Videos Screened at International Conference

Young Nova Scotia film-makers are demonstrating their works to an international audience at a broadcasters' conference in Halifax this week.

Three videos being shown at the week-long Input 2000 conference were produced this spring by participants in the Nova Scotia First Works program. The screening marks the culmination of the eight-week pilot project geared toward young, unemployed Nova Scotians interested in gaining video and film production skills and experience.

"I got to direct a short film. I never expected to do all that when I came here," said Jason Smith, a participant at one of the program's two venues, Shelburne and Sydney. He and other participants lauded the value of First Works. "I feel that I'm better prepared to get a job now. At least I know what track I'm on."

"The growing self-confidence we've seen has been phenomenal," said Jimmy DeVries, co-ordinator for the Sydney program. "Our participants found an area that really interested them and they used it to bring themselves out of their shells."

Results and comments like these are particularly gratifying for Ann MacKenzie, CEO of the Nova Scotia Film Development Corp., which organized and administered the program.

"We wanted to design a program that would open doors for youth -- not only doors to the growing film industry, but to the workforce and to making a positive contribution to their communities," said Ms. MacKenzie. "The First Works pilot achieved much of what we set out to do, and now we have to build upon that. We have to continue working toward helping our youth channel their creative energies and find their place in our communities."

Nova Scotia First Works comprised two components: the first was a hands-on film and video production curriculum developed by the Department of Education, and the second was a program for work- readiness and leadership development.

Two film professionals were selected to instruct the production component. Stephen Reynolds, a feature-film and television director and past instructor at the Canadian Film Centre in Toronto, led the Shelburne students. His feature film The Divine Ryans is winning awards internationally at major festivals. In Sydney, film-maker Joan Weeks instructed students. Weeks, who lives and works in Sydney, has most notably made her mark in the industry by producing documentaries for television.

The instructors were supported by co-ordinators and facilitators as well as staff from HeartWood, an organization that helps youth with personal development. As part of the life/work component of the film course, HeartWood staff guided participants in building their work-related portfolios and helped with the ongoing process of career research.

"Many of the students plan to go on to further training while others have some immediate prospects," said Jeni Smith, who worked as life/work facilitator with the Shelburne students. For instance, Smith said, some of the program's participants are involved with a film currently being shot at Mill Cove.

"The success of Nova Scotia First Works confirms what we already understand -- and have to continue working at: that a key to reducing unemployment is developing and expanding opportunities that allow young people to develop skills and enter the workforce in a field that interests them," said Economic Development Minister Gordon Balser.

"I congratulate the participants on their successes, and I also commend the instructors, the facilitators, the staff at the film development corporation for having the vision to develop the program, and the many industry and community partners who supported this worthwhile project."

Project partners include: Human Resource Development Canada, Department of Education, Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority, South West Shore Development Authority, Nova Scotia Community College, University College of Cape Breton, Salter Street Digital, William F. White, Input 2000 and Cochran Entertainment.

Sixteen students were chosen from among 29 applicants to the First Works program. They were selected on the basis of their commitment to learn about film production and their desire to develop work-readiness skills for the industry.

The pilot was launched in Shelburne and Sydney because the two communities have sound stages and other facilities such as offices, classrooms, access to High8 and digital video cameras, editors and sound equipment. Over the eight weeks of the program, the students participated in a work-world model in which they worked as a team in the writing, planning, shooting and editing of a video.

The three works, one from the Shelburne group and two from Sydney, are being screened today beginning at noon at the Nova Scotia First Works reception at Input 2000, being held at the World Trade and Convention Centre, Halifax.

The conference, public television's annual get-together, has drawn more than 1,300 network executives and film-makers from some 50 countries.