“Blue Love” by m & s Marshall Productions Wrapped Its Final Scenes.

“Blue Love” wrapped!

The hour-long independent drama “Blue Love” by m & s Marshall Productions wrapped its final scenes of filming recently. The scenes feature the film’s lead Helena Rose who played the role of Kaitlyn Butler. Rose has been part of a number of films associated with Marshall and is part of the iFilmGroup production team leaders. She is the lead acting coach of the organization.

She also branched out in Blue Love to take on roles behind the camera as the film's co-writer and co-producer. It was a learning experience for her and with iFilmGroup support of the production during filming, it helped fulfill the iFilmGroup mandate of mentoring as Rose got a firsthand look at what it is like to be part of the team behind making a film.

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Helen Rose- actor and acting coach.

7th Film with Marshall and iFilmGroup

This marked the seventh film Rose has done in association with Marshall and iFilmGroup. She has played various roles throughout those films ranging from small parts right up to leading roles.

The production was produced by m & s Marshall Production with the production company’s co-owner Matthew Marshall at the helm directing the film and co-producing with Rose. iFilmGroup was not involved in producing the film but supported through production services such as finding cast and crew and assisting at a number of filming dates with the filming support services.

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The final few scenes for the film had been delayed due to finding and securing locations. Recently the team gather to film in a courthouse and then the final scenes took place in a law office finishing the legal portion of the film that the lead character faces. Kaitlyn through connection with her husband could be facing some time in prison. But there is more to the story then what is on the surface. The role was an opportunity for Rose to stretch herself as an actress and her journey with the character through the movie is a roller coast of emotions.

Helena Rose as Kaitlyn Butler in “Blue Love”. © m & s Marshall Productions.

With the wrapping of these scenes, it also wrapped filming of the film. It now moves into post productions along with two other films that the team has finished filming recently. Marshall is hoping that the winter provides some productive time to get some of the films edited and out for public viewing. ■

Helena Rose happy on set of “ Blue Love”.

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

Malicious Attack Re-wraps Principle Filming.

Recently m & s Marshall Production with the help on iFilmGroup did some filming for the short film “Malicious Attack” which deals with bullying.

Award-winning director Matthew Marshall who is behind the film had completed the short film a while ago but had run into a few delays with the film during post-production.

The first was a lack of a solid editor. He went through a few before deciding to take the project on himself. Using his skills from his post-graduate certificate in digital nonlinear editing.

Although Marshall likes to keep his distance from holding too many crew positions due to it not giving an objective point of view he felt with the delay it was important to take over the role of editor to get the project moving forward.

But as he has been working on editing the film, a few delays have come up. First, Marshall's talking to various people has turned up some ways that the film could have been more enhanced and brought in some other aspects of the issue of bullying.  This could be just looked at as hindsight in what could have been done better. But a second more serious issue aroused. The project had some technical matters to be overcome and a possible timeline issue within the film that made it necessary to add some additional scenes.

Shelby Simpson (playing Zoe Carwin)

New Ideas

This has allowed Marshall to incorporate some of the ideas that had been presented to him. It also allowed for some people who had missed the original film to be incorporated in the film. Several up and coming people in both acting and crew within the iFilmGroup community now had an opportunity to be part of this film.

Jordyn Taylor (playing Brynne Jameson)

The scenes feature Jordyn Taylor (playing Brynne Jameson) and Shelby Simpson (playing Zoe Carwin). Both girls have been a part of a couple of the films that Marshall and the iFilmGroup team had been working on. Most recently was the iFilmGroup short film Not Ready, where both played roles of a group of private school girls.

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Team of Merucci and Simpson.

Other Opportunities

The shooting day for Malicious Attack presented some other opportunities for the additional cast. Including putting Simpson together with someone that she has danced within Elliette Merucci.  The team of Merucci and Simpson has been called “Ellby” when they have done pair dancing. The chemistry between the two girls was clear. They have not only danced together they are good friends.

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Flashback Scenes

Taylor, Devynn Carver and Leeann Finkbeiner.

The scenes also included a flashback scene where two other ladies were part of the scene and played cheerleaders who bully Taylor's character. The two ladies involved in the scene are Devynn Carver and Leeann Finkbeiner.  Carver has been part of a few of the productions also, whereas Finkbeiner is new to the iFilmGroup but shows promise and is interested in future opportunities.

