Films are full of scenes that seem unreal, with bright colors and visuals that transport the viewer to various places. An Art Director brings the vision of the script to life and executes the plans of the designer on set. They manage many people under their team and ensure that the set creation process runs as smooth as possible. We caught up with Art Director DW Martel to learn how he got his start in this fascinating career.
We know to make a film, we require funding and distribution among many other things. But who exactly takes care of this? We sat down with Peter Findlay, an award-winning producer, director and writer with over 30 years of experience under his belt, to speak about his experience producing.
We know that a film can't be made without cameras and lighting, but who works behind the scenes to set up all this equipment? Join us we talk to Paul Riikonen, a professional Grip, about working on a film set!
Ever wondered if life as an actor or actress is as glamourous as it seems on camera? We met with local actress, Stephanie Herrera, to go behind the scenes and learn all about this fascinating career.
Ever wondered how actors get connected to their roles? Go behind the scenes as we take a look into the role of a talent agent with Miranda Lukaniuk, the owner of Local BG Talent.
Ever wondered what it’s like to work on a film set? Join us with First Assistant Director, Libby Hodgson, to learn about this exciting role in film.
Go into the editing suite during the production of the short film ‘Heap.’ We caught up with the creative team during the editing process and learned how their busy location in the Junction neighbourhood of Toronto affected the performance of the cast.
Get a sneak peek during the shooting of the short film ‘Heap.’ Director Kyle Marchen and Producer Van Wickiam explain how the crew encountered a devastating roadblock on day one of the shoot and what they had to do to overcome it.
Andrew Van Eek has worked in the GTHA for years as a Location Scout and Assistant Location Manager for shows such as The Umbrella Academy, The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror, and more. Van Eek sat down with DRIFF to share his experiences working in the film industry in this vital role.
Stacey Tenenbaum is a Montreal-based award-winning creative producer and director known for Scrap, Shiners, Mystery Hunters and The Beat. Shiners, which she produced, directed, and wrote, was presented in over 20 film festivals, and won several best documentary awards, including DRIFF 2018’s Best Documentary Feature Award. We caught up with Stacey to discuss film, Shiners, and what she's been up to since DRIFF.
This director from Scarborough is dedicated to celebrating the Black experience with a focus on beauty, spirituality, and vulnerability. We caught up with her recently to get a glimpse of her cinematic world and learn about how the success of her short film ‘Pick’ has influenced her filmmaking career.
Covello has taken on several exciting projects since last appearing at DRIFF three years ago. We caught up with him recently to hear about all his recent filmmaking successes, which involve international awards, a new production company, and more.
Torres first came to DRIFF in 2019, where his short Do Turtles Swim in Maple Syrup? won Best Student Film. Amidst all his recent success, DRIFF caught up with him recently to learn more about his journey into filmmaking and all the details of his latest projects.
Want to write a comedic screenplay but not sure what will come across as funny on screen? We met with Noah R. Taylor and Martin Baena, the writer and director of 'The Test', to discuss writing comedy in film.
Short stories, novels, and plays can all make amazing sources for film. But how does one go about taking a story from its initial form and making it into something ready for the screen? We met with Dr. Marlene Goldman, a writer, filmmaker, and professor at the University of Toronto, to learn about this fascinating form of writing.
Every film and television production today utilizes colour correction to create mood, emotion and aesthetic that fits their production. Colour correction helps communicate the tone and feeling of a production to its audience. With modern technology, there is an opportunity for people to make movies on their phones now as digital filmmaking has made editing tools accessible to everyone. As a result, this skillset has become very important and a vital tool to make the film project stand out.
The human dolly is a DIY riff on the dolly shot, a popular tracking shot where filmmakers use a cart to add dynamic movement and atmospheric meaning to their scenes. Since we don’t all have wheeled carts lying around for us to prop our cameras on, we’re going to use our own bodies to create a similar effect.
One of the biggest challenges you’ll learn to overcome as a new filmmaker is how to transition between scenes. Today, we’ll show you a simple trick to transition from one shot to another, using what’s called a whip cut.
“As I took my first step into Biltmore Theatre, ready for the first day of the festival, I felt overwhelmed by a number of sensations. The theatre’s high vaulted ceiling was dimly lit, allowing colored lights to shine in the darkness, highlighting the seating area and stage. It was bustling with people, film enthusiasts just like me, all in one room. The excitement was palpable, with volunteers running around to help set up, cameras held high, and chairs lined up in neat rows.” University of Toronto Student, Amna Alvi, shares her experience of our 2023 festival in this insightful review.