The closing of the Canadian Screen Training Centre has not only left a hole in the hearts of past workshop contributors, but also the careers of Ottawa’s up-and-coming filmmakers.
For years, the CSTC has offered film workshops, courses and networking opportunities to people across the country, with notable teachers and guests, including Sarah Polley, Denys Arcand and Megan Follows.
Executive director, Tom Shoebridge, who founded the centre in 1981, says the closing is like saying goodbye to a dying friend.
The closure was expected after federal funding was cut in August 2008. Shoebridge says it was a fate even the public couldn’t change.
“After 43 meetings with the government, it was impossible to get any more funding," he says. "All we got was this letter from the Minister of Heritage, saying that there’s no money available for film and new media training.
All Shoebridge knows for sure is how this will affect future generations of Ottawa filmmakers, especially 400 prospective students hoping to enroll in directing, acting, producing, new media and screenwriting workshops.
Lynn Tarzwell, scriptwriting program co-ordinator at Algonquin College, says she recommended about 100 people per year to CSTC – from college graduates to busy parents looking for part-time training.
“This closing has left a huge hole that I am unable to fill," she says. I’ve already started getting a flood of emails from panic-stricken dads who are asking where they are going to go for training now.”
Patrice James, executive director of the Independent Filmmakers’ Co-operative of Ottawa, says her organization and CSTC often worked together to promote various film workshops and events.
Even though IFCO does offer workshops, it is aimed at artistic filmmaking on 16 mm and 35 mm film and does not have the screen writing and digital filmmaking training that CSTC offered.
In the meantime, Shoebridge says he plans to continue offering his own workshops and fighting cuts to Ottawa’s arts sector.
“Digital media is the fastest growing industry in Canada, yet they’re cutting the training for one our most important cultural industries. If Canada doesn’t tell its own stories, someone else will.