The Ontario Film Development Corporation and Rogers Communications have joined forces for a public-private sector deal to boost the business skills of emerging film and television producers.

Practical Mechanics: A Producer Internship Program is a new initiative to provide emerging Ontario producers, who have projects in development in drama, children’s or documentary genres, with the necessary skills to meet the demands of the film and television industry.

The program consists of a 20-week work/study internship program, providing a combination of practical work experience at a production company and intensive learning through workshops led by industry professionals such as lawyers, financiers, bonders insurers and buyers. Producer Elizabeth Yake (Shoemaker) will coordinate the workshops.

Up to six people will work four days a week as an intern associate producer with a production company and spend one day at the workshop providers’ offices where they will learn practical information and network building.

Deadline for applications is Oct. 9 and the program runs from mid-November to April 1999.