Julia Brown - Actor, Mentor and Coach

Julia Brown- Actor, Mentor and Coach

Julia is a Canadian actor with an Acting for Film and Television diploma from Niagara College. Through the on-screen parts of the program, Julia gained knowledge and skills related to improv, character voices, dialect work, scene study, audition techniques, and stunt fighting. Behind the scenes, she learned how to screenwrite, direct, film, and edit all of her own work. She also has experience training at Walter Alza’s award-winning acting studio in Toronto and the Neighbourhood Playhouse in New York City (home of the Sandford Meisner technique).

Julia has been studying vocal music, musical theatre, and various dance genres (Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Modern) since the age of 6. She has acted in several theatre productions such as The Wizard of Oz, Guys and Dolls, Spring Awakening, Godspell, Shrek the Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, etc.

Julia has film, television, and voice acting credits from a range of projects including a national commercial campaign, a radio show, and doing voices for video game characters. She previously worked with iFilmGroup on the film “Tuned In”.

Julia is currently going back to school at Georgian College to pursue a career in Education. Combining her passions for Film and Television and mentoring others, she wants to pass on the knowledge she has to up-and-coming actors.

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

Kia Diaz - Accredited Mentoring Student

The iFilmGroup team is excited to announce the addition of an Accredited Intern Mentoring Student for the coming school year. Kia Diaz is a talented, emerging Filipino Latin-Canadian actor interested in learning more about the acting, and film industry.

Read full story: https://www.ifilmgroup.org/kia-diaz-accredited-intern-mentoring-student

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

iFilmGroup Actor George Crosby’s Acting Career Advances to Stage Performances

iFilmGroup actor George Crosby

As summer ends and autumn comes upon us students of all ages get back into the routine of attending classes and going to school. It is also the official start of the Film Festival year and new and exciting Live Theatre shows.

When you think about students getting back to learning and combining that with Live Theatre. One program in London and area comes to mind. Since its establishment in 1998, the Grand Theatre’s High School Project (HSP) has provided unparalleled theatrical training and mentorship to the next generation of Canadian theatre artists. It is the only program of its kind in North America.

This unique and empowering program has been the launch pad for many theatre artists. The students start in early July/August to prepare for the show. HSP offers an exceptional opportunity for students to receive education and hands-on training in the working environment of a professional theatre. High school students from London and area are mentored by professional artists and coaches in all departments (performance, stage management, props, wardrobe, scenic art, sound, orchestra, photography, and marketing) culminating in a production staged in the Grand’s 839-seat theatre: the Spriet Stage. The initiative provides leadership, creative skills, and communication aptitude that serve these students on and off stage - in every area of their lives.

This style of teaching an artist the art of acting or crew is the same style of template that iFilmGroup uses for filmmaking. Many former HSP alumni have worked with iFilmGroup and many members of the iFilmGroup have been a part of HSP productions.

Mentoring is the cornerstone of iFilmGroup’s mission and mandate. The goal is to mentor members in the filmmaking process while making award-winning films. Matthew Marshall who is an award-winning film Director and Head of Film Production for iFilmGroup and is also one of the group's co-founders feels mentoring is a very important element to pass what someone has learned in a particular field and pass it along to the next generation. “I have many great mentors in my life that have taught me the skills that I am now giving to the next generation”, says Marshall. After years of being mentored. Marshall now feels it is only fitting that he passes it forward. A quote from Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg has always stuck out in Marshall’s mind and sums up mentorship and what iFilmGroup does. Spielberg says “The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves”.

Marshall and fellow co-founder Don Hickey have used that concept to create two forms of mentorship within the iFilmGroup. The common and recognized form of mentorship within iFilmGroup is called the "Standard Mentoring Program". This is what iFilmGroup members receive during their workshop programs and when the members are working on film sets during these projects. The second form of mentorship is the “Accredited Mentorship/Internship Program” where participants from high school, college and or University must arrange with iFilmGroup and their school before they go through the application process and are accepted into the Accredited Mentorship Program with iFilmGroup. This is an internship/co-op with iFilmGroup in the art of acting or Filmmaking.