Marshall now moves the film into post-production to finish it up over the winter. The release date for the film has not been set as of yet. ■

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

iFilmGroup Youth Actor Jacob Gagen in WWI Movie

iFilmGroup Actor Jacob Gagen as Raymond Collishaw

GAGEN’S acting career soars to new HEIGHTS

iFilmGroup is proud to announce that our youth actor Jacob Gagen has been cast as ‘Raymond Collishaw’ in the movie- ‘The Ace and the Scout’ by Electric Motion Pictures, directed by Aaron Huggett.

They filmed these scenes at the Great War Flying Museum located at the Brampton Airport. The museum builds and maintains flying replicas of WW1 aircraft.

The film itself is set over 3 days in late August 1918. A band of Canadian soldiers are cut off from supply and must fight to survive the Orix Trench on the Western Front of the Great War.

The Ace and the Scout Poster

The 15-day filming of ‘The Ace and the Scout’ will be shot in Lambton County with a recreated battlefield scene – trenches and all. At least one day will be spent filming in Hamilton with plans to use vintage warplanes.

The film itself centres around Billy Bishop and includes the story of Francis Pegahmagabow. Billy Bishop story will be told alongside that of First World War sniper Francis Pegahmagabow.

Although Bishop became famous, some historians regard Pegahmagabow, an Ojibwe soldier from Parry Sound, as the greatest sniper of the war.

iFilmGroup Actor Jacob Gagen (on left). Cast of ‘The Ace and the Scout’.

Bishop in the cockpit of his Nieuport 17, c. August 1917.

William Avery Bishop, was a Canadian flying ace of the First World War. He was officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian and British Empire ace of the war. He was an Air Marshal and a Victoria Cross recipient.

During this period, Bishop became the highest scoring flying ace in the Royal Flying Corp.

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Francis Pegahmagabow

-Francis Pegahmagabow was the First Nations soldier most highly decorated for bravery in Canadian military history and the most effective sniper of World War I. Three times awarded the Military Medal and seriously wounded, he was an expert marksman and scout, credited with killing 378 Germans and capturing 300 more.

Electric Motion Pictures, also made ‘Red Ryan’, ‘The Black Donnellys’ and ‘Black Gold’. ■

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iFilmGroup Actor- Jacob Gagen in “The Ace and the Scout”.

We are happy to see GAGEN REACHING FOR THE SKY!

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

"Blue Love" Has Day in Court.

“Blue Love” Has Day in Court.

Kaitlyn Butler played by Helena Rose. Prosecution: Maria Piccoli-Zimmerman. Defense: Robert Herder. Correctional Officers: Bree Hamilton and Jordyn Taylor. © “Blue Love”.

The wheels of justice often move very slowly. Sometimes it can take a year for an accused to have their day in court. The same can be said for the dramatic film “Blue Love” under the direction of Matthew Marshall and his m & s Marshall Production team.

“The location of the courtroom scenes have proven to be a test for the team. It has taken a while and a number of possible locations before the details could be worked out to find a location willing to host the team for filming” says Marshall. He, along with the support services of iFilmGroup has been scouting for an appropriate location for over six months, which has delayed the finishing of the filming of the movie.

Actor Helena Rose as Kaitlyn Butler in “Blue Love” ©

Many locations were approached and a lot of negotiations went on. But the location proved to be a tough one to nail down. Especially with the strict rules of fully functioning courtrooms. Several options were explored but for various reasons, those locations did not work out.  Finally, one worked out and was approved.

The team moved forward with the location and the date was set for “Blue Love” to appear in court.  Lucky for Marshall and the “Blue Love” cast and crew the scenes were flashbacks and were all-new characters, except for the main role of Kaitlyn Butler played by Helena Rose. With a little hair magic and the help of the wig that has been used for much of the filming to keep Helena’s hair constant, you would not have known much time had passed. The gap in time meant a little rework of the way the scene was originally written and also allowed for some roles to be re-cast to some new faces that have been associated with Marshall and the iFilmGroup team. These included Bree Hamilton, Hazel Parsons and Taniya Sheikh.

