Auditioning for the Camera with Samora Smallwood

Ontario Creates (formally OMDC) supports the province of Ontario’s creative economy by providing innovative programs, services and funding for the film & television; book & magazine publishing; interactive digital media & music industries. As Program Consultant, Film and Television Ms. Payne brings over 20 years’ of industry experience to the administration and development of programs and strategies which help to drive innovation and growth in Ontario’s creative industries. Her portfolio includes the Film Fund, Industry Development and the Marketing and Distribution Initiative.

Craig Thompson is an experienced Director, Writer and Producer whose company, Ballinran Entertainment, marks its 25th anniversary in 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Craig and his team adapted quickly to the changing film and television production landscape. In March, his 22-minute documentary Inside Wuhan was one of the highest-rated programs of the season for CTV’s W5. Directed and Produced from Canada, Inside Wuhan was shot undercover in the epicentre of the coronavirus using a camera smuggled into the city where a Canadian expat provided a glimpse of life in a city under lockdown.

Other recent credits include the Alex Trebek documentary Game Changers, nominated for a 2020 Canadian Screen Award for Best Arts or Biography Documentary; streaming worldwide on Netflix, The Truth is in the Stars, with William Shatner and featuring a raft of international celebrities including Stephen Hawking in one of his last documentary interviews. Ballinran is currently in production on the Cirque du Soleil documentary, Balancing Act, filmed in China and is adapting for the screen Richard Wright’s award-winning novel Clara Callan.

Prior to setting out as an independent producer, Craig was an on-camera reporter for CTV National News with Lloyd Robertson, a correspondent for CBC’s The National and for three years in the 1980s served as the London correspondent for CBC National Radio News, covering “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland.

In addition to his production career, Craig has taught documentary filmmaking at the University of Waterloo. He is also active in his community of Stratford, Ontario, operating the art house cinema, Queen of the Square Cinema, located in the city’s historic city hall auditorium.

He holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts from the Ryerson School of Journalism.

An NSI Features First alumni, has written and produced short films that have been broadcast, released theatrically and are available on iTunes. His short film, THE HUNT, was named the best short film of 2013 by RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE. His directorial debut, IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD premiered at the 2016 Horror Channel Fright Fest and continues to tour the worldwide festival circuit. Through his work with William F. White he helps new talent learn the industry procedures and develop a plan for their project that will help maximize the results.

Jordan is an award-winning producer and director of films like Nintendo Quest and FCFF Best Documentary winner, Missing Mom. He has also worked on numerous films as an actor, production designer, art director and screenwriter. Since 2013, Jordan has been creating and hosting popular seminars and workshops on the nebulous art and science of writing screenplays.

Best known as co-creator and producer of Canada's internationally respected Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) program, Carol Whiteman is a two-time Governor General’s award nominee and multiple award-winner for promoting gender equality in Canada’s screen industry. Since 1997, Whiteman has worked tirelessly to advance the careers, fiction feature films, network television and web series of a generation of female screen writers and directors across Canada and internationally. She produced over 150 short films through WIDC and is executive producer on seven award-winning feature films including Red Snow, Rustic Oracle, and Queen of the Morning Calm, with two more WIDC features in the pipeline. Whiteman recently completed her doctoral degree in education at Simon Fraser University, British Columbia. Her dissertation shares an inspiring chronicle of the tenacity and transformative leadership behind WIDC’s decades-long history. (Photo credit: Wendy D.)

Kirk Cooper is the founder of Film Market Access, a film consulting and PR firm. Kirk’s contribution to the international film community spans over 17 years with experience in the global arts and the entertainment industry. His strength lies in Film Programming, Communications, Professional Development, and Project Management for Film. Kirk has created film programming for festivals such as - Durham Region International Film Festival, Victoria International Film Festival, ReelWorld Film Festival, Inside Out (LGBT) Film Festival, Planet In Focus, Canadian Film Festival, River to River, Pan Africa Film Festival. Kirk is currently the Festival Manager for Raven Banner Entertainment - a genre distributor in Canada.

A freelance military historian, author and broadcaster who has specialised in the study of the two world wars Andy is currently working on a project for Twickenham Studios that will compete later this year. He was previously a Museum Director for the MOD and before that Head of Education and Events at the National Army Museum in London. He runs a replica World War One trench in Sussex which has been featured in a variety of television and film projects and for which he provided advice, uniformed extras and props. Andy’s business, Battlefield Partnerships Ltd, provides military props and original items for prop houses and consultations on film projects. He was Military Consultant War Horse and was on location throughout the filming. In the period before filming started he was consulted on the screenplay and worked with Richard Curtis. For ‘1917’ he was also costume, prop and Set Dec consultant. This very successful experience demonstrated his ability to balance historical accuracy with the needs of a production. He works with actors, extras and crew, provides historical background, and motives for actors and extras that are unfamiliar with military history or the period being portrayed.

