Crew Training for the Film + TV Industry

June 2022

What does an active producer and someone who has spent 30 years in the film industry and not a day in film school get out of a course like this?

Frankly, everything.

While designed for entry level to the industry, this course connected the dots and filled in blanks that I wasn’t even aware existed. I took this course with the understanding that I did have gaps in knowledge and as our own show goes forward, I knew that our crews would grow. I wanted the confidence to lead properly and professionally, meeting industry standards.

I feel more confident in my understanding of the protocols, expectations and manner that film and television shows are produced. Like with any classroom learning, I also know that there are exceptions to the rules. Having a solid understanding of where those exceptions make sense and where they should not be compromised will be immensely helpful to me going forward.

The instruction from Lesley Oswald was easy to follow. She was efficient, knowledgeable and quick to keep things on track. I found her to be respectful and willing to share with detail and in a manner that was engaging and did not leave questions unanswered but also kept the information flowing.

I’ve also identified other members of the course as potential crew members for our own projects. I was able to see firsthand how they approached the course and how they interacted as a team member, which is how we hire.

You can teach skills; you generally cannot teach attitude or respect. I very much appreciate the opportunity afforded to me with through this course.

About Allia

Allia, the daughter of an Indian mother and Canadian father, has had the unique experience of immersing herself in different worlds, spending much of her childhood between her family farm in Saskatchewan and her grandparent’s home in New Delhi, India.

She became immersed in the entertainment world at a young age, watching her uncle produce major feature films and auditioning for parts of her own. As the founder of Masala Model & Talent, she has worked with many local and international producers to provide and coordinate talent for TV and movies.

Despite never attending film school, Allia’s extensive experience working on movies and TV shows has built her skills in art direction, styling, directing, producing among many other skillsets. She has worked for networks including HBO, CTV, CBC and Citytv.

Currently, she is a producer on two webisode series’ Prairie Hunter Adventures and the Indigenous led This Land of Ours. She is also a producing partner for the children’s TV show Stories of the North, debuting in 2023 on Citytv.

June 2022

About Anna

Anna Hrytsenko grew up in Ukraine and moved to Canada in 2019. Since her childhood, she’s been dreaming of becoming a professional filmmaker.

She became interested in photography and video making at the age of 10. Her first camera was her dad’s snapshot film camera, she later got a digital camera which allowed her to film vlogs and short family videos.

At 14, Anna started attending a youth group at the local church where they gave her a reflex camera to take photos and short videos of people and local events. She got her own camera and started working as a freelance photographer / videographer during her school years. She made various projects such as family photoshoots, travel and wedding photos / videos.

When school graduation approached, Anna shifted her focus to post-secondary studies. As she did not have a big choice of post-secondary programs in Ukraine at that time, Anna chose to follow the path of learning foreign languages like French and English. Her creative career came to an end in 2015, however, during all these years she’s never stopped loving filmmaking and photography.

After post-secondary graduation, Anna moved to Canada where she worked as an early childhood educator and kindergarten teacher. In 2021, she decided to follow her creative dreams.

Anna was looking for new opportunities in Saskatchewan and happened to find the National Screen Institute’s Crew Training for the Film + TV program. She was motivated to participate and willing to immerse herself in the learning atmosphere. Anna hopes to learn more about career possibilities in the film industry, meet new people and inspire her passion for filmmaking!

June 2022

I am incredibly grateful for this program.

My hope for the program was to expand on my knowledge while growing my network. This hope definitely became a reality. Now, I do not know exactly how much I learned in these two weeks versus how much I knew already due to previous experience, but I do know that I have found a fantastic resource for both the theoretical and practical aspects of both professional and amateur filmmaking.

My experience on-set before this program was limited to about 15 days of filming with the same crew of five, where I mostly did cinematography and a bit of directing. I had very little experience in continuity or assistant directing – but having even an hour and a half worth of experience has taught me so much about both of those roles, and I feel far more ready to adopt these roles should I get the chance.

In a similar vein, working with a professional editor helped me a lot as well. I fancy myself a bit of an editor, but I know I have a long way to go — the editor’s keen eye for different aspects of editing made me look at my own editing projects in a new light.

While the program was great, there were still some things I wish we could have done, like editing our own scenes ourselves, or learning more about the process behind script writing, and marketing and distributing the final product.

