How the Mr.Jane team is building young talent in the film industry
From left to right: Khara Martin, Evelyn Appiah and Isaac Mbikay at Pie in the Sky Studios
Mr.Jane and Finch has pocketed many accolades since it’s release – a national broadcast debut, positive reviews, a sold-out crowd at the Toronto Black film festival premiere, a Golden Sheaf Award nomination from the Yorkton Film Festival – but it’s most prized possession takes the form of mentorship.
Producer/director/writer Ngardy Conteh George and producer/writer Alison Duke always saw Mr. Jane and Finch as a perfect opportunity to support Black youth seriously pursuing careers in film, video and digital media industry and plan to hire them in positions where they can work and shadow key crew members.
They recruited five black youth from Black Youth! Pathway to Industry (BY2PI) – a three-year program that supports post-secondary graduated Black youth from the GTA entering the film, television and digital media industry through networking, mentorship and essential skills training. And they all played a vital role in the production.
Ngardy thought it was especially important for the youth to interact with Mr. LaRose as a community elder and get a behind the scenes. LaRose has over 6000 hours of footage spanning over 60 years while documenting the community as an amateur documentarian. “There was a rich sense of history that could be passed on, you don’t get opportunities like that as a creative and I wanted the youth to have access to that.” As the storyline shifted and changed, they also got a chance to look at the local political process up front and center. The importance of civic engagement and voting were key takeaways.
Nathan Allen on the set of Kim’s Convenience
One of these young creatives is Nathan Allen. He’s soft-spoken with a firm posture and a kind smile. Allen’s road to Mr.Jane and Finch began with BYP2I’s program partner Regent Park Film Festival, interning on the post-production team of the multi-award-winning Canadian Screen Award show Kim’s Convenience. Working on this renowned comedy series allowed Allen to work alongside seasoned television editor, Aren Hansen – who he says went above and beyond to support him in his role. “I really just asked to shadow but he called me for extra days and he still keeps in touch...it was almost like a casual mentorship.”
After working on Kim’s Convenience Allen was hired as post-production assistant and promoted to 2nd Assistant Editor on Mr. Jane and Finch for CBCDocs POV. The opportunity to work on a high profile national broadcast project wasn’t only about practical experience, it was about being more connected says, Allen. “Before I was doing videography I would be in isolation, I didn’t have much of a chance to be social and be in a collaborative environment,” he adds.
Allen now works as a packaging editor for projects in development with Oya Media Group.
Black Youth! Pathways to Industry (BY2PI):
BY2PI is the only program in Toronto that caters to Black youth seeking employment in the television and film industry.
The beginnings of BYP2I started with Alison Duke, the co-founder of Oya Media Group, who wanted to address the high unemployment rate amongst black youth living in the GTA. “Toronto has a 2 billion dollar a year film industry. Wouldn’t it be great if we could help solve the unemployment and income disparity of Black youth with a program that helped them get jobs in the film industry?” says Duke. “The film industry has been good to me as a career, and I didn’t go to film school initially, I don’t see why the program can’t help those who do.”
The first year of the program focused on building employable skills and experience in digital media, film and television through partnerships with Nabet 700 Unifor, Regent Park Film Festival, Live it to learn It, Mattru Media, Hungry Eyes, VTAPE, TIFF, Women in Film and Television - Toronto, and Pie in the Sky Studios and many mentors.
Most people starting out in the industry have 2 or 3 other skills that help them be regularly employed says, Duke. “People tend to do their 9-5s during the week and work on their dream jobs outside of that.”
Many Black youths face obstacles finding consistent work in creative industries because they lack resources, mentorship and networking opportunities. They simply don’t have the same access to employment. According to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, Black youth across the province are unemployed at nearly two times the provincial rate. An Access Alliance report also notes while the unemployment rate for racialized youth stands at 20.5% compared to 15.7% for non-racialized youth.
Alongside Allen, a variety of youth have been able to find employment and internship opportunities because of the partnerships mentioned above. Only 8% of the youth had employment at the start of BY2PI.By the end over 96% of the youth had at least one employment opportunity. 81% percent of attendees found industry roles and they hope to maintain this success rate for year 2 and 3 participants.
BY2PI participants who worked on Mr.Jane and Finch:
Yvano Wickham-Edwards worked as a set photographer and production assistant for Mr.Jane and Finch. Wickham-Edwards has continued to work with the Oya Media Group team and other projects all while growing his photography freelance business and working toward gaining enough hours to gain eligibility for IATSE 667 Union.
Wade Hudson is a full-time photographer with a focus on editorial and beauty. He had the opportunity to photograph Winston LaRose, which was used for the official Mr.Jane and Finch poster. He hopes to learn more about directing and cinematography for commercial and tv work.
Aaron Newby worked on graphics for Mr.Jane and Finch. As a rapper and producer, and graphic designer, Newby has been able to build his skills as a multimedia artist through BY2PI.