Niro is a member of the Six Nations Reserve, Bay of Quinte Mohawk, Turtle Clan. Shelley Niro is a multi-media artist. Her work involves photography, painting, beadwork and film. Niro is conscious the impact post-colonial mediums have had on Indigenous people. Like many artists from different Native communities, she works relentlessly pre-senting people in realistic and explorative portrayals. Photo series such as MOHAWKS IN BEEHIVES, THIS LAND IS MIME LAND and M: STORIES OF WOMEN are a few of the genre of artwork. Films include: HONEY MOCCASIN, IT STARTS WITH A WHIS-PER, THE SHIRT, KISSED BY LIGHTNING and ROBERT’S PAINTINGS. Recently she finished her film THE INCREDIBLE 25th YEAR OF MITZI BEARCLAW. Shelley graduated from the Ontario College of Art, Honours and received her Master of Fine Art from the University of Western Ontario. Niro was the inaugural recipient of the Aboriginal Arts Award presented through the On-tario Arts Council in 2012. In 2017 Niro received the Governor General’s Award For The Arts from the Canada Council, The Scotiabank Photography Award and also received the Hnatyshyn Foundation REVEAL Award. Niro recently received an honorary doctorate from the Ontario College of Arts and De-sign University. She also was the 2019 Laureate of the Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award for Photography

Samora Smallwood is an award winning, classically trained actor, writer, & cool feminist of West African & Caucasian descent. Samora is fluent in French, proficient in Spanish & a lover of action who is trained in stage combat, fighting for TV & Film, and archery. She is Co-Chair of ACTRA's Diversity Committee as well as the founder of The Actors Work Studio, an innovative acting studio in Toronto. Samora's recent television work includes Star Trek Discovery, Star Trek Short Treks, The Expanse, American Gods, Coroner, The Shelter, Shadowhunters, and an episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries involving a story close to her heart about white passing & black identity in Canada. Upcoming projects include “Daughter Dearest”, “Counting on Christmas” & “Toni & Solo”.

Samora won The Theatre Windsor Award for “Best Actress” for her portrayal of May Henning in Norm Foster’s “The Affections of May” & is nominated for a 2020 ACTRA award nomination for Best Series Ensemble for her work in “Tokens”. Samora's passion is telling fresh stories and promoting diversity on-screen and behind the camera. She was recently a jury member for The Female Eye Film Festival as well as a selected participant in The Reelworld Film Festival's "Emerging 20" Talent to Watch Program. Samora is also a passionate public speaker whose recent work includes hosting panels at TIFF, The Toronto Black Film Festival, Official International Women’s Day & ACTRA Toronto.

Kris Pearn was born in London, Ontario, Canada. After graduating from Sheridan College, Kris has spent most of his life making cartoons for both film and television. His credits include: Open Season, Surf’s Up, Arthur Christmas, Shawn the Sheep, Pirates: Band of Misfits, and Home to name a few. He was Head of Story on Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, and co-directed Cloudy Two: Rise of the Leftovers. He has most recently written and directed the Netflix animated feature THE WILLOUGHBYS based on the novel by Lois Lowry. Kris has been nominated for several Annies, has taught at Sheridan College, lectures all over the world through Schoolism, and has given a Ted Talk called “The Optimistic Opportunity of Failure”. He has illustrated several books including: Edward The Tree Climbing Dog, Project Superhero, and Tales of Spiffing. He still loves to draw.

Sean Cisterna is a multi award-winning director whose most recent film is From the Vine (2020), an international coproduction starring Emmy winner Joe Pantoliano. Cisterna directed the acclaimed cancer drama Kiss and Cry (2017), which topped the Canadian box office, and is currently streaming on Netflix worldwide. His 2015 feature Full Out, starring Jennifer Beals, is based on the true story of gymnast Ariana Berlin. The film was broadcast on NBC, now residing with Netflix Worldwide and Disney Europe. Cisterna was awarded a Canada 150 Citizenship Award by the Federal Government for his dedication to and community engagement in the arts.

