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 Cynthia Knight – an alumna of NSI Drama Prize and Totally Television.

Cynthia is a writer, story editor and producer – well known for her co-creation of the television series Mohawk Girls. She completed the NSI Drama Prize program in 2000 and went on to the NSI Totally Television program in 2008.

Cynthia’s NSI Drama Prize film, Virtual Insanity, was the first film attached to her name. Cynthia believes this opportunity helped her gain the confidence and ability to pursue her dreams of being a screenwriter.

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

Encouraging. Supportive. Launchpad.

NSI played a huge role in giving me the skills, knowledge and confidence to pursue – and achieve – my dream of becoming a screenwriter.

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

Hands-on training and advice from industry professionals gave me concrete knowledge, information and experience that helped me break into the industry.

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

Lots of questions! They asked me what I wanted to say with my project and prompted me with all sorts of questions to help me figure out how to say it.

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

Don’t hesitate! No matter what level of experience you have, NSI will help you get to the next step of your career.

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

I went from working in development to working as a writer on a TV series to co-creating and showrunning my own series!

What was the most transformative part of your learning experience?

I had the good fortune to participate in two NSI programs: Drama Prize and Totally Television.

While both were inordinately helpful, I can’t help but look back on NSI Drama Prize and reflect that NSI’s help throughout the whole process of making a short film – from conception to prep to production and post – was pivotal for me. It enabled me to have a product to my name to show people my voice, my storytelling ability, and it gave me the profound confidence to know that I could do it.

What project(s) are you currently working on?

I’m developing a half-hour comedy series called Stepmom, a one-hour drama series called OTD, and I’m story editing several shows for Canadian broadcasters.

Where can people find out more about your work online?

My IMDb page, or the Mohawk Girls website.

What is your favourite Canadian film, and why?

Les Invasions Barbares – because it’s haunting and beautiful and because it solidified the idea that the more world-specific a story is, the more universal it will be. We don’t – and in fact shouldn’t – have to make it generic to appeal to a large swath of people.