Cast and Crew of “Blue Love”- courtroom scene. © m & s Marshall Productions.

The rest of the cast for the scene were some very familiar faces of m & s Marshall Productions and iFilmGroup. They included…

• Judy Cormier played the Judge (previous films; “Daughter of the King”, and “Malicious Attack”).

• Maria Piccoli-Zimmerman played the Prosecution (Previously; “Not Ready”).

• Robert Herder played the defense lawyer (previously “Malicious Attack”).

• Jordyn Taylor played a Correctional Officer (previous films; “Not Ready”, “Malicious Attack”).

The filming was of two scenes that deal with the lead Kaitlyn being in court due to the choices she has made in the story-line. “It is because of her choices and lack of trying to help herself that she ends up where she is,” says Helena Rose, who not only played the lead role but also crossed over to the crew side and co-produced with Marshall.  Marshall and Rose are also co-writers of the film as well.  “These scenes will hopefully help the audience feel for Kaitlyn’s situation. But some may feel she is right where she belongs based on her choices.” Marshall adds.

Judge: Judy Cormier, Court Recorder: Hazel Parsons and Court Police Officer: Taniya Sheikh all cast in movie “Blue Love”. Court scenes © “Blue Love”.

The film is a 1-hour dramatic film about Kaitlyn BUTLER enduring domestic violence and having her life spin out OF control. She struggles to overcome and comes to grips with mental and emotional issues from events that have happened to her.

The team has a couple remaining small scenes left, and then “Blue Love” officially moves into post-production.

Blue Love IMDB Page  - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7479634 ■

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

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Acting Coach on Set of Movie “Not Ready”

Acting Coach on Set of Movie “Not Ready”

We all know that when groups of people get together and function as a team, there are some people that stand out from the group. Like a captain on a sports team or a valuable player. It doesn’t lessen the spirit of the team when it happens. In fact it strengthens the team, and the other team players have a role model or a new drive to excel to the position, or beyond, of the person that stands out.

Director Matthew Marshall mentoring actor Bree Hamilton.
[Photo by Louise McBride]

Bree Hamilton is one of those actors. During the shooting of the film “Not Ready”, director Matthew Marshall kept speaking about Hamilton.

The Production Team is trained to watch for raw talent from any extras. There are signs from these “yet to be cast in bigger role” actors. At iFilmGroup we don’t think of extras having a “small, unimportant role”. Every role contributes to the finished product.

If you look hard enough, one can find the hidden gem or sparkle of a star yet to be born.

Matthew Marshall gives testament to this. When operating a few years ago through his m & s Marshall Productions, he encountered a young extra in a movie he was working on. He knew she had something that was special, and it was natural talent of expression and a mind-set to take on hard to play characters.

iFilmGroup’s Acting Coach and actor- Helena Rose coaching Bree Hamilton on the set of “Not Ready”.[Photo by Louise McBride]

After being cast in many roles and some leads, this actor is also an acting coach and teaching young actors like Hamilton, how to take on the role. Helena Rose, plays a dog walker in the movie, “Not Ready”.

While on the set, Rose helped Hamilton. Hamilton was scheduled two different days of shooting to play a PSW in the movie. The director Matthew Marshall told the other Production Team Leaders, "We are watching a star in the making.”

Don Hickey, iFilmGroup’s Community Engagement Manager said, “It would be great to see these two actors excel in the industry and, we today, on this set have both of them together, working in the same movie.

Helena Rose applying make-up on actor Lee Highgate.
[Photo by Louise McBride]

One will quickly learn if you are ever on a movie set of m & s Marshall Productions and along side, the support organization of iFilmGroup, that there is respect and honor towards the goals of others.

This summer had many high temperature and humid days. One can tell, just from the Production Team that they are all proud of the work of all actors and crew, along with all the family members and supporters of this film. Many times actors held more jobs than acting. Helena Rose was doing make-up on actors and keeping the canine actor in a happy state.

Both co-founders of iFilmGroup, Matthew Marshall and Don Hickey love it when people in their group anticipate the needs of others and attend to the job without being asked.

Hickey says, “Here we are producing movies that people care about and involve people (for some) whom otherwise would never have the opportunity to act or be on crew in a movie, and we do it as volunteers.

