One important strategy in creating a self-sustaining talent development network in Canada is helping Canadian producers own and maintain the rights to their IP.  In this special Academy Talks event, presented by the Canadian Media Producers Association, producers from across Canada discuss the road to establishing their independent production companies. From defining a company’s specialization, to structuring a financial plan, to seeking start-up funding or legal help, this panel discusses the first steps to founding a company.

Panelists to be announced.

Free for Academy members, $10 for non-members

This interactive session will offer a look at the history behind systemic racism and use data to build an understanding of discrimination in the entertainment sector broadly. It will explain the pitfalls of intent vs. impact of actions. It will explore tactical suggestions for eliminating racism on sets and in other working locations.

Date: 

Thursday, December 9, 2021 

ZOOM WEBINAR

Opening Remarks by:

Stephan James | Actor, Partner & Co-Founder of B.L.A.C.K

Speakers: 

Anya Klimbovskaia | Co-Founder and COO of Diversio 

Anya is the co-founder and COO of Diversio. Anya holds a degree in Psychology, with a concentration in organizational studies. Anya has developed, specialized, and delivered trainings for a wide-variety of organizations including ViacomCBS, 500 Startups, and Modern Niagara, and is the diversity and inclusion expert for the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) in Canada. 

Spencer Gilbert | Senior Manager, Client Success, Diversio 

Spencer is Senior Manager of Client Success at Diversio. He holds a certificate in Team Leadership from Harvard University and has led several groups in implementing inclusion initiatives. He has worked with numerous Diversio clients, including Accenture, Danone, and the World Bank to bring their D&I initiatives to fruition.

Dr. Niigaan Sinclair | Anishinaabe Writer and Associate Professor, University of Manitoba

Now that you’ve finalized your awards submission, what comes next? With voting for the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards opening next week for Academy members, this event provides a closer look at what goes into running a successful For Your Consideration campaign including best ways to spread the word about your production, tips on branding, platforms, and more! 

The first round of voting to determine the nominees for the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards will open for voting members in eligible branches on December 20, 2021. The second round of voting to determine the winners will open for all active voting members in February 2022. 

Free for Academy members. $10 for non-members. 

Presented by the City of Toronto

In partnership with the Regent Park Film Festival

The Art Department plays a key on-set role in building cinematic worlds and immersing an audience in a captivating and realistic on-screen space. This Academy Talks: Ways & Means session welcomes a panel of Art Department creatives such as production designers, art directors, costume designers, stylists, and hair and make-up designers to discuss authentic worldbuilding and representation on screen, portraying cultural nuance and historical accuracy, and their experiences and advice for BIPOC creatives to enter and sustain themselves in the field.

Available to Stream from November 25 – December 2 as part of the 2021 Regent Park Film Festival

Registration required to attend.

Register for your Festival Pass now: rpff.ca

Guests:

Ryan Reed | Film Hairstylist

With 20yrs of hairstyling in the Toronto film and television industry I have had the opportunity to travel the world, work on big budget Hollywood productions and have my work seen by millions of viewers all over the world.

Meryl Allysa Romo | Production Designer, Costume Designer, Actress

Meryl Allysa Romo is a 23-year-old Production Designer, Costume Designer and Actress. As an advocate for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ crews and talent, she strongly believes that with representation contributing to the storyline behind-camera, there will be more authentic portrayals on-screen. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, working on Canadian content is important to Meryl.

Shauna Llewellyn | Makeup Artist

Makeup Artist Shauna Llewellyn brings a passionate, multi-disciplined approach to creating beautiful looks for publications, and media across the fashion, music and entertainment industries.

Carmen Thompson | Filmmaker

Carmen Thompson (Diitiidaht/Kyuquot/Coast Salish) has been designing and building costumes for theatre, television, music videos and feature films for more than 15 years and over 50 credits to her name. Known for her research & attention to detail with a commitment to cultural authenticity has made her an in-demand member of creative teams in Los Angeles, Vancouver and Victoria.

