Emerging
Content Creators
Event
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Saturday
December 12, 2020
Real Pros. Real Talk.
Featured Speakers
Producer, Showrunner, Writer, Director, Actor
Award-winning Content Creator
Learn & Get Inspired
EP
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Join Melissa DiMarco, her celebrity connections and industry experts.
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Learn how to make a living in this Business
Expert Tricks and Tips.
How to Make a Living Creating Content?
Real Pros Share Real Advice.
How to Make a Living Creating Your Own Content
SPEAKER SESSIONS
1pm to 3pm
Melissa moderates this popular industry know-how event. She shares her in depth celebrity advice and experiences. Joining the sessions are industry experts in producing, writing, directing, on-camera performance and much, much, more!
NETWORKING & ROUNDTABLES
3:15pm to 5:30pm
Melissa shares her celebrity experiences and advice is joined by industry experts in producing, writing, directing, on-camera performance and much much more!
She is the face and force behind Out There with Melissa DiMarco, which is one of the country's longest-running comedy/variety series, also syndicated in international markets. For over 15 years, Melissa has produced ground-breaking television with a trademark for innovative shows. She has created hundreds of hours of content for networks including Rogers Media, Global, CHCH, FOX, and Out TV.
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As an experienced content creator from all sides: writing, directing, showrunning, editing and on-camera. Highlights include: An Evening with Oliver Stone, Out There with Melissa DiMarco, Dreamseekers, Confessions of a Go-To-Girl, and Star Wars: Jedi Challenges. As an actor/host, Melissa has also interviewed hundreds of A-list celebrities from Brad Pitt and George Clooney to Julia Roberts and Lady Gaga. Melissa has long acted in a number of North America’s most memorable productions. She starred in the Emmy-winning drama, Degrassi: The Next Generation, CBC's Riverdale, as well as films like Red Green’s Duct Tape Forever and Hustle: The Pete Rose Story.
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​Melissa and her production company Out There Productions Inc. has won the U.S. International Film and Video Festival’s Outstanding Achievement in Creative Excellence Award, and has been nominated for 2 Banff Rockie Awards for Best TV and Variety Show and 2 Canadian Comedy Awards for Best Writing and Best TV Series.
Damian
Lee
Director, Writer,Producer
Damian Lee has produced, written and directed over fifty feature films with an aggregation of budgets totaling over 200 million.
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A master of the thriller genre, Damion directed and wrote A Dark Truth starring Andy García, Eva Longoria and Forest Whitaker, and also Sacrifice starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Christian Slater. Noted credits include the teen favorite Ski School, which he directed and produced and went into sequel.
He produced Women Wanted starring Kiefer Sutherland and Academy Award winner Holly Hunter. He produced and wrote Death Wish V, starring Charles Bronson and three sequels of Watchers. Produced and wrote the comedy National Lampoon’s Last Resort.
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Damion directed and wrote the sports drama film, A Fighting Man starring Dominic Purcell, James Caan, Famke Janssen.
He is responsible for helping to launch the careers of many stars including Jim Carrey, Kim Coates, Jason Priestley and Nina Dobrev.
Francois
Aubry
Filmmaker, Cinematographer
LEADING PICTURES INC.
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François Aubry has been a filmmaker for 30 years. His fields of exploration are cinematography, writing, directing, editing and visual effects with the clear focus to offering extended creative service to fellow producers and directors, pushing the limits of possibilities, and offer solutions to production challenges.
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Francois Aubry entered the National Film Board of Canada as Director and writer of short animated films and received direct training from the initial team that created the effect cinematography for 2001; A Space Odyssey such as Sydney Goldsmith (animated visual effects), Eric Chamberlain (cinematography), Colin Low (special effects), Werner Nold (editing) into the most advanced techniques of it’s time. After 10 bright years of uninterrupted work at the NFB, signing 4 productions as director/ writer /animator, and 16 more as Visual Effects Supervisor, Aubry left the Board to take on even broader horizons. Moving quickly to the front of his field, he began winning international contracts and collaborating with directors like Denys Arcand and Robert Lepage, (Jesus of Montreal, Le Polygraphe), Atom Egoyan, Patricia Rozema, Thom Fitzgerald, (The Hanging Garden), and Andy Morahan (Highlander III) for the effect cinematography and visual effect design of feature dramas, documentaries, television series, short movies & music videos.
Editor
Award winning film and television editor, Lisa Binkley has worked on various feature films, MOWs and television series. Her work was recognized when she received a Gemini Award (CSA) for her editing of the mini-series, “Human Cargo”. This Canadian/South African co-production was directed by Brad Turner (“Homeland” & “24”) and it received 17 Gemini Nominations and also won a Peabody Award.
