Storylines

Season 1, Bonus Episode 6

Bonus Episode: Documentary Dynamo Dawn Porter

In this bonus episode of Storylines, we hear from award-winning documentary producer Dawn Porter, known for films like Spies of Mississippi and Gideon’s Army. 

One of Dawn’s most recent projects is the critically-acclaimed four-hour Netflix original series Bobby Kennedy for President, which was released in 2018 and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. 

And Dawn is currently directing and executive producing an Apple TV multi-part documentary series with Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry that focuses on mental illness and wellbeing. Her most recent film, John Lewis: Good Trouble, documents 60 years of civil rights activist John Lewis’ life.

Here's part of her interview from the NYWIFT podcast Women Crush Wednesdays, hosted by Leah Curney and Janine McGoldrick. 

In this episode:

We hear one of Dawn’s tips for starting out in the industry, the power of film, and the importance of finding your own style.

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Bonus Episode: Orange is the New Black’s Alysia Reiner

In this bonus episode of Storylines, we hear from actor and producer Alysia Reiner, known for her role as warden Fig in Orange is the New Black. Alysia’s interview is part of the NYWIFT podcast Women Crush Wednesdays, hosted by Leah Curney and Janine McGoldrick.

In this episode:

We hear about what it’s like to transition from actor to producer, falling in love with the artistic potential of film, and telling women’s stories on screen.

Links

Season 1, Bonus Episode 4

Bonus Episode: Riccie Johnson, a Make-up Artist by Mistake

In this bonus episode of Storylines, we take a look into the world of make-up artistry with industry veteran Riccie Johnson. Riccie’s interview is part of the NYWIFT podcast Women Crush Wednesdays, hosted by Leah Curney and Janine McGoldrick. 

In this episode:

We hear about how Riccie got her surprising start in the industry, accepting new experiences, and what she’s learned from over 65 years of experience. 

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Season 1, Bonus Episode 3

Bonus Episode: Cross Border Collaboration with NYWIFT

In this special bonus episode of Storylines, we sit down with Leah Curney, co-host of Women Crush Wednesdays, a podcast by New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT), to talk about collaboration in a time of quarantine. And to announce how the Storylines and Women Crush Wednesdays podcasts will be working together. 

In this episode:

We hear about what it’s like in New York City during the coronavirus pandemic, the ongoing shift to remote auditions, and changes that go into maintaining a “six foot” (two meter) distance from each other on a film or television set. Stay tuned to hear about NYWIFT’s podcast, Women Crush Wednesdays, a biweekly podcast hosted by Janine McGoldrick and Leah Curney.

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Season 1, Episode 15

Bonnie Thompson: Prolific Producer

Bonnie Thompson has over 80 producer credits. She worked for more than three decades at the National Film Board of Canada out of the north west studio in Edmonton. And as a creative producer, she has been the third eye behind projects like the interactive documentary Bear 71.

She was one of the producers on the feature documentary Angry Inuk, and she also was a producer on the Oscar-nominated animated short Wild Life.

Producing is in Bonnie’s blood. Even though she’s now retired from the National Film Board, she is still actively producing films, and helping young Alberta filmmakers find their way in the industry.

In this episode:

We hear about Bonnie’s start in the film industry, her experiences working on her first project, and some of the things she’s learned from working with others. Next, we hear about her experiences producing the Oscar-nominated animated short Wild Life, the role and importance of the producer, and Bonnie’s advice for emerging producers. Finally, we finish off with Bonnie’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

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Season 1, Episode 14

Raevn Brasch: Master of All Things Design

Raevn never imagined she’d work in the film industry when growing up on a farm in Australia. She moved to Canada for a road trip adventure over twenty years ago, and never left. It was connection and curiosity that led her onto film sets. More than two decades later, Raevn has worked in nearly every role in the art department on film and television sets. 

But production design is where her talent really shines. She’s created the props for the APTN sketch comedy show Caution: May Contain Nuts, and recently she was the production designer the APTN show Tribal, and the holiday feature

film Christmas Coronation.