Moderator:

Roya DelSol | Filmmaker

Roya DelSol is Black lens-based artist, curator & cultural worker currently living in T’karonto/Toronto. Creating motion work ranging from experimental documentaries to music videos; she aims for her work in all spheres to centre and uplift the experiences Black, queer, and marginalized peoples.

Presented by Telefilm Canada

Monday, November 15, 2021
3:00 – 4:00 PM ET / 12:00 – 1:00 PM PT
Zoom Webinar

NFTs are all the rage, but what really is blockchain for film, crypto art or non-fungible tokens, and how can we apply blockchain to indie film financing and distribution (shorts, features, or music videos)? Where is innovation happening, what government regulations apply, who can use the technology and what do you need to get involved?

Free for Academy members, $10 for non-members

Guests: 

Pauline Couture | Co-CEO, BlockFilm 

Pauline Couture is a seasoned media executive and advisor with global networks. From a background in journalism and broadcasting, she branched out into C-suite strategic advisory services across several regulated industries and became a technology entrepreneur. She is also an author and literary translator. She co-founded BlockFilm with Suzette Couture in 2019. They partnered with TokenFunder, Canada’s pioneering digital securities firm, in 2020, after obtaining a major investment from the Canada Media Fund. They obtained a groundbreaking Ontario Securities Exemption Order in March of 2021.

Gorav Seth | Advisor, Film Co-Chair, Mogul Productions 

Gorav has worked for 12+ years in corporate finance and investment banking at leading independent investment dealers in Canada.  During his career, Gorav has worked on over $4 billion of transactions, successfully advising corporate clients on transactions ranging from M&A and restructuring to IPOs, RTOs and financings.  Prior to his career in capital markets, Gorav spent over a decade working in the film and television industry as entertainment manager and financier.

Shant Joshi | President & Producer, Fae Pictures 

Shant Joshi is a queer Indo-Canadian producer based in Los Angeles and Toronto. His credits include the films Porcupine Lake (Toronto), International Dawn Chorus Day (Berlin, TEDDY Award Winner), and Noor & Layla (BlackStar); the hit web series Teenagers (CSAs); and the Dekkoo original series, I’m Fine (Outfest). Shant co-founded the Future of Film Showcase, previously worked at UTA, Buchwald, and Lit Entertainment Group. He is an alum of the CFC, holds a Certificate in Entertainment Law from Osgoode Hall, and was named to YorkU’s Top 30 Changemakers under 30. He currently sits on the Board at BIPOC TV & Film.

Moderated by: 

Christine McGlade | Senior Partner, Analytical Engine Interactive Inc. 

Christine McGlade has been a digital media producer, designer, and educator for over 20 years.  She is a sessional lecturer in the Digital Futures faculty at OCAD University in Toronto where she teaches topics in user experience design and user research, data visualization, futures thinking, and the ethical issues that arise when we step into design leadership roles in the digital economy.  Most of her design consulting work involves facilitation and strategic foresight engagements with public sector, educational, and not-for-profit organizations, usually on innovation projects driven by new technologies. Christine is a member of the Association of Professional Futurists, and she also does a little standup.

Supported by the Bell Fund

This session, supported by the Bell Fund, will provide a baseline for understanding how taking an active stance is necessary to combat bias and discrimination. You will be introduced to the concept of allyship as a lifelong commitment to cultivating an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive and succeed. You will come away from this session understanding how to better recognize micro and other aggressions and with tools you can use to take action in the moment. This session is a first step to understanding how to be an authentic ally to colleagues who identify as Black, Indigenous, a person of colour, a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community, a person with a disability, and other systematically marginalized groups.

Date:

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

ZOOM WEBINAR 

Speakers:

Introductor Remarks from maxine bailey

Spencer Gilbert | Senior Manager, Client Success, Diversio 

Spencer is Senior Manager of Client Success at Diversio. He holds a certificate in Team Leadership from Harvard University and has led several groups in implementing inclusion initiatives. He has worked with numerous Diversio clients, including Accenture, Danone, and the World Bank to bring their D&I initiatives to fruition. 

