Centre for the Arts

18 original short films were screened on Saturday, October 27 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.

The Theatre Revolve company was rehearsing at the Centre for their third collective creation under the direction of Natasha Mytnowych. She approached the Centre asking us if we could produce short films to be made by the women in her group.

With our experience, our human resources, history, space, reputation all in place we accepted the offer right away. Our aim was to give the participants the basics of filmmaking, guarantee the production of the films on time and to allow them the opportunity to use these films to give expression to what was on their minds.

Few of them had ever made a film before and keeping this in mind the CFA crew set about making a plan. John Boylan, Executive Director, Sarain Boylan, Production Co-coordinator and Troy Miller, Producer and Editor were the planning team. Taking the concept of starting simply we decided to give each woman a mini-dv camera and let them go ahead and make a film. The length of the film was to be five minutes.

We first held a one day Film Boot Camp; a week later a one day Story Meeting and a week later a one day Production Meeting. The Centre provided a producer and editor for all the films and the space and the equipment.

It was a great opportunity for the Centre’s crew to get the experience of running this unique project; a great opportunity for the girls to make their first film and a great opportunity for Theatre Revolve and Centre for the Arts to begin a relationship that we both want to continue for a long time.

There are plans afoot to make “a second film” from the best directors of the first 18 films and to run a “first time” film project again.

"I admire and support the aims of the Centre for the Arts to provide a space where artists can produce their own work. "

Andy Sykes,
Vice-President of Business Development,
Deluxe Toronto

Professional Actor Training

Training the Trainers

Community Arts Projects

Arts Education Project

Production & Creative Development

York University/CFA Joint Film Project

Community Arts Projects
Supporters and Sponsors Evening - November 13, 2005
Supporters and Sponsors Evening - December 5, 2006

A Toast to Machiavelli with David Calderisi

Benefits for the Actor's Fund of Canada

York University/CFA Joint Film Project

The Centre is participating in the The Melina Project: Three Short Films as a Co-Producer with York University Film Department at the invitation of John Greyson.

The Melina Project is a one-day intensive Production Workshop for the graduating directors in the York University. A single day run as a professional 12 hour production day where three films will be shot on the same day. The directors will crew, light, do camera and sound, direct and edit co-operatively. Actors from the Theatre Department at York as well as actors who have studied at the Centre will act in the films. This is an original concept proposed and being led by John Greyson and the Centre is pleased to be continuing and expandingour work together.

For the last two years the York directors have used the Studio B casting facilities at CFA to cast their final films. The project begins with a Casting Boot Camp led by casting director Millie Tom. To acknowledge the support the Centre has given the York Film Department and to publicize our joint efforts John Boylan has been invited to present one of the awards at the Cineseige eveningfeaturing the best student films made last year by the York University film directors to be held at the Bloor Cinema on October 11

The goal of the program is to assit people to develop in the broadest sense of the word and specifically to offer the best curriculum to assist actors working in the film, television and theatre industry.

SCENE STUDY ON CAMERA- John Boylan, Marcian Bennett
VOICE- Janine Pearson
ON CAMERA AUDITION TECHNIQUE- Anthony Lemke, John Boylan, Marcia Bennett
ON CAMERA FOR TEENS- Shannon Barnett
SPEAKING THE TEXT: SHAKESPEARE- Patrick Garrow
FILM CAMP FOR TEENS Previous Guests: Bruce McDonald, Nicholas Campbell, Joan Hutton, Saul Rubinek,
Michelle Nolden, George Bloomfield, Judith Thompson, Maury Chaykin, Jerry Ciccoritti and more.
PRIVATE COACHING- John Boylan, Shannon Barnett, Patrick Garrow, Marcia Bennett

"A wonderful open, friendly environment to learn and work in...it surpassed all my expectations! Thank you!"

-Caroline Lesley, Actor, Young Company member

Training the Trainers

Training the Trainers is a Centre for the Arts program that has been many years in the making. Centre Director John Boylan designed the course during his four years at ACTRAWORKS and has continued to use this instrument to train future generations of acting instructors. Shannon Barnett was the first teacher CFA brought on nearly four years ago and since then, a variety of other individuals have participated in the program. Anthony Lemke was invited to deliver the Audition Technique class, Nola Auguston the On-Camera Scene Study, Patrick Garrow the Shakespeare: Speaking the Text class and two sessions of the Shakespeare Project. Other participants in the program include Matt Hilliard-Forde, Zachary Cox, Sarain Boylan, PJ Lazic, Justin Tensen and Heather Braaten at the Film Camp for Teens.

