March 6, 2012 Leave a comment
A new teaser has been released for the upcoming film “Calcutta Taxi,” which was shot on location last year by 2002 grads Vikram Dasgupta and Jeff Mahar.
For more information about the film, click here.
October 14, 2011 Leave a comment
Spread the word and reserve your spot. Contact alumni@sheridanc.on.ca or call 905-815-4078.
To view the flyer click here.
September 10, 2011 1 Comment
By Monica Virtue (ATVF ’03)
Ten years ago this September, Sheridan College’s Advanced TV & Film Program was celebrating it’s first anniversary in the newly constructed SCAET building. The 2001/2002 school year was barely a week old when the tragic events of September 11th began to unfold.
Ten years later, compelling stories about 9/11 continue to be told by filmmakers around the world.
One of those filmmakers is ATVF graduate…Lucius Dechausay.
Above: ATVF graduate Lucius Dechausay (’03) recently directed “Solace in the Dark: A TIFF 9/11 Retrospective,” which will be shown before all public screenings on September 11th at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Name: Lucius Dechausay
Current Location: Toronto, Ontario
Graduating Year: 2003
Web Site: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lucius-dechausay/3a/899/679
1/ Lucius, you’ve been working on a really unique project recently. Can you tell us a bit about it – and where we can see it?
It’s a short retrospective 10 years after 9/11. It focuses on the stories of filmmakers, critics, staff and executives who experienced the terrorist attacks while attending TIFF that year. It’ll be playing September 11, 2011 @ TIFF before every film. So go see anything that day and get there on time. 
After it’s premiere it’s going up on TIFF’s website for the remainder of the festival.
>> Watch “Solace in the Dark: TIFF 9/11 Retrospective”
2/ As someone who loves documentaries, I’ve got to admit that I’m drooling a bit over the thought of directing a film on an emotional subject like this. How did you land this project?!
TIFF has done a great job over the years programming films that have dealt with the anger, fear, racism and lasting effects that the 9/11 attacks had on our society. This being the 10th anniversary I knew they were going to want to do something special. I had worked with them earlier in the year as I produced the trailer for this year’s festival. So I got in touch with them, pitched an idea, they liked it and helped with the contacts. Then the pressure was on to make it happen in an incredibly tight deadline.
3/ What was the process you went through once you learned you had landed it? Can you walk us through, from hearing the news to it appearing on screen?
I didn’t have a lot of time to put it all together so I immediately phoned everyone I trusted and built a team. Surprisingly everyone was available. I then began writing up a creative treatment while also searching for subjects and sourcing out stock footage and photos. I couldn’t waste any time. I’m not sure if I’ve ever been more organized.
Once a team was in place I delegated a few things and everyone gave 110%. The interview subjects were confirmed only a few days before I’d interview them so there was constant research taking place.
We shot for two days, a third used for phone interviews and then I had only two days for editing and graphics.
The team of execs and programmers at TIFF obviously wanted to see the final piece so that screening took place hours before I was supposed to be on a plane leaving for vacation. Luckily they liked it or I might have had some tough decisions to make about those plane tickets.
4/ I imagine everyone you filmed with must have had a powerful story to tell. How did you make decisions on which footage to keep in, and which to cut?
I’ve edited a lot of projects that incorporate a lot of materials so I’m used to dealing with an enormous amount of footage and condensing into cohesive storylines. I had a pretty good idea in my head of the way I wanted this film to flow. I was actively listening throughout each interview to address ideas that I wanted to include, but was also restructuring that outline in my head as someone would go into a story or answer that I didn’t expect. Plus, it did get very emotional and many people teared up so you want to be able to give them adequate screen time so that their reaction makes sense.
5/ What was the most challenging aspect of this project?
The hardest part was cutting out pieces of the interviews not because they didn’t work but simply due to the length of the film. I could’ve easily made this two or three times longer. Also with the deadline there was an incredible amount of multitasking that had to be done and some things just couldn’t get done in that period.
6/ What did you learn?
I learned if you cut out sleep you can work for 8 more hours each day.
Really I learned how much people can contribute to a project if they’re engaged by it. The whole team was awesome and really made this a smooth, painless, fun process.
