Email info@nbfilmcoop.com to register!
COST: FREE for Film Co-op members in good standing.
Class Limit: 25
Instructor: Ruth Lawrence
ONLINE WORKSHOP
Workshop Description:
Throughout her career, Ruth has worked on films with a wide range of budgets, from no budget shorts ($500) to low budget features ($1 million) and built a career mostly doing the work that she loves, with teams where kindness and generosity to each other are important to create a well-functioning set. Primarily a director, she began producing in order to get the work done, at first for her own work but later helping others achieve their visions. Perhaps unique in her approach, among other things, she can answer questions and talk about her experience in:
- Low budget/high quality productions, Strategies for when there is no (more) money
- Community participation, effective communication, respectful workplaces, networking/connections/experience, equipment
- Deferred payments, "in kind" contributions
- Finding funding
-Where to start, how to build upon each project, and make the most of your small budget
- Just do it versus self exploitation
-Pros and cons, when to say "no"
-Value of mentorship
-Supporting new and emerging talents
Instructor's Biography:
Ruth Lawrence (she/her) is a filmmaker based in St. John's NL. Her feature directorial debut Little Orphans was produced through Telefilm's Talent to Watch program, was selected for several Gala presentations at festivals across the country, and won the Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature at Whistler Film Festival in 2020. The hit comedy web series she co-produces with Mary Walsh, The Missus Downstairs, has won festival awards and critical recognition in London, New York, and Los Angeles. Her documentary with producer Jenny Hawley on the St. John's International Women's Film Festival, A Lot of Love in the Room, premiered CBC in October 2022 (now on GEM) and the two are now in post-production on their third project, the comedy feature, Party Pirate, to be released in 2023.
Her directing credits also include the CBC doc, Circus by Komatik, the portmanteau feature, Hopeless Romantic, and a music video with The Ennis Sisters’ Shine Your Light for the CMHA’s 100th Anniversary as well as dozens of narrative and documentary shorts and webisodes.
Her honours include the inaugural Ross Leslie Award in 2022, Joan Orenstein Best Actress Award for Clipper Gold, SJIWFF's RBC Michelle Jackson Award, ArtsNL’s Artist of the Year, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, YWCA's Woman of Distinction in Arts, and the national Leslie Yeo Award for Volunteerism.
