At the National Screen Institute, we’re blessed to see firsthand the difference training makes in the lives of storytellers.

On our website throughout December we’re publishing a series of impact stories from many of our talented alumni who’ve told us how NSI training transformed their lives and careers.

In celebration of Giving Tuesday today we’re sharing Elise Swerhone’s story with you.

Producer/director Elise took one of NSI’s first courses back in 1985: DramaLab.

Elise is an award-winning filmmaker who has made over 30 documentaries which have been shown around the world and includes work for the NFB, CBC, Global TV, HGTV, Vision, National Geographic and Discovery US.

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

The training I got over 30 years ago from NSI DramaLab was seminal to my career. Without NSI I’m not sure I would have continued to make my living in Winnipeg, making films for over 30 years.

What was most memorable or helpful about NSI training?

NSI training was very complete and directed at me: a woman who wanted to continue to live outside Toronto and who also wanted to be a filmmaker. NSI said that was okay.

Did you make enduring connections with peers and industry folks?

All of the people I met in NSI DramaLab have continued to make films – some in Alberta, some in BC, some in Saskatchewan and some in Toronto. We still recognize how important our early training at NSI was.

Have you continued to work with any of those people?

I have worked with, conferred with and continue to have coffee with many of the people I met through NSI.

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

I would definitely encourage anyone considering an NSI course to just go ahead and apply. The training is superb and, once you’re in the NSI family, the staff and acquaintances you make will be there for you in your career. I know how much staff bond with students and how they want everyone to succeed.

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

I went from knowing next to nothing about film production to having national and international broadcasts of award-winning films. The great thing about NSI is that it not only trained me but it trained my community and that has given me success because it takes a community to make a film. The producers and writers I have worked with have all received NSI training at some point in their careers and it’s made us all better.

What was the most transformative part of your learning experience?

NSI training took me out of my immediate community and introduced me to filmmakers in other parts of the country. That allowed me to expand my thinking and to think that my voice had a place in the national dialogue, maybe even the international dialogue. NSI gave me permission to be me and the audacity to think that my views were worth turning into films.