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 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