Paige Murray has worked at the CBC for over eight years within the content areas and is currently the Development Manager, Comedy and Drama for CBC English Television. As the key point of contact for comedy and drama submissions, Paige actively looks for new talent and projects and evaluates series pitches to fulfill CBC’s programming needs. Paige is also the programmer for Canadian Reflections, the longest running Canadian short film showcase on national broadcast television. Paige currently sits as Vice Chair of the Breakthroughs Film Festival Board. Breakthroughs is the only festival in Canada devoted exclusively to showcasing short films made by emerging women, trans and non-binary directors.

Victor Garber has been in some of the most memorable projects of the past four decades including Sleepless in Seattle (1993), The First Wives Club (1996), Legally Blonde (2001), Titanic (1997), Milk (2008), and Argo (2012). Victor has recently appeared in Family Law, The Slap, The Flash, Motive and Web Therapy. He is currently starring in Greg Berlanti's new DC Comics Superhero series "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" for Warner Bros/CW. He has shared in two Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® nominations for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast, the latest for Milk, and previously as a member of the cast of Titanic as well as winning with the cast of Argo. Garber received three Emmy® nods for his role on Alias and has also earned Emmy® nominations for Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, and his guest roles on Frasier and Will & Grace. He is also an accomplished stage actor, whose extensive credits encompass lead roles in both plays and musicals, and has earned four Tony Award® nominations, for his work in Damn Yankees (1994-1995), Lend Me a Tenor (1989-1990), Little Me (1982) and Deathtrap (1978-1982. Victor also starred in the 1998 Tony Award-winning Best Play, Art. He originated the roles of Anthony in Sweeny Todd and John Wilkes Booth in Assassins both by Stephen Sondheim.

Carolyn McMaster is a Canadian film producer and president of CHAOS, a film company that focuses on scripted content for the international marketplace. Her most recent production is the horror film Don't Say Its Name. Previous work includes the CIFF Audience Choice Award winner Root of the Problem with Sergio Di Zio and Claire Rankin, the sci-fi thriller Parallel Minds, starring Greg Bryk and Tommie Amber Pirie, the 2016 romantic comedy Chokeslam starring Chris Marquette and Amanda Crew with wrestling icon Mick Foley. In 2013 the thriller Ferocious, starring Amanda Crew and Kim Coates, was released. Walk All Over Me starring Leelee Sobieski and Tricia Helfer premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008. McMaster is also an alumna of the Canadian Film Centre Comedy Lab and the NSI, she is a member of the Producers Guild of America, CMPA, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and is a recipient of an EMMY award.

Jeremy Lalonde is a filmmaker who resides in Toronto where he was awarded NOW Magazine’s ‘Best Local Filmmaker’ Reader’s Choice Award in 2015. His films have screened internationally including TIFF, Slamdance, Cinequest, Santa Barbara, and Whistler. His film Sex After Kids won Best Feature at Film North Huntsville, Best Comedy at the Edmonton Int’l Film Festival, and Best Screenplay & Best Director at the Canadian Comedy Awards. His film How To Plan An Orgy In A Small Town premiered at Slamdance and won Best Indie Feature at the Edmonton Int’l Film Festival, and Best Ensemble & Best Feature film at the Canadian Film Fest. His fourth feature film The Go-Getters had its world premiere at Cinequest where it won the Jury Award for Best Comedy Feature. Jeremy has won multiple Canadian Screen Awards, a Director’s Guild of Canada, and a Canadian Comedy Award for his work both directing and editing on BARONESS VON SKETCH SHOW (CBC/IFC). He was an integral part of the show for its first three seasons. His fifth feature film James Vs. His Future Self, co-written by Jonas Chernick and starring Daniel Stern, Frances Conroy, and Cleopatra Coleman, recently took home four awards at Toronto After Dark including Best Feature Film (Bronze), Best Canadian Feature, Best Sci-Fi Feature, and Best Supporting Actor and is also screening at Whistler, Santa Barbara, and Brussels among others. It was recently nominated for four Canadian Screen Awards including Best Original Screenplay. He has recently finished production on his sixth feature film, the title of which has yet to be announced and is developing several properties for television.