In the end, this program has inspired me, and I’m excited to create my own films and work towards getting myself into the industry.

About Blair

Blair was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. From an early age, everything and anything that had a creative aspect caught this future filmmaker’s eye.

Blair completed the media school program in spring 2021, winning an ‘Oscar’ for best original screenplay, and was involved in all aspects of making an independent film as well as assisting classmates with theirs.

Finishing Grade 12 this year, Blair has been working behind the camera on several projects at school as well as within the Saskatoon community, enjoying the final quarter with English and photography classes.

Blair is looking forward to starting the advanced TV and radio program at the Western Academy of Broadcasting in fall 2022.

June 2022

As I sat down to reflect on my time and training, I came to understand that filmmaking is one of the most tedious and involved processes in the arts. But yet it is an explorative, fun job that allows the filmmaker to understand the importance of the process.

I am a movie lover, critic, writer and filmmaker myself, and getting to learn more about the ever-growing film industry and the artistic process behind it through the National Screen Institute is important to me.

Throughout training, I learned what an amazing experience it is to discover filmmaking in its entirety. Before this training I knew a bit about film production, but I didn’t really know all that goes into making a series and detailed knowledge of on-set etiquette; the circus (the area where the majority of trucks, trailers and catering are set up while filming on location); the art department broken down, the role, jobs and responsibilities of everyone in the art department, and the importance of being “kind on set.”

This training program – with the help of Lesley Oswald’s massive basket of knowledge and years of experience in the industry – taught me what it’s like to be a filmmaker and the hard work that comes with it. This training will make me a better filmmaker. I couldn’t be happier that I got to be one of the participants.

Overall, this training showed me what happens in the film production world. It consists of a lot of departments, creatives and talented individuals. I learned the role, job and responsibilities of everyone, their positions and departments; how a TV show goes through a different writing / production process than others and filming requires education and training. I learned that to be a filmmaker you need to know a few basic things and there is always opportunity for anyone who shows the slightest interest and passion.

Thank you to the National Screen Institute, Creative Saskatchewan, SMPIA, Ursula Lawson and Lesley for this wonderful opportunity.

About Blessing

Blessing Alasan is a Nigerian-Canadian indie filmmaker, director, screenwriter and casting director.

She is a graduate of Trebas Institute and AFRIFF Academy, where she studied film and television production. Blessing independently wrote, produced and directed the short film Love Against Race which was selected by four festivals including Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF).

She produced the feature film Sorelle (Sisters) in 2019 which is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Blessing is currently in the post-production stage of her short film Dear Immigrant – which she also wrote, produced and directed.

She has been a music video director since 2016, radio host for five years and a business woman.

June 2022

I enjoyed the film training so much – it was resourceful and educational. I loved that there was hands-on training for those who had never done film, to show them what to do if they have never been on set.

I liked that everyone got to try different jobs in different departments. I know which departments I do not want to work in – so that was good. It helped me appreciate filmmaking even more. It was all-round fun. I met some new friends and hopefully some potential business partners down the road. I think this training should happen at least four times a year. It could maybe be a bit longer.

I loved that there were people brought in from the different unions and companies to speak about what the union can do in the film and what they can do for you.

I liked that there was a local director that came to work hands-on with us and gave us some good advice and helped us solve the problems that came about, and some advice that could help us in the future if someone wanted to become a director. The actors and actresses that came in also helped us and guided us when we needed it and gave input on what would work and what wouldn’t.

I thought the hours were reasonable, it gave a good idea of how long the days are when on set filming an actual movie.

I missed the networking reception, but I thought that was a beneficial event for the participants. I will put what I learned into action on any future film or TV project. I want to thank you ladies for coming to Regina to host this course.

About Chelsa

Chelsa Reil is a First Nations woman from the Nekaneet First Nation in Saskatchewan.

She worked in the film industry in the early 2000s but, when Saskatchewan cut the film tax, she hasn’t worked in film since.

Chelsa started working in the fashion industry in 2007 and has since been involved with the industry. She started off modelling, but felt she needed to be behind the scenes instead. She went on to produce fashion shows. Chelsa believes in being body positive and helping others with self confidence and esteem, and that everyone is beautiful in their own skin, therefore her fashion shows include all body types.