“Everyone needs a mentor to give you guidance and help you get to where you want to go to in a particular skill or profession”, says iFilmGroup Community Engagement Manager and Co-Founder of the program Don Hickey. Often mentors go unrecognized... living in the shadow of the person that has been mentored and the success they have. Marshall feels that through mentoring you change lives and really does not feel that any more recognition is needed. “That is enough on most days,” says Marshall.

iFilmGroup Actor George Crosby on set of ‘Not Ready’

However recently Matthew Marshall and the iFilmGroup Team were recognized for their work with one member. George Crosby who is in iFilmGroup soon to be released new film “Not Ready” and who is also part of the cast for in this year's Grand Theatre’s High School production of “Into the Woods”, nominated Matthew Marshall as a significant teacher/mentor in their life. Student participants from HSP were prompted to reflect upon a teacher, mentor, school staff member, etc. who has guided, assisted, encouraged or inspired their interest in the arts. Marshall was nominated because George felt he deserve recognition, and George wanted to say thank you for Marshall and the iFilmGroup team's support and contribution to the arts in our community. “They have helped me by including me in their productions and allowing me to be involved in the film community. Matthew has encouraged me to express my full self being a mentor in expression, creativity and compassion”, says Crosby.

George Crosby (center) on set of movie “Not Ready’

Marshall and Hickey will be excited and proud to see Crosby on stage at the Grand Theatre in “Into the Woods” which runs from September 20th to Oct 1st, 2022.

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

Ali Shareef Joins iFilmGroup

Ali Shareef, a filmmaker in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.

From a young age, I’ve been passionate about filmmaking. Exploring and learning every aspect that goes into the process of creating a motion picture. From writing in notebooks, to scripts, to production, to editing. But it wasn’t until later in my life I fully pursued it as a professional career, rather than just a hobby.

After taking many courses regarding filmmaking, photography, editing and graphic design during secondary school, I went off to Fanshawe college and expanded my knowledge on the subject by participating in creating short films, commercials and many other video-related projects.

In my years at Fanshawe, I thrived on all the knowledge I had gained and all the content I had created, But the one and most important piece of information that I learned the most was to value failure more than success. By learning and understanding the reasoning behind failure anyone can truly exceed their own limits and be unstoppable. If I hadn’t learned and valued my failures, I would not have become the person I am today and would not have been able to continue to expand my understanding of film.

After graduating Fanshawe college I took all the knowledge I learned and applied it to the real world. Since then I’ve worked on different independent film projects and advertisements. One of my upcoming short film projects titled ‘Luna’, currently in pre-production will focus on schizophrenia and will have a mystery horror vibe.

After graduation, I still continued to learn and expand my horizon, which led me to Don Hickey and Mathew Marshall founders of iFilmGroup. I met Don and Mathew on the set of one of their feature films titled ‘Not Ready’.

I was Assistant Camera in ‘Not Ready’ and Director of Photography / Cinematographer in ‘The Big Audition’ and

Cinematographer / Cinematography for the ‘Audition Waiting Room’.

After working for them on the set of ‘Not Ready’, I kept in touch with them hoping to participate in more future projects. Since then I have worked with iFilmGroup on two other projects, which has allowed me to continue expanding my grasp on filmmaking and learn to work with other film companies.

Working with the iFilmGroup has taught me many new things regarding film which has helped me in my own projects. Since joining the iFilmGroup Don Hickey has been so generous in teaching me how to brand myself and showing me new marketing skills which will further my career and knowledge.

Don has even helped me work on my own scripts and screenplays, which has allowed me to exchange thoughts and opinions with someone, who’s passionate about film as much as I am. In conclusion, I hope to continue working with iFilmGroup and continue to work with people who are just as passionate about all of this as I am.

