Newsletter No. 2 January April 2010 Z O O M. sur le Studio Acadie

Transcription

1 Newsletter No. 2 January April 2010 Z O O M sur le Studio Acadie

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I- Our team II- Our colleagues at NFB Montreal III- Productions IV- Les Rendez-vous de l ONF en Acadie V- Festivals and screenings VI- Partnerships VII- Other activities VIII- Comments 2

3 Welcome to the second issue of Zoom, the newsletter that updates you on activities at the NFB s Studio Acadie. Zoom is published three times a year and distributed by , placed on the NFB s intranet, and posted on the Studio s webpage <onf-nfb.gc.ca/fra/studios/?id=2>. On behalf of our entire team, I hope you enjoy this issue. I OUR TEAM Jacques Turgeon, Executive Producer Murielle Rioux-Poirier, Producer Geneviève Duguay, Administrator Colette Allain, Regional Production and Communication Assistant Murielle Rioux-Poirier Producer Address: Studio Acadie Heritage Court 95 Foundry Street, Suite 100 Moncton, NB E1C 5H7 Phone: Fax: Toll-free: studioacadie@onf.ca 1

4 II OUR COLLEAGUES AT NFB MONTREAL Among the many people who assist us in our work, we want to spotlight two colleagues we collaborate with closely. Jean-François Laprise Technical Coordinator Jean-François lends a hand at all production and post-production stages of our films. Among his many tasks, he sets schedules for each production, draws up technical notes for each shoot, and reserves screening and editing rooms. He also handles deliverables, cassette and disc storage, and DVD conversion if necessary. Julie Arseneault Marketing Officer Julie looks after marketing strategies for each of our productions. Together with her colleagues and external partners (festivals, co-producers), she oversees a film s run from its launch to its release on DVD. She also writes promotional copy, prepares marketing tools (posters, one-sheets, press kits, advertisements) and ensures that our films appear online and in social networks. She s assisted by Karine Sévigny. 2

5 III PRODUCTIONS ÇA TOURNE DANS MA TÊTE A film by Louiselle Noël Summary The filmmaker takes an intimate look at children suffering from depression and mental disorders. Her aim is to educate audiences and demystify mental illness. The documentary doesn t endorse or condemn different approaches taken by mental health specialists and caregivers. Instead, it seeks to break taboos. The message is that we need to assess troubled children, take immediate action and, especially, recognize the real problems confronting these kids. Picture editing for the production took place from January to March in the Studio s AVID editing room. Louiselle was in good hands with the superb editor Marie Hamelin. The work was painstaking, but the results are fantastic. Luc Mandeville is now doing the sound editing, and Claude Fournier (Les Productions Belibis Inc.) is in charge of the music. The film will debut at FICFA Marie Hamelin (seated) and Louiselle Noël in the editing room in Moncton. 3

6 LES INSÉPARABLES A film by Daniel Léger Summary Shot over a one year period, this film recounts the love story of Jean-Paul and Anne. They are inseparable two people in love who have special needs and mental disabilities. Their handicaps don t bother them and certainly don t prevent them from enjoying life and being happy. With the help of Anne, Jean-Paul looks after his parents and his autistic neighbour, tenyear-old Damien, and is the only person who can control him in extreme situations. An inspiring and touching film. The shoot should wrap up in September. Alain Dupras is behind the camera, and Georges Hannan is doing the sound. Experienced director Serge Giguère is mentoring Daniel. Also featured in the film: Les inséparables: Jean-Paul Basque and Anne Robichaud. Jean-Paul s parents Damien Dawson 4

7 À LA RECHERCHE D UN ASILE A film by Paul Émile d Entremont Summary Repressive homophobia is rampant around the world. Canada, however, is one of the few countries that accept political refugees on the grounds of sexual orientation. This documentary looks at people who have been persecuted in their homeland and have begun an often long and painful journey to find a safe haven to live. What challenges await these refugee claimants? In 2008, only 48 per cent of requests were accepted. For those who might face persecution, imprisonment and torture if their request is denied, the process can seem like a game of Russian roulette. The shoot will take place over a year or more. An initial emergency shoot was done in December 2008 in Lebanon with a local team. A few subsequent shoots were completed in Montreal and Toronto. Jennifer, one of the protagonists in the film. Shooting in Montreal (left to right): Paul Émile, Olivier Léger (sound engineer), Jean-Pierre Saint-Louis (director of photography) and Carlos Atuesta (participant). 5

