Disabled Producers Lab

We’re excited you’re considering joining us! In this application form, we’ll ask questions about your producing interests. To make sure you have all the information you need, please take a moment to read through the full program description and our FAQs before completing the online application.

Submission options

Please submit your application using one of the methods below.

  1. Fill out the form below. You can save your progress by clicking the save & continue link next to the submit button. After saving, you’ll get a link to continue editing later. Submit the form by July 22 at 12 p.m. (noon) Central Time.
  2. Download the application form as a fillable PDF or plain text file. Submission instructions are included.
  3. Submit your application using an alternate format. To arrange this, please email dpl@nsi-canada.ca by Friday, July 19.
    Possible options include:
    a. Video (spoken in English or signed in ASL)
    b. Audio (spoken in English)
    c. Book a notetaker to transcribe your answers to the application.

All submission methods will be evaluated equally.

If you have other questions, please email us at dpl@nsi-canada.ca and a member of our team will be more than happy to address your questions and support you to fill out and submit your application.

Your contact details

Your name(Required)
Address(Required)

Personal information

This program is open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada who:

  • Are marginalized by gender (including transgender women, cisgender women, transgender men, and non-binary people, among many other marginalized gender identities) and,
  • Identify as Disabled, d/Deaf, chronically ill, neurodivergent, Mad, sick and / or spoonie.

We will honour the language you use to self-identify, acknowledging that ableism, audism and sanism can be experienced regardless of your relationship with the word Disability.

Do you meet the program criteria?

The first two questions below must be answered. All other personal information about you is your choice to give.

I am a Canadian citizen, or permanent resident living in Canada(Required)
I am aged 18 or over(Required)
Your pronoun(s):
Language:
The National Screen Institute wants to support storytellers from communities that are not often represented. Please tell us if you are connected to any of these:(Required)
Please tell us if you are:(Required)

Your short film project

This lab is a space to focus on the production of your script and use it as a launch point to deconstruct producing as a practice. This lab is not a space to refine a script. Therefore, program participants must have a fully written script to work from during the lab.

If you are selected for this program, and are not the author of the script, you will be asked to provide consent from the writer of your project that you have permission to use their script.

Do you currently have, or can you commit to having, a full, polished script for this project by September 30, 2024?
Did you write the script?
Do you own the rights to this project?

Long-form questions

The following questions will give you space to share more information about yourself, your experience and why you’re interested in this program.

Input your answers directly into the text boxes provided. You can write in bullet points or full sentences (1,000 characters max.)

If you would like to submit your answers to these questions in an alternate format, including, but not limited to, video, audio, a PDF document or by connecting with a notetaker, please reach out to dpl@nsi-canada.ca. You’re encouraged to apply in the way that works best for you. All formats will be considered equally.

Suggested prompts are provided for guidance, only choose to answer those you connect with.

Please consider any of the following questions to inspire your response:

  • Why do you want to produce media content?
  • What are some of your personal goals in the creative industries, short and/or long term?
  • What role does accessibility play in your personal practice, working with a team, considering an audience’s experience?
  • What kind of stories are you drawn to?

Please consider any of the following prompts to inspire your response:

  • Do you have any mandates, policies or other practices you are interested in developing?
  • Do you have any questions about authentic, representational casting or crewing up?
  • Are there any creative choices or storytelling methods you’re curious about?
  • Do you have any questions about production accessibility that you would like to explore?

Please consider any of the following prompts to inspire your response:

  • What is one project you worked on that allowed you to flex your accessibility and/or adaptability skills in your past work? What was the challenge, what was the solution?
  • Any previous work within the creative industries
  • Any projects, within or outside the creative industries, where you have been a key producer, organizer, facilitator or leader
  • Any learning opportunities including school programs, post-secondary education, workshops or training, etc. Include any film, TV or digital media courses or workshops
  • For each course or workshop, provide (1) name of institution/organization; (2) length of course/workshop; (3) date of completion.

Anything else?

Where did you first hear that this program was accepting applications?(Required)
Terms and Conditions(Required)