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There are so many ways to learn more about filmmaking. When I was at university I took the filmmaking class where I fell in love with filmmaking. I then applied to graduate film school to keep studying and got my Master's degree. I then worked one summer on the big professional film set of one of my teachers. I lived in Eastern Europe and made my first big film there because I liked East European filmmaking. I've worked as a writer, an editor, a cameraman and a producer. I've read quite a few books, gone to many festivals, attended many seminars, asked a lot of questions, visited a lot of studios and equipment houses. I learned a lot about filmmaking doing all these things. But that's just filmmaking. What you really need to learn is what it takes to make the films that you want to make. The rules of filmmaking can help, but they're not enough. Really the only way to learn to make films the way you are meant to make films is by doing it. You need to work at it every day.

I know a lot of people who talk a lot about the films they're going to make or the ideas they have. Very few of these people end up making films five years later. The ones who end up making films five years later are the ones who just keep making films. When they have little money, they make a bunch of small videos. When they can't even afford video, they write. When they have money, they spend it on making bigger films. These are the people that end up having something unique to say and a unique way of saying it. They make films the way they are meant to. And they keep doing it.

There are certain things you can only learn by doing and it's these things that one day people will pay you a lot of money to do.

I get paid to make the films I make because I do it in a way that other people don't. I do things my own way. Because I kept working and thinking about what I liked and didn't like. Because I kept trying to find new and more exciting ways to shoot things. Because I kept trying to figure out the things I'm interested in shooting. Because I was always willing to risk everything to make my next film. And the only way I've kept doing all these things and learning is by actually making films.

So wherever else you go to learn about filmmaking, don't avoid the obvious: making films. It's so easy today too.

And remember this too. Even The Point was the result of doing collaborative film projects with teens over the course of many years. It took me and everyone else a while to figure out just how special these films could be. We started with acting exercises only seen by the group, then short videos that we showed publicly once and got a little bit of press for, then the guerilla mini-feature One Day, that went to festivals and got broadcast on TV. Then A Day So Beautiful, that won a bunch of awards for the teen director. And then - and only then - did we have enough experience under our belts to convince investors, film professionals and distributors to back a major feature film destined for theatrical release based on the collaborative techniques that we started developing in the basement of a community centre in Point St. Charles. That's just the way it works. Next I think we'll do a major TV mini-series. Why? Because we're ready to and have the filmmaking and marketing experience to back it up.

Where to learn more?

 

Many filmmakers will tell you that filmmaking is best learned by making films. Many of the programs, publications and facilities listed here will give you the chance to do that and will provide inspiration and instruction to foster your talent in this rewarding art form.

The National Film Board of Canada
The NFB offers many opportunities to make films and learn about filmmaking.
www.onf.ca/faireunfilm/faire_un_film.php?choix=stage&v=h&lg=en

The NFB also operates the Mediatheque in Toronto and the CineRobotheque in Montreal. Both facilities offer filmmaking workshops for various ages.

Mediatheque
www.nfb.ca/mediatheque
CineRobotheque
www.nfb.ca/cinerobotheque

The American Society of Cinematographers
The ASC's Web site provides information on products, events and seminars. American Cinematographer magazine, available through subscription on the site, is a great learning tool for any aspiring filmmaker.
www.theasc.com

MENTORING
Many film agencies provide mentoring programs for young filmmakers. The following has most of the programs currently available in Canada and a couple in Europe.

Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
National Apprenticeship Training Program
www.academy.ca/dev/natp.htm

APFTQ: Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec
www.apftq.qc.ca/en/services/formation.asp

Canadian Film and Television Production Association
Mentorship Programs
www.cftpa.ca/mentorship/

Program Name Deadline Spots Eligibility and Application Form
Telefilm Producer Trainee Program May 15, 2007 6 No age limit. Must be member of a visible minority group or of Aboriginal descent. Application Form
National Production Program April 30, 2007 20 Ages 15-30. Must be post-secondary graduate. Application Form
NFB Mediamakers Mentorship Program May 30, 2007 5 Must be over age 18. Only candidates with disabilities are eligible. Application Form
Atlantic Mentorship Program May 15, 2007 Only in Atlantic Canada 2 in Nova Scotia, 2 in Newfoundland, 2 in New Brunswick (one English and one French) No age restriction. Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Application Form
CTV Cross Platform Internship April 30, 2007 4 - 6 No age restriction. Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Application Form
CHUM Cultural Diversity Mentorship Program April 30, 2007 4 No age limit. Must be a resident of either Alberta or Manitoba and be member of a visible minority group or of Aboriginal descent. Application Form
Multiculturalism Producer Trainee Program TBA 5 No age limit. Must be an anglophone member of a visible minority group, residing in Quebec. Application Form

Frequently Asked Questions about the CFTPA's Mentorship Programs

See also slide show at:
Canadian Film and Television Production Association - Mentorship Program
www.mentorcanada.ca/en/en_keynote/bandrews.ppt

Canadian Film Centre
The Feature Film Project
www.cfccreates.com/what_we_do/cfc_film/
feature_film_project/overview.php

Canadian Screen Training Centre
Screenwriting and Producing Mentorships
www.cstc.ca/pulse/pulse.asp
National Screen Institute Programs
www.nsi-canada.ca/programs/programs.shtml

Telefilm Canada
Sparkplug Program
www.telefilm.gc.ca/03/311.asp?doc_id=229&fond_id=5

Toronto International Film Festival
Industry Programming - Talent Lab Toronto
www.tiffg.ca/industry/

Women in Film and Television
Mentorship Programs:
www.womeninfilm.ca/programs_events/
Look at Walking Talking Heads, WIFVV Mentorship Exchange Program (The Exchange) and Career Café.

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - Career Café and The Exchange
The Mentorship Working Group helps to develop the skills and knowledge base of women working in film, video, television and multimedia. This committee runs programs where WIFVV members meet with advisors: the Career Café is an evening event, and The Exchange is a one-on-one mentoring program. Volunteers help out at the Career Café as well as participating in the committee on an ongoing basis.

ESL in Canada, The Production Institute
Film, Video, Television, Web-Streaming and Multi-Media
www.eslincanada.ca/careers.html

This school gives emerging filmmakers and content creators a chance to learn alongside professionals with industry standard equipment and studios; offers foundation skills and management training.

Peer Resources - The Compass: The Magazine of Peer Assistance, Coaching, and Mentoring
www.mentors.ca/Compassinfo.html

Sources 2 (in Europe)
Stimulating Outstanding Resources for Creative European Screenwriting.
Participants must be nationals of a member state of the European Union or nationals of a country which has an agreement with the European Union concerning the MEDIA Programme.
www.sources2.de/news.html

Binger Institute (in Europe)
Documentary Directors' Coaching Programme
www.binger.nl

FILM STUDIES
There are dozens of colleges and universities that offer film studies and related programs.

The Film Studies Association of Canada
The Film Studies Association of Canada maintains a comprehensive list of links to film studies and related programs at colleges and universities across Canada.
www.filmstudies.ca/FSAC_LINKSregional.htm