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FILM DIARY - INDEPENDENT ARTIST RESIDENCY AT THE BANFF CENTRE

By Bronwen Mosher

This summer, I went on an amazing trip. Kaitlyn Adair and I were getting ready to co-direct her first short film, March 2.4, and we decided to apply to the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, looking to immerse ourselves in the world of post-production. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of talent in the New Brunswick film community and that talent definitely extends to picture editors, sound editors, and sound designers.  Attend the Silver Wave Film Festival and that talent becomes self-evident.

The problem for me, however, is that I’m not very well versed in post-production and I felt that it was holding me back as a filmmaker.  In my opinion, there are three critical storytelling components to film.  The writer writes the story.  The director takes those written words and interprets them into visual film clips that attempt to “show” the story.  Finally, the editor organizes those film clips into a cohesive order that brings the audience along on the intended journey.  All three of these functions play an important role in filmic storytelling.  Therefore, the more I understand the editing process, the more effective I can be as a writer/director.

Jen Chiasson, former NB resident, Film Co-op member, amazingly talented picture editor, and wonderful human being, edited my first short film and did an amazing job, so Kaitlyn and I contacted her for advice. Currently working as a Producer at the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity, Jen encouraged us to apply for an artist residency in film post-production.  The problem was that the Banff Centre does not have an artist residency in this category.  Not everyone sees post-production as a creative process; some feel it is just technical work.  However, all one has to do is watch Pulp Fiction to realize that the act of separating those storylines into a non-chronological is an example of masterfully creative editing.  

Jen became our champion and built a case for using our project as a pilot to examine if film post-production could be added to the list of artist residencies at Banff.  The idea was accepted, and we became the first filmmakers to do an Independent Residency in film post-production at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Kaitlyn encouraged me to apply to the Canada Council for the Arts to support this trip.  I didn’t think I was accomplished enough to get a grant at that level, but Kaitlyn, ever my cheerleader, told me that was nonsense.  With her encouragement, I applied. I’m very excited to report that I have been approved for a Professional Development grant.  I’d like to acknowledge and thank the Canada Council for the Arts for their support in my immersion into the art of post-production.

We attended the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity from June 21 – June 28, 2018.  It was an amazing experience.  The Banff Centre is set up like a university campus with living spaces, dining halls that offered breathtaking views of the mountains, a gym and pool to keep physically active, quiet spaces for creating, and elk taking leisurely strolls around the buildings.  It is in the middle of a National Park after all!

We spent most of our days in the video editing suite with the talented and affable Cho-Rock Park, a practicum student at the Banff Centre.  She was a whiz with the keyboard, and waded through the piles of footage we brought with ease.  She asked us questions about the vision of the project as she built the timeline, stopping to answer the myriad questions we had.  We learned about J-cuts.  We learned about transitions.  We made difficult decisions to cut some of Kaitlyn’s amazing performances because they affected the pacing of the film.  Pacing can be a huge problem if you’re not willing to recognize its importance.  This point takes me back to my contention that picture editing is more than technical work.  Part of editing is the art of telling the story in the way that most serves the story, even if it means cutting beautiful shots and striking performances.  We watched with amazement as Cho took on some problems in the footage, and made the final product look as if those problems had never existed.

Meanwhile, the talented team of Esther Gadd and Joaquin Gomez were hard at work on the sound design and we consulted with them throughout the process.  Next door to the edit suite, Samantha Haslam made us a beautiful film poster that chilled me to the bone.

Once the picture edit was locked, Jozef Karoly, the Senior Video Editor/Mentor assigned to oversee our project welcomed us into his studio to show us how colour correction works.  We didn’t have a ton of time left at the Centre, but with his decades of experience, he was able to both do the colour correction and show us his process.  Every person who helped us during this residency genuinely cared about the project.  They were open and giving and I learned so much in one short week.

I’m immensely proud of the film we made and I understand much more about post-production thanks to the artist residency that we were lucky enough to experience at the Banff Centre and for the grant from the Canada Council for the Arts that made it all possible.

CONNECTING MEMBERS - CAITLIN CAMPBELL

I’ve always been most passionate about projects that have some sort of musical aspect to them and I’d love to get more experience in that area.

My background in filmmaking.

I graduated from Screen Arts in 2014 in Nova Scotia. The project I’m most proud of would be a short documentary I created called Leaving that played at the Silver Wave Film Festival. It's about a folk musician in Halifax. I have most of my experience in the camera department, but am also very passionate about editing. I’ve worked on three music videos; two as a camera assistant and one as a key grip. 

Question: What do you think you bring to the table to make a successful project?

Caitlin: As someone who’s musically oriented myself, I think I’d bring a little something extra to a project. I’m also versatile in my abilities and can jump into any role as need be. 

Question: What are your 4 strongest character traits when working with a team that you feel will result in a successful project?

Caitlin:

1) I go with the flow and am adaptable.

2) I’m collaborative and love to build on others ideas and vice versa. 

3) I’m personable and have a “how can I help?” mentality.

4) I’m always looking to learn from every situation I’m in and use what I’ve learned in the past as much as I can.

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 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! - imagineNATIVE/NBFC Incubator Program: February 2, 2019 - http://nbfilmcoop.com/programs/imaginenative-mentorship

UPCOMING! - Telefilm Talent To Watch Program EXTENDED DEADLINE!: NOW - February 12, 2019 - http://nbfilmcoop.com/content/talent-watch-program

UPCOMING! - Bolex Film Scholarship: April 13, 2019 - http://nbfilmcoop.com/content/bolex-film-scholarship

UPCOMING! - Errol Williams Filmmaker Award: April 13, 2019 - http://nbfilmcoop.com/programs/errol-williams-filmmaker-award

PAYPAL LINKS ARE UP FOR NBFC MEMBERSHIP AND RENEWALS FOR 2019 

Membership renewals are due in Jan/Feb annually. The paypal links for memberships for 2019 are up on the co-op website for renewing members - http://nbfilmcoop.com/content/renew

Welcome back to the following members who have renewed for 2019 so far: Bronwen Mosher, Bruce LeGrow, Greg O'Donnell, Dennis Poirier, Helene Lacelle, Alex Good, Alex Vietinghoff, Annick Blizzard, Jason K. Roy, Pamela Gallant, Jack Butler, Coleen Furlotte, Jesse Anthony, Rachel Bower, Mathew Gracie, Dillon Anthony, Ida Orenbach, Franklin Cardy, Kevin Matthews, Paul Angers, Gary Belding, Ty Giffin. Our member list is on our website: http://nbfilmcoop.com/members/listing

 NB Film Co-op member Ryan O'Toole and the late and very great member Jim Lavoie at a past Silver Wave Film Festival.