Her work on MGM’s critically acclaimed science fiction series, “The Outer Limits” and Showtime’s “The L Word” (written and produced by Ilene Chaiken) has given Lisa the opportunity to work with such directors as Marleen Gorris (Academy Award Winner – “Antonia’s Line”), Moises Kaufman (“The Laramie Project”), Helen Shaver (“Vikings”), Lynne Stopkewich (“Kissed”), and Kimberly Peirce (“Boys Don’t Cry”).
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She is currently working on the Netflix television series, “Firefly Lane” which stars Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) and Sarah Chalke (Scrubs) is executive produced by Maggie Friedman, Stephanie Germain, Lee Rose and Katherine Heigl.
Brad
Milne
Producer, Director, Actor, Coach
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Brad Milne is an entrepreneur, producer, director, actor and coach with 275+ Acting assignments in the past 30 years coupled with 20 successful years experience as an acting coach. Brad has guided more than 1500 students in classes, workshops, seminars, bootcamps and in private sessions in the U.S. and Canada. Overseeing the day to day operations at Milne Studio, he has worked from concept to completion on feature films, TV-Pilots, commercial campaigns, corporate video libraries and more.
His coaching of others started in sports as a teen when he guided freestyle skiers to championship levels through his training camps. Less than a decade later and after acquiring his own title of Canadian National Amateur Champion in his freestyle skiing discipline he applied his coaching skills to business where he helped foster success for individuals and companies of all sizes through sales, business development and strategic consulting. From these combined experiences Brad brings a holistic understanding of the artistic and entrepreneurial aspects of the acting career and its intricate craft.
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Andrew
Morris
Broadcast: Development and Production Executive
Accessible Media Inc.
Andrew Morris is a Development and Production Executive at Accessible Media Inc. (AMI), a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. In his role, Andrew oversees all independent productions from concept to delivery for AMI-tv.
Some recent highlights include commissioning the documentary series Mind Set Go, a 2020 Venice TV Award and multi Leo Award nominee; the series Employable Me, winner of the Banff World Media Festival Rockie Award for Best Lifestyle Series the past three years in a row; and the podcast/TV series What Happened to Holly Bartlett, one of Oprah Magazine's “12 True-Crime Podcasts That Will Give You Goosebumps”.
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Writer
Kaleigh Sutton is a Toronto based writer and director. She worked her way up to a Development Executive role at Chesler/Permutter Productions, where she wrote, pitched, and developed films for various networks including Hallmark, MTV, Netflix, and Lifetime.
She also directed, produced and co-wrote a web series pilot called Date Me. Currently, Kaleigh is the Showrunner Assistant to Melissa DiMarco at Out There Productions, where she is involved in various creative endeavours including writing TV show bibles, TV Movie Treatments, Pitch Decks, and paid programming. During her time at home, Kaleigh has been working on a feature script and improving her posture.
Bobby
Del Rio
Playwright, Screenwriter, Filmmaker.
Bobby Del Rio is a critically acclaimed, published playwright and produced screenwriter. Most recently, Bobby wrote/directed the feature film, The Market - signing a distribution deal with Parallel Universe Pictures during quarantine. The film is currently available on Amazon Prime in the United States and United Kingdom, Vimeo on Demand in Canada. Bobby’s play Professionally Ethnic was a critical success at the 2017 SummerWorks festival - with NOW Magazine including the play on lists for: Outstanding Play and Outstanding Production. The play was previously published in the prestigious academic journal Canadian Theatre Review.
Bobby served as Creator & Showrunner of IRL the Series - sold to Bell Media for television broadcast. Bobby also directed the short film Dusk - nominated for a 2020 Leo Award. Bobby has been the subject of 2 documentaries: 1 for Bravo that aired across Canada on television, and 1 for CBC Arts (directed by Karena Evans). Upcoming: Bobby will be co-creating "The Kult" with Megan Laursen.
Nathan
Allen
Editor, Youtuber
Nathan Allen is a Film and Video Editor in Toronto, Ontario. Nathan specializes in editing dramatic television series. He has been involved in a variety of productions since 2012, including The Next Step, Kim's Convenience, and the CSA award-winning Mr. Jane and Finch. Over the past few years, Nathan has collaborated with OYA Media Group to create thought-provoking films that bring a black Canadian perspective to the international marketplace.
His industry experience involves training at Take 5 Productions, SIM International, Deluxe, and Urban Post Production. He is a member of the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) and the Canadian Cinema Editors (CCE).