The program itself involves a mandatory two classes from both John and nationally renowned voice coach Janine Pearson. If the instructor would like to work with teens, he or she is also required to take two classes with Shannon Barnett. Then as a practicum, that individual must also participate in three projects, for example Shakespeare for Teens or the Summer Theatre Project.

Last summer, Heather Braaten directed the Summer Theatre Project and along with Sophia Kolinas and Anastasia Phillips, was involved with the teen program. Marya Delver and Sophia Kolinas led the Shakespeare for Teens course last fall and Shannon Barnett conducted the first Arts Education Project workshop at Greenwood School.

John Boylan believes that group connection on a regular basis is important to ensure the instructors keep up their skills and stay inspired. This March, a number of these participants met at the Centre for a Teacher’s Working Class led by Janine Pearson. Participant Patrick Garrow felt that the session was especially insightful and left with a renewed appreciation for how complicated and exhilarating teaching can be. “It made me appreciate how much Janine’s teaching has changed over time and then I realized how much my own teaching will change as well.”

Training the Trainers sessions continue throughout the summer of 2006, exploring a number of different avenues within the Centre. Shannon Barnett continues to work on the Arts Education Project, with the hope that the workshop will find its way into many more Toronto schools. Director John Boylan believes that the Training the Trainers Program is essential for teaching confidence, which manifests itself into student confidence and then creates parent/audience confidence and a renewed sense of belonging. And that’s what the Centre for the Arts is all about.

Written by Natasha Rudnick

Youth Association
On Friday February 23, 2007 a one-day filmmaking workshop for students from Greenwood College was led by Shannon Barnett and Troy Miller. 10 students had the opportunity to experience all the basics of filmmaking during this intensive one day ‘film camp’. The teens wrote modern scenes based on Oedipus Rex and produced short films that were screened and critiqued at the end of the day. The head of the arts program at Greenwood was very pleased and said she wanted to continue the Centre’s four-year role of providing arts training to their students. Both Shannon and Troy have had extensive experience in leading activities at the Centre including Film Camps for Teens, Independent Short Film Screenings, On-camera acting classes, Filmmaker-in-Residence, the Young Company and more.

The teens liked one Film Camp so much they formed a group to be able to continue to work together! They apprenticed in the production of In Between, crew on York University graduate film projects, counsel at the Film Camps, and are being trained to produce and organize projects. Four girls in the Writing Project wrote first-time screenplays with mentors. The Youth Association has produced, shot and screened the three films: Sunsets, Baby Girl and Prey. In 2005 we launched our first annual Summer Theatre Project where inner city teens created an original theatre piece. Heather Braaten directed and the documentary film Making Of was directed by Chris Behnisch. Life of the Party was presented to an invited audience at Ryerson Theatre School. Shakespeare for Teens and Spoken Word poetry classes have been held and original work created by the Teens has been presented at our Sponsor's Night.

On Friday February 23, 2007 a one-day filmmaking workshop for students from Greenwood College was led by Shannon Barnett and Troy Miller. 10 students had the opportunity to experience all the basics of filmmaking during this intensive one day ‘film camp’. The teens wrote modern scenes based on Oedipus Rex and produced short films that were screened and critiqued at the end of the day. The head of the arts program at Greenwood was very pleased and said she wanted to continue the Centre’s four-year role of providing arts training to their students. Both Shannon and Troy have had extensive experience in leading activities at the Centre including Film Camps for Teens, Independent Short Film Screenings, On-camera acting classes, Filmmaker-in-Residence, the Young Company and more.

The Young Company was created by young and emerging artists who had common concerns and aspirations. They produce and create original work in the areas of theatre and film, participate in training programs and mentor teens in our Camps and Youth Association. The play In Between, written by Matt Austin, was initiated as a Young Company project, the annual Potluck party is hosted by the Young Company and in June 2007 the Young Company launched the Screenwriters Group. Our Young Company members have done their first teaching, directing, producing, writing etc. at the Centre and many are now actively pursuing their careers in the business. This is an opportunity for professional artists to study and grow.

We offer a placement program to young people in partnership with other educational institutions. We give them letters of recommendation and train them in their chosen areas.

Queen's University Artist-in-Community Education Program

University of Toronto, Trinity College, U of T

Ryerson University, Film and Video Department

Vaughan Road Academy, Northern Secondary

St. Clement's School

University of Ottawa, Department of Theatre

Danforth Collegiate and Technial