There are costs, and we try to cover expenses, but our purpose is not to make a profit. Our purpose is to make award winning movies that include all ages, especially youth and seniors working together.

Hickey likes to ask… “What did your kids do this summer?” I know iFilmGroup kids had good fun and took on new skills. Skills like…

• Presentation

• Timing

• Speaking with movement for auditions

• Building pose

• Confidence.

• Memorization of lines.

• Control

• Improved attitude

• Working with a team.
  And best of all… learning to be humble and also forgiveness.

Think about it for a minute! Humble, because you might fluff a line and have to do it over again. Forgiveness, when your line is perfect, but the actor playing opposite you fluff their line and you have to retake the shot or somebody spoils the take with a cough or sneeze during a take.

“Quiet on the set” is another favourite of Hickey’s. Mouths closed and cell phones are off. Yes, parents, they can do it, it’s expected on a movie set. They also learn about patience…. they have to wait quietly between scenes.

Seniors that join us on productions really enjoy working with the youth. Seniors feel young again… how good is that?

PHOTOS BY LOUISE MCBRIDE

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

Stage Actor Hazel Parsons Returns to Acting

Actor Hazel Parsons
[© Photos by Phyllis]

Here’s what she says…

“I have had a casual interest in acting since my early years.  In fact, in 1974, in my late teens, I joined the Elgin Theatre Guild.  Back then, believe it or not, our space was on Talbot Street, St. Thomas, upstairs above where that medical clinic currently is, where the walkway goes via beside the former Royal Bank.  It was no more than a cubby hole apartment, where we did all our rehearsals there, and our actual performances were on stage at AVSS.  It was way too long ago to remember the plays I was in, but I recall “Witness for the Prosecution”, “Scrooge”, “The White Sheep of the Family”...these are all back in probably season 7 or 8 of the Guild.  I was also on the executive of the ETG in those early years.   Later I returned for another and obviously older character in “Witness for the Prosecution” in approximately season 30.

 In between the years, well you know, life and family get in the way, especially when I started working or going to university classes out of town and would not be able to keep up with any kind of rehearsal schedule due to unavailability.  Now I am happily retired, and can go back what I love and craved to again become a part of for so long.   

I have not done any film, until Matthew Marshall gave me a chance with the movie “Not Ready”.  I was totally inexperienced re film work, and although some skills can be transferred over, certainly many aspects are different.  I have been told that stage work is all about grand gestures and voice projection, film is more subtle, using the eyes, facial expression and smaller movements more.  I think, from my small amount of experience in this production, that was certainly a correct statement.

iFilmGroup actors awaiting their turn.
[© Photo Don Hickey]

 I remember audition day in May.  Here I come, as a complete stranger, and was heartily welcomed and not made to feel awkward, strange, or that I had no business being there.   I had asked to be present only as an observer as I had not been cast, and was not really looking to be cast in a speaking part, but only as an extra.  I asked to be present to see what actually goes on.  Yeah, well, at the end of the afternoon there was some time left, was asked if I wanted to read, and I read a prepared monologue about death that I had just been handed a few mins before.  I had not memorized it, but was able to complete it, and hopefully conveyed the meaning of the words on paper.  At first, I felt that I had made a complete cock-up of it, but Matt and Don Hickey, gave me valuable information.  Yes, I rattled the paper a little too much for the sound equipment, and I also had had the benefit of seeing others do that particular monologue earlier in the afternoon, but in the end, I was deemed credible in the way I portrayed the words on that page.   I came away from that afternoon, satisfied that I had learned a great deal that afternoon, and the whole experience was a positive one.  I had no idea that I would be cast as a more regular extra in “Not Ready”, giving me the opportunity to really feel like I was part of the “Not Ready” family of performers/crew and associates.

Hazel Parsons on-set of “Not Ready”
[Photo by Steve Struthers]

 This whole experience has reminded me of some reading I did many years ago, and a particular passage that I often refer to. It is by Dr. Ralph Greenson (1974), and he speaks of how “it takes courage, honesty and modesty to grow old with joy and dignity”, and “to be able to have a sense of fun gives one a quality of youthfulness, no matter what age”. He further refers to how important it is to nurture a certain playfulness, and that man is the only animal who continues to enjoy that sense of play in adult life. Doing so will help to minimize or at least survive crises of adult life. What great therapy that is !”

