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Write 2 Film 2024

$700.00 CAD

July 15 - July 19, 2024

Day Camp For Ages 14-19
An unforgettable experience for creative youth to gain first hand experience in film making. Learn the basics from professional instructors while filming, editing, and producing a film!

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$700 Base Price
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$700 Subtotal
       


Write 2 Film is brought to you through a partnership with CSIF - the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers. Click the link to find out more about CSIF!



Write 2 Film Experience!

PLEASE NOTE: REGISTRATION CLOSES ON JUNE 30, 2024

Write to Film is a multi-disciplinary filmmaking day camp for youth aged 14-19. It offers campers - with interests in front of and behind the camera - a chance to collaborate on a short film all the way from brainstorming ideas and writing a screenplay to screening a finished film. Their process will be supported by a team of professional screenwriters, cinematographers, editor, actors, musicians and more.


    • Ages 14-19
    • July 14th - July 19th, 2024
    • Day camp every day from 8:30am - 5:30pm. Monday to Friday. July 14th is Orientation.
  • FCJ centre: 219 19 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 0C8
  • Tuition - $700.00

*If you are coming in from outside Calgary and are 18+, you may be able to stay overnight at the facility and can book your stay and food with the facility and would be an extra cost paid to them. Please email [email protected] if you'd like more information about this option. 

Write to Film Fees Include

9 hours of daily instruction/activities led by highly qualified instructional and supervisory staff, supervised meals and break times. All supplies are provided. Each participant is required to dress for the weather, bring PPE, indoor/outdoor shoes, and will receive a complimentary copy of YouthWrite: The Magazine.

For those of you new to YouthWrite:

Registration steps continue after registration on this site. After you complete the registration on this site, we ask that you proceed to Campfax, a secure camp database and:

  • fill in important details
  • provide a letter of reference from a teacher/mentor
  • provide the answers to the three Write to Film questions

You are not fully registered until all steps are completed.


Please note

All fees include $100 non-refundable fee.  No refunds will be made if registration is cancelled after June 23, 2024.

A full refund will be possible in the event an applicant is not accepted into the program or if COVID restrictions require that we cancel or reconfigure camp. YouthWrite Society Canada reserves the right to cancel courses and restrict enrollment. Courses, instructors and supervisors may be subject to change.




When

July 14th - July 19th, 2024

Full Week



 

Where

FCJ centre:

219 19 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2S 0C8

Who

Guest Instructors thus far:

Elena (Eli) Belyea

Tanner Bushell 

Rick Garbutt 

David Feehan 

Miranda Martini 

Gillian McKercher 

Bruce Thomas Miller 

Alexis Moar 

Kaz Nakajima

Miranda White 

TBA!

 

Special Guest Presenter:

TBA


Our Super Supers:

Elise Leske

Lead Super Joey Lucius

Miranda Martini

Pearl Nkomo

Eli Smart

Maia Tustonic

More TBA!


Write 2 Film Coordinator:

Anna Cooley


YouthWrite Director-Coordinator:
Gail Sidonie Sobat


Guest Instructors

YOUTHWRITE INSTRUCTORS: THE CREAM OF THE CROP!


Throughout YouthWrite's history, we have prided ourselves on the calibre of our fine instructors.


YouthWrite invites superbly talented and reputable instructors who represent the many facets of the performing, visual, musical, dance, film, and written arts. 




 Elena (Eli) Belyea


Bio

Elena (Eli) Belyea (they/she) is an award-winning writer, actor, producer, and director from amiskwaciwâskahikan (ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ). Their work has been produced across Turtle Island and internationally. She’s artistic director of Tiny Bear Jaws and a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada’s Playwriting program. Elena was recipient of the 2023 Betty Mitchell Award (Calgary) for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical for her portrayal of “The Singer” in Young Jean Lee’s of We’re Gonna Die (Verb Theatre). Elena’s play, Smoke, also won the 2023 Sterling Award for Outstanding Indie Production (Tiny Bear Jaws). They’re half of queer sketch duo Gender? I Hardly Know Them.'