7/ I know you’ve directed dramas before, because I saw you direct a dramatic short while at Sheridan. Did you have an interest in documentary before this?
I love documentaries. I’ve edited them before but always wanted to direct one. I watched you work on your doc and I think there is so much power in telling real stories. I’ve always thought they were much harder than dramas because they require more of a time investment and can be unpredictable. We had one subject not show up for an interview, others that exposed things I wasn’t expecting and you have to be constantly adapting.
8/ It’s been eight years since you graduated from the ATVF program. What have you been working on in that time?
Music videos, commercials, shorts, television, you name it. Either editing, directing or doing some graphic work I’ve had a couple of day jobs and freelanced on over 100 projects since graduating. Most recently I edited a feature film, Webdultery, for another alumni and great director Charles Wahl.
9/ What’s the one thing you learned at Sheridan that has helped you the most in your career so far?
I learned a lot at Sheridan. Everything was essential. The more you know about each aspect of the filmmaking process the better off you are and you never stop learning new things.
10/ What’s your favourite movie of all time?
That’s a really tough question. Ten other films will come to mind as soon as I write this, but in the moment I’ll say Amelie.
11/ Where will we see you next? Any other new projects in the works?
I’m currently finishing up a short animation I was working on this summer. It’s called The Mark and deals with race and identity. Also, I’m in the early stages of developing a longer documentary about dangerous psychiatric treatments.
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September 7, 2011 Leave a comment
After graduation, Monica returned to Sheridan to direct a documentary on the personal aftermath of the Ipperwash crisis, as part of the college’s incubator program. In 2005, with the Ipperwash Inquiry recommendations yet to be released and her film still in production, she was approached by Sam George and his lawyer, Murray Klippenstein, to direct a documentary about the history of the Ipperwash Provincial Park lands – the site of the controversial police-shooting of Sam’s brother, First Nations protester Dudley George. Full Story
November 30, 2010
By Monica Virtue (ATVF ’03)
It’s the 10 year anniversary of Sheridan College’s Advanced TV & Film Program, and to commemorate the milestone we’re profiling numerous ATVF grads in a semi-weekly column called “10.” We’ll be throwing 10 questions at ATVF alumni who are working in the television and film industry to see what they’ve been up to since graduating.
Next up? 10 questions with…Corrine Saint.
Above: ATVF graduate Corrine Saint (’04) spends her time behind the camera as a Director at the Score.
Name: Corrine Saint
Current Location: Toronto, Ontario
Graduating Year: 2004
Web Site: http://www.thescore.com
1) First question…Corrine, I know that you’re a Director at The Score. But what in the world does that mean?! What does your day consist of?
I think the easiest way to explain it is that at the Score, producers decide on content for our shows while directors work on the overall look (with the rest of the crew and the creative team) and make all the different parts of actual shows happen. Before any show, everyone gets a lineup from the producer telling us the order of the highlights, scoreboards, on cameras, b-roll, where the music goes, etc., and it’s up to the directors to make it all happen at the right time and in the correct order. Read more of this post
November 10, 2010
By Monica Virtue (ATVF ’03)
It’s the 10 year anniversary of Sheridan College’s Advanced TV & Film Program, and to commemorate the milestone we’re profiling numerous ATVF grads in a semi-weekly column called “10.” We’ll be throwing 10 questions at ATVF alumni who are working in the television and film industry to see what they’ve been up to since graduating.
Next up? 10 questions with…Jeremy Larter.
But first, a warning: The following links are for a mature audience only. Viewer Discretion is Advised (NSFW).
Above: ATVF graduate Jeremy Larter (’05) spends time in character for his original Web series, “Ponderings.” Besides being on-screen, Larter also plays the role of producer, director, co-writer, and editor for the series, which was recently filmed in Prince Edward Island.
Name: Jeremy Larter
Current Location: Toronto, Ontario
Graduating Year: 2005
Web Sites:
http://www.ponderings.ca
http://www.profilepei.com
http://www.jiggers.ca
1. Jeremy, just so you know, I officially think your Ponderings episodes are completely rude and offensive (unofficially, I laugh my head off at every one of them…) Where did you get the idea for Ponderings?
I officially accept your unofficial position but hope you weren’t being literal about laughing your head off when you are watching them.