In this episode:

We hear about Raevn’s not-so-glamorous first job in the film industry, the highs and lows of the production process, and the difficulty of maintaining a work-life balance. Next, we hear about the importance of good leadership skills, what being a production designer entails, and the invisibility of good graphic design. After that, Raevn talks about her experience on the APTN sketch comedy Caution: May Contain Nuts, her advice for graphic designers, and what working in the prop department entails. Then, Raevn talks about her time in the prop department on Wynonna Earp, the secret to a good chair smash, and her advice for script writers. Afterwards, Raevn explains the importance of the art department and gives her advice for prospective production designers. Finally, we hear Raevn’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

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Season 1, Episode 13

Tasha Hubbard: Telling Indigenous Stories

Tasha is an award-winning Cree filmmaker. Her documentaries primarily focus on social issues faced by Indigenous people in Canada. In 2004, her first solo project, the documentary Two Worlds Colliding, won a Gemini Award. It looked at starlight tours– a practice where Saskatoon police would abandon Indigenous men in freezing winter conditions.

And Tasha’s most recent film, nîpawistamâsowin: We will Stand Up, tells the tragic story of the Colton Boushie case. It’s been receiving positive reviews and was named the Best Canadian Feature at the 2019 Hot Docs Film Festival where it opened the festival and made its premiere. Most recently, it won the Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary Award at the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards.

In this episode:

We hear about how Tasha got her start in the industry, the story behind Two Worlds Colliding, and the impact it had on her career and those around her. Next, we hear about the Colton Boushie case, the storytelling decisions behind nîpawistamâsowin: We will Stand Up, and the premiere of the documentary. After that, Tasha explains her goals and experiences as a filmmaker, the relationships that are developed between filmmakers, and her current projects. Finally, we hear Tasha’s three tips for starting out in the film industry.

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Season 1, Episode 12

Meghan Westelmajer: The Art of Production 

Meghan has always had a passion and love for film. But she got into the industry in a less traditional way– It was an online job ad as an executive assistant that got Meghan into the industry. A few years later, and after lots of hard work, she was well into television production in Canada.

Now based out of Calgary, she’s used to spinning a lot of plates. She’s worked as a production coordinator on large projects like the FX series Fargo, that can be watched on Netflix.

She’s also worked on high-budget Hollywood films like Ghostbusters: Afterlife and the Disney+ film Togo.

In this episode:

We hear about Meghan’s start in the film industry, her experiences as an executive assistant, and some of the challenges of being a production coordinator. Next, we hear from Meghan about some of the highs and lows of her career, her experiences on set for productions like Fargo and Togo, and her relationship with Alberta. After that, we hear about how Meghan thinks the COVID-19 pandemic will impact her job and the industry. Finally, we hear Meghan’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

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Season 1, Episode 10

Lisa Fryklund: Daring Director of Photography

Lisa has seen the world through the lens of a camera. She cut her teeth as a camera operator working in news at a small town TV station in Saskatchewan in the 1980s. After years of working in news and sports, she made the switch to documentary and lifestyle projects.

She’s shot projects like the National Geographic program $100 Taxi Ride, the travel game show the Amazing Race Canada, Intervention, and Adoption Stories. Lisa now calls San Francisco home, where she works as a freelance director of photography.

In this episode:

We hear about how Lisa got started in the industry and some of the difficulties she faced in her early career. Next, we hear about $100 Taxi Ride, the importance of adaptability for DPs, and the challenge of filming for Intervention. After that, we hear about the challenges of filming on emotional sets, the importance of communication and relationships for freelancers, and life as a DP. Finally, we hear Lisa’s three tips for starting out in the industry.

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Season 1, Episode 10

Emily Renner Wallace: Fantastic First AD

Emily got started in the film industry right out of high school. At 18 years old, she began working at the Calgary International Film Festival. That opened up doors for her to then work on film sets, and Emily has worked her way up.

She’s now an active First AD on sets in and around the Calgary area. Emily was the first AD on the hit series Wynonna Earp, she worked on the Disney Plus show Togo, and she’s also been making strides to direct her own short films too.

In this episode:

We hear more about Emily’s position as first AD, some of the projects that she took on in her early career, and what her job entails. We learn about what it’s like on set for Wynonna Earp, Togo, and other projects. Next, we hear about burnout, the importance of prep, and how social distancing has impacted her job. Finally, we hear her 3 tips for starting out in the industry.

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