Tara Rezvan | Client Success Manager, Diversio 

Tara is a Client Success Manager at Diversio. She has worked on training projects for organizations across multiple sectors including Finance, Entertainment and Tech. She focuses her strategy efforts with organizations on using data to inspire and act on D&I. She has led numerous Diversio engagements including Indigo and BDC.

Presented by Ontario Creates

Ways of access and audience demand for video games are only continuing to expand and diversify. This Framing the Future session looks at ways that independent Canadian game studios can continue to foster audience connection, discoverability, and access in today’s marketplace. Our panel of developers and community managers advocate for unique projects and narratives, speak to transferable lessons on discoverability and community event spaces for interactive and video game creators.

Date:

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

3:00 – 4:00 PM ET

Zoom Webinar

Guests:

Panelists: 

Meagan Byrne | Founder, Achimostawinan Games 

Meagan Byrne is an Apihtawikosisân (Métis of Ontario)​ ​new media artist and game designer born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. Her designs incorporate narrative, game mechanics, sound and traditional art and are deeply rooted in indigenous futurisms, language and indigenous feminist theory. Meagan is currently the founder and lead designer of Achimostawinan Games in Ontario working on their upcoming title Hill Agency.

Ericka Evans | Head of Production, Phantom Compass 
Ericka Evans is a Gemini award-winning writer and producer with over 20 years of experience in the television, film and interactive digital media industries.  She has been a partner at Phantom Compass Inc. since 2011 and has produced dozens of original games and interactive digital media projects for clients, publishers and other developers.  She has launched games on most major platforms, including the award-winning “Rollers of the Realm” (PC, PS4, PSVita) and the anticipated sequel, “Rollers of the Realm: Reunion.”

Len Predko | Executive Director, Hand Eye Society 

Len Predko is an artist and curator working in Toronto, Ontario. He graduated from OCAD U with a BDes in the Digital Future. They have worked for the past 12 years making installation based art and have more recently worked in multimedia game making and interactive works. Through play he explores themes of mental health, monstrosity, and gender. By creating worlds to be explored he examines questions about embodiment, self, and our relative experiences.

Moderated by: 

Kelly Lynne Ashton | Screen-Based Media Consultant

Kelly Lynne Ashton has worked in the Canadian film, television and digital media industries as a business affairs executive in television production companies, as a producer at a children’s web studio, as manager of an online youth research company and in government relations and media policy for a talent union. Kelly Lynne is currently bringing together the different strands of her career in the Canadian cultural industries – legal, business, marketing and research – to provide consulting services to clients. As a multi-racial Canadian, diversity and inclusion are a priority in her work and she brings that lens to everything.  

Free for Academy members. $10 for non-members.

Crypto-Art, Blockchain, and Non-Fungible Tokens

t

Presented by Ontario Creates

A joint study from Ontario Creates and VICE Media Group, The Future of the Creative Workforce identifies Generation Z and Y professionals’ interest and awareness of the creative jobs and opportunities available to them.

Following a short presentation of the research, our panelists elaborate on their professional values, the roadblocks they have met, and the professional skills and support young creators need to enter and sustain themselves in the creative industries today. This session offers guidance on the resources and career counselling we can offer the post-pandemic, future creatives in front of and behind the scenes.

Date:

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

2:00 – 3:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT

Zoom Webinar

Panelists.

Zaarin Bushra | Director of Operations, The Future of Film Showcase

Zaarin Bushra is a South Asian actor and filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada. She held the role of Director of Operations at The Future of Film Showcase, where she worked extensively to build numerous industry workshops and developmental programs for young and emerging filmmakers, and especially those from the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community. She now works as the Director of Branding and Marketing at Fae Pictures, as well as the Programming Coordinator at Reelworld Film Festival.

