North Bay students learn on film and TV sets from industry professionals
The cameras are capturing a winter wonderland in downtown Powassan, where Hideaway Pictures is shooting a Christmas film called 'The Christmas Farm.'
In addition to cast and crew, on set are Grade 12 Chippewa Secondary School students Isabelle and Emma Gauthier-LeBlanc.
The sisters are pursuing their dreams to become actors and, one day, work on film and television productions.
"To me, it's just so fascinating and brings me so much joy to watch these movies and see these actors perform," said Isabelle. "I want to bring that same joy to people."
Emma said she's met with the cast and crew and they've been giving her advice.
"Performance acting is really what I'm interested in," she said. "I've had a chance to talk to the stand-ins and they've been really helpful."
Co-op students in North Bay and surrounding areas interested in the film and television industry are getting a chance to work with crews on set thanks to a new partnership between the Near North District School Board and the Northern Ontario Film Studios.
The Near North District School Board is partnering with the Northern Ontario Film Studios (NOFS) to provide on-set training to students looking at pursuing a career in film and television.
The cameras are capturing a winter wonderland in downtown Powassan, where Hideaway Pictures is shooting a Christmas film called 'The Christmas Farm.' (Eric Taschner/CTV News)
"I want to be able to offer these opportunities that I never had growing up and that's what this initiative is all about," said David Anselmo, business development officer with NOFS.
Students will get an introduction to the film set, learn etiquette, how to speak the film lingo, meet the crew and pick up some of the tricks of the trade.
"Once they come out of high school and they do want a career path in the northern Ontario film industry, then we can specialize and strategically pinpoint exactly what their passions are and what departments they like to be in and how we can grow them into those skills that they need," said Anselmo.
School board chair Jay Aspin met with Anselmo last fall and the two came up with the concept.
"I indicated that you've got the facilities, we've got the students," said Aspin.
"It sounded like an ideal synergetic match and he agreed."
Performing, directing, editing
Through the partnership, the school board will be able to offer several co-op opportunities at a time in various areas of the film sector. That includes performing, directing, editing and more.
In summer, adult co-op students will also have the chance to get on set.
Anselmo said the key is to develop local talent who want to stay in northern Ontario to create films and TV shows.
At the same time, he said it will help address a growing shortage of qualified production crew.
"There is a shortfall of about 12,000 employees in Ontario," he said.
"This training initiative will hopefully bring fresh new faces into our industry and help them learn at a young age what it takes to be in the industry."
With its sister company Hideaway Pictures, the NOFS has produced more than 60 films and provided production services, studio space and equipment rental for more than 100 film and television projects in northern Ontario.
Having three studio spaces in the North Bay and Sudbury area, it has created more than three million hours of work for northern Ontario residents, amounting to more than 2,000 full-time jobs in the north.
In 2021, NOFS and Hideaway Pictures announced a new $125 million deal to bring more than 25 new film and television projects to northern Ontario in the next five years.
With young talent on the way, there's optimism for even more production down the line.
"I thought it was impossible (to get into the industry)," Emma said.
"I'm just from North Bay. If you want it bad enough. It will happen."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.