Zoe Hopkins is a Heiltsuk and Mohawk woman, born in Bella Bella, a fishing village on the coast of BC.  She is now raising her son in her father’s community of Six Nations, Ontario, where she learned to speak and teach Kanyen’kéha (the Mohawk language.) Zoe drew upon her personal connection to the Great Bear Rainforest for her award-winning first feature film, Kayak to Klemtu, which received a theatrical release in Canada, and is distributed in Canada by Mongrel Media. Zoe is a winner of the Audience Choice Award at the imagineNATIVE Film Festival & Powell River Film Festival, Best Canadian First Feature Film at Victoria Film Festival, Best Narrative Feature at CAIIFF, Official Selection at Edinburgh International Film Festival. Her Leo Awards include Best Actress (Ta’Kaiya Blaney), Best Supporting Actress (Sonja Bennett), Best Director & Best Actor (Lorne Cardinal): American Indian Film Festival. Zoe holds a BAA in Film from Ryerson University and is an alumna of the Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program. Her films have screened internationally at festivals including Sundance and Berlinale. Zoe is a member of the Embargo Collective, the creators of the omnibus feature, The Embargo Project, which included her short film Skyworld (Best Short Film, Niagara Integrated Film Festival). Zoe also writes on the soon-to-be broadcast dramatic series Trickster, based on the much-celebrated book Son of a Trickster, by Eden Robinson. Also for the small screen, Zoe has directed an episode of the music documentary series, Amplify, for APTN. In 2004, she was Senior Producer on the documentary series, Venturing Forth, also for APTN. She directed 26 episodes of the children’s series Art Zone, produced by Force Four Entertainment. She 's currently in post-production with her sophomore feature, previously entitled Running Home, with Toronto’s Big Soul Productions and Devonshire Productions. Zoe is a member of the Writer’s Guild of Canada.

Courtney McAllister is a passionate, dedicated and innovative writer/producer. In 2020, Courtney wrote Inn for Christmas, starring Jonna Walsh and Jesse Hutch, which will be available to watch this Christmas. She is also currently working on a slate of MOW films that have been sold and are scheduled to shoot when production resumes in a post-COVID world. Over the past four years, she has helped both emerging and established filmmakers develop and package their scripts. Most recently, she has found and optioned a script that has since sold to Blumhouse and Amazon. Of the hundreds of screenplays she’s read and provided notes for, she has proudly seen 15+ greenlit projects go to camera — selling well internationally afterwards. Though her background is in writing, in the spring/summer of 2018, Courtney produced the critically acclaimed documentary series Street Spirits for Bell Canada. While earning her Master’s Degree in Media Production in 2016, Courtney managed the production on Night Owl, a web-series that premiered at SXSW Film Festival in March, 2018.

Caroline Monnet is an Anishinaabe/French multidisciplinary artist from Outaouais, Québec, currently based in Montréal. She studied in both Sociology and Communication at the University of Ottawa (Canada) and the University of Granada (Spain) before pursuing a career in visual arts and films. Monnet’s short films have screened at numerous festivals including Toronto International Film Festival (Ikwé, Warchild, Mobilize, Tshiuetin, Creatura Dada, Emptying the Tank), Les Rencontres Internationales Paris/Berlin (Gephyrophobia), Sundance Film Festival (Mobilize), and Palm Springs (Mobilize). She won a Golden Sheaf Award at the Yorkton Film Festival for Best experimental film for Mobilize. She was nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards: Best Short Drama for Roberta and Best Short Documentary Tshieutin. Her first feature film entitled Bootlegger, selected for both CineMart and Berlinale Co-Production Market 2016. That same year, she was selected for the prestigious Cinéfondation residency in Paris. The project won Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival 2017, an award granted by Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC) and Cinéfondation. Monnet is also an accomplished visual artist with exhibitions at the Whitney Museum (NYC), Toronto Biennial of Art, Walter Phillips gallery (Banff), Division Gallery (Montreal), Contemporary Art Museum (Montreal), Arsenal Contemporary (New-York) and the National Art gallery (Ottawa).

Dylan Mitro Dylan Mitro is a Toronto based artist who bounces between working as a Film Director, Art Director and Photographer. Dylan studied at Ryerson University, completing a BFA in the Film studies Program. His directorial focus is editorial based, working with musicians such as The Zolas, Hubert Lenoir, Fleece, Ruby Waters, Kendal Thompson, Amaal and BabyGirl. Dylan has developed 2 video series with Canon Canada and Redbull Music. His short films have screened at Tiff: Next Wave, Toronto Men’s Fashion Week and Forest City Film Festival. Dylan’s directorial work has been featured on Highsnobiety, The Fader, Hype Beast, Boooooom, Paper Magazine, Culture Collide and The Revenue. He has worked as a Creative Director for Canon and Hudson’s Bay: Topshop focussing on designing experiential brand activations.