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

Actor Cindy Leigh Works With iFilmGroup

Actor Cindy Leigh

Actor Cindy Leigh playing a part of a nervous actor having ‘second thoughts’.

The iFilmGroup team recently wrapped production on a short film called “Audition Waiting Room” featuring the talented Cindy Leigh in the lead role of the short film. Cindy was actually cast a few months ago by the iFilmGroup team. Together Cindy and iFilmGroup’s Head of Film Production Matthew Marshall have been working on the script and the concept since her casting. When Cindy was asked about her reaction to being cast in the role, her response was “Ecstatic and looking forward to working on this exciting project.”

Cindy Leigh playing a nervous actor prior to audition.

The short film is part of the “Audition Room” series of short films by iFilmGroup, and serves a dual purpose of being a film, and fitting into the iFilmGroup’s ‘Online Learning Platform’ (an aspect that Leigh likes).

She feels the film is very relatable to anyone that has been through the auditions process for acting. iFilmGroup and Leigh both agree that a film like this will also be relatable for those just breaking into the acting industry on what they can expect. “I relate to the role as I have been through and had the thoughts and feelings at auditions that my character is having,” said Leigh.

Cindy Leigh playing with lots of tension as an actor prior to auditions.

The “Audition Waiting Room” film centres around an actor named Kaiah Lucas waiting to go in for her auditions. “All the thoughts and feelings that go through her head while she waits. The anxieties she experiences and the self-doubt on if she is good enough” Leigh adds.

In the earlier part of spring, the iFilmGroup casting team was working on narrowing down the selections for this film while still casting for other films in the series. The casting team was impressed with the top four candidates. “In the end, Cindy checked all the boxes for us,” says Community Engagement Manager and iFilmGroup co-founder Don Hickey.

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Leigh who was originally based in Melbourne, Australia, is now in Toronto, Ontario pursuing her passion and furthering her professional career in acting. She comes to Canada with an impressive resume of acting experience. Leigh has played a wide range of roles in television series, music videos, short films & theatre productions.

Leigh also landed the leads for several projects including playing ‘Amy’ in the newly released short film 'Your Face' directed by Alex Thompson. Also with ‘Revolving Door Productions' short film 'Earth' where she played lead ‘Lani’ and Drama King Theatre Company's play 'Bad Habits' where she played the lead ‘Ally’.

Leigh graduated from the Full-Time Program at ‘The Australian Film & Television Academy’ in 2019. Training with the likes of John Orcisk, Mick Preston, Huw Higginson, John Preston & Kym Valentine.

When she’s not auditioning or on set, she's singing, dancing & learning Spanish. Leigh has the special skill of accents and dialects from Australian, General American, Southern American, South African, and General British. “During auditions, Cindy flipped from her native Australian accent to a standard American in just a few lines of dialogue”, says Marshall.

Leigh is excited to expand her skills and further her professional career and looks forward to landing lots of leading acting roles in Canada.

Actor Cindy Leigh in make-up department onset of ‘Audition Waiting Room’ with iFilmGroup.

Along with the lead role in the film, Leigh recorded a training segment for the iFilmGroup ‘Online Training’ that deals with the theme of the film. Marshall says that footage from the film along with other footage will make up the images of the segment that Leigh gives great advice to actors.

The film now moves to the Post-production stage for editing.

iFilmGroup Cast and Crew onset of ‘Audition Waiting Room’ with Cindy Leigh.

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

Brie Bennett Joins Production Team

Brie is a Canadian actor who has a BA in Theatre, Specialized in Devised at York University in Toronto, Ontario. The program offers students an intensive curriculum in devising and performing original theatre pieces. This interdisciplinary series of courses is overseen and taught by faculty from all three areas of the department: Acting, Production, Performance Creation, and Research.

Through the knowledge within this intense program, Brie now is branching out into teaching and coaching actors who are up and coming.