Marcus Armstrong was a production assistant on Mr.Jane and Finch. He was the first official hire through BYP2I and worked for the majority of the duration of the program. He has been awarded multiple on-set opportunities from audio and lighting assisting to production assisting on various projects such as Cool Black North.
River Jordan-Allick was a production assistant and post-production archiver on Mr.Jane and Finch. BYP2I has provided Allick with mentorship opportunities with the Toronto Media Arts centre, granting her access to free events and coworking space and accessible web design mentorship for her magazine Self Care. She has also been able to get vtape (a partner of pathways) to distribute her first short doc. She is completing a certificate in film studies at Ryerson and hopes to continue with documentary filmmaking.
Other BY2PI participants:
KhaRa Martin entered the BYP2I Program with a goal of pursuing Screenwriting. Through BYP2I Martin was awarded several opportunities with OYA Media partners to earn writers credits. Through BYP2I KhaRa has also become a member of the Women in Film and Television - Toronto organization where she hopes to expand her network and future career opportunities.
Fonna Seidu has formal training in Production Management and Production Coordination. Her goal when entering the BY2PI network was to create industry connections with the purpose of widening her network; gaining potential customers, employers, and future projects. Through the BYP2I Program, Fonna was granted a year membership to Women in Film and Television - Toronto, where she plans to be heavily involved in the network's activities.
Isaac Lemi entered the BYP2I Program with aspirations of pursuing a career as a Director. With not enough hours to enter the Directors Guild of Canada - Lemi found an opportunity to gain these hours through an Apprenticeship with NABET UNIFOR 700 and job opportunities with Black Youth! Pathway2Industry.
Evelyn Appiah is pursuing a career as a screenwriter for television. Through the program she has been able to participate in workshops, networking and gaining more work experience in Production Assistant and Screen Writing positions. Through the program Evelyn participated in workshops, networking and gaining more work experience in Production Assistant and Screenwriting positions.
The mentorship of Winston LaRose:
The spirit of mentorship practiced by the Mr.Jane and Finch team can also be credited to Mr.Jane and Finch himself: Winston LaRose. His social advocacy in the Jane and Finch community has deep roots. In 1994, Winston LaRose joined the Jane and Finch Concerned Citizens Organization and raised money for youth from Toronto and Jamaica to take a trip to Ghana, creating a remarkable experience for youth who have moved on to great professions.
Participants in BY2PI have received mentorship in various streams such as Editing with Lu Asfaha, composing with Orin Isaacs, graphic design with Ramon Charles, and sound with Tricia Harris.
BY2PI graduation:
On Thursday April 4th, BY2PI held its first graduation at TIFF. Youth were able to showcase their experimental docs using archival footage not used in the Mr.Jane and Finch documentary.
With the massive archive, the stories continue to be shared via short digital docs created by Yvano Wickham-Edwards, KhaRa Martin, and Aaron Newby.
Olympic Island, created by Aaron Newby about the Caribana tradition before it was moved off Olympic Island. Newby says its a flashback to the rich culture of Caribana. “It doesn’t have the authenticity anymore and it’s overpacked. The real tradition of Caribana is distorted now and toronto has created its own context for what the celebration is.”
Nothing has changed for Yvano Wickham-Edwards. His short doc #Black compares the emotional outcry of protestors in Toronto today versus 20 years ago. “Technology has expanded but people haven’t,” says Antonio.
Khara Martin’s documentary They will not have it, takes footage of young people today reacting to archival footage of riots in the past. For Khara that past is not that far away. “Our uncles, aunts and our grandmothers, that are still alive today that can talk about things that happened to them.” It’s about using the images to evoke emotion
The BY2PI 2019 graduating class at TIFF’s learning studios
BY2PI APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN:
Black Youth! Pathway 2 Industry (BYP2I) Year 2 will run from June 2019 to February 2020 with a focus on film production. BYP2I is looking for 24 Black youth ages 18-26 interested in the film, video and digital media industry who have graduated from a post-secondary film, television and digital media programs in the GTA to provide them with opportunities for career advancement in the film, television, and digital media industry.
The program is free and opportunities will take place within actual film projects in development and production. Bus fare is provided for all youth accepted.
Some of this year’s programming includes:
Essential training workshops with industry professionals and through film organizations
Knowledge transference, Increased industry access and understanding: through tours, round table panel discussions with Black industry professionals and industry professional meet and greets
Employment, internship and shadowing opportunities with independent and unionized film and television productions
Networking and mentorship support within the Black community in the film, television and supporting industries
Are you a
Black youth between the ages of 18 and 26
Living in the GTA
Post-secondary graduate of a film television and/or media arts program
Interested in working in the film, television and digital media industry within the areas of production
If you or anyone you know meet the program requirements and would have an interest please feel free to share this opportunity.
Applications close May 31, 2019.
To find out more about BY2PI follow them on Instagram. You can keep up with the Mr.Jane and Finch team on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