8 POUR LA CAUSE A film by Rodolphe Caron A co-production with Productions Appalaches Summary This documentary sheds light on the Sisters of Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur, a congregation that has existed in southeastern New Brunswick since The sisters have played a crucial role in the survival of the French language and culture in the province. These pioneers have fervently defended the francophone cause in Acadie and provided a higher education in French to hundreds of young Acadian women including Antonine Maillet, Viola Léger, Édith Butler and Claudette Bradshaw. The shoot will take place in May. The team will include director of photography François Vincelette and sound engineer Georges Hannan. Christine Aubé will serve as production manager. This co-production is made possible thanks to considerable support from the SRC and Film Nouveau-Brunswick. Sister Odette Léger figures prominently in the film. Photo from the papal visit to Moncton in

9 TREMPLIN INFUSION A film by Amélie Gosselin Summary This film takes a playful look at tea in Acadie. An original perspective on a phenomenon that has long been linked to culture and a way of life. Picture editing was done at Studio Acadie with Marie Hamelin. Amélie then travelled to Montreal to continue the postproduction. She s pictured below in the online editing suite alongside editor Yannick Carrier and NFB technical coordinator Jean-François Laprise. VOLEUSE DE POUSSIÈRE A film by Marie-Thérèse François Summary As old homes are torn down in her neighbourhood, she must come to terms with the death of her father from cancer. The two events become intertwined in her mind. Like life, this film is a poem to be deciphered and a story to be reconstructed in bits and pieces. Marie-Thérèse worked with picture editor Patricia Tassinari. CONCOURS TREMPLIN These two debut films are by the two winners of Concours Tremplin This competition enables emerging filmmakers to make a film under professional conditions. Amélie and Marie-Thérèse found the experience highly rewarding. Concours Tremplin 2010 launches this September. 7

10 IV LES RENDEZ-VOUS DE L ONF EN ACADIE The 2010 winter program, which included Sylvie Van Brabant s Earth Keepers and Germán Gutiérrez and Carmen Garcia s The Coca-Cola Case, attracted 1,178 people to screenings in five locations from January to April. In Moncton, many people turned up for the screening of the film despite a snowstorm raging outside. Cinéveil, a festival of socially engaged films held at the Université de Moncton the same week, also included the film in its program and helped promote it. This film sparked considerable interest from moviegoers at Les Rendez-vous de l ONF en Acadie. The director was on hand for the screenings in Caraquet and Moncton. Sylvie also gave several interviews to the media. The photo below shows the theatre in Caraquet. Our partner Robert Landry encouraged the 50 people attending the screening to ask any questions they might have. Comments from moviegoers: Caraquet: Very interesting film and very charming director. Kedgwick: There s still a chance to save Earth despite all its problems. Edmundston: An interesting and thought-provoking film. As old homes are torn down in her 8

11 THE COCA-COLA CASE Special screenings On March 2 and 3, Robert Landry, a partner with Les Rendez-vous de l ONF en Acadie for the Caraquet region, organized four special screenings during the school break. Over 60 children and their parents showed up for the events. Among the films presented were: Films from the AnimAcadie series Produced by Johanne Bergeron, Yves Bisaillon (NFB), Carmen Garcia (Argus Film Inc.). Photo from the production Argus Films and the National Film Board of Canada. All rights reserved. Carmen Garcia was on hand in Caraquet and Moncton with some 60 people attending at each location. Great discussions occurred with the co-director after the screenings. Carmen gave several interviews to the media. Isabelle au bois dormant Le chat colla Oncle Bob à l'hôpital Cot Cot Le nœud cravate Le paysagiste Comments from moviegoers Caraquet: Good discussion with Ms. Garcia. Edmundston: Interesting talk after the film. Kedgwick: People left the theatre saying they d never drink Coca-Cola beverages again. On April 20, our Kedgwick partner, Louise Lang-Lévesque, also organized a special screening of animated films for 32 students in Grade 7. The youngsters really enjoyed their outing. 9

12 V FESTIVALS AND SCREENINGS TREMPLIN 2008 INHABITING DANCE Director: Julien Cadieux THEY HAD THIRTEEN CHILDREN Director: Anika Lirette The two films were presented in the 28th edition of Les Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois (RVCQ) in Montreal in February. Anika and Julien were on hand to present their films. LA TRAPPE Director: Lina Verchery La trappe, which was part of Concours Tremplin 2007, was selected for a screening in La Nuit du Cinéma in Percé on Saturday, March 27. A SUNDAY AT 105 Director: Daniel Léger 10 This film was shown in a special program at Regard sur le court métrage in the Saguenay on March 10. Daniel Léger won an honourable mention from the professional jury when his film was presented at this festival in The film can be seen at <nfb.ca> and has been watched online by over 274,000 people so far.