Janice Zolf worked as an arts and entertainment reporter and producer for CTV News before winning prizes and international acclaim with her documentaries on art, music, and design. Her award-winning films have screened on CBC’s Documentary Channel, Air Canada, and toured festivals around the world. Her current documentary film Into the Light, about the immersive projections that reimagine history on the walls of Old Montreal, will appear on CBC and GEM in October 2020. Janice’s other films include Michael Bublé: Audacious, a Governor General’s Awards film, profiling the artist behind the superstar and Revealing Marie Saint Pierre, about the influence of artist Jean-Paul Riopelle on a renowned Canadian fashion designer. Janice holds a Master’s of Digital Experience and Innovation from the University of Waterloo.

Kat Webber is fascinated by all things storytelling. With attention to detail and extensive understanding of multiple genres, she brings a deliberate eye to her work as both an Editor and Director. Kat received a BFA in Acting from the conservatory program at York University in Toronto, which provided her with a unique appreciation for the actor’s process. After graduating, Kat stepped behind the camera to develop her technical skills. After years of editing international broadcast campaigns, feature films and award-winning music videos, she’s studied the storytelling process from the inside-out. Kat has had the honour of working as a close collaborator with visionary director Karena Evans, who catapulted her onto the international scene after editing pieces like Drake’s “Nice for What” and Coldplay’s “Everyday Life.” Recently Kat worked as an additional editor for multiple episodes of the new STARZ series, P-Valley. Kat’s mission is centred around amplifying the female gaze, whether that be in service as an editor, director or mentor to young femme-identifying creatives. Each decision she makes, from pre-production to post, comes down to two questions: why now & what serves the story?

Cory Crossman is a musician and music enthusiast. His background focused on presenting live music ranging from small club shows to large festivals to community events. His current role as Music Industry Development Officer for the City of London positions him as the lead contact at City Hall for the music industry. Serving as a liaison between City Hall and the music sector. Working to create conditions to grow the music sector, Cory is focused on building things steadily from the ground up.

Neil Haverty is a Senior Manager, MVP Project / Prism Prize at the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Haverty oversees multiple initiatives that aim to spotlight artistry in the Canadian music video industry. The Prism Prize was established in 2012 to recognize extraordinary achievement within the field. The MVP Project, a joint initiative with RBCxMusic, was recently launched to assist in the creation of new music video work by way of production grants for emerging artist teams (composed of recording artists, directors and producers). Haverty also works as a film composer and musician, most notably as a founding member of Toronto-based ensemble Bruce Peninsula.

Richmond Obeng is a Canadian cinematic director moved by thought-provoking authentic narrative. Starting his filmmaking journey shooting commercials, music videos and corporate branded content, Richmond quickly embarked on his own inspired path, focusing on creating stories grounded in truth and representation. These efforts include the award-winning and internationally praised anti-bullying short “Helping Hands”, and the HIV/AIDS branded content trifecta “PrEP”, “It Takes Courage” and “The Test”, which was featured at various community events including World Aids Day 2017. Continuing on his mission to bring important stories to light, Richmond’s long-form debut came with his 2018 Toronto inner-city documentary “Some Sort of Judas”, which after debuting to 100,000 homes on TVO, has been dubbed by several educators and activists as one of the most important Canadian documentaries in crime and justice, and made its way to the 2018 Cannes Marche du Film. Richmond’s latest project takes him to historical non-fiction, as he works with Peoples Temple cult survivor Leslie Wagner-Wilson, author of “Slavery of Faith” and the main focus of his June 2020 YouTube short docu-series “No Church in the Wild”. After securing the rights to Leslie’s autobiographical novel Richmond is now working on adapting it into a scripted miniseries.

Richmond Obeng is a Canadian cinematic director moved by thought-provoking authentic narrative. Starting his filmmaking journey shooting commercials, music videos and corporate branded content, Richmond quickly embarked on his own inspired path, focusing on creating stories grounded in truth and representation. These efforts include the award-winning and internationally praised anti-bullying short “Helping Hands”, and the HIV/AIDS branded content trifecta “PrEP”, “It Takes Courage” and “The Test”, which was featured at various community events including World Aids Day 2017. Continuing on his mission to bring important stories to light, Richmond’s long-form debut came with his 2018 Toronto inner-city documentary “Some Sort of Judas”, which after debuting to 100,000 homes on TVO, has been dubbed by several educators and activists as one of the most important Canadian documentaries in crime and justice, and made its way to the 2018 Cannes Marche du Film. Richmond’s latest project takes him to historical non-fiction, as he works with Peoples Temple cult survivor Leslie Wagner-Wilson, author of “Slavery of Faith” and the main focus of his June 2020 YouTube short docu-series “No Church in the Wild”. After securing the rights to Leslie’s autobiographical novel Richmond is now working on adapting it into a scripted miniseries.