Highlighting Manitoba’s vibrant performing arts community


What it takes to make a movie, Manitoba-style


Nicole Matiation


important to Canadians. In the last few months, we have collectively consumed more TV shows and movies, more in- formation


T programs, more YouTube


concerts, poetry and play readings, have played more videogames, listened to more podcasts and visited more news websites than ever before. Connection through stories is so important to who we are.


Manitoba’s media production indus- try plays a role locally, nationally and in- ternationally in telling those stories in all genres and formats, in both official and some Indigenous languages. Manitoba production companies, actors, direc- tors, musicians, wardrobe, make up and set creators, lighting, camera and digital media professionals contribute to creat- ing shows like Burden of Truth (Eagle Vision), Polar Bear Town (Merit Mo- tion Pictures), Canot Cocasse (Manito Média), Main à la pâte (Productions Ri- vard), Stand! (Frantic Films). The media production


industry is


part of Manitoba’s vibrant arts and cul- ture sector, the Manitoba actors you seen on your screens often also work in live theatre – many film and television industry professionals work both on set and back stage whether in lighting, set, wardrobe or make up, some are artists in their own right. Before the pandemic, Manitoba was experiencing its highest ever total pro- duction volume at $269.4 million at- tracting millions of dollars into the Manitoba economy that was spent on


hroughout this incredible period of change and challenge, there is no doubt that arts and culture is


goods and services and to create some 2000 jobs. Like most industries, ours was hit hard by the COVID-19 pan- demic. When we create stories, we col- laborate as a group. Over 100 jobs can be required on a single film set on any one day of shooting.


The construction department builds


entire sets from scratch, electricians are the backbone of the camera and lighting departments and makeup and hair pro- fessionals bring their expertise and cre- ativity into our industry. This is a small snapshot of the many departments that exist in film and television. Our highly skilled and creative workforce is actively engaged in the broader arts and culture ecosystem with their own arts practices as well. Recently, On Screen Manitoba struck


a working group with local producers and other industry stakeholders includ- ing government to develop new health safety protocols on set. When restric- tions are lifted and we are able to pro- duce our award-winning content again, I am confident that with guidelines in place and through continued collabora- tion, we will be able to carry out our creative work while ensuring the health and safety of our whole community. In the meantime, there is incredible Manitoba-made content available to stream online in your own home. For some ideas of award-wining Manitoba made content to watch please visit: https://onscreenmanitoba.com/stream- manitoba-made-film-and-television- online/


I encourage you to discover a locally


made show or film, until our cameras can safely roll again. Nicole Matiation, Executive Director of On Screen Manitoba


Photo courtesy of On Screen Manitoba.


television industry wait out restrictions on filming, a few of them share their thoughts on how they’re adjusting.


A


Andrea Hronn Scenic Artist


“This period of social isolation has been less of an adjustment for me. Because of the nature of film work, I have periods of time off between shows. As a scenic artist, I use a lot of different skills in my job so when I’m off, I like to try new things that I can bring to the next show. These days I’m practis- ing my hand sign painting skills. I’m also doing sew- ing projects like creat- ing summer outfits and recovering my couch!”


s the incredible people working in Manitoba’s film and


Danielle Sturk Director/Writer/ Producer


“Prior to the pandemic, I was gearing up to direct on Manitoba francophone television series Edgar. Due to the incredibly collaborative nature of working on set, in a close group, it was impossible to continue to shoot. It is yet to be confirmed when we will begin production again but with this pause, I have been able to switch gears and work on a huge part of my practice–writing. It was like turning a lens. I am working now on writing a series, something I usually juggle on top of many roles I have in the industry. The shift to working on my solo introspective practice took a few weeks but the break from high energy group work is an opportunity for me to fully immerse in the story I am writing. This


e are living in a time that just a few months ago would have seemed unimaginable. Here in Manitoba, the world as we knew it stopped on March 20th when the Province issued a state of emergency to fight COVID-19. That day, Manitoba Opera (never mind, thousands of excited patrons) went from relishing the upcoming sold-out run of Carmen scheduled to open March 28, to cancelling the show, contacting patrons, halting the semi-truck enroute with the set, and booking flights for out-of-town artists – all in just a few days. The following week, MO staff members were already working from their homes. “I have been working in the arts for nearly 40 years in live theatre, events, film, and for nearly 20 years at Manitoba Op- era,” commented Larry Desrochers, Gen- eral Director and CEO. ”I have never ex- perienced anything like the speed at which the pandemic hit us.”


