symposium 2012
2012 Programming lineup for the Short Films: BIG IDEAS Symposium
Wednesday June 6
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM | VICU 211
POWER HOUR: CFC Media Lab
The CFC Media Lab has a fifteen-year track record of success at building collaborative environments for creative transformation in interactive media. The next evolution of the CFC Media Lab is to focus on sustainability, innovation and the global footprint.
Join staff of the CFC Media Lab for an amazing power hour as they sit down to give you an exclusive look at their new initiatives, launch dates and how you can be involved in their programs. You won’t want to miss this discussion as you get the inside scoop on the future of innovation in digital media in Canada.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | VICU 211
POWER HOUR: Ask an Agent!
A good agent can be a filmmaker’s best advocate, with vital connections to make a career flourish. Go beyond the Hollywood stereotypes and meet the real people who represent Canadian talent. This session answers everything you wanted to know about representation but were afraid to ask.
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM | VICU 215
PANEL: Launchpad - One Giant Step for Your Short
The life of a short doesn’t necessarily end when the credits roll. Many shorts go on to be developed into TV series and expanded into feature films. Is it simply good timing or the power of a great idea? Find out what it takes to extend the life of a short, the transition and process of giving your film new life in a longer format. This split focus panel invites filmmakers with projects at various stages of development to discuss the ins and outs of serializing a short and bridging the gap between shorts and long format.
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM | VICU 211
POWER HOUR: Sound Design & Film
Presented by Deluxe
A marriage of ingenuity and creativity, sound design brings together a variety of disparate audio components to construct the voice of a film. Sometimes put on the backburner in production and post, sound design is an intrinsic element that, if executed poorly, can stick out like a sore thumb. Hear from an experienced sound designer and discover the ways you can use audio to make your production pop!
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | VICU 215
PANEL: The Power of Pennies - Film Funding & Crowd Sourcing
Crowd Sourcing is proving that every penny counts when funding your film! With platforms like Kickstarter, Indie GoGo and the newly launched Hot Docs Ignite, crowd sourcing is an innovative way to connect with collaborators and collect cash for your next big project. But is finding funding through the internet really that simple? A panel of industry experts and filmmakers weigh the pros and cons, sharing their tales of triumph and woe from this new frontier in film financing.
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM | VICU 211
POWER HOUR: CFC Features, Film & Television
The perfect session for emerging filmmakers! The big decision-makers from CFC Features, and the CFC Film and Television department take you on an extensive tour of the diverse professional development and residency programs they offer. With a smorgasbord of opportunities to get your film and TV career going, CFC training can help you make the transition into features and series. Meet the people who read the applications and run the programs, as they outline the many benefits of these amazing career-boosters.
*Special 90 minute session!*
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM | VICU Chapel
POWER HOUR: They Shoot! They Score! Music & Film Presented by Screen Composers Guild of Canada & SOCAN
Effective but not obtrusive, music composition for film is all about setting the right tone and enhancing on-screen images. A good film score can bring a story to life, build tension, convey emotion, and enhance the entire viewing experience! Learn to ask the right questions from composers and filmmakers, as they discuss their working relationships and describe how original music can strike the right chord.
Thursday June 7
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM | VICU 215
PANEL: Double Vision - Collaborative Directing
A match made in heaven or a case of too many cooks in the kitchen? For some, a production with multiple directors can be a revelatory experience, offering diverse new insights into effective teamwork. For others, not so much. Learn how different a multi-director situation is from calling the shots on your own. Experienced filmmaking teams explore the rewards and challenges of working in tadem and best practices for a set with more than one guiding vision.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | VICU 211
POWER HOUR: Telefilm Canada
Join us for a power hour with Canadian film funding powerhouse, Telefilm! As administrator of the Canadian Media Fund, this organization is your gateway to getting the green. With an abundance of programs, workshops and consultations on offer, Telefilm spoils you for choice. Learn how to make the best impression from the people who run the programs and cut the cheques.
11:45 AM - 1:15 PM | VICU 215
PANEL: The Programmers' Den
Each festival and exhibition has its own unique flavour thanks to its programmers and curators, individuals who may seem mysterious and elusive, but who are just like the rest of us– film lovers! Canadian and international programmers sit down to discuss what makes them tick and reveal what they are looking for in a film. Get the inside scoop on the selection process, from submission to invitation. An invaluable panel for every filmmaker trying to connect with their audience.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | VICU 211
POWER HOUR: Grant Writing
An essential element in any filmmaker’s arsenal, grant writing is the fine art of communicating even finer details. With so many individuals competing for those few precious grants, ensuring that your ‘i’s are dotted and your ‘t’s are crossed can make all the difference. Learn how to look perfect on paper from the masters - project funders and professional grant writers! Giving perspective from both sides of the process, invited speakers discuss the tips and tricks that will make your application a masterpiece!