Varun Raj Gandhi | Picture Editor

Varun is an Editor based in Toronto. He completed his MFA in Picture Editing degree from Chapman University, California in 2015. He began his career editing Digital Media promos for Disney Studios in LA. Later he edited promos for a big budget VFX film in India. Since 2019 he has worked as an Assistant Editor in Toronto with clients such as NFB, Scott Brother’s Entertainment & Tier A DGC Productions. Varun is a mentee of the CCE’s Mentorship Program. He is currently wrapping editing on a CBC Originals Documentary based on the life of Toronto Raptors Superfan Nav Bhatia.

Rebeccah Love | Writer/Director/Producer

Rebeccah Love is a Toronto-based filmmaker, writer, visual artist and community organizer. She studied at the University of King’s College, then completed a BFA in Film Production at Ryerson University, and an MFA at the University of Guelph in Creative Writing. She has produced eight short films, focusing on love, illness and neighbourhoods.

Pari Ludin | Programme Manager, Reel Opportunities

Pari Ludin is an Afghan who was born in Germany and raised in Canada. With her background being in music education & arts management, she’s passionate about bringing communities together through the transformative power of the arts & making it accessible for all. Pari has worn many hats in Toronto’s arts and culture industry, from being an outreach and events coordinator at the Toronto Arts Foundation to the program assistant at the Goethe-Institut. She currently manages Reel Opportunities at REEL CANADA. This programme offers free workshops designed to inform youth nationwide about the many career opportunities in the Canadian film industry.

Moderator:

Erin Smith | Manager, Research & Strategic Planning at Ontario Creates

Erin Smith is a strategic planning and policy leader with over fifteen years of experience in the creative media industries.

Research Presenters:

Julie Arbit | Global SVP, Insights at VICE Media Group

Julie Arbit serves as Global Senior Vice President of Insights for VICE Media Group, where she helps both VICE and its clients better understand and engage with their youth audience. In this role she leverages VICE’s access to consumers and culture coupled with her expertise in quantitative and qualitative methodologies to uncover the most actionable learnings.

Prior to joining VICE, Julie spent over a decade in marketing research agencies working across industries to identify trends, segment target audiences, inform brand strategies, track brand perceptions, and develop communication strategies and new product offerings.

Lauren Greenspan | Senior Director, Insights, North America at VICE Media Group

Lauren Greenspan is a Senior Director of Insights for VICE Media Group who helps VICE and its clients better understand the attitudes and behaviors of young people. She leads creative but rigorous qualitative and quantitative research projects across industries. A lover of all things data and human behavior, she believes in the power of transforming raw data into meaningful stories to reveal the complexities and tensions that illuminate why people do the things they do. The research projects she’s led have informed successful brand messaging and positioning, served as a roadmap for new corporate initiatives and outreach, and been presented to clients around the world and on stage at media and research events.

Prior to this role at VICE, she was a researcher at Ogilvy & Mather and the Association of National Advertisers. She holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science.

Free for Academy members. $10 for non-members

Presented by Ontario Creates

Academy members are invited to join us after our 2021 Annual General Meeting to connect with Academy staff, new and returning board members, and other Academy members. Choose from a variety of virtual breakout rooms hosted by Academy staff and board members and meet and mingle virtually with other industry professionals.

Date:

Tuesday, September 28, 2021
3:00 – 4:00 PM ET / 12:00 – 1:00 PM PT – Following our Annual General Meeting at 2:00 PM ET
Zoom meeting

Free for Academy members. 

Presented by The City of Toronto

In anticipation of Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune, Donald Mowat (make-up, hair and prosthetics designer/head of department) shares a glimpse of his work designing the extraordinary characters of Frank Herbert’s world. In this intimate conversation, Mowat will share experiences from his over thirty-five year career working internationally from LA, Toronto, and Montreal and the care and craft that goes into visualizing characters for every genre of film and television.