Newsletter No. 2 - Office national du film du Canada

Newsletter No. 2
January – April 2010
Z
O O M
sur le Studio Acadie
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
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I – OUR TEAM
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
email, placed on the NFB’s intranet,
and posted on the Studio’s webpage
Jacques Turgeon, Executive Producer
Murielle Rioux-Poirier, Producer
<onf-nfb.gc.ca/fra/studios/?id=2>.
Geneviève Duguay, Administrator
On behalf of our entire team, I hope
you enjoy this issue.
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:
506-851-6104
Fax:
506-851-2246
Toll-free:
1-866-663-8331
Email:
studioacadie@onf.ca
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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.
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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 2010.
Marie Hamelin (seated) and Louiselle Noël in the editing
room in Moncton.
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De gauche à droite : Marie Hamelin, monteuse et Louiselle Noël
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.
Les inséparables: Jean-Paul Basque and Anne Robichaud.
Also featured in the film:
Jean-Paul’s parents
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Damien Dawson
À LA RECHERCHE D’UN ASILE
AUfnilm
d’ E
t mont
filbmy PdaeulPÉam
ulileÉm
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etrde’m
Enotnre
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).
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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 1924. 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 1984.
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TREMPLIN
VOLEUSE DE POUSSIÈRE
INFUSION
A film by Amélie Gosselin
A film by Marie-Thérèse François
Summary
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.
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.
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.
Marie-Thérèse worked with picture editor
Patricia Tassinari.
CONCOURS TREMPLIN
These two debut films are by the two winners of Concours Tremplin 2009. 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.
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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.
As old homes are torn down in her
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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.
Special screenings
THE COCA-COLA CASE
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:
Produced by Johanne Bergeron, Yves Bisaillon (NFB), Carmen Garcia (Argus Film
Inc.). Photo from the production.
2009 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.
●
Films from the AnimAcadie series
●
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.
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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
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 2007. The film can be seen at <nfb.ca> and
has been watched online by over 274,000 people so
far.
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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.
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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.
[PLEASE ADD MISSING PHOTOS.]
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Alissa Arseneault-Baccarat, daughter of
our marketing officer Julie Arseneault,
awaits the answer to her question.
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 2009. 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.
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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 2009-2010 (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 NouveauBrunswick 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.
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VIII – COMMENTS
……………………………
We hope that you enjoyed this second issue of Zoom.
You can submit comments
or sign up for Zoom at
studioacadie@onf.ca.
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.
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