and glad to have this important support behind me. I want to thank everyone who has pushed me toward this since day one."

Kaleigh Stultz has been involved in the Fredericton/New Brunswick film community since 2011. On film sets she is versatile, having worked in many different capacities such as script supervisor, assistant director, and every role in the camera department. She absorbed much knowledge from these experiences and has been inspired to finally attempt directing herself. 

Kayla-Renee: "When I wrote the original script for In This Instance in 2013 I had no idea that I would eventually be handing it over to my best friend to direct for me. I'm honoured that Kaleigh connected with the script and kept it in her mind for all of these years. I know her visual instincts and history working in theatre will help her to create something beautiful on screen, in her directorial debut."

Kayla Ossachuk is a writer, director, and actor based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. After taking a few years to explore the world, and the big city of Toronto, Kayla has returned to New Brunswick ready to jump back into the film scene. An actor by trade, Kayla fell into writing and directing in school but is excited to stretch her creative muscles in all directions with the help of the fabulous Film Co-op members.

Kayla-Renee Ossachuk

Synopsis: In This Instance

Life is made up of a series of questions asked and answered in the matter of a moments. When five post-secondary students set out on the town for a night at the bar, they never could have expected that the little decisions they made could lead to big consequences.

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ANNICK BLIZZARD (DIRECTOR/WRITER)

"I'm deeply grateful for receiving this incredible opportunity to shoot my short film. Big thanks go to the Short Film Venture jury, the Film Co-op and the Province of New Brunswick for believing in this script."  

Annick Blizzard has been involved in the New Brunswick film community in one capacity or another since 2009, but is mostly an actress appearing in films such as Broke, Lady Eternal, In Search of Laura Fearn and Black and White and Dead All Over. Recently, she co-produced, and appeared in the short film Cabby. When We Were Young will be her directorial debut. 

Synopsis: When We Were Young

When Liv returns to the town where she grew up, she seeks to reconnect with a community who no longer trusts her, and rebuild a long lost friendship. 

TRACEY LAVIGNE (DIRECTOR/WRITER)

"I am thrilled about this opportunity to continue developing my craft and make a calling card film with the support of the Province of New Brunswick and the NB Film Co-op. The Short Film Venture Grant is such an important program for emerging filmmakers in the province, not only for the production support it provides but also the invaluable script feedback."

Tracey Lavigne is a writer, director, and production designer based in Fredericton. Since joining the NB Filmmakers’ Co-op in 2014, she has worked on more than a dozen productions and garnered awards for her work in production design and sound design.

Her debut short film Glitter premiered at the 2017 Silver Wave Film Festival, where it won Best Short NB Drama, Viewers’ Choice, Excellence in Screenwriting, and Excellence in Editing. Glitter is currently making the rounds at film festivals across Canada. 

Synopsis: Mnemosyne

Over the course of her lonely shift at a convenience store, a young woman pieces together hazy memories of what happened the night before, and confronts an ugly truth. 

Mnemosyne is a moment in the aftermath of a horrible event. After a harrowing night in which a friend spikes her drink, rapes her, and leaves her to wander home alone and disoriented, Ash gets up and goes to work as if nothing is wrong. As the lingering effects of the drug wear off and emotions surface, Ash struggles with a choice -- whether to keep it to herself, or risk the vulnerability of telling someone. This is a story about self-worth and the external forces we allow to shape it.

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LANCE BLAKNEY (DIRECTOR/WRITER)

"It means the world to me to have support from so many talented people, and to be given the opportunity to bring my vision to life. This is a story that is very close to my heart, and I am so glad that I will now have the chance to share it with the world. Thank you to the New Brunswick Film Co-op, the members of which have helped me grow my passion for film. I would also like to thank the jury and the province for this grant. Without them, and without all of my friends and creative partners, I may never have had the ability to visualize this piece of my soul."

Lance Kenneth Blakney is an award-winning filmmaker and photographer based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He works as a digital marketing specialist for the University of New Brunswick. His passion for cinema and still imagery, in combination with his honours degree in Media Arts and Cultures, facilitates the creation of beautiful visuals that can also exist within a social and political context. Solo gallery shows, guest lectures, workshops, and numerous international publications and film festivals have given him a presence within the artistic community both locally and abroad.

Synopsis: Velle to Want 

“The sun still exists somewhere on a dark day...” 

Velle to Want  is a realist narrative presented in a series of surreal visuals. Based on my own experiences, this film is meant to have an underlying message of hope in a dark place. The title Velle to Want, “Velle” meaning to will or wish, translates to Want to Want - a want to want to live. 

