iFilmGroup Adds New Recruits to Crew Members

 iFilmGroup Adds New Recruits to Crew Members

The word got around southwestern Ontario’s film industry, and it got around at camera stores, and it got around on social media. Students and graduates from film courses (or schools) lined up this summer to apply and be a part of a movie production. Social media from many different platforms carried the broadcast of the recruiting drive. Don Hickey, Community Engagement Manager of iFilmGroup said, “We had a lot of people to process. We were very pleased with the results.

A senior mentoring young Ben Gray, first time on a movie set.
[Photo by Louise McBride]

iFilmGroup is a free inter-generational mentoring organization that will teach newcomers to the movie industry the skill set of the trade. Many departments are available. From prop design, wardrobe, to acting and various positions on crew. Hickey says they get skilled crew, but he also likes to get new recruits with no experience, but with the right attitude. “I put them “right to the task”, Hickey says.

Hickey smiles when a new recruit is invited to a real working movie set and given a task at hand. They can’t believe the opportunity. They’re blown away and some are very nervous.

If the newbie is too nervous to perform, then Hickey tells them to watch as he or other trained production people share the methods of operation. Within a very short time the newbie settles down from their nervous tension and then begins the task with a person shadowing them. A few takes here and there and they have mastered the basics. Continued training will take them to higher levels in their production skill.

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Brad Wright being mentored by Matthew Marshall
[Photo by Louise McBride]

Brad Wright mastered camera work within a couple of scenes.
[Photo by Louise McBride]

Brad Wright came on set with some experiences with still camera and video experience and he was immediately refreshed on camera by director Matthew Marshall. This was Wright’s first time on set of the “Not Ready” production. Marshall says, “ This is what iFilmGroup is all about. If someone doesn’t have the skill set, but has the right attitude, we will work with them. We ask new recruits to treat our opportunity like a real job. Most individuals say that we have a great opportunity for anyone that has a drive for learning this industry.”

iFilmGroup Team with two new crew recruits.
[Photo by Louise McBride]

All Photos by Louise McBride

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iFilmGroup
London ■ St. Thomas ■ Chatham-Kent
Ontario - Canada
WEBSITE - www.ifilmgroup.org