US 

SHADOWING ON MR. D: TEACH HARD

By Gia Milani

For my entire life I’ve worked for myself. I carve my own hours, call my own shots, lead my own teams, and mentor a lot of up and coming talent. But I have never been mentored, and it was really overdue. 

I want to direct and write for television, a whole new way of working collaboratively that I am really excited about. In March, everything I had been building towards came together when I was invited to attend the Five in Focus Program, through Women in View and WIFT-AT.  During that week, I met with, and pitched to, producer Mike Volpe, (Mr. D, Trailer Park Boys). He invited me to shadow on the upcoming season of Mr. D. I immediately said yes, and I made sure to keep in touch. 

Mike was still on board when I checked in with him in late spring, so in the last week of June I traveled to Halifax to shadow for a week on Mr. D as they block shot two episodes. It is season 8 for the long running CBC comedy series and I walked into a well-oiled machine, that couldn’t have been more welcoming. 

It was pouring the morning I arrived at the CFB Halifax Curling Club, that doubles as Mr. D’s studio. Within two minutes of arriving to set, my mentor, director Steve Wright, appeared in cool jeans, a button-down shirt and a hoodie. He was fired up and energetic. No rainy weather dampened his attitude. I was told he was positive, inclusive and great to work with, and it was all true. In 2012 Steve directed the show’s pilot episode. This block’s episodes were Steve’s 30th and 31st time directing the show. He quickly got me up to speed on how the show worked: how they shot (in the studio and in the high school), the way the cameras were supposed to move in a scene, how the series regulars liked to work, the kind of coverage the show used and how they like to reveal a joke. Mike, who co-created the show, encouraged me to “get right in there”, so for the five days I was at Steve’s hip and watched everything I could without getting in the way. 

Besides a little set I had built, for a short film, in my dad’s garage, I had never worked in a studio setting. Mr D.’s wild walls were a real treat to watch zip in and out. The set’s interior windows on gimbals that could push just enough to not catch the camera’s reflection made my day. The show uses two cameras and the crew’s quick set-ups were amazing. Since they are shooting two episodes at once there isn’t a lot of time in between shots and the days moved swiftly. The crew is so quick that finding where video village had gone was the hide-and-seek of the day. If I could find Mary Louise McCloskey, the incredibly attentive script supervisor, I knew I had the right spot. 

Ever present at video village or on Steve’s other hip, was the head writer and executive producer, Shebli Zarghami, a CFC graduate who has been with the show for years. The show is scripted but then jumps into heavy improv on the day, so Sheb has to be in the moment to ensure the through line of the story remains. Gerry Dee, the creator of the show, who wears every hat – from writer, actor, producer and comedian, also juggles this job. The back and forth banter between the actors, producers and head writer to find the best joke was fun to listen in on. It was a friendly collaboration that you don’t get in film. Producer Georgina Neville, an impressive, quiet presence, was usually found on set too, holding all the reins, silently getting work done on her computer, with one ear on the scene, still laughing at all the jokes.

The only hiccup I saw during the week was when a St Bernard dog was shooting its scenes and would just sit down and simply not move. Or, conversely, he would just walk away. He was so large there wasn’t really any way to prevent his wandering. He was his own comedian. I think he kind of knew it, too. But even this wasn’t a real hiccup. Steve still brought that day in early.

A little note: I’ve had a few people irritated with me that I pursued shadowing. No, I am not a new director – but the pros to doing this are all there. I was excited to watch another director work. I rarely hang out with other experienced directors, and certainly not on the job. How do they solve the day’s problems? How do they create quick rapport with the actors?  How do they establish what kind, and how much coverage to get? How do they come to set, a hired gun, and mesh with a cast and crew who will be there for the entire season? Who do they answer to? Who has the last word on a line, or a camera angle? Things that were all in my control as an auteur filmmaker have no place in television. I was eager to know how it all clicked. 

A massive thank you to Mike Volpe for the invitation and encouragement, Steve Wright who was more than generous with his knowledge and time, and the entire cast and crew of Mr. D who let me bend their ears with a myriad of questions. And thank you for the continued support from WIFT-AT. Their facilitation, training opportunities, talent promotion and sponsorship is the reason opportunities like these exist for women in the Atlantic provinces.

I had a blast shadowing. I learned a lot, and now I can’t wait to prep on an episode of… anyone hiring an east coast director? I’m available. 

Mr D’s final season starts on November 7th, 2018, with these first two episodes airing back to back. Check it out on CBC television!

Connect with Gia at gia.milani@shoreroadpictures.com

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 with their dues paid up. Email info@nbfilmcoop.com to find out more info.

Note: If you want to get calls from outside production companies and local production companies looking for creative crew, please ask Cat to be put on her film job short list. She can't refer you if you don't let her know.

NBFC PROJECT SUPPORT LINKS

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

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: Daniel Gaudet (Saint John), Madison White (Fredericton), Shima Barrett (Moncton), Abigal Carter (Fredericton).

Film Co-op Summer Student Staff, Mariana Amero and Summer Grant

ABOUT US

You can subscribe or unsubscribe to the NBFC listserv by going to this link at any time: http://lists.nbfilmcoop.com/mailman/listinfo/enews_nbfilmcoop.com

NBFC on Facebook: CLICK HERE

Silver Wave on Facebook: CLICK HERE

NBFC on Twitter: CLICK HERE

Silver Wave Twitter: CLICK HERE

About

Name: New Brunswick Film Co-op

Classification: Registered Charity and Non-profit

Age: 39 years old

Status: Nurtures independent filmmakers in NB

Hometown: Born and based in Fredericton but thinks provincially

Occupation: To help and nurture independent filmmakers in NB

The NB Film Co-op e-news has a subscription list of 8,000 world wide now.

Email: CLICK HERE

Website:  CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE to find out about joining the NBFC 

CLICK HERE for NBFC E-news archives