CONNECTING MEMBERS - OUR SEED PROGRAM STUDENT!

The NB Film Co-op welcomes SEED Program hire Mariana Amero!

Mariana is a St. Thomas University student majoring in Psychology and Interdisciplinary Fine Arts with a concentration in Drama. She has been involved in Theatre St. Thomas, STEEDS, and SIPP as an actress. She recently directed a SIPP play The Blizzard. In Mexico, she has worked professionally in film and has been part of several musical theatre companies. Mariana is also a trained ballet and jazz dancer. 

"I feel so grateful for not only having found a job in Fredericton, but because I will be working in the field I love the most, film."

REGISTER FOR THE NBFC’S WORKSHOP SERIES!

The NB Film Co-op’s annual filmmaking workshop series presents classes in all aspects of filmmaking from screenwriting to editing to how to become a stunt person in film and television. 

Many of the workshops help you learn the production process and where to find the resources to make your first film. The workshops are also filled with personal stories that will help you navigate the New Brunswick film community and your productions as a smart troubleshooter who is ready for anything that gets thrown at you. 

Other workshops in the series cover different stages of the filmmaking process and the roles involved in those stages. Learn from professional filmmakers at different levels who are active in their field and connect with fellow workshop participants in this practical hands-on annual series. 

All workshops are open to the public. There are discounts for NB Film Co-op members.

The Fredericton workshops have started for 2018. Register today! Check them out online at http://nbfilmcoop.com/workshops 

Please email info@nbfilmcoop.com to ensure there are still spaces in any workshops you are interested in taking before you register.

The Moncton and Saint John Workshop Schedules will go up online on the NB Film Co-op workshop link at the end of April.

UPDATE YOUR CAST AND CREW PROFILE TODAY!

So you've joined the NB Film Co-op. You've taken a bunch of workshops. You've gone to networking events. But you're still unsure how to actually get involved with a film shoot.

One way to get your name out there is to register for the NB Film Co-op Cast and Crew Profile. It's a database where filmmakers can see a list of members who are able to fill in various cast and crew positions. It's simple to fill out and in no time your name will be made available to all filmmakers who are looking for cast and crew for their upcoming projects. It has recently been modified to allow new members with little or no experience create a profile, and it also allows members to fill in a more complete resume if they wish.

It's also beneficial for our more experienced members too. It is a place where commercial filmmakers can go to search for people to hire for paid shoots, and it gives members a platform to self promote themselves and their work.

So please, take a few minutes to fill out your profile and help the Co-op promote you!

This benefit is only for Film Co-op members in good standing.

NBFC PROJECT SUPPORT LINKS

ONGOING! - Member Production Support Programme: http://nbfilmcoop.com/programs/member-production-support-program

SAINT JOHN FILM PIX SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE: May 13, 2018 - http://nbfilmcoop.com/programs/film-pix-scholarship

NEW!! MONCTON FILM SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE: May 13, 2018 - email info@nbfilmcoop.com to inquire

PAST! For Members - Telefilm Talent To Watch Gant Deadline April 4, 2018 - http://nbfilmcoop.com/content/talent-watch-program

PAST! Errol Williams Documentary Award Deadline: April 13, 2018 -  http://nbfilmcoop.com/programs/errol-williams-filmmaker-award

PAST! JumpSTART Grant Deadline: April 1, 2018 - http://nbfilmcoop.com/programs/jumpstart-grant

PAST!: BOLEX FILM CONTEST Deadline: April 13, 2018 - http://nbfilmcoop.com/content/bolex-film-contest

UPCOMING! Jane LeBlanc Filmmaker Award Deadline: October 23, 2018 - http://nbfilmcoop.com/programs/jane-leblanc-filmmaker-award

UPCOMING! CBC/NB Joy Award Deadline: October 23, 2018 - http://nbfilmcoop.com/programs/nb-joy-award 

PAYPAL LINKS ARE UP FOR NBFC MEMBERSHIP AND RENEWALS FOR 2018 

Membership renewals are due in Jan/Feb annually. The paypal links for memberships for 2018 are up on the co-op website for renewing members - http://nbfilmcoop.com/content/renew

Welcome back to the following members who joined for the first time or renewed and came back to us:

Jon Blizzard (Fredericton)

SPECIAL THANKS: To Scott Brownlee who will be hosting a Film Co-op Members BBQ Social at his place in SJ in May when the weather is a bit warmer, thank you Scott!

SPECIAL THANKS: To Britany Sparrow and Rob Gemmell who hosted a Film Co-op Members Social at their place in late February, thank you!