NFB seeks artists for animation workshop

Producers from the National Film Board are scouting in Iqaluit, Cape Dorset and Pangnirtung for artistic Nunavummiut who want to learn animation.

Early next year, the NFB intends to offer a workshop in Nunavut on the art of animation – the painstaking drawing of action in sequence, which, when shown at rapid speeds, makes a cartoon or animated action.

Through this workshop, called “Northern Hothouse,” the NFB wants to develop potential animators and filmmakers in Nunavut.

Forming partnerships is what it’s all about, said Tom Perlmutter, the NFB’s general director of English programming, who was in Iqaluit last week.

“I think Nunavut is unique in terms of its artistic capacity,” said Perlmutter. “So, it’s not what the NFB can do for Nunavut, it’s what Nunavut can do for us.”

Following the animation workshop, a few Nunavummiut may be involved in the production of an animated feature from 30 seconds to one minute long. This could later lead to works running 10 or 15 minutes.

Perlmutter said animated features can easily be produced in several languages, and are ideal for telling traditional stories.

In Nunavut, Perlmutter, who was accompanied by producers from the NFB’s western and northern region studio, met filmmakers and artists and held public screenings of Nunavut: then and now.

The video shows excerpts of NFB films from 1943, 1952 as well as previews from a new NFB production called Arctic Mission, a documentary series on climate change, wildlife and people in the Arctic, filmed by the southern crew of a small boat called The Sedna.

Since its creation in 1939, the NFB has produced over 10,000 films and audiovisual works, and won 4,000 awards, including 10 Oscars. The NFB offers help to new and aboriginal filmmakers and also contributed to Igloolik Isuma Productions’ film, Atanarjuat.

Perlmutter said the NFB welcomes proposals from aspiring filmmakers. It is helpful to show some prior work, he said, so that NFB producers can judge the filmmaker’s potential. Filmmakers or would-be animators outside of the communities where the producers are visiting are also invited to contact the NFB (www.nfb.ca).

As high-speed Internet comes to Nunavut, Perlmutter said it will be possible for Nunavut-based animators to work from long-distance stations.