Brie has credits in film, theatre, and voice acting with a wide range of companies and organizations. Brie previously worked with iFilmGroup on the film “Social Disobedience” where Brie played the role of “Bailey” and also assisted in the cinematography of the film.

Brie Bennett joins iFilmGroup as a Production Leader

Brie is now using the acting training from the program to create in-person workshops and virtual training for iFilmGroup’s online training segments. Brie loves acting and feels really passionate when it comes to teaching others about acting. Brie loves seeing what people can do when they are given the tools to learn the art and craft of acting.

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

Filming an iFG Training Module with Jordyn Taylor

Actor Jordyn Taylor teams up with iFilmGroup’s Production Team for a Workshop Training Production

iFilmGroup has been planning a way to be able to reach more people with training and learning in the art of filmmaking. The concept was created that through an online training module of various segments and training videos, that the iFilmGroup team could reach more people in a more effective system.

Various actors and technical people have been working on dramatic shots, segments, and images, along with scripts that are being voiced-over or done with an on-air host about various topics dealing with film and acting.

Matthew Marshall training actor Jordyn Taylor on composition.

One of the actors working with iFilmGroup is Jordyn Taylor. Jordyn has been a part of a couple of productions with the iFilmGroup team. She has been working with the iFilmGroup team on various images to be visual support for the different segments that the training module will have.

iFilmGroup Inter-Generational Actors Andre Fournier and Jordyn Taylor

As the program continues to grow. The iFilmGroup team is looking for more individuals to be a part of the online training modules.

iFilmGroup Workshops and On-Line Training Modules are currently being produced for all inspired actors and crew.

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Jordyn Taylor on the set of a movie short at iFilmGroup.

Actor Jordyn Taylor playing Michelle as a Casting Assistant.

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

Actor Training and Filming with Olivia Williams

Matthew Marshall- Head of Film Production with Intern Student Olivia Williams and Don Hickey- Community Engagement Manager

Meet the iFilmGroup team that is working with Olivia Williams, a Co-op intern placement with iFilmGroup. Olivia is in grade 11 and is very passionate about acting and filmmaking.

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Matthew Marshall sharing notes with Olivia Williams for the next shot.

The iFilmGroup’s mandate is to mentor individuals young and old in the art of filmmaking and acting. This has taken many forms throughout the existence of iFilmGroup. Which includes mentoring through teaching on set, and at workshops.

The iFilmGroup team has also done what is called "accredited mentorships" through educational facilities. Meaning students work a prescribed number of hours to achieve a credit or credits for an educational institution (this in the past has been on a shorter term of a few weeks to a month). But, starting in October 2021 the iFilmGroup team led by the head of film Production Matthew Marshall took on a full-term intern/co-op student from a local St. Thomas Ontario High School named Olivia Williams.

Matthew Marshall showing Olivia Williams composition of finished shot.

Olivia has worked from October 2021 to the end of May 2022 with iFilmGroup studying acting and film production. Olivia was taught about different acting styles and methods, along with learning skills of acting and the audition process. As part of the co-op, she did monologues, wrote weekly blogs about what she has done, did acting training, and various activities related to film and acting assignments.

She also participated in a film through Fanshawe College and worked on footage for the training segments iFilmGroup is producing.

Olivia Williams on set of ‘The Big Audition’ with director Matthew Marshall

“Olivia and Matthew Marshall also made a short film called “The Big Audition" in which Olivia starred in. Olivia also learned how a set was built (props, lighting, audio) and watched how other actors were directed. Olivia also met other actors and directors and crew from other productions,” says Don Hickey.

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Matthew Matthew setting the shot. Olivia Williams and Jordyn Taylor doing ‘actor to actor’ training.

“The year has been very successful and Olivia has learned a lot about the art of acting,” says Marshall. This full school year internship is something that the iFilmGroup team hopes to be able to do with more students moving forward.

