Manitoba Chamber of Commerce
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/830133
20 MBiz | june 2017 F ilm and television production in Canada has always been a "regionalist" proposition. But that regionalism has served Manitoba very well. The province boasts a vibrant Indigenous film and television production sector that produces uniquely-voiced, uniquely-lensed stories powerful enough to resonate across the country. Nicole Matiation, Executive Director at On Screen Manitoba, says about 23 per cent of production companies are owned or partially owned by Indigenous people. Companies like award-winning Eagle Vision; Animiki See Digital Production; two Métis-owned production companies, Manito-Média and Wookey Films; Media Rendezvous; and Tina Keeper's Kistikan Pictures showcase just some of the talent pool. On Screen Manitoba engages with different partners to provide support. "We provide free memberships to National Screen Institute program graduates; we provide promotional and other support to the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival; we've worked with the Winnipeg Film Group's Mosaics program; we're in contact with the local Indigenous Filmmakers Association," says Matiation. At the cornerstone of Indigenous- owned production is Eagle Vision, an independent company founded in 1999 by Lisa Meeches and Wayne Sheldon. In a past interview, Meeches indicated that Eagle Vision has pushed boundaries in areas like ownership percentages on shows, development projects, and acquisition of existing shows. "We've partnered and strategized ourselves in such a way that we are the major stakeholders and that's set a precedent for sure," she said. The company has produced, and continues to produce widely seen productions like Ice Road Truckers; We Were Children; and currently in production, Taken. Filmmaker Madison Thomas grew up in a solid, supportive family of mixed heritage in Winnipeg's North End. She got her first break at age 17 as a production assistant on APTN's Vitality Garden. She's just a few years into her career and is already working as head editor on Eagle Vision's series Taken. She has directed an episode of the series and has several credits for writing and directing short films. She recently completed the Women in the Director's Chair program. "I was only able to go to Women in the Director's Chair thanks to On Screen Manitoba — they funded my travel as well as my registration fee for the program," says Thomas. On Screen Manitoba also helped her to FOCUS on Manitoba Indigenous filmmakers drive vibrant production industry By Wendy King