She started International Indigenous Fashion Week (IIFW) in 2012 in Regina (formerly National Aboriginal Fashion Week). Since then, she has widened her horizons and helped numerous Indigenous designers get to New York Fashion Week.

Chelsa regularly attends Cannes Film Festival for fashion and award shows, and recently produced the first Paris Indigenous Fashion Week on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower.

One of her main goals when starting IIFW was to help get Indigenous designers into the mainstream fashion industry, which has been successful thus far. She would like to expand her network and get back into film. She has many ideas for film and TV, and now is the time do so.

June 2022

About Craig

Craig Farrell is an award-winning writer, producer and director with over 25 years experience in the Canadian broadcast industry.

A graduate of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s 1993 cinema, television, stage and radio program, Craig looks forward to working with the National Screen Institute to update his knowledge and practices related to independent film and television production.

As an enthusiastic advocate for the continued growth of Saskatchewan’s film and television industry, Craig is excited about this opportunity to renew his production roles and contribute to the crews that help make ongoing industry success happen.

June 2022

About Curtis

Starting at a very young age, Curtis McGillivray always had an interest and love for filmmaking.

Using his parents’ old camcorder, he and his friends would spend weekends making short films or finding ways to turn any school project possible into a film production. With an optimistic attitude and a creative mind, it wasn’t long after high school before he made the choice to devote his life to chasing his dreams as a filmmaker.

Graduating from the University of Regina in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree of fine arts majoring in film production, Curtis has continued to chase his dreams in film. With over seven years of professional experience, he runs and operates his own film production company, Prairie View Productions, where he produces short documentaries, corporate videos and brings his passion projects to life.

From the wacky world of PotHead Your Local Superhero to small personal documentaries that tell the stories of Saskatchewan’s residents, Curtis uses every film project as an opportunity to learn and grow while pursuing his dreams in his home province of Saskatchewan.

June 2022

I think this program is a great start to getting the film industry in Saskatchewan going again. I have met so many talented filmmakers in the province since being back after 10 years away and there’s a real hunger to learn more.

I’ve had some great opportunities to be on-set in different capacities through local filmmakers, and this course gave a great context to how that experience and those roles would fall into a bigger budget production.

I loved that the course was filled with people from different backgrounds and experiences, and I feel like everyone was able to take away what was relevant to them specifically.

The information about unions and how they operate was invaluable, where I feel these organizations often feel inaccessible. Lesley Oswald has so much knowledge and experience, and it was nice to learn from someone who comes from the industry in the prairies who understands what productions would look like here.

Now it’s time to get on set!

About Jessica

Jessica Gares is an actor, director, dancer, filmmaker and collagist from Treaty Four Territory (Regina).

She graduated from Vancouver Film School’s acting for film and television program in 2012 before travelling across Canada and to Europe, acting in various film and theatre projects along the way. On this journey, she found a love for the directing process.

She was assistant director for an original immersive play called Lux with the Orange Theatre Company in Amsterdam when the pandemic broke out, and she made the decision to return home. Her current focus is to learn more about the film industry in order to create socially relevant work that connects the people of Saskatchewan and beyond.

June 2022

Between May 23 and June 4, 2022, I attended a film set training program hosted by Creative Saskatchewan and the National Screen Institute – Canada. This program was very in depth, informative and provided me with a wealth of information that may prove to be essential in securing future employment in the local / national film industry.

The program’s first week was relegated solely to online studying and focused on many important film industry topics, including: accounting / paperwork, film-related terminology, job categories and titles, locations, set etiquette / orientation / protocol / safety and the stages of production.

Due to the program’s accelerated time-frame and the amount of topics covered, this online portion often felt like information overload. And given these conditions, I would be lying if I said I was able to fully understand the accounting / paperwork section of the study guide. But it is likely this topic is much easier to learn in person, on set and through physical application and repetition.

The program’s second week was far more engaging, as studying moved from online to a classroom setting and culminated in an opportunity to branch into small groups and plan / shoot / edit a short film from a script written by one of the program organizers. This classroom section was equally fast-paced but helped to expand on the topics introduced in the online section, while also supplying the students with beneficial information about the various unions available to employees in the film industry.

The classroom hours were long, but the instructors were organized and the lessons were well-paced and always engrossing. Also, structuring the film shoot at the end of the classroom section was a great idea as it gave students the prospects of an exciting activity to work towards.