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

“MALICIOUS ATTACK" wins Film Awards

iFilmGroup’s Life-saving Cast and Crew of Award Winning Anti-Bullying Movie - ‘Malicious Attack’.

iFilmGroup is proud to announce our film

“MALICIOUS ATTACK"
won three of the six awards that it was nominated for at the
TAKE A STAND FILM FESTIVAL.

The film won in the categories of:
ANTI-BULLYING AWARD
BEST BULLY THEME FILM AWARD
BEST DIRECTOR AWARD – Matthew Marshall

The film also received nominations in the categories of
NOMINATION - BEST MESSAGE AWARD
NOMINATION – LEADING LADY AWARD – Katie Ostojic
NOMINATION – ACTING SUPPORTING ROLE – Morgan Flanagan

ALSO AT…
Global Shorts a Los Angeles-based online International Film Festival has chosen iFilmGroup's short film "Malicious Attack" about bullying to be a "Finalist" in their festival.

iFilmGroup’s administration staff and Production Leaders are so proud of the many kids and adults that were a part of the making of this very important movie. It was ‘life-saving’ work for ‘life-remembering’ awards. Hugs to all!
Stop a bully… save a life!

Don Hickey
Community Engagement Manager

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

Casting for the short film “Audition Waiting Room”.

iFilmGroup announces upcoming casting for the short film “Audition Waiting Room”. The production is an ensemble cast. The size of roles depends on shooting dates individuals can attend and overall character development. The film centres around a number of potential actors waiting for their audition and the various styles and personalities of people waiting for their audition.

NON-UNION / REEL USAGE / NON PAID

All roles are emotions or feelings at this point. Names will be added to characters as they are cast. This is an open diversity casting call process. Roles are open to any age and any ethnicity.

Those contacted for casting, auditions will be done through Virtual Zoom Auditions.

Double Vaccination Required.

Filming dates TBD

Email your Acting resume, headshot to msmarshall@sympatico.ca

ROLES:
“Anxious/ Anxiety”
"Athletic"
“Authentic”
“Chatter/Talker”
“Chronically Late”
“Dancing Monkey”
“Diva”
“Egocentric Self Centre”
“Emotional”
“Focused”
“Germophobic”
“Impatient”
“Late Comer”
“Moody”
“Negative”
“Nervous”
“OCD”
“On the Phone” (Calling / Texting)
“Over Confident”
“Psycho”
“Shy”
“Status Signaler”
“Socialite”
“Unorganized”
Footage from this film will also be used as part of the iFilmGroup virtual training segments.
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iFilmGroup
London ■ St. Thomas ■ Chatham-Kent
Ontario - Canada
WEBSITE - www.ifilmgroup.org

2021 Year in Review

The curtain has dropped and the page has turned on another year.
A fresh new, empty book of a year lay in front of us to write the story of 2022. 

To say that 2021 was anything less than challenging for iFilmGroup and the world for that matter would be an understatement... on top of an already challenging 2020. But the moments in life are what you make of them.

The team at iFilmGroup feels sometimes that life is like a movie set. Sometimes you have to make the best out of what you are given. That concept makes the iFilmGroup team think of the song ‘Season of Love’ by Jonathan Larson which was featured in the Broadway show “Rent”. The song talks about ‘525,600’ minutes in a year. That is Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred moments to make something happen. “Five hundred twenty-five thousand journeys to plan”. The song asks the question “How do you measure a life of a woman or a man?”

 The iFilmGroup team feels we can each be measured with what we do with the time we are given and how we make the most out of what we have, regardless of the circumstances. Filming and doing production have ground to a standstill in the past two years. With only a few limited shoot dates happening in the last couple of years due to restrictions and safety protocols. The slower pace has given time for post-production of the several films already filmed.

2021 saw the release of “Malicious Attack” and another film “Not Ready” having most of the post-production done with a plan to release in 2022. ‘Filmmaking’ is not at the core of iFilmGroup… ‘mentoring’ is, and has in the past couple of years been challenging on that front. But iFilmGroup has been adapting.

