Special guests abound at the P.E.I. Screenwriters’ Bootcamp
Emerging writers got down to the business of their craft at the 11th annual P.E.I. Screenwriters’ Bootcamp at the Haviland Club in Charlottetown.
Of the 31 participants, 18 were from P.E.I.: Niti Dhingra; KathyLarge; Toni Mills; Morgan Rigby; Wendy Jones; Diane Barnes; Robbie Carruthers; Levi Gaudet; Jane Rogerson; Katie MacDonald; Matthew Sherman; John Fitzpatrick; Shane Mountain; Emma Fugate; Margaret Magner; Noëlla Richard; and Jason Rogerson. Eight were from Nova Scotia: Pam Segger; Lynn Matheson; Chlöe Chaytor; Rachel Bower; Bryde MacLean; Kathy Mutch; Jane Rogerson; and Jocelyn Leblanc. Four were from Newfoundland/Labrador: Jeff Lewis, Kathryn Taylor Stacy Gardner, and Irene Duma, and one was from New Brunswick: Bonnie Dexter.
After four days of intensive screenwriting, the participants attending from all four Atlantic provinces were treated to an industry panel that focused on what happens next in these emerging writers’ and producers’ careers.
Among the special guests were representatives from the Canada Media Fund, the National Screen Institute, Telefilm Canada, the Harold Greenberg Fund, Bell Media, the Independent Production Fund, Mad Mummer Productions and none other than Batman, aka Levi Gaudet from Alberton.
This year’s mentors included Deb Patz, author of “Production Management 101”, “Surviving Production” and her latest, “Write, Shoot, Edit”, a how-to book on filmmaking for youth. Other mentors included veteran Tom Shoebridge, founding member of the Summer Institute of Film and Television; Sharon Buckingham, writer and story editor for TSB Productions, and Hannah Cheesman, writer, director, actor, producer and creator of the web series “Whatever, Linda”.
Linda Saint of the Saint Talent Agency in Toronto, Donna Davies of Ruby Tree Films, and Brad Gover of Madd Mummer Productions were among the professional resources working with the emerging writers and producers as well as Pitch Expert, Jan Miller of Lowenbe Productions who delivered a session on the art of pitching.
New this year was the presentation of a bursary in Louise Lalonde’s name offered to an up-and-coming writer. Morgan Rigby of Montague was the recipient.
“The extreme level of enthusiasm was palpable throughout the entire event and we’re aiming to top that next year,” said Lalonde, who was the event co-ordinator.
“Plans are already underway to offer three screenwriting workshops and two workshops focusing on producing, which will include production management and line producing.
For information, visit the peiscreenwritersbootcamp. net website or call Lalonde at 902 213-7684.