13 CELEBRATING CHIAC, PART II Director: Marie Cadieux A co-production of Bellefeuille Productions The film was presented in the 2010 Winnipeg Freeze Frame International Children s Film Festival in March. It was also part of Les Rendez-vous de la francophonie tour in March. The film was presented in eight provinces and three territories across Canada. HOMMES À LOUER Director: Rodrigue Jean A co-production of InformAction February 18: presented at Les Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois (RVCQ). March 12: presented at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival in Athens, Greece. March 27: aired on RDI. March 28: nominated for best documentary at the Jutra Awards. 11

14 ANTONINE MAILLET THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS Director: Ginette Pellerin A co-production of Améri Ka Productions The film had its world premiere in Moncton last November to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Antonine Maillet s Prix Goncourt for her novel Pélagie-la-Charrette. The Quebec premiere was held on March 19 at FIFA (International Festival of Films on Art). The author and the director attended this full-house screening and took questions from the audience. Alissa Arseneault-Baccarat, daughter of our marketing officer Julie Arseneault, awaits the answer to her question. 12

15 VI PARTNERSHIPS Société culturelle de la Vallée de Memramcook Following a project submitted to Studio Acadie by the cultural development officer Octave LeBlanc, a screening took place in March in the auditorium of the École Abbey-Landry in Saint-Joseph. This partnership aims to strengthen ties with cultural and arts organizations in the region. The films shown were Celebrating Chiac and Celebrating Chiac Part II (at Les Rendez-vous de la francophonie) as well as Les aboiteaux and A Sunday at 105. The audience, which consisted of about 50 people, thoroughly enjoyed the screenings. Octave expressed an interest in repeating the event in the fall. Studio Acadie and Diane Hétu from NFB Montreal were responsible for follow-up. Fédération des jeunes francophones du Nouveau-Brunswick This two-year training project was launched in October The FJFNB, together with the Association acadienne des artistes professionnel.le.s du Nouveau-Brunswick (AAAPNB) and Studio Acadie, gives workshops in video making to young francophones from 14 high schools in the province. The aim of this project is to train a new generation of filmmakers. Studio Acadie provided the filming equipment and other services. CapAcadie.com Since February, Capacadie.com, the leading francophone portal in the Atlantic region, has offered users access to a selection of films from Studio Acadie. This new partnership represents yet another showcase for the Studio s films and its filmmakers. Radio-Canada Acadie A committed partner of Studio Acadie from day one, Radio-Canada Acadie continues to support the Studio s productions. By airing films by emerging filmmakers, Radio-Canada nurtures their development by acquainting a larger audience with their work. Again this year, the two new films from the Concours Tremplin will be broadcast on Radio-Canada. 13

16 VII OTHER ACTIVITIES Consultations with the industry Producers and other NFB representatives attended a meeting in January with the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française (FCCF), the Front des réalisateurs indépendants du Canada (FRIC) and the Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada (APFC). This was a bilateral meeting with signatories of the multiparty agreement. Discussions centred on the FCCF s development plan for the arts and culture sector for (TONAC) and on projects underway and opportunities to collaborate in the future. On February 11 and 12, the executive producer took part in workshops in Saint-Basile, New Brunswick, on regional cultural planning to support integrated and sustainable cultural development. The Conseil provincial des sociétés culturelles du Nouveau- Brunswick organized the workshops. The producer mentored Stéphanie Bélanger, a student from the Université de Moncton, as part of Repères, the university s career mentorship program. The program helps students make career choices by introducing them to a professional working in their area of interest. Students meet with their mentor to explore a career or confirm a career choice. Mental Health Commission Three screenings were held from January to April in Studio Acadie s Léonard Forest screening room. This activity was organized as part of French language training for Mental Health Commission employees from Western Canada who were visiting our region. Pictured are the students along with producer Murielle Rioux-Poirier. Other federal government agencies Three other screenings took place during the same period in the Léonard Forest screening room as part of French language training. 14

17 VIII COMMENTS We hope that you enjoyed this second issue of Zoom. You can submit comments or sign up for Zoom at Our next issue is out in September. About the NFB Canada s public film producer and distributor, the National Film Board of Canada creates social-issue documentaries, auteur animation, alternative drama and digital content that provide the world with a unique Canadian perspective. The NFB is expanding the vocabulary of 21st-century cinema and breaking new ground in form and content through community filmmaking projects, cross-platform media, programs for emerging filmmakers, stereoscopic animation and more. It works in collaboration with creative filmmakers, digital media creators and co-producers in every region of Canada, with Aboriginal and culturally diverse communities, as well as partners around the world. Since the NFB s founding in 1939, it has created over 13,000 productions and won over 5,000 awards, including 12 Oscars and more than 90 Genies. The NFB s new website features over 1,600 productions online, and its iphone app has become one of the most popular and talked about downloads. Visit <NFB.ca> today and start watching. 15