A lot of groundwork has been laid in the past two years for the future of iFilmGroup. Although the process has been slower than the team would like, it is moving forward with a lot of great things that have happened and that are planned for the future.  Like every year at this time the team likes to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year… while also dreaming and looking forward to what is to come. So, in the spirit of ‘Season of Love’. Let's celebrate and remember a year in the life of iFilmGroup for 2021.

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 The iFilmGroup team came into 2021 with three films in post-production that had been shot previously. “We were in a bit of a hole”, remarks ‘Head of Film Production’ Matthew Marshall. iFilmGroup included a short film on bullying called ‘Malicious Attack’ which Marshall had shot through his production company m & s Marshall Productions that was brought under the iFilmGroup banner.

On the set of ‘Blue Love’. Some cast and crew.

A second short film that Marshall had been working on with Helena Rose that wrapped filming in 2019 called “Blue Love” was added to the editing roster.

Then the iFilmGroup production “Not Ready’ had been filmed as well and needed to be edited. Marshall goes on to explain, “That due to some rapid growth of iFilmGroup and a number of opportunities that had presented themselves during 2019 and 2020 the team had focused on Production and filming with little time left for editing”. Something that in the end may have worked out for the team when things came to a standstill in 2020 and into 2021 when the slow down continued.  

On set of ‘Not Ready’ with some cast and crew.

2021 SEASON OF EDITING
Marshall spent most of the year of 2021 with the editing department. Editing first “Malicious Attack” and “Not Ready”. He brought ‘Malicious Attack’ to completion and 'Not Ready' to the point of Audio Post-production. He even started editing on ‘Blue Love’.  “2021 was a very productive year of editing,'' Marshall adds.

 RELEASE OF MALICIOUS ATTACK
Marshall's work in the editing department started to pay off as in October iFilmGroup and m & s Marshall productions released the 49-minute dramatic film “Malicious Attack” about bullying and how it affects high school students.  October seemed fitting for the release as it is ‘World Bullying Prevention Awareness Month’, with October 13th being ‘National Stop Bullying Day’. Which was the day the team decided to premiere the film. “Malicious Attack” has already gone on to have 12,000 views and be nominated for awards in Film Festivals. 

NEW FORM OF MENTORING
With restrictions, the iFilmGroup team has had to find new ways to carry out the goal of mentoring the target groups. Three areas have developed with great success and have stood out with iFilmGroup International Film Festival, Online Remote Learning and Outreach Beyond the Walls. 

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iFilmGroup International Film Festival (IFGIFF)
In late 2020 iFilmGroup opened up their new Film Festival for the first year as a way to allow filmmakers of all ages to submit their work. This initiative allowed iFilmGroup to mentor filmmakers online from around the world. The online event was held in April 2021 and was a success. The first annual IFGIFF (as it is called for short) produced some familiar faces in the winner circle which added to the giving back to the Southwestern Ontario Community.

The IFGIFF 2020-2021 winners
Best Director- Sadie Rose- ‘August’
Best Micro Short Film- ‘Hinterland Election Night’
Best Short Film- ‘August’
Best Lead Actress- Ashleigh Morrison- ‘Goldfish’
Best Lead Actor- Max Steinberg- ‘What Normal Boys Do’
Best Actress Under 18- Ashleigh Morrison- ‘Detainee X’
Best Actor Under 18- Max Steinberg- ‘Afreen’
Best Ensemble Cast- ‘Hinterland Election Night’ 

In October 2021 the second year for the 2021-2022 iFilmGroup International Film Festival opened up. With an end date of April 2022. Thus far the festival has over 60 entries and will have its final deadlines over the coming months of the early part of 2022. The iFilmGroup team is excited for the results of this second season of the festival.