Overall, this program was very useful in introducing me to the numerous interesting job positions within the film industry and helpful in getting me thinking about options for a possible future career path.

About Justin

Justin Erhardt is a life-long Saskatchewan resident with a driving passion for creative storytelling and a love for eclectic cinema that often borders on obsession.

In his free-time, Justin has been known to challenge himself in the field of visual artistry (drawing and painting mostly) and in the polarizing world of experimental music composition. Justin has always harbored an unceasing desire to work behind-the-scenes in the film industry but has only recently begun taking steps towards achieving this dream.

Justin recently attended the University of Regina’s film production program where he successfully completed a bachelor’s degree and graduated with honors. During his time in university, Justin excelled in screenwriting and was also awarded the 2019 Jean Oser Prize in Film Studies.

Hard-working, reliable and always a team-player, Justin is now prepared to work on as many film sets as possible – and do his part to propagate and strengthen Saskatchewan’s resilient film industry – while working towards his professional goal of one day becoming a published screenwriter.

June 2022

In reflection! The old saying of “everything happens for a reason” comes to mind as I reflect because in the midst of going through painful life events and tragedies, I found out I am one of the lucky few selected to partake in this program. Much like Shylock in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, “What’s the reason!” In this reflection, I will also aim to illustrate the reason.

The reason! As a kid, I remember watching kung fu films and mimicking the martial art techniques. This led to interest in combative sports, theatre and short films, with great educators along the way who encouraged my artistic pursuits, ultimately leading my path to this program.

The program! Well structured with seasoned instructors educating us all on feature film set topics, protocols and everything in between, with real world examples and best practices. In the midst of painful life events and tragedies, it was something I was excited about every day, as it was an insightful value-add to my diverse framework of writing, acting and executive producing.

Lesley Oswald and Ursula Lawson, along with other industry vet guest lecturers who brought Burger King, took the time to answer these topic questions in depth, and also helped me connect the dots between theatre production and film production – their similarities and transferable skills. They also set the tone for the class to go out in the industry and take advantage of the opportunities at play by doing great work. Much like Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” it’s not even a question for I will be and as Lesley said in class, “there’s always one!”

About Legbo 

Legbo Menegbo is an eclectic Nigerian Canadian thespian who resides on Treaty Four land.

A former wrestling student athlete with a diverse and multidisciplinary background in theatre, computing science and business, Legbo began performing in church choir as a kid which led to university choir concerts, theatre plays, short films and poetry slams.

Legbo enjoys improving his French and Chinese language skills during downtime and he is grateful to the educators who inspired his artistic direction.

June 2022

NSI Crew Training for the Film + TV Industry was a great experience! I gained a deeper, more thorough understanding of the film industry. I learned what it takes to bring a script to life.

Prior to this training, I had a basic understanding of the filmmaking process. By the end of the course, concepts were clearer, and my understanding broadened. I was inspired by the vast scope of skill and talent that is necessary for every production.

As I learned more about each filmmaking department and role, I came to view a production much like a small, collaborative city where each vocation – from accounting, to art, to construction and catering – plays a key role in the success of the production. Each person’s contribution, though varied in content and scale, is valued and needed.

I enjoyed the opportunity to prepare and shoot a short film with a team of classmates, with the support of industry professionals. It was inspiring and fun to be part of a film crew, to feel the distinct creative and collaborative energy that comes with it. It was a lesson in the interdependent relationship between crew members. It became clear that when each person knew and functioned well in their designated role, there was a direct correlation to the ease and success of the project.

This training program helped me to narrow down my area of focus in the film / TV industry and helped determine where I may fit best on a set. At this point, I believe that is assisting in locations, set dressing and / or props. I can see myself enjoying a position as a set or location production assistant.

I am grateful for the opportunity I was given to learn, grow and connect with others who share a love for storytelling through film and television!

About Madison 

Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Madison Osterhout is proud to call the Queen City her home.

She obtained her bachelor’s degree in elementary education as well as her diploma of business administration from the University of Regina. This post-secondary education and training has been instrumental in the foundation of her work endeavours, including sales management, social media management and freelance photography.

Madison is a self-taught photographer whose photos have been featured across multiple media streams including web, social media, CD booklets, book cover designs, newspaper and billboards. Her passion for photography stems from a desire to share the way she sees the world; to capture the beauty, meaning and nuance that is woven throughout both the big and small moments in life.