The idea for Ponderings comes from a few different places. The main inspiration for the series probably comes from childhood memories of my brother and I driving around with my Dad on weekends. My father would be running errands as my brother and I would be sitting in the car watching my Dad get into these seemingly endless discussions with people. So, that image of the two men talking in a different place each time always stuck with me. Read more of this post
October 25, 2010
Bread & Kisses, an ATVF film from 2010 was recently screened at the Hamptons International Film Festival. Director, Katherine Fitzgerald, was in attendance and reports that it was a great experience with a lot of opportunities for networking.
Abra Cadaver, also an ATVF film produced in 2010, recently won the Best Student Horror Short award at the International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival in Arizona. It was also screened in the YoungCuts Film Festival in Montreal in September.
Breaking Point, is scheduled to screen at the London Short Film Showcase on Nov. 6.
If you are an ATVF alumni, and you would like me to post a note about a recent or upcoming festival screening for your film, please send me a note!
October 22, 2010 1 Comment
By Monica Virtue (ATVF ’03)
It’s the 10 year anniversary of Sheridan College’s Advanced TV & Film Program, and to commemorate the milestone we’re profiling numerous ATVF grads in a semi-weekly column called “10.” We’ll be throwing 10 questions at ATVF alumni who are working in the television and film industry to see what they’ve been up to since graduating.
Next up? 10 questions with…Steve Johnston.
Above: ATVF graduate Steve Johnston hosts “The Film Cynics,” a weekly radio show on Victoria’s CFAX 1070.
Name: Steve Johnston
Current Location: Victoria, British Columbia
Graduating Year: 2003
Web Site: http://www.thefilmcynics.com
1. Steve, you just celebrated an anniversary. Can you tell us about it?
Yes, we just celebrated one year of The Film Cynics on CFAX 1070. After about 2 years of blogging and radio guest appearances, last September we were finally offered our very own show that we do every Sunday afternoon. My co-host Brian and I spend an hour talking about movies, TV and pop-culture with a bit of a focus towards DVDs and blu-rays. Through the miracle of technology, we then abscond with the show and beam it out through our website as an award nominated weekly podcast that’s listened to all over the globe. Read more of this post
October 13, 2010
By Monica Virtue (ATVF ’03)
It’s the 10 year anniversary of Sheridan College’s Advanced TV & Film Program, and to commemorate the milestone we’re profiling numerous ATVF grads in a semi-weekly column called “10.” We’ll be throwing 10 questions at ATVF alumni who are working in the television and film industry to see what they’ve been up to since graduating.
First up? 10 questions with…Vikram Dasgupta.
Above: ATVF graduate Vikram Dasgupta (second from left) poses with his team from “The Bee” at the 2010 Toronto Urban Film Festival in September. The film won an “Honourable Mention” and the award for “Best Environmental Film By A Canadian Filmmaker.” For more information visit: http://www.torontourbanfilmfestivalawards
Name: Vikram Dasgupta
Current Location: Toronto, Ontario
Graduating Year: 2002
Web Sites:
http://www.pixelpaletteinc.com
http://www.vikramdasgupta.com
1. Vikram, you just won two awards at the 2010 Toronto Urban Film Festival – an “Honourable Mention” and “Best Environmental Film By A Canadian Filmmaker” for your film “The Bee.” Congratulations! How did you get involved with this project?
Thank you Monica! The core idea behind writing ‘The Bee’ was to make a film that served as a metaphor for creators that never get the due credit for their work. The environmental approach came to it much later on as we started thinking about ‘creation’ on a global scale, and what it means to the creator or in this case the bee. Of course in our story it ends with a total lack of respect for the creator once the process is finished. Read more of this post
October 2, 2010
When meeting with execs, always bring something to leave behind. That something is usually a one page, and maybe a one sheet (mock movie poster).
Some people will tell you not to bring one, others will say they’re not necessary, but the truth is, a one page is absolutely essential to sell your script.
A one page is a simple concept. Tell me your story on one sheet of paper.
Here’s how to make a one sheet:
Generally, the title’s at the top, followed by a logline – a simple one sentence description of your film – then a synopsis. Your synopsis should be in a act one, act two, act three format, all split into separate paragraphs. Read more of this post