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ONLINE REMOTE LEARNING
Taking a page from the education system, iFilmGroup looks to offer a platform where iFilmGroup members can be mentored without being in person. The iFilmGroup team is working on an online learning and teaching program. A lot of planning and discussion has gone into what this would look like.

This project has been in the works for two years and finally is starting to take form. The team has been filming footage and having individuals record the base training tracks for segments. The concept was started in 2020 but has been one of the aspects to be slowly moving forward. But 2021 saw growth and development as things started to come together and the team prepared for a launch in the future, even if the ‘in-person’ mentoring comes back. iFilmGroup feels this will be a great way to connect with more people and offer teaching and learning so that the mentoring is not limited to just people who can come to ‘in-person’ events. 

OUTREACH BEYOND THE WALLS OF IFILMGROUP
Several moves were made to open more doors for outreach by the iFilmGroup team. In the spirit of mentoring and teaching, the iFilmGroup team has several acting coaches working with various actors wanting training both ‘in-person’ sessions (when safe), and also online remote training. Head of Film Production Matthew Marshall has been doing this dealing with the tech side of production. Marshall was hired by the Digital Creative Arts Centre which is under the banner of BGC London. Marshall led two one-week filmmakers camps for teens. Marshall has also been doing some remote teaching on acting and filming with students.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATES
During this downtime, it also allowed Don Hickey (co-founder and Community Engagement Manager at iFilmGroup) to engage in the International Indie film market. In talks with international contacts (since early 2020) iFilmGroup now has associates in Sweden, South Korea, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and the USA. These associates have already contributed in many ways to our production processes in 2020 and 2021.

EXPANSION & GROWTH
Even in these times of slow down and restrictions iFilmGroup has seen growth. Not always in the areas that they expected, but growth has come on a number of fronts.

 The truth is that this process of ‘limited shooting’ has been time-consuming and frustrating at times, for the iFilmGroup team but they are confident that the strides they are making will be good for iFilmGroup and their associates, actors, and crew as the team moves forward.

The first area of growth was iFilmGroup casting a virtual remote film. This had been in the works since 2020, but finally got rolling with some additional casting of roles in 2021. The cast of ‘Social Disobedience’ was fully selected and cast. Filming has started but has been slow due to some of the cast having to learn how to do shots and filming themselves as well as other commitments in their life. “It’s a new way of making a film and I think everyone is on a learning curve of how to make it work”, comments Marshall on the virtual filming process.  

A place to film without rental fees and working out schedules has been on the team’s minds. Especially within the world of restrictions. The iFilmGroup team, under the direction of iFilmGroup’s Community Engagement Manager; Don Hickey has obtained space in a warehouse to safely shoot ‘specific sized sets’ for future ‘specialized social distancing’ filming.

This warehouse will allow shooting with multiple three-walled rooms. Hickey figures once renovations are complete there will be at least 8 rooms for staging. “Just think “Big Bang Theory” set or any other sitcom set that you might have seen (on a behind-the-scenes feature), and that’s what iFilmGroup will have”, Hickey says.

 Marshall adds, “This awesome ‘real estate’ feature will allow us to continue with mentoring workshops and ongoing filming. Our members (made up of crew and actors) are excited about continuing their growth and sharing their talent with our mentoring program. Growth will continue and we have a full schedule for the 2021-2022 season.” The team has already shot footage for the acting training as well as scenes for the film 'Not Ready' in this warehouse. 

From a personnel perspective, the team has grown as well. Tim Harvey, a local photographer and sound engineer that has worked with the iFilmGroup team a number of times have come on board to help out with people who are looking for affordable headshots. Tim worked on several productions with the team as a photographer including ‘Struggles Within’ and ‘Malicious Attack’. Most recently he was a drone pilot and camera op for ‘Not Ready’. Tim has an extensive background in photography in various forms. “He is partnering with iFilmGroup to be a source that we can send people to for headshots.” adds Marshall.

