NSI Canada has named the participants in its Global Marketing Program, a training initiative that mentors Canadian television producers and helps to ready their projects for consideration in the international marketplace.

This year’s crop, chosen from about 30 applicants, are Haddock Entertainment’s Laura Lightbown, Insight Film & Video’s Kirk Shaw and Andrew Boutilier from Vancouver; Apartment 11’s Mindy Laxer of Montreal; David Hansen of Autumn Productions in Regina; and Fresh Animation’s Tom McGillis of Toronto.

According to manager Mickey Rogers, the program was created because of money pressures on Canadian programming, and the need to present fresh Canadian television ideas. The program coaches participants on market dos and don’ts, as well as helping to develop their ideas further.

‘Markets, unless you have a track record or at least have a production under your belt and some other projects in development, [are] a waste of money, quite frankly,’ says Rogers. ‘You need to have people who represent not only the NSI but our country in such a way that it’s beneficial to everybody.’

There is a special emphasis placed on pitching, which Rogers says is incredibly important since producers never know who they will encounter during their travels, or when.

‘The experience of going to a market begins as soon as you get on a plane,’ says Rogers. ‘You don’t know who is going to be sitting next to you, in front of you or behind you, so you have to always be on and prepared in case you have to pitch. We’re also refining the ‘three-minute pitch’ and the ‘elevator speech,’ because you always have to be prepared.’

NSI increased the funds available to the Global Marketing Program this year, pulling money that had been allotted to send emerging TV producers to the Banff Television Festival. Because many provincial agencies are already sending their filmmakers to Banff, NSI felt the allotted cash would be better served in the Global Marketing Program, Rogers says.

NSI also recently announced this year’s participants in its Features First program, which has spawned films such as Nathaniel Geary’s On the Corner and Paula Tiberius’ Goldirocks, both of which are doing the festival circuit this year.

Of the selected projects, three are from Vancouver teams. They are The Breakup Artist from producer Kevin Shortt and writer/director Ken Hegan; Love and Other Dilemmas from producer Clare Hodge, director Larry Di Stefano and writer Deborah Peraya; and Lucky Luck from producer Steve Harmaty, director Desiree Lim and writer Karen Tulchinsky. The final project is The Leftover Bandit from the Toronto-based team of producer Raj Panikkar, director Kris Booth and writer Brian Hartigan.

-www.nsi-canada.com