“Sky’s the limit”

Southdale

St. Boniface

St. Vital

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/06/2023 (1042 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new generation of storytellers are honing their craft here in Winnipeg.

In May, the 2023 cohort of 10 emerging Indigenous creators taking part in the National Screen Institute’s CBC New Indigenous Voices program started their training online, before moving to in-person training at Winnipeg’s Big Sky Studios. It is the first time training has been done in person since 2019, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m thrilled to have CBC New Indigenous Voices return to in-person training,” Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill, program manager, said in a statement. “It’s always an honour to oversee the participants as they learn and grow together — not only as a cohort, but as a community.”

“So far, the program has been amazing,” said Lucas Boudreau, a program participant from the historically Métis settlement of St. Laurent, Man., who is now living in Southdale. “Everyone is so open, we’re all connecting online and it’s great. There’s an exciting atmosphere and vibe, because we all share this passion.”

“It’s really interesting. There’s a lot of new people to meet, a lot of new organizations,” said John Luke, a participant who was born in Yellowknife, N.W.T., but raised in St. Vital and who now calls St. Boniface home. “It’s eye-opening. It’s been great meeting people in my shoes, who want to be creative and to show they can tell stories.”

The program is a full-time, 14-week program where Indigenous creators learn hands-on about the film, TV and digital media industries. Training, collaborative group work and mentorship to build their skills in the industry and take their careers to the next level are all a part of the curriculum.

A graduate of the University of Manitoba’s drama and film programs, Boudreau’s first love is acting, but he is keen to learn all he can from the NSI program.

“At my core, I love acting,” he said. “However, I want to grow and learn as a producer or screenwriter or director. I want to work in film in any capacity. That is my goal and that is what I’ll do. I’m very lucky to be in this program.”

Luke, a Dakota Collegiate alumnus, said he pursued environmental science and business admin in post-secondary school, but it never felt right. In 2020, he got a summer job fighting wildfires in remote northern areas. As part of the job, he said they were encouraged to take photos of their work and the environment. Always a fan of kung fu and horror movies, Luke bought a medium format film camera and discovered he had a passion for photography.

“My creative mind started to flourish, seeing things a lot of people don’t usually see,” he said.

After completing a diploma in photography, Luke was encouraged by his girlfriend to apply for the New Indigenous Voices program.

“I’m hoping to get that on set experience, seeing how people on set work and in production,” he said. “I hope to make a lot of good friends and networking opportunities. That’s why a program like this is made. It’s the people you meet, those are invaluable.”

In the coming weeks, participants will collaborate on producing short films, before going out into industry placements before the program wraps up in August.

“We’ll all take part in an internship, whether with CBC or on a filmset,” Boudreau said. “After that, sky’s the limit.”