“iFilmGroup has given me an opportunity to do just that.”

— Hazel Parsons

Photos by Phyllis
www.photosbyphyllis.ca

Photo Steve Struthers
Photo Don Hickey■

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

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Labor Day Thank You to Our Actors & Crew

Partial cast on movie set of “Not Ready” for theatre scene shot.

iFilmGroup thanks all actors and crew on the production of the movie “Not Ready”
Over 65 Scenes, with over 100 actors and many crew

This movie production was partially shot during one long week-end in the summer of 2019. This was the Canada Day weekend. Four days for Canadians to enjoy a long weekend. It was estimated that 45% of the footage needed for the movie was shot during this weekend. All the people on set chose to work on the movie knowing they were giving up their Canada Day week-end 2019.

A different week-end in the summer and a single Sunday was also required to shoot an editional 55% of the movie.

Later in the Fall, during autumn colours, the last 5% of the movie will be shot.

iFilmGroup wishes to send a huge thank you to all the crew and actors and their families for giving up their time to make this film. We also thank the owners of all provided locations.

Today is Labor Day in Ontario. iFilmGroup acknowledges your support and volunteerism. Thank you very much.

Don Hickey - iFilmGroup, Community Engagement Manager
Matthew Marshall - Film Director

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

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iFilmGroup Actor Excels

 George Crosby joins
Original Kids Theatre Company

George Crosby is a stage and film actor. George has worked many seasons with the Elgin Theatre Guild (ETG) in St. Thomas, Ontario. iFilmGroup closely networks with ETG, and had George audition for different parts for several film productions.

iFilmGroup cast George in several movie productions. George was as extra in the movie “Blue Love” as a clinic patient. “He’s not only a stage actor, but, a movie actor and we are proud of George's accomplishments. He has attended workshops with iFilmGroup and continues to be instructed by the various training programs at ETG,” said Matthew Marshall, movie director.

George Crosby attends iFilmGroup Workshop at ETG
[© Photo by iFilmGroup]

iFilmGroup is looking forward to the release of the movie “Not Ready” written by Donald Michael Hickey and directed by Matthew Marshall, where George plays a very important role.

iFilmGroup is proud to share the news that iFilmGroup member George Crosby is now an Original Kids Theatre Company main cast member. George worked very hard preparing for his audition for OKTC.

Original Kids Theatre Company, like iFilmGroup, have worked with many youth. The difference is, that iFilmGroup works as an inter-generational film group with people of all ages. Yet, OKTC is very impressive with 622 performances since 1991. This opportunity will be good for George.

His mom says he couldn't have done it without the help of his vocal coach Paula Thomas, and most definitely without the support of his favourite acting coach Lesley Chapman from the Elgin Theatre Guild (ETG).

The Crosby Family is all super excited to see where his journey takes him!

Training for George and other new members at OKTC begins in September, and is called TAG training (The Actor Grows). George will audition and be cast for a spring/summer show in 2020.

“We are looking forward to working with him in the future as he continues his acting journey at all levels. George is one of many youth that have excelled through the acting programs with iFilmGroup and Elgin Theatre Guild," said Don Hickey, Community Engagement Manager, at iFilmGroup. ■

Photos by Matthew Marshall

#ETGkidfirst #newbeginnings #OKkid #ifilmgroup #actorslife #acting #notreadyfilm

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

Nine Filming Days to Shoot a Movie Called… “Not Ready”

 Nine Filming Days to Shoot a Movie
Called… “Not Ready”

On the Movie Set of “Not Ready” Being Shot in Southwestern Ontario.
[Photo by Louise McBride]

The summer of 2019 will be known as a very hot summer in Ontario. When the day that school got out for the summer, a band of grade-school and high school children, together with youth from college and university, who were out a month earlier, ramped up the actor and crew roster on a film being shot in London and St. Thomas, Ontario.

