If you’ve ever thought about working in the film and TV sector, CION and Reel Canada are offering free film crew training sessions in Greater Sudbury, Timmins and North Bay in the coming weeks.
The training is being offered by Cultural Industries Ontario North (CION), in association with Reel Canada and with support from DGC Ontario, IATSE 634, and IATSE 411.
The Northern Ontario Film Crew Training Sessions are “an innovative program providing three weekends of free, in-person training for individuals residing in Northern Ontario who want to start a career in the Film & TV production industry,” a news release from CION states.
The workshops will be delivered between October 28-November 26 in the three cities.
Similar workshops offered in January and February this year had more than 160 participants, “many of whom secured entry-level work on productions filmed in Northern Ontario,” including on productions like “Shoresy,” “SkyMed,” “Everything’s Going To Be Great” and “40 Acres.”
“This unique program invites northern residents to learn about the roles and responsibilities of those who work behind the scenes on Feature Films, TV Series, and Documentaries filmed across the region,” says Jodie Wiebe, CION’s Workforce Development Officer. “We want to help the next generation of regional talent use their skills and explore creative careers in Northern Ontario.”
The release also states that Reel Canada has pledged a stipend for eligible youth (18-30 years old) from Northern Ontario who complete the program and demonstrate a commitment to exploring career options in the film and TV production industry.
“The Reel Opportunities workforce development program has collaborated with partners across the country to present these pop-up film schools, and CION’s ambitious vision and first-rate execution make it one of the very best,” said Jack Blum, executive director of Reel Canada, in the release.
The workshops are held on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They will be offered in the following cities:
Greater Sudbury: Oct. 28-29, Nov. 4-5, Nov. 11-12
Timmins: Nov. 4-5, Nov. 11-12, and Nov. 18-19
North Bay: Nov. 11-12, Nov. 18-19, and Nov. 25-26
For more information on the Northern Ontario Film Crew Training program, click here.