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Nathan is also known as Youtuber. With 30k+ subscribers, his YouTube channel features smooth music and video blogs about playing the saxophone.
Victoria
Kucher
Actor, Writer, Producer
Victoria is a writer, producer, actor, comedian who hails from Edmonton, AB but now calls Toronto home. Dedicated to creating new comedic content featuring women, for screen and stage, Victoria is the writer of the series Brennan & Victoria Make Rent (Fearless), Three Quarters, the short films Backtrack, The Independent (Winners of Audience Choice, 48 Hr Film Fest) Snake King (Isolation Film Fest), Stalled, Gone Wild, and Green. She was a featured screenwriter/producer in the 2018 Women On Screen program, and 2020 WIFT Scripted Series Incubator. Victoria is Co-Founder and Executive Producer of the women’s film cooperative, Counterbalance Collective where she produced 9 films in its inaugural year. Victoria also performs stage comedy around North America with her duo Two Girls One Trench Coat. As an actor you can see her on Amazon as the lead of the feature Space & Time.
Daryl
Ledwon
Mandy Representative
Mandy.com
Daryl has been in the Film and Television industry for years both in front and behind the camera. As an actor, he has worked on various television programs such as Unexpected Killer, MurderBoard, Paranormal Survivor and Killer Affair as well as indie films like A Song for Us, Snowed Inn and others. A theatre performer, he has been in many plays and musicals across Canada. He also regularly consults with production companies and casting directors to source talent and crew as the Canadian representative for Mandy.com.
Broadcast Engineer
Links Live Media
Robert Metcalfe is a Broadcast Professional with a career spanning 20 years. Robert has held positions as a Videographer, Editor, Producer, Engineer, and Technical Producer. In recent years Robert has brought his skills in live broadcast production to the world of live stream with the creation Links Live Media he provides live multi-camera and EPK production services to content creators and business.
Paul
Dolan
Director
POSITIVE PRODUCTIONS
Over the last thirty years, Paul Dolan has worked in the Entertainment Industry in a number of venues, with a variety of producers, event managers and production companies.
From “Nuit Blanche” to the “Just for Laughs Roadshow” and more, Paul’s experience in the Event Production has brought him to be the sole proprietor of “Positive Productions” where he presently provides production support for the live performance industry.
Meaghan
Stringer
Literary Assistant
Meaghan Stringer joined Meridian Artists as a literary assistant in 2019. Raised in Northern Ontario, Meaghan is a graduate of the RTA School of Media where she studied media production, eventually directing the comedy web series BRENNAN & VICTORIA MAKE RENT.
Prior to that, she was the casting director for the 40th annual TARA Awards through Ryerson. After several years of volunteering she became a board member for Tangled Art + Disability, a not-for-profit dedicated to advancing disability arts in Canada. Before joining Meridian Artists, she was the Marketing and Theatrical Intern for Mongrel Media, a Canadian independent film distribution company where she helped with grassroots outreach marketing for feature titles such as GIANT LITTLE ONES and THE GRIZZLIES.
Adam
Pal
Director, Writer, Producer
Twenty-five years ago, Adam Pal was coined, ‘a small-town boy with worldwide gusto’ doing live shows from Toronto to China, Las Vegas to Israel. Pal was willing to do anything in the business. “If all the world’s a stage, I am the best boy key grip” -Pal
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Pal is the owner/operator of Glass Ceiling Productions, producer, and creator of 4 short union films, producer of digital content, online radio shows, national tv, theatre content and social media.
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Pal has taken time to create short stories and is reviewing publishers for a partnership to promote his Novella, Novelette, and said short stories.
Corey
Brown
Screenwriter
Corey Brown has written three feature films, Clean Break (Best Drama Feature at Atlanta Horror Film Festival), Silent Retreat (Best Canadian Feature at Toronto After Dark Film Festival), and Blood Hunters (Audience choice at Hamilton Fright Night Theatre Film Festival) which all have worldwide distribution. Blood Hunters was selected to be part of the Frontieres Market in Brussels (under its working title One Drop) and premiered at London’s FrightFest Film Festival in 2016. Corey was selected to attend the NBC Universal Development Incubator through WIFT and Telefilm in 2006.
Corey’s short film scripts include Marv Freetell's Wedding Day (Bravo!FACT), Searching For Wonder (Bravo!FACT, NFB, Reel Asian, Charles Street Video), and an adaptation of Jessica Grant's short story Humanesque. As well, he shared the N Youth Drama Prize and the Kodak Audience Choice Award at the Banff Television Festival for Waiting in the Wings. His script for Buying Time, co-written by Tricia Lee, was a second rounder at the 2018 Austin Film Fest Script Competition.