Storytelling is more important than ever as we all face the unique challenges this year has brought us.

Stories entertain, inspire and transform. They remind us of where we come from and where we can go. We need more stories to free our imaginations and open our hearts to create a path of understanding and healing.

To mark the season of giving during December, we’re sharing impact stories from our alumni and board members to show the power of story in action.

Current NSI students are blessed by the commitment of NSI’s Board of Directors – 100% of whom have donated to NSI’s annual fund. Please join them in supporting our students by donating today and making the power of story even more powerful.

Today’s impact story comes from Virginia Thompson, NSI Features First alumna and current board member.

Virginia, the president of Vérité Films, is an award-winning executive producer, producer and TV show creator known for her work on the hit series Corner Gas and Corner Gas Animated.

During Virginia’s NSI training, her mentors and peers encouraged her to be the best she could be. She credits the program with giving her the skills and knowledge to build her own film company.

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If you could describe your experience with NSI in a few words what would they be, and why?

Impactful and career changing.

My experience with NSI gave me the confidence to evolve from a creative producer and writer to an executive producer where I could forge my own path in the industry.

How did your training through NSI help you get to the place you’re at in your career today?

I was involved in the NSI Features First program with my partner Robert de Lint. We were paired with producer Alex Raffé. What my experience with NSI really taught me was how the creative and financial aspects of a production come together to bring a project to fruition.

The expertise of NSI and Alex taught me that, as a creative producer/writer, you have to think about projects in both ways in order to be successful in our industry.

How did your instructors, mentors and peers influence you to become a better storyteller?

I was encouraged to be critical of a project I was deeply passionate about, to not be afraid to look at my project more objectively and be open to seeing the flaws in a project.

We were encouraged to look at every creative aspect of the production, ask why we are making this production, who is it for, are we being honest and authentic in our storytelling.

I learned that without honesty and authenticity your story can be fun and delightful, but without a groundedness to the story, the likelihood of it being successful is limited.

What advice or encouragement would you give a prospective applicant considering NSI programs?

I would encourage people to apply to NSI with a story that they deeply care about. They should answer the following questions: “Why am I telling this story?,” “Who am I telling it to?,” and “Does my story come from an authentic place?”

I encourage people to do the work, then apply. The chances of your project going through an incredible process where it just gets better and better is the likely outcome of an NSI program as long as you do the work prior to applying.

The people you meet as you refine your project will be excited by you and your work, and they will help lift both. Your NSI mentors will also likely become colleagues and lifelong friends.

What has your career trajectory looked like between when you completed training and now?

My career really took off after NSI. Prior to NSI, myself and my partner had produced our first television series called Incredible Story Studio, and it was very successful, running five seasons and selling internationally.

However, even with that success we were unclear as to what our next step should be in the industry. Thanks to the contacts we made at NSI and the learning we received from our mentors and trainers, we gained the confidence to executive produce and build our company, Vérité Films.

NSI really gave us encouragement and access to the tools we needed to start financing and executive producing our own projects. I will forever be thankful to NSI and the people I met, because they helped me build my company.

What was the most transformative part of your learning experience?

Gaining that confidence to realize I could be a writer, creator and executive producer, and making connections with people who would eventually go on to support my projects as I built Vérité Films.

What skills did you acquire in your NSI program that you did not have before?

I came to NSI with experience as a successful producer, writer and TV show creator, but the biggest skill NSI gave me was confidence to executive produce.

NSI’s encouragement and support gave me the confidence that I knew what I was doing and I had a community of people to help me with the things I didn’t know. I felt like I wasn’t alone anymore in the TV business. If I had questions I needed to answer to grow, I had a community of people ready to help me.

What project(s) are you currently working on?

Currently, we’re in production on Corner Gas: Animated season 4 and launching Corner Gas: Animated season 3 in the US, English Canada and Quebec. We are also producing a new animated children series called Jeremy and Jazzy. Additionally, we are developing exciting and authentic voices through the Vérité Films incubator for the world market.

Where can people find out more about your work online?

Vérité Films and Corner Gas.

What is your favourite Canadian film / TV show / web series?

Beyond Corner Gas, which I obviously adore, in the realm of comedy, I love Schitt’s Creek, Kim’s Convenience and Baroness Von Sketch. But, the show that is completely blowing my mind right now is Transplant. I’m amazed and humbled by how far Canadian television has come and it’s future.