Call for Short Documentary Proposals

The NFB’s Quebec Atlantic Studio is calling for artful short documentaries by both emerging and established filmmakers to be developed and produced over 12-18 months beginning September 2018.  Selected participants will each complete a film (maximum 15 minutes) that will be produced and distributed by the National Film Board of Canada.

Who Can Apply?

REIMAGINING MY QUEBEC is open to English speaking Quebec and Nunavik filmmakers who have completed more than one professional production (not including film school or training projects). We welcome applications from other artists/creators/storytellers that have the equivalent experience in their own field and are interested in exploring the form of documentary.

Participants will each be paid about $15,000 through writer and director fees.

We are committed to a diversity of stories and perspectives from creators who reside in Quebec and Nunavik. Eligibility is limited to Canadian citizens and landed immigrants. We are committed to gender parity and representational equity in all key creative positions and in front of the camera.

Why make a film with NFB?

The NFB as a producer offers a unique experience for filmmakers, working closely with
them to grow their artistic practice while contributing to a public conversation. The NFB
provides filmmakers with creative producing expertise, an array of resources including state-of-the-art technical facilities and a vast network of creative support, all within a safe and inclusive environment. As a distributor, the NFB’s Distribution, Marketing, and Communication teams work with filmmakers to help reach audiences in Canada. Each film receives a unique strategy that leverages the filmmaker’s artistic vision and message to engage intended audiences.

What are the Criteria?

The NFB is looking for artists with strong points of view who enjoy creative collaboration and want to be challenged. Stories with unique access, memorable visuals and creative sound treatment ere encouraged. We are seeking films that defy expectations.  We will favour proposals that demonstrate a clear sense of intended audience and desired impact.

• Films are 5-15 minutes
• The story is local
• There are 4-5 days to shoot your film

How Do I Apply?

Submit a short proposal (1-2 pages) explaining the story you want to tell, why you are the best one to tell it and who it is for. Take the time to explain why your story is important, who’s in it, and who they are. Show us how/why your film will resonate with audiences.

Your proposal should:

• Describe the story you’re looking to tell. What will unfold?

• Include your approach to visual storytelling – we’re looking for creative treatment of original ideas

• Describe your unique access to the story
• Include a short bio – tell us about you
• Include links to some of your most recent work (maximum 3 links), with a short description of each and why they are relevant to your proposal
• Describe the key audience/s you aim to serve

We’re looking for stories with strong points of view; films that make us see the world differently, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Deadline to apply is Wednesday August 8^th, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. (ET)

Please send all materials to Proposal Coordinator Marian Rebeiro at M.Rebeiro@nfb.ca (email attachments only, PDF preferred with embedded links to your previous work if possible).

The Selection Process

The jury will consist of members from the NFB’s Quebec Atlantic Studio along with other industry professionals. Selected projects will be announced August 29^th, 2018.

**Remember**

All costs related to the production of the film will be assumed by the NFB.

As producer, the NFB retains all rights around distribution and copyright.

If you require further information, please contact Proposal Coordinator Marian Rebeiro M.Rebeiro@nfb.ca and/or Producer Kat Baulu at K.Baulu@nfb.ca

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The Masters Series: Terence Macartney-Filgate

Terence Macartney-Filgate is one of the earliest proponents of direct cinema at the NFB. Hired in 1954, he began his career as a script writer and production assistant. Imagine the days when those two jobs were combined! A completely different world.

Macartney-Filgate’s next gig was making training films. While not very stimulating, this work did much in the way of teaching the building blocks of film. He developed relationships with Wolf Koenig and Roman Kroiter during this time. When they went off to try something called “direct cinema,” Macartney-Filgate joined them.

And thus began an incredibly rich career for the filmmaker, as he went on to make several well-regarded documentaries about a wide variety of subjects.  He covered the tobacco industry, automobiles, steam engines, the history of our country, etc. But whatever the subject matter, all of his films are mesmerizing to watch. For no matter the topic, Macartney-Filgate always manages to capture something of the human condition in his work.