Dylan Maczko iFilmGroup’s Student Cameraperson.
[Photo by Louise McBride]

The auditions were held earlier in the year during the cooler weather. The cast and crew, being very excited, received their casting calls and the dates for each of the nine days of shooting. For some, this will be their first time in a film as an actor, or working as a crew member on a movie set. But, all will remember that this movie has a cast of two Toronto actors. The excitement level peaked, when on the first day of shooting the crew and the actors met both of these seasoned actors.

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“Over 130 Actors Required For Scenes”

— iFilmGroup Production Team

• Day one, 11 scenes shot the first day with 5 actors, along with crew.

• Day two, 4 scenes were shot at two locations in London with 13 actors along with crew.

• Day three, 10 scenes were shot with 10 actors, along with crew.

• Day four, 7 scenes were shot with 12 actors, along with crew.

• Day five (on another week-end), 10 scenes and 10 actors, along with crew.

• Day six shooting, had the biggest youth cast of the movie with 7 scenes. Over 50 actors were called for these scenes.

• Day seven, 8 scenes, and 7 cast members along with crew.

• Day eight was shot on Saturday, August 17th. with over 15 extras and 4 principal actors along with crew.

  This makes 95% of the footage shot in eight days.

  One more day will be required for shooting this film.
  This last day of shooting will be in the Fall of 2019 when the leaves change to their autumn colors and will only require 2 actors and a small crew.

This movie production was partially shot during one long week-end in the summer of 2019. This was the Canada Day weekend. Four days for Canadians to enjoy a long weekend. It was estimated that 45% of the footage needed for the movie was shot during this weekend. All the people on set chose to work on the movie knowing they were giving up their Canada Day week-end 2019. Another week-end in the summer and a single Sunday was also required to shoot 55% of the movie.

Matthew Marshall, director on set of “Not Ready”.
[Photo by Louise McBride]

Matthew Marshall, director and co-producer of this movie, worked under his production company- m & s Marshall Productions. Marshall said, “These actors and crew were outstanding in committing their personal lives for this production. As I got to speak with them on set, each one, either actor or crew saw the script unfold… “putting to flesh the scripted scenes”. As we shot the footage they each spoke about what they each were contributing to the final product.”

Director Matthew Marshall with youth actor Max Steinberg.
[Photo by Louise McBride]

Forty actors where required for this first weekend shoot. Then, along came a second week-end. Don Hickey, co-founder, along with Matthew Marshall, the other co-founder of iFilmGroup were buzzed by people in the film industry who were amazed about the tight schedule of this movie. Marshall realized that the summer was the only window of opportunity for most of the actors and crew. Some of the youth actors are moving on to college or university and they had great desires to be in this movie. iFilmGroup actors and crew and their families banded together to make this movie happen. The family in London that offered their home for the shoot, (after they read the script) knew the importance of the film’s story line and they wanted to be a big part of this production.

A local London magazine featured the filming of the movie, “Not Ready”. This home in old north London was the “cardinal point” of all scenes of the movie. Don Hickey, the Community Engagement Manager with iFilmGroup said, “That using a home in old north London established a “community value” that was required to authenticate to the audience the “real” feelings of a warm, safe neighborhood. The script also called for the home to be near the university and the college.

In the hot summer of 2019, actors and crew contributed to the successful filming of this movie. Giving up 8 days total of their summer break, the youth, with adults, mastered their delivery of talent with skillful grace and merit. It’s a summer that a lot of them will never forget.

The Hickey, O’Leary Sound Crew Team with iFilmGroup’
[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

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

One Scene With Lots of Extras

THIS SPECIAL SCENE IN THE MOVIE “NOT READY” CALLED FOR MANY EXTRAS

Mostly Extras For One Scene From The Movie “Not Ready” with Director Matthew Marshall and Some Crew
[Photo by Louise McBride]

London, Ontario. A group of actors (some new) and crew, pose for a group shot on the outdoor set of “Not Ready”. This scene was the second last scene scheduled to shoot this summer. On the same day, after the extras were released, another scene was shot on a “closed set”. This completed the summer schedule of filming for this movie.

One more scene is to be shot in the Autumn when the leaves change their colour.

iFilmGroup Production Team on the set of “Not Ready” fulfilling the Summer Film Schedule.
[Photo by Louise McBride]

Photos by Louise McBride

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