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 Adam Perry, an NSI Features First alumnus.

Adam, a filmmaker from Prince Edward Island, attended the NSI Features First program in 2016 with his film A Small Fortune. The film is currently in post-production.

Adam’s training helped him with pitching films and the business of filmmaking – but it also gave him a platform to build on his career.

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

Insightful because NSI made me aware of just how much I didn’t know about the film and television industries in Canada.

Networking because of all the industry mentors and professionals I’ve connected with over the years but always pointing back to NSI.

Development because of the strategic processes I’ve learned and can apply to stories and business.

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

Without NSI as a partner and champion for my work, I would not have made the connections that enabled me to write and direct my first feature film, A Small Fortune.

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

I’ve spent the better part of the past 15 years studying how to tell a good story. It wasn’t until my efforts brought me to the doorstep of NSI that my focus changed from how to why. Why am I telling this story? Why me? After understanding the why, the how became so much clearer.

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

Speaking from a writer’s perspective: enter your projects into screenwriting competitions and, if you can, pay for script notes whenever and wherever you can. I found it quite valuable to have complete strangers interpret my work. Family and friends will lie. Family and friends represent 0.00001% of what you hope your audience will be. Strangers will identify what works and doesn’t work.

But don’t rely on just one opinion, get as many as you can and then compare notes. If there are shared criticisms of your work, chances are your audience will identify these shortcomings too and you know what areas to target in subsequent drafts. Oh, but don’t just write. Read. Research. Do your homework. Then apply to NSI.

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

Where I come from, nobody has a ‘career’ in film, but we do have trajectory. Don’t get me wrong, I hope to have a career someday, but I’m not driven by employment in film only because I’ve never properly had it!

My trajectory since my time at NSI has put me on a path to getting my first feature film financed, shot, edited and ready for distribution. That may not sound like much to some people, but to me it’s a dream come true after years of suffering for the craft. I still suffer for the craft, but it’s a little easier knowing I’ve got a feature to stand on now.

What was the most transformative part of your learning experience?

I’d say the most transformative part for me is comprehending the business side of making films and television. It’s terrifying to me, and I’d much rather have reliable producers handle those affairs.

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

I’ve always been terrible at pitching my ideas to executives, producers, broadcasters and distributors. Since taking the NSI Features First program, I’m now not as terrible!

What project(s) are you currently working on?

Still working on VFX shots for A Small Fortune and developing a few other ideas.

Where can people find out more about your work online?

I don’t really have that much of an online presence yet, but if you Google my name and the words A Small Fortune you might get lucky.

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

This is a tough question because I love many Canadian films for different reasons so I’ll just rhyme off a few films that left an impression on me. The Boys of St Vincent, The Arrow (1997), Hobo with a Shotgun, Weirdos, Luck, Pogey Beach.