Course

Write What you Know! Auto-Fiction With Elena - In this hybrid mix of fiction and creative non-fiction, take facts, stories, and other elements from your real life, then use these to create boundary-less new worlds!




 Tanner Bushell


Bio

Tanner Bushell attended Alberta University of the Arts from 2013-2015, then transferred to the University of Calgary where theoretical studies helped to hone his film review skills and where he also learned to critique and improve his writing craft. Tanner completed his Bachelor’s degree in Film Studies in 2020. Since then, he's worked on locally shot short films in Calgary, and was a locations PA on the set of The Last of Us. Tanner's scripts were honoured at France’s Beyond the Curve International Film Festival (BCIFF) and the Swedish International Film Festival (SiFF). 


Course

The Review’s the Thing! - Let's look at how critiques convince people to see (or not see) a film, then construct a review with convincing arguments. Learn how to watch a film and decipher how meaning is constructed via story and filmmaking techniques. Use your words and insights to deliver discerning analyses of the films we love (or love to hate)!




Rick Garbutt


Bio

Rick Garbutt was born at a very early age, in order to be with his parents at that important time. Just before his fifth birthday, he finagled getting into a projection booth at a drive-in, beheld a pair of fire-snorting (literally) 35mm carbon arc projectors, and he was hooked. By the age of 10, he had his first 8mm camera, and by 12, he was shooting time-lapse movies with it. While studying for his BSc in chemistry and physics, he learned to ski, and co-produced a series of 4 travelogue comedies for the University of Calgary Ski Club. They are still being screened today!  This was rapidly followed by a documentary on the Bow River flood plain, and that's where he got paid actual money to make movies. Rick got a Province of Alberta First-Class Projectionist license, and spent too many years in the theatre-end of show business, but learned from screening hundreds of films. Segueing to the role of Camera Operator, he has worked for Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, PBS, Paramount, NCRV Television (Netherlands), and independent features. Rick joined SAIT Polytechnic, first as a contract instructor, then for eight years as full-time faculty, teaching film production with a band of wonderful colleagues. Rick knows his alphabet all the way up to six, and is delighted to be joining you all for this writing adventure!


Course

The Fifth Element - Survey and discuss several of the basic things writers need to know, both artistic and practical, the different types of script that you might need to write, along with a quick look at some of the business concerns you need to know in your own self-defense. View The Fifth Element and discuss how it ticks all the boxes writers need to have it tick.


 

David Feehan


Bio

David Feehan is a Calgary-based actor and filmmaker, originally from St. John’s, NL. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Alberta and has worked professionally in theatre, film, and television. He recently created and starred in the short form comedy series,Department of Paranormal Affairs, produced by Dept.9 Studios and directed by Michael Peterson. Other acting credits include This Too Shall Pass, The Umbrella Academy, and Maudie.


Course

Acting for Film and Television - Want to act on screen? Professional actor David Feehan is here to help you learn! Through a variety of fun exercises, learn how to break down a scene, develop your character, learn your lines, and take direction. You’ll leave ready to hit your mark and nail your performance!







 Miranda Martini


Bio

Miranda Martini is a musician, writer, composer, and performer for theatre, film, television and beyond. She is currently working on a chooseable-path audio dating sim set in inner-city Calgary, to be launched this summer on the Story City app. As a former camper, instructor and super, Miranda is excited to be part of YouthWrite’s/CSIF’s Write2Film for its inaugural year!


Course

Scoring Goals: Use Music to Make your Movie Sing! - Whether you want to tug heartstrings or build tension, music is an essential tool in your filmmaker’s toolbelt for communicating with your audience. As we take our films into post-production, we’ll learn about music’s role in establishing genre, character and tone, as well as some ways to create an effective film score even if you don’t play an instrument.




Gillian McKercher


Bio

Gillian McKercher is a filmmaker best known for directing the feature film, Circle of Steel, an Audience Award winner at the 2018 Calgary International Film Festival. She studied directing at the Canadian Film Centre, where she developed her next feature film, Lucky Star, which also received support from the Harold Greenberg Fund and CFC/Netflix Development Accelerator. Her documentary about oil and gas cleanup, Orphaned, is streaming on CBC Gem.