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 The iFilmGroup team expanded in 2021 in a way that is at the core of the iFilmGroup’s values and mission. iFilmGroup added a co-op student, Olivia Williams. Her time started in October 2021 and will go to June 2022.

The iFilmGroup team has had what they call “Accredited Mentoring” of students in the past on a short-term basis for a term of a month or so, or for a certain number of hours. A student had completed a one-month term during shooting of a film. A College student also did some virtual training with Marshall on ‘Directing’. But never an internship or co-op that ran a full school year or semester like Olivia is doing.

Marshall and Hickey are very excited about this opportunity. “This style of training is at our core as a mentoring group”, Marshall says. Marshall feels this opens the door to the group doing more internships and training like this in the future. Olivia’s training has been mostly virtual. But Marshall feels that when you look at acting in most cases actors do a lot of independent work learning the craft and preparing for auditions. So, the style of virtual training very much fits the way an actor would be functioning. More so than attending a certain location every day.

 With the co-op, it is putting more of a focus on the development of the Online virtual learning program and how much this could be a state-of-the-art program in the area for the training of young or new actors. “The structure and learning process could be something that we become well known for”, adds Hickey.

 LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
With all this growth in the last few years, the team is looking to where they need to go in the future. If by the theory, growth continues at the current rate, the team has to look at how their programs and facilities can expand and how this structurally will work. iFilmGroup is not funded by any government programs. Their funding comes from the generous funding of corporate and individual donations.

Perry Hegmans and Don Hickey overseeing the renovations at the warehouse to complete iFilmGroup Studio.

The team and donors have fronted the burden of the costs of renovations in the warehouse as the team converted the interior to sound stages. Renovations of the warehouse to sound stages will be ongoing into 2022. Also, the team has shot several short films, plus Virtual Acting training incurring many expenses. In 2022 iFilmGroup will be looking at ways to raise more funds to continue to finance the projects underway. To make a donation to iFilmGroup cause, please contact either Matthew Marshall or Don Hickey of iFilmGroup.

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Despite the restrictions of 2021, iFilmGroup feels they have used every second of their Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred moments of 2021 and is planning to wisely use all those same moments of time in 2022. As the chapter of 2021 has closed, a new chapter of 2022 has opened with a fresh new blank page. As Hickey and Marshall are both scriptwriters, they both jokingly wish to be very clear that because we have ended a year, that doesn’t mean the story of iFilmGroup has ended.  In fact, it has just begun for a New Year and they look forward to the new journey and the story that will be written.

New Year 2022 - Chapter one… begins!

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“2020 and 2021 have been great growth years even during these ‘special times’ and with many restrictions on business and society. Developments in many departments within iFilmGroup have exceeded our expectations. Thank you to The Production Team, mentors, mentees, actors, and associates.”

— iFilmGroup Co-founders

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

Tim Harvey - Joins Production Team

iFilmGroup is happy to complement our Production Team with the addition of another experienced multi-talented film industry trades-person.

TIM HARVEY
STILL PHOTOGRAPHER/SOUND ENGINEER
DRONE PILOT / CAMERA OPERATOR

Tim Harvey is a photographer, Sound Engineer, and Drone Pilot, who has worked with the iFilmGroup team on a number of the iFilmGroup films.

He was a still photographer, Sound Editor, and Sound Engineer on “Malicious Attack”, Drone Pilot/Camera Operator on “Not Ready”, Still Photographer and Camera Operator on “Struggles Within”, and Still Photographer on “Tuned In”.

Tim owns and operates “White Pine Photography” and “Sparta Sound”. 
He is a gifted photographer who has done a number of headshots for iFilmGroup members. He does headshots and portfolios for actors. He also does Wedding, Family, Special Events, Pets, Models, and Commercial photography.

If you are need of a headshot, Tim can be contacted through an inquiry to iFilmGroup. We will pass the contact info on to Tim (White Pine Photography) for you to be contacted about his pricing.

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RELEASE SUMMARY
Newest Production Team Member- Tim Harvey

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