Northern B.C. residents will once again have access to high-profiled and special-skilled personnel in the field of film production thanks to Creative BC.
Creative Corner is a series of workshops, panel discussions, and open access booths all under the umbrella of Northern FanCon. It gives aspiring filmmakers and other screen arts enthusiasts three days of unprecedented access to the professionals who make the B.C. industry one of the most lucrative and creative in the world, supporting a legion of professions. The first Creative Corner was held in 2017 and the $20,000 sponsorship from Creative BC will allow this unique service to continue with a 2018 edition.
“The Creative Corner is a critical piece of sharing opportunities in the film industry with our Northern population,” said Norm Coyne, UNLTD Median and Events, and event director, Northern FanCon. “We have already seen partnerships and projects develop as a result of it. We are so grateful to have the support from Creative BC to see it continue and grow. BC is world famous for its screen arts industry centred in the Lower Mainland. Through Northern FanCon, thanks to Creative BC, we are expanding that scope to include our region and foster a truly provincial filmmaking sector.”
Northern FanCon is a film and television fan convention and entertainment expo which started in Prince George in 2015 and has grown steadily, with 30,000 visitors attending the show to date.
Now entering its fourth year, this year’s FanCon will take place in Prince George May 11-13. Since it began, the convention has hosted guests such as William Shatner, Karl Urban, Levar Burton, Tia Carrere to name only a few. This year’s guests and events also include Kevin Smith, Sean Astin, Nichelle Nichols, Tricia Helfer, Michael Biehn and several others. The nature of the convention makes it a natural fit to engage opportunities in the film industry and it has already built relationships which have yielded one film project – “The Doctor’s Case,” a Sherlock Holmes story written by Stephen King starring Denise Crosby of Pet Sematary and Star Trek: Next Generation fame, plus William B. Davis from X-Files.
Creative BC was established by the provincial government to act as an industry catalyst, nurturing growth and development of the British Columbia’s creative industries. The funding from Creative BC will enable Northern FanCon to build on an already successful foundation regarding Creative Corner, leading to significant opportunities for film production in Northern BC. With hundreds of film and television productions, and direct spending of billions of dollars annually, British Columbia is one of the top production centres in North America, recognized for its outstanding infrastructure of studios for physical production and extensive pool of experienced cast and crew.
As in previous years, the Creative Corner will feature industry screenwriters, directors, sound designers, costume designers, make up artists, producers and more. Attendees will not only be able to engage these professionals at their booths but will also have access to workshop and panels where these experts will go into detail about their areas of expertise.
WORKSHOPS
Getting into The Writers Room (Hosted by Marc Bernardin)
Television writer and podcaster Marc Bernardin (Castle Rock, Alphas, Fatman on Batman) walks through the process of what it takes to get staffed on a TV show and, once there, what to expect.
From the Kitchen to the Screen (Hosted by Bob Blumer)
Three-time Gemini and Leo award-winning culinary television host, producer and fan favorite Bob Blumer (Glutton for Punishment, Surreal Gourmet) recounts his journey from food-related entertainer to network celebrity.
From Concept to Screen (Hosted by Tina Teoli)
Leo award-winning make-up artist Tina Teoli (Flash, Good Doctor, Freddy vs. Jason) shares the creative process of shaping people’s appearances. Tina’s presentation also includes a demonstration of her talents with a live model.
Costumes: Inception to Camera (Hosted by Allisa Swanson)
Leo Award-winning costume designer Allisa Swanson shares the creative process for film and TV costume design, citing examples from her time on the hit shows The 100 and Once Upon a Time.
A Case for Sound: A study of sound in the Doctor’s Case (Hosted by Jenn Lewis)
Career Sound Designer Jenn Lewis (The Doctor’s Case, Need for Speed
, James Bond 007
, Warhammer 40,000 series) offers an in-depth and on-hands approach to the sound editing process behind the Stephen King feature film “The Doctor’s Case.”
From Storyboards to Screen: Building the Game of Thrones Loot Train Sequence (Hosted by Jeremy Simser
Join storyboard artist Jeremy Simser (Game of Thrones, Deadpool, Lucifer, Flash) as he walks through a play-by-play commentary of a sequence he worked on for the hit HBO series Game of Thrones.
How to Make a Film the Judges Will Love (Hosted by Paul Donnett)
Join Paul Donnett (Men 4 Rent, Reinventing Leonard, Shaka Zulu), screenwriter and judge for the Leo Awards, BC Student Film Festival, and ZoomFest to learn the secrets of how to set your film apart from the rest.
Making a Scene: The Nuts & Bolts Great Movies (Hosted by Paul Donnett )
Using Inglorious Basterds and The Dark Knight as critical examples, learn how to build killer scenes from the ground up from screenwriter-producer, graphic novelist, and screenwriting instructor Paul Donnett.
PANELS
Women in Film
Moderator Carol Gass leads a timely discussion of the importance of gender parity in film & television with accomplished & award-winning ladies with both long and emerging careers in the industry. Panelists featured include Allisa Swanson, Tina Teoli, Gigi Edgley (Farscape, Jim Henson’s Creature Creations), Jenn Lewis, and Kim Feragen (Final Breath, The Doctor’s Case).
Producer’s Panel
This panel explores what it takes to make a film or television show from the perspective of a producer. The diversity in backgrounds and projects from each of these panelists offers a broad range of insights into making film projects. The Producers Panel will feature Bob Blumer, Gigi Edgley, and James Douglas (The Doctor’s Case, Wilds to Riches).
The full schedule of events is available at www.fancon.ca
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