Course

What is a Director and Why do Directors Matter? - Orson Welles once said "The only job a director can do in a film of real value is to do something more than what will happen automatically." But... What is directing and why is it important? Break down the mythology of directing with exercises to bring your "vision" to actuality. Explore techniques such as emotional storytelling, actor blocking, shot lists, and stress management. In the process, you'll be introduced to the craft of direction.


 

 Bruce Thomas Miller


Bio

Bruce Thomas Miller is an Anishinaabe filmmaker, writer, director, and producer. He is the owner of First Nation Creations Productions. Bruce attended Theatre Production and Film Production and received a diploma in both. He has worked as a stage manager and in various other positions in the theatre community in Toronto. He then decided to take a detour into social work, and although rewarding, it became too much and he returned to the entertainment industry. Bruce has made numerous short films and various projects and is currently developing his first feature film based on his short film Conviction. Bruce continues to grow as a filmmaker and artist.


Course

Idea to Page to Screen - Basics of Screen Writing - Everybody is a storyteller. But where to find stories, your story? And how do you make an idea come to life? How do you nurture ideas? Learn what a screenplay is and the role of the screenwriter. Explore how to format a screenplay and to set up a scene. Develop characters and dialogue. Examine the importance of story, of knowing your story and our history with story. Let’s brainstorm. Work together. Work alone. Put in the work. And in doing so, learn the basics of screenwriting so that you can get a grasp on filmmaking and begin your filmmaking adventure.




 Alexis Moar


Bio

Alexis Moar has over a decade of experience working on film sets such as Prey, Interstellar, Heartland, and Wynonna Earp. Over the years she has pursued working as a cinematographer and camera operator on many short films, music videos, documentaries and even reality TV. 


 Kaz Nakajima


Bio

Kaz Nakajima is a Calgary-born artist. His highly observant and curious personality grew into storytelling and filmmaking. His film credits include: Lost & Searching and Cotard as Director; Sleepwalker and Outrun as cinematographer; Lucky Star and Faultline as Key Grip. Kaz’s goal is to delve deeper into his creative side and create works of art, such as his photography, woodworking or anything that ignites his creative drive and can be enjoyed by those around him.


Course

Film Craft: Intro to Cinematography, Lighting and Sound - With Alexis Moar and Kaz Nakajima Discover the magic behind the scenes of movies and TV shows! In this engaging workshop, dive into how you can capture and create stories with camera work, lighting, and sound. Explore different types of shots and lighting techniques used in film and television, and gain the skills to start creating your own cinematic masterpieces. 



 

 Miranda White


Bio

Miranda White loves editing and it has been her career for the last 18 years in Calgary. She’s worked on documentaries, corporate videos, television shows, CTV & CBC news, and short films. Miranda has taught editing at SAIT, NUTV (University of Calgary), Emmedia, Telus Community Stories, and GIFT (Girls in Film & Television). The coolest project she worked on was Fraggle Rock - season 2 episodes 1-4 (as the dailies operator). When not editing, Miranda is likely taking an art class and has recently been blowing glass and learning pottery.


Course

Editors Are Writers, Too! - Editors are the third writer of a film, using visual and audio queues to make the audience feel and believe the story. Editing is taking all the hard work from the first four days of the program and piecing it together to tell your story. You can add music, sound effects, transitions and visual effects to bring it to life. Editing is challenging, but can be a lot of fun!


The Amazing Supers

Handpicked and multi-talented, YouthWrite Supers are the centre of our camps. As artists, teachers and mentors, they bring the X-Factor to YouthWrite.

Elise Leske 


Elise Leske is a past YouthWriter who now dabbles in comedy, camerawork, and crossword puzzles.  When she’s not on set or doing stand up, she likes painting and crushing her opponents in board games (she often loses).  She is also Gail’s favourite. 