Making Movie History: Terence Macartney-Filgate

This clip from the Making Movie History series offers a candid look at the filmmaker, as he discusses his early days at the board, and how he developed a mastery of direct cinema. I cannot stress enough how incredible this series is, and the insight it’s offered as I write these posts and explore the filmmakers’ work.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2uaRfIq

The Back-breaking Leaf

This is probably one of Macartney-Filgate’s most well-known films, and for good reason. Made in the early years of his career, this film takes viewers into the tobacco fields where physical labour is the order of the day. He rejected a cameraman on location, opting to shoot the footage himself. One of the most important lessons he learned in the tobacco fields? Hold your breath and don’t get trampled.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2rYumKK

The Days Before Christmas

Possibly the best example of direct cinema that the Board has produced, this short film takes viewers out into the streets and stores of Montreal in the days leading up to Christmas. The film, made with Stanley Jackson and Wolf Koenig, didn’t rely on a script. The idea was simply to capture what was out there. They brought Michel Brault and Georges Dufaux along for the ride, both of whom were so enamored of the process they brought it back to the French side of the Board.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2qVHJrg

The Cars in Your Life

Macartney-Filgate inserts humour into his work with this film, with considerable success. The Cars in your Life looks at North America’s growing obsession with the automobile, and how big a place it’s managed to take up in our lives. It also attempts to answer the age-old question – what’s more important, the luxury and enjoyment of a convertible, or the discomfort of those sitting in the back seat?

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2lX0h8b

Canada Remembers – Part 1 – 3

Much later in his career, Macartney-Filgate undertook the massive project of documenting the years between 1939 and 1944, and how WWII impacted Canadians. It’s a 3-part series, with each episode focusing on a different block of time. From landmark battles on the front to the contribution of women at home, from the final phases of the war to its aftermath. It’s a colossal work and it’s done with the filmmaker’s signature style and grace.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2uaQ0ZR

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2lVrIze

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2u9YWi6

 

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Want To Write For The NFB? Now’s Your Chance!

Are you passionate about cinema and are fond of the NFB? We’re seeking one-off contributing authors for our blog.

Submit your text of approximately 300-500 words about a film in the NFB’s free online collection. Your blog post should address the following questions: How did you discover the film? What’s the film about? What makes this film special to you?

Set your imagination free and surprise us!

You have until August 5 to submit your text to blog@nfb.ca.

Rules:

• The film you write about must be available for free on NFB.ca.
• Preferred style: light, personal, general public
• Send at least one image to go with your text, and include its credit or source.
• You may write in English or in French (click here to view the invitation in French).

Selection criteria:

• Originality
• Quality and creativity of content
• Adherence to preferred style and format

We will only contact the authors of the texts we select. They will be remunerated based on our current rates.

We also suggest you read our blog. Who knows, it might even give you some ideas.

We look forward to reading you.

 The NFB editorial team

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Watch 5 films that celebrate the diversity of Canadian music

While the term Canadian music simply means any music created by a Canadian, the genre of Canadian music is a little harder to define. Born out of the collective contributions of all those who were born here and all those who came from far away, it serves as the soundtrack for an ever-evolving country.

From BC through the Prairies and all the way to the Maritimes, from the Northern tip to the border we share with our neighbours down south, we have produced music with a distinctive sound. It spans genres from pop/rock to folk to classical to throat singing.

This week, we’re looking at music from across Canada, representing different regions and different genres. We’ve covered music in this space before, pretty extensively, in fact. If you want to see more rock music, or jazz, we’ve got plenty of options. For this post, we’re pulling out some obscure titles, and one brand new one.

A Short Film about Tegan and Sara

Pop duo Tegan and Sara are identical twins who hail from Calgary, Alberta. They’ve been making music together for 20 years while blazing a path as activists in the LGBTQ community. They’ve got 8 albums under their collective belt, with one of them having been nominated for a Grammy.

They started out small, without a bass player or a drummer. They gradually became known, until their audience extended beyond Canadian borders. One of their tracks was even covered by The White Stripes. Having their major breakthrough around 1999/2000, they’ve been touring consistently since 2002.

Tegan and Sara have developed an intensely loyal audience, a fan base who follow their every move. They’re known to put on a great live show, exchanging stories and banter between numbers, teasing and joking with each other mercilessly.

As artists, activists, queer women, and individuals they have made a name for themselves, and their music.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2LjlDaB

Ben Heppner: Moving through Music

Opera tenor Ben Heppner was born in 1956 in Murrayville, BC. He studied music at university, and was first noticed in 1979, when he won a CBC talent contest. From there, he went on to become one of Canada’s pre-eminent musical ambassadors.

When we think about Canadian music, something a little more popular or folksy probably comes to mind. But we’ve carved out a space for ourselves in classical singing and opera, as well. Heppner is just one example, and a strong one at that.