been working with our colleagues locally, nationally, and internationally


“Over the past weeks, the staff and I to


share


strategies to respond to this emergency, to advocate to governments for assistance, and to think about the role Manitoba Op- era and arts and culture will play in the future as we recover. I have been buoyed by everyone’s unfailing determination and capacity to adapt,” he added. Arts organizations generally walk a pre-


6 whatsupwinnipeg.ca


Manitoba Opera re-works the game plan W


Darlene Ronald


Manitoba Opera’s company premiere of Susannah, November 2019. Photo: C. Corneau. carious


tightrope between balancing fi-


nances with artistic programming, but this balancing act has been made even harder with the pandemic. “The pandemic has had a catastrophic financial and artistic


effect on arts and


cultural communities, locally and glob- ally,” says Larry. “The public health and economic forces on the cultural sector are daunting and makes future planning for live performances a challenging proposi- tion.”


Normally Manitoba Opera’s season performances would be over by now, but the company is currently looking at ways to stay engaged with opera fans, and the community in general, over the coming months. “It is important to the company that we


finds way to support our community of artists and theatre professionals who have lost work due to cancelled and postponed shows.”


Manitoba Opera is exploring opportuni-


ties to adapt some of its programming to online formats. The thrill of experiencing a live, fully staged opera can never be re- placed, but the company is excited about opportunities to create and produce online experiences related to performances, audi- ence development events, and education programming. For example, this month, DeLuca’s at


Home will be presented on June 18. An online take-off of the annual and much- loved Dinner at DeLuca’s, which had to be cancelled this year, DeLuca’s at Home will be held via Zoom. The evening will fea-


is something that I rarely have space to do fully.”


Reed Makayev 1st Assistant Director, Filmmaker “I wear many hats in the film industry and work on set as an Assistant Direc- tor. I also sit on the Board of Director’s for both the Director’s Guild of Canada (Manitoba District Council) and On Screen Manitoba. Our industry has never had a collective moment like this to share knowl- edge. In this time, I been able to teach film courses and take workshops to expand my skill set to other potential film depart- ments. As an independent filmmaker, my film was recently selected for NSI’s Manitoba Content Creators Development Accelerator. So even during this time of pause, my career in film hasn’t slowed down.”


ture a three-course dinner delivered to par- ticipants’ doorsteps, a chance to cook pasta with Chef Mike Brown, and a performance by soprano Ana Toumine. Guests will also have a chance to visit with friends at their virtual tables!


Also in development are programs such as Opera Class Online which provide hands-on opera activities for K to 6 stu- dents; immersive digital study guides for self-directed learning experiences; and a series of video presentations of some won- derful Manitoba Opera productions hosted by Manitoban artists who will share their personal


experiences of performing in


these operas as they guide viewers through the presentations. Through these past pandemic weeks as we have all individually, as a community, and as a country, journeyed through this period, it has been the creativity and work of artists – albeit virtually – that has given us a moment’s respite from our worries, a laugh, a reminder of what it means to be human. “I’m reminded of a quote by Louis Riel. He said: “My people will sleep for one hun- dred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.” Larry adds, “It may take some time, but I have no doubt that the great artists we present on our stage will once again raise our spirits, move us to tears, and inspire us with their virtuosity, because that is what they live to do.” For more information about Manitoba Op- era, visit mbopera.ca


June 2020


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