Joey Lucius - Lead Super


Joey Lucius is a Canadian Comedy Award-winning performer and has been a staple at Edmonton’s Rapid Fire Theatre since 2007. He’s also a real life certified teacher! As a writer, Joey is a contributor to the online Beaverton, and is currently developing a project about the Filipino-Canadian experience that received a letter of interest from the CBC. He thinks birds are cool! And he knows he is Gail’s favourite!




Miranda Martini 

Miranda Martini is a musician, writer, composer, and performer for theatre, film, television and beyond. She is currently working on a chooseable-path audio dating sim set in inner-city Calgary, to be launched this summer on the Story City app. As a former camper, instructor and super, Miranda is excited to be part of YouthWrite’s/CSIF’s Write2Film for its inaugural year!




Eli Smart  


Eli Smart (He/They) is a local award-winning director/writer/producer from YYC. He started writing prose at the age of 9 which, in turn, kickstarted his filmmaking and theatre journey, which he began at age 15. Eli’s passion for filmmaking has given them many amazing opportunities, and shown him that the best part about the arts is the community surrounding it. Whether it’s staying up late with your friends trying to finish a project, or sharing ideas while juggling the ones you already have, being in the arts is one of the greatest joys in the world, and Eli is honored to be a part of it!! They are also eager to become Anna’s favourite! 




Maia Tustonic

Maia Tustonic is a journalism and political science student at Carleton University with a passion for shining light on untold stories. A proud alumna of various theatre and choir programs in Calgary, and currently an editor at the Charlatan and the Carleton Global Review, Maia has loved writing, theatre, and singing for as long as she can remember. She is beyond excited to return to YouthWrite for another summer full of imagination and friendship, plus being Anna’s favourite!




Write 2 Film Coordinator

Anna Cooley


Anna Cooley is thrilled to be heading up the first ever Write 2 Film Camp. A long time YouthWriter, Anna first attended 24 years ago as a camper, and has since been a guest presenter, supervisor, and lead supervisor. Anna took her first screenwriting course at YouthWrite in 2004 and is now an award-winning director, writer, cinematographer, and producer. Her projects push the boundaries of conventional storytelling by identifying unique narratives, collaborating with artists from a diverse range of disciplines, and experimenting with cutting-edge technologies. She gravitates towards projects that tackle challenging subject matter and engages them with her unique brand of humour and empathy.


Anna directed her first scripted feature Faultline which premiered at the 2023 Calgary International Film Festival. She wrote and directed the documentary feature A Sauropod Abroad, as well as the short documentaries Garden Shark: there are some things dementia can’t touch and See Me. She was the director of photography for CBC’s Living Without Menace and the two Canadian Screen Award short documentary nominees, The Goats of Monesiglio (for which she was also a producer) and Clebs. She also directed on Abracadavers Season 2, and the experimental VR project sandboxxii.com. Upcoming projects include the web series Scout and Gender? I Hardly Know Them and Nature of Things documentary Today Sucks, But Tomorrow Will Be Better.


Anna is an alumna of the Whistler Doc Lab, Women in the Director’s Chair Story and Leadership Program, and the Canadian Academy Directors Program for Women. She is a teacher, a mentor, and is a long-standing board member of the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers.




YouthWrite Director- Coordinator

Gail Sidonie Sobat


is a multi-award-winning teacher and author, with twelve books for children, teens and adults, and a number of educational and academic articles. A Global News Woman of Vision and an Arts and Culture Citation Award recipient, she is the YouthWrite creator/ coordinator, an international presenter, an instructor in the professional writing program at MacEwan University and in the Faculty of Education at U of A. Gail was The Writers’ Union of Canada Regional Representative for Alberta, NWT and Nunavut, and writer in residence with the Metro Edmonton Federation of Libraries. 


She has moved forty times in her life from Badlands to Siksika Nation Reserve to hideous suburbs to Istanbul to the Sunshine Coast to her writer’s garret in a century-old temperamental house. She adores all of her Supers & Coordinators equally, and loves YouthWrite like a madwoman!