In the film, Heppner reveals that he grew up with music, listening to the radio and singing all the time. From an early age he understood the importance of music, and its ability to help us understand the human condition. While he tells his story, we also get to watch and listen to him sing and perform in theatres and opera houses around the world.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2lSTyfu

The Socalled Movie

Josh Dolgin, aka Socalled, is the epitome of a multi-disciplinary artist. His music combines the influences of hip hop, funk, and oddly enough, klezmer – a traditional form of music from the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe.

He plays, he sings, he arranges his own music, he raps, produces and composes. A true one-man band. He also dabbles in magic on the side (true story – my folks own the local magic shop and he’s been in once or twice). He’s collaborated with a variety of different artists, ranging from clarinetist David Krakauer to rapper Chilly Gonzales. His music, and his vision, knows no bounds.

In this documentary, filmmaker Gary Beitel has immersed himself into Socalled’s world, bringing us unique insight into his creative process. It’s fascinating to watch.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2u5lmRD

The Singing Lumberjack

Canadians of a certain age will certainly remember Don Messer and his Islanders, which featured Charlie Chamberlain – the popular, beloved singer.

Born in Bathurst, New Brunswick in 1911, Chamberlain went to work in the lumber industry at the young age of 8 years old. He was friendly and outgoing, and loved nothing more than to whistle while he worked. His good humour was infectious, and he became known as the singing lumberjack who serenaded passengers, and soldiers, on passing trains.

Chamberlain was discovered by Messer through a friend, who caught Chamberlain singing in one such train instance. Once the pair met, Chamberlain went to sing for Messer’s band, and the rest, as they say, is history.

For close to 40 years, Chamberlain entertained audiences with his brand of Canadian music. This short film pays tribute to his talent, and his personality.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2lSTyMw

Etlinisigu’niet (Bleed Down)

Granted, this is not technically a music film, but it features the music of Tanya Tagaq so I’m including it in the post. Tagaq is an Inuk throat singer from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. She first started throat singing as a teenager. While normally done with another singer, Tagaq developed a solo style all her own.

She got her start at Canadian folk festivals, and then through collaborations with Bjork, including some concert tours. Her popularity has been on the rise since 2005, garnering multiple music award nominations in both the Indigenous and mainstream communities.

Traditionally, throat singing is derived from Inuit culture, and features two women facing off against each other, singing in a sort of “who can outlast who” competition. Recently, throat singers have incorporated the influences of folk and rock music into their sound as well. But Tagaq is a phenomenon unto herself, taking the genre and forming it to fit her own unique brand of music.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2u5loZL

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Would You Rather: A Newsletter

Would You Rather is a newsletter that sends scenarios with that question to your email.

Would You Rather…

“Would You Rather” is one of the best questions to ask if you want to spark a discussion, force people to choose between cool options, force them to choose between the lesser of two evils, or just see how your friends or family react to various scenarios. In its newsletter form, Would You Rather does all of that and more. The newsletter, which is clearly a passion project and describes itself as having “weekly(ish)” delivery schedule, sends one unique question in every issue. You can then vote on your choice for the current issue, and review the results of the votes from the previous issue, along with the worded responses people left.

…Sign Up For This Newsletter Or Not?

Some examples of the questions posed on Would You Rather are: would you rather be able to walk through walls or see through walls?, would you rather have telescopic vision or telescopic hearing?, would you rather have your face on a coin or a mountain?, and would you rather have hover boots or a hover bike?. These are lighthearted, fun questions. The questions might not be quite what those who have played this game with their friends might expect (i.e., not extremely gruesome or dirty), but they still are tough decisions and the Would You Rather newsletter makes it fun to make a choice, stick with it, and then view the results of what everyone else said.

Would You Rather: A Newsletter posted first on http://film-streamingsweb.blogspot.com

Merge: To-Do List App For Couples

Merge is an app for couples who live together.

Not Just Roommates

Living with your significant other is a much different experience than living with a roommate. While there are plenty of apps designed to help roommates track expenses and organize responsibilities, assigning those duties or charging your boyfriend or girlfriend through them can feel cold and impersonal. Merge offers the same functionality, but with a lighter touch, designed specifically for couples who live together. At its core, the app is a shared to-do list. But it also offers some advanced features when you dig a little deeper, such as the ability to track payments, comment on to-do list items, or vote on things.