Madison believes that storytelling is a powerful means to educate, entertain and build a sense of belonging and community. Likewise, she values the arts – including film and television – as an effective means of sharing those stories.

She is excited to learn, grow and expand her creative skillset through this training program. Madison is grateful to the National Screen Institute and Creative Saskatchewan for the opportunity!

June 2022

About Maria

I’m a half-breed and my name is Maria Hirsi. I’m half Cree and half Somali which is why my cultural background is so rich.

I’m a registered Indian from James Smith Cree Nation. I grew up in Prince Albert, but Meath Park is my hometown. Growing up, I was always back and forth from mushom and kukom’s house in Meath Park and me and my mom’s place in Prince Albert. All eight of my sibling / cousins lived at the house in Meath Park too. Whenever mom and I needed a place to go, we would move back home and make room, even if we had blankets for walls.

Over the years, my family has been grieving the loss of my mushom and my brother, Alex. Alex was murdered on New Year’s this year so it’s all very fresh. Alex set the loving environment for our family by including me and our other cousins as siblings. Losing him felt like losing my family because I knew nothing would ever be the same. Maybe someday we will see how this made us stronger, but right now all we feel is pain.

Grief is a long, tiring process; some days I feel so inspired to finally live my life, and other days I want to kill myself because I’m forgetting how to be a person. It was like my brother was put here to teach us how to love. I never understood why he had so many friends, why he was the favourite, or why my Grandpa passed the pipe down to him. Alex wasn’t going to be here for a long time, so his time with us was never wasted. I’ve realized the most important thing to me is family. I feel guilty because I’ve spent too much time being selfish and now I don’t have those close connections that make life worth living. Alex was exactly six months older than me but he was more mature than I’ll ever be.

You might be wondering why my biography isn’t about my accomplishments and experiences. I’m reinventing myself and my family is all that’s been on my mind after Alex’s death. The reason I want to make a movie is to express these feelings and show my family. I’m not very good at listening and having a genuine conversation. The best way for me to express myself is through writing and creating.

I once made an art collection discussing the past, and a few old habits I can see our family letting go of together. There are memories and traditions within the paintings. I wanted to share an intimate story about dysfunction, the commitment to family, compassion and pathways to reconciliation.

The paintings were replicas of the basement walls in kukoms house. I did that so others could see their own basements and homes represented. It’s important for me to represent contemporary Indian art so other young adults can feel inspired to share their own point of view. This project was to start a conversation and I’m so proud of myself for doing that and for continuing to use my experiences as vessels to heal from my trauma.

June 2022

When I first heard about the National Screen Institute’s entry-level training program for the film and television industry, I knew it was a rare opportunity that I had to pursue. The fact that the instructor was a veteran of the industry in Winnipeg with dozens of major film and television projects on her resume made it an even more exciting prospect.

Despite this enthusiasm, I nevertheless had some questions. Firstly, was it really possible to receive training to work on a film set within a two-week period? And secondly, was this really the right industry for me? Even though I have always loved film, pursued film studies and taken workshops in filmmaking, the industry side of things – the endless positions that roll during the credits of a film and even the prospect of getting a foot in the door – seemed like a mystery.

Upon signing into Film Training Manitoba’s online course modules, I immediately realized that this program was not just a light overview of working in the industry. The modules went into great detail and depth on safety rules, on-set protocols and the tools of the trade that are used to keep a production running smoothly. This knowledge was reinforced and brought to life through in class lectures, real-life examples and practical training.

After completing the training, I felt certain that a career in film and television would be right for me. Through the online modules and, more importantly, the in-person instruction and mentorship from an immensely experienced professional, I gained confidence that I had the training and knowledge to be useful and productive on a film set (I can even read the end credits and know what each position does). Perhaps more importantly, I learned that a film set – where attentiveness, respect and professionalism are valued – is a good fit personally.

About Max

Max Poelzer is a cultural worker currently living in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Driven by a passion for creativity and a deep curiosity about the world, Max completed a bachelor of fine arts in art history and studio arts from Concordia University and a master of art in film studies from Carleton University. He greatly valued these experiences, not only from a perspective of training and education, but also through the opportunities they provided to share ideas and grow in a community of individuals with a similar interest in the visual arts.

