As the sun sets on the eighth year of NSI New Voices, the students, their friends and family, intern hosts and sponsors filed in to the Cinematheque theatre in Winnipeg for our 2012 graduation ceremony.
It’s a great way to end the 14-week course, with greetings by our CEO John Gill, Shaw Media’s Kate Gajdosik; Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, The Honourable Flor Marcelino; Rita Chahal from Women in Media Foundation; Manitoba Film & Music’s Ginny Collins; Manitoba Lotteries’ Larry Wandowich, and sent greetings from Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz.
NSI Aboriginal advisor Lisa Meeches took care of the hosting duties. Ovid Caribou drummed and sang an honour song to welcome the students and their audience.
The afternoon culminated in the airing of three short movies that were made by our students:
(1) One Last Cigarette, written and directed by Cheyenne Bruneau and produced with her team Dakota Eischen and Adam Wildeman
(2) Trials and Trails written and directed by Dennis Seenie and produced with his team Deanna Mace and Jesiah Frechette
(3) A Terrible Day written and directed by Stanley Wood and produced with his team Honey Courchene and Rodney Contois.
NSI New Voices is an introduction to the film and television industry, and when the program starts many of our participants are trying to find where they fit in. The most rewarding part for the staff is watching it happen.
Honey Courchene discovered a knack for producing. She’s been hired by her intern host Animiki See Digital Production and has entered a producer training program.
Stanley Wood entered the program as an actor that wanted to experience the other side of the camera. His winning pitch A Terrible Day was one of the three shorts that was produced through the course and screened at the grad. Stanley is now writing a television series and plans on starting a feature film.
No, the NSI New Voices graduation is not the last we will hear from this group. Thanks to all of our sponsors, intern hosts and instructors for another successful year.
Check out the story Kate Gajdosik did about the course for Global News that aired Friday, August 3.