Share Everything

Merge organizes all of these tasks into four categories: CHORES, SHOP, VOTE, AND PAY. Chores helps you keep track of what needs to be done around the house. Shop lets you keep track of your grocery and shopping lists. Vote, perhaps the most interesting but also impersonal category on the app, lets you propose and vote on decisions for the household. Pay lets you coordinate payments. Merge is a cute, fun app that may prove useful for couples. It will definitely tech a particular type of tech-savvy couple to utilize the app to its full potential, but it’s worth a download for any couples living together under the same roof.

Merge: To-Do List App For Couples posted first on http://film-streamingsweb.blogspot.com

Dive into 5 Films about Water Sports

The rain subsides, the weather gets warm, and all we want to do is find the nearest body of water. Summer is the perfect time for water sports, and there are oh-so-many to enjoy. Personally, my favourite is the floaty chair, preferably one that comes with a rope that I can attach to the dock. Bonus points for a cupholder.

Thankfully, not everyone thinks like me. There are plenty of people who enjoy getting out on the water to sail, canoe, waterski, and swim. Even if you can’t get to a lake, pond, or ocean, you can usually get out to a community pool.

Here are 5 films that celebrate water sports. And whether you enjoy partaking, or you’re an armchair enthusiast, you’re sure to enjoy them.

Path of the Paddle

Summer wouldn’t be summer without Bill Mason in a canoe. My husband would delight in telling you how much of a canoeist I’m not. In fact, I’m not too adept at water sports in general, but that’s never stopped me from being mesmerized by this film.

I guess I’m what you’d call and armchair canoeist. I could spend hours sitting on the couch watching Bill Mason paddle. With great pleasure. Everything this man does is just so enjoyable.

As Mason says, canoeing is the perfect way to explore the last remaining bits of nature. I’ve spent enough time in a canoe (with my husband paddling) to recognize the truth in this; there’s really nothing quite like being on a calm, quiet lake, surrounded by trees and mountains while watching the loons dive and surface.

So, if you’ve ever wanted to learn how to paddle a canoe solo, or maybe just brush up on your skills, this is the film for you. And if you like it, there are 3 more that follow: Doubles Basic, Solo Whitewater, and Doubles Whitewater.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/1SBLIgJ

Singlehanders

Since we started off with solo water sports, I figured we’d continue with that theme for this film. Singlehanded racing is so named because each boat is sailed by only one person, no crew.

It’s one thing when you think about paddling a canoe all alone, but a sailboat? I don’t know. My brother-in-law, who’s a sailor, always said “Sailing is 90% boredom, 10% sheer terror.” I tend to agree, and it’s in that 10% that I’d hate to be alone.

In this film, two Canadians, Bob Lush and Mike Birch, compete in the 1980 Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Race. Birch is a professional sailor, competing at top levels. Lush, on the other hand, only recently discovered sailing and has risked everything to pursue it. But as different as these two men are, out on the water, they’re both after the same thing.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2KJjf0b

Eaude

Let’s just pause for a minute here – literally – and enjoy a poetic take on the art of diving.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/eaude/

The Big Swim

This film from 1964 takes water sports to a whole new level as it gives us an inside look at Canada’s top swimmers in training. These are the folks getting ready for the ’64 Olympic Games, under direction of their coach.

Shot in black and white with very little dialogue but a strong soundtrack, the film has a poetic quality to it. We watch men and women train, spending hours of time and effort in the pool and on the diving boards. The reaction of the two boys sitting on the balcony watching the high divers is hysterical.

Even though the film is only 9 minutes long, it gives you a strong sense of the dedication and stamina required to be an Olympic athlete.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2KLbdR8

Summer is for Kids

Okay. I admit it. This film is a cheat. It’s not exactly about water sports, and it’s a little problematic in its tacit approval of violence as a means to friendship. And I’ve also got some issues with Austin’s bathing suit. But I’m still including it, because it’s about one boy’s longing to be in the water, and the obstacles he overcomes to get there.

Plus, there’s a solid portion around the mid-mark that’s very water focused.

The film is about young Roger, who longs to go to camp for summer vacation, and manages to get himself into just enough trouble that he succeeds. Once he arrives, his desire to get into the lake is overwhelming, but he can’t swim.

Learning to swim at camp is a rite of passage, and together with the scenes of canoeing and long hikes, this film is sure to summon all the feels.

oehttps://https://ift.tt/2KvqLwv

 

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