Outside of the university setting, Max also had the pleasure to train in filmmaking through the Gulf Islands Film and Television School. In this intensive workshop, he received direct mentorship from working professionals in the industry to produce a short documentary from start to finish. Afterwards, he was fortunate to have the chance to put into practice his new skills in writing, filming and editing as a videographer at the University of Saskatchewan.

While his artistic and professional pursuits often involve periods of individual focus and discipline, Max also thrives on collaborating to produce creative projects. Whether curating art shows, writing screenplays for short films or delivering training workshops in the non-profit sector, he is invigorated by the exchange and flow of creative ideas that emerge in working with other passionate and creative professionals. Max is excited to continue pursuing these opportunities in the future, especially with the knowledge and skills that this training program provides.

June 2022

About Parker

Parker Dittmer is a Grade 12 student at Clavet Composite School graduating in June 2022.

Parker was born and raised in the town of Clavet and has been going to Clavet School since Kindergarten. He’s an easy-going, popular guy at school. He’s a team player, with experience participating in drama, musicals, football and hockey.

In drama and musicals, he would help others figure out what their characters should be doing when the director was busy. He has caring and supportive family and friends with whom he loves watching movies, playing games and hanging out.

Parker has done three plays and two musicals, the first of which was Beowulf: User Friendly which he did for junior drama in Grade 8 where he played one of the main characters, Jeff Chaucer. His favourite and his most praised role was as Willard Hewitt in Footloose The Musical in Grade 10.

When he was nine, Parker starred in his older brother’s short film for the Co-op Breakfast Program Short Film Contest, where he got first place. These things, plus some creative writing in English class, are the reasons Parker wants to pursue film / entertainment.

He likes movies because they put you into another world. He likes analyzing the characters and figuring out their personalities. He really likes the stories and plots of movies / shows and making sure he fully understands them. He especially likes it when there are multiple movies that all connect, like Marvel and Star Wars. He really like the sense of passion everyone has in the industry.

June 2022

This program gave me three huge boosts to help my film career: an experience similar to that of a real film crew, valuable connections and advice for conduct in and entry to the industry.

I have only worked on tiny film crews before. Because of this, working in large groups was a very valuable experience. Through the projects we did together, I got to see how large groups operated efficiently due to both strict protocols and the use of walkies without much pause for discussion.

I also made some very valuable connections. Not only did I make these connections at the networking event, which was very valuable, but also with the other people in the course who had their own presence or will have their own presence in the industry. Each and every one of them was an asset to the course, and I feel hopeful that I will get to work with them in the future.

The advice I received from Lesley Oswald, Ursula Lawson and all of the people who visited our course was extremely helpful. Not only was I informed of some of the best ways to find a job, but also how to keep a job. Conduct and career choices that would earn or lose me points with future employers was very valuable information.

If I had to make a point of criticism, while I initially thought the program would be very tech oriented, it was not. It might be valuable to learn some basics with lighting, camera and so on due to the fact that it would be good safety practice, as well as understanding what those departments need in order to operate.

About Tess

Tess Dueck was born in Regina, Saskatchewan and was raised in an art-loving family.

She has been interested in many different art forms from a young age, getting involved in visual arts, dance, literature and music in her elementary school years. This time instilled the joy of art and a steady acquisition of skills. However, since she often liked whatever her parents liked, she had a hard time differentiating between their interests and her own.

Upon entering high school with many amazing art programs, she grew intrigued to try new things. Shortly after starting, she received an invitation to the anime club, and visited out of curiosity for the high enthusiasm of the current members. Seeing that first anime was love at first sight and created a spark towards film, as watching these shows made her think, “I would show the character from this angle,” or “I would cut between dialogue this way.” She was very glad to discover through the film courses available at school that this was, in fact, possible.

From the first introduction of film group projects came an enthusiasm she had rarely felt before, a ‘eureka’ moment, if you will. Tess already had a good memory for plot and dialogue in films, and now they became a way to read a story, the filmic language slowly becoming similar in understanding to sentence structure in a book. Watching a film with family now meant becoming the peanut gallery and commenting on shots, dialogue, foreshadowing, behind-the-scenes trivia and inside jokes.

University took a very different turn in shaping her interests. Like most film production majors, she started out wanting to direct. She realized that, in trying to make the film, a director often has to move between details and the big picture. For her, however, looking at the big picture for too long took away from all the special details she liked so much. Because of this, her eye turned to continuity, script supervision and similar career paths as a goal for the future. That aim is where she currently stands.