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM | VICU 215
PANEL: ABC Don'ts
Animals, Babies, and Celebrities, oh no! The ABC Don’ts will demystify and debunk the myths associated with working with all three. Cute and cuddly furries, kids and A-listers will automatically elevate your film’s production values and deliver an instant audience, but can also create additional complications for the unprepared. Hear the do’s and don’ts of directing tricky talent straight from the dog’s mouth... or at least her trainer’s! Learn how to best use these “don’ts” effectively, from experienced filmmakers, stars and animal wranglers, for no-fear filmmaking that will get your short noticed!
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | VICU 211
POWER HOUR: National Screen Institute (NSI)
Get your hands on film equipment through the NSI’s hands-on training! With a myriad of film and television initiatives in professional development, funding and mentorships, the National Screen Institute believes in learning by doing! Now is your chance to find out which programs are right for you and your next project, straight from the source: Director of Programming, Melissa Kajpust.
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM | VICU 215
PANEL: Screens without Borders
Theatres and televisions are no longer the only screens in town! With a variety of personal devices, public displays and accessible technologies, intrepid filmmakers can showcase their shorts just about anywhere! Learn how to the make the most of mobile technology and the urban landscape from industry experts on the cutting edge of alternative screens. An exploration of novel forums for the moving image, this presentation reveals a variety of unknown opportunities waiting for filmmakers and their films.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | VICU 211
POWER HOUR: Panasonic
Discover the latest must-have gadgets and gizmos from Panasonic that will make you wish Christmas came early! Representatives from this leading electronics manufacturer will present a variety of production equipment and demonstrate the newest features and innovative technology that will make your film look phenomenal.
Friday June 8
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM | VICU 211
POWER HOUR: Script to Screen
Transforming words on the page into pictures on the screen can seem like an impossible task. Learn how to give life to those letters from a pioneer of private development funding, the Harold Greenberg fund. Experts will give you the skinny on more than just screenplays, so that your story won’t get lost in translation on its journey from script to screen.
11:15 AM - 3:30 PM | Isabel Bader Theatre
FEEDBACK LOOP
So you’ve finished your film - now what? Don’t miss this rare opportunity to find out! Hear specific feedback from all the industry pros: a publicist, a festival programmer, a distributor and a short film buyer. Together they sit down and map the potential creative and commercial trajectory for eight shorts selected to screen at this year’s festival. Don’t miss this rare and enlightening look at life after post-production.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | VICU 2nd Floor Foyer
INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES
Get a little bit closer to those elusive movers, shakers, and decision-makers. In this speed-dating session, filmmakers and industry delegates move from table to table, meeting Buyers and Distributors. In rapid-fire discussions, participants will get practical advice on marketing their films and finding those hidden opportunities. Bring your business cards and get ready to network! This is one session not to be missed.
Saturday June 4
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM | Isabel Bader Theatre
MASTER CLASS
Look at filmmaking from a whole new perspective, through the eyes of Montreal-based director, screenwriter and visual stylist Jean-Marc Vallée! Renowned for his groundbreaking and inventive work in sound and image, Vallée is the creative force behind the films Café de Flore, The Young Victoria, and the runaway hit C.R.A.Z.Y. Listen and learn from one of Canadian cinema’s greatest talents as he reflects upon his signature approach to making movie magic!
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM | VICU 215
PANEL: Mapping the Paper Trail - Legal & Film
No filmmaker wants his or her production to get lost in the labyrinth of litigation. Learn the basics of good legal practice to ensure that your short makes it to the big screens and not the small claims courts. A panel of knowledgeable legal and insurance professionals will guide the way, discussing the logistics of production insurance, E&O, and music copyright to make sure that you and your film don’t get wrapped up in red tape.
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | VICU 211
POWER HOUR: Bravo!FACT
This cornerstone foundation has gone through some major changes! Accessing broader audiences and placing a new emphasis on short form dramas, Bravo!FACT is a dream come true for creative projects of the short persuasion. In this sixty minute session, hear about the exciting new opportunities that exist within Bravo!FACT’s restructured program.
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM | VICU 215
PANEL: Going Global - International Coproductions
Thanks to advancing communication technologies, finding film partners and funding is no longer bound by geographical borders. Learn the language of foreign film funding and working partnerships from a panel of filmmakers, film institutes and legal experts fluent in the challenging and ever-changing world of international coproductions.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Room VC 215
POWER HOUR: ACTRA
The actors you cast can make the difference between a film that sizzles and one that just fizzles. An important organization that connects filmmakers with talent of the highest calibre, ACTRA represents those essential professionals who breathe life into every scene. Discover the programs that this Actor’s union has to offer filmmakers with every kind of budget.