June 2022

“…PICTURE UP…roll camera, slate, ACTION!”

Having the chance to be a 1st AD on our ‘training’ set was quite an experience and one that I won’t soon forget! The exercise really opened my eyes to the collaborative nature of movie making.

The NSI Crew Training for the Film + TV Industry program provided me with a great overview of the industry as well as practical skills that I can put to work right away. I was encouraged to hear that the prospects of the TV and film industry in Saskatchewan are looking up. A key takeaway for me was the confirmation that with hard work, a professional attitude and a willingness to be flexible, there is great potential to rise quickly in the industry.

Initially, my impression of the film industry was that the creative work happened directly on set with the writers, directors and actors. However, it was interesting to hear the creativity needed to overcome the endless logistical challenges that face other crew members such as the production managers, locations managers and lighting crews.

Lesley Oswald’s breadth of knowledge of the television and film industry is remarkable. Lesley and Ursula Lawson’s delivery of the course was like watching a masterclass in time management. It was amazing to see what we were able to accomplish in such a short time. A lesson in and of itself of the efficiency needed in film and television.

I appreciated having the chance to network with professionals working in the industry. Being able to field questions to union reps, producers, set decorators and lighting experts was an invaluable experience. Among the participants, I met camera operators, photographers, actors, writers and even producers. It was quite an inspiring group. I am very grateful to have been chosen to participate.

About Tyson

Tyson Zack O’Brien was born in La Ronge, Saskatchewan.

He completed most of his secondary education in La Ronge and Air Ronge and graduated in 2000. After a year working in Saskatoon, he applied and was accepted to attend university in Manitoba.

While in university, Tyson had several great opportunities to travel. He met and fell in love with his wife, and they started their life together and moved to La Ronge. In 2008, their daughter Alison was born.

Since he was young, Tyson enjoyed playing guitar. He also has a talent for drawing. He’s tried his hand at recording and editing, and enjoys the process of melding video, pictures and music. Tyson loves a good story and admires those who can craft them. Now and into the future, he intends to hone his storytelling skills.

June 2022

I was very pleased that on the first day of the course, each participant was provided with the opportunity to introduce themselves and tell everyone what they were working on and / or why they wanted to take the program. It enabled the participants to learn about the individuals in their group. The Saskatchewan film industry is relatively small, so it was beneficial to learn about who you may be working with in the future and what skill set or interest they had.

Breaking everyone into groups was also very helpful in working through the course as you soon discovered who was good at what through every step of the process. It was a great experience working with the other groups on the elements that everyone was working on such as designing the set, working through the scene and sharing thoughts on what shots would work well for that scene. Most of the participants were extremely engaged in the process, and everyone contributed what they could in order to make it the best possible film with limited resources.

The program advisor, Lesley Oswald and senior programs manager, Ursula Lawson were absolutely amazing. Their wealth of knowledge and helping us work through the course was invaluable. I imagine they were tired, however they did not let that interfere with the course and provided us with a great first day. I learned so much from this course and I am very happy I had the opportunity to participate. Their insight and experience in the industry provided me with an excellent learning opportunity that will be very valuable to my future in the industry.

About Wendy

Wendy Whitebear is a member of the White Bear First Nation located near Carlye, Saskatchewan and currently resides in Regina.

The majority of her work and volunteer activities have been focused on the betterment of First Nations communities, people and youth.

Wendy has developed and implemented programs and initiatives pertaining to the wellness, personal development, career and financial planning for First Nations people and community organizations.

In 2013, Wendy was the recipient of the Service of Excellence – Spirit Award for her active participation in the University of Regina’s Indigenization efforts as well as assisting in a variety of other campus initiatives.

Since 2016, Wendy has been a community producer and co-host for a local Indigenous women’s talk show called the The Four. The show provides a range of stories about First Nations histories, communities and aspirations. The Four was nominated for a Golden Sheaf Award under the community productions category.

Wendy is also the owner / producer of Way Worse Productions and is currently producing a documentary titled Thunderbird Rises which is set to be released in early 2023.

In her previous work in publishing, she was a committee member on the diversity and inclusion working group with the Association of Canadian Publishers to assist in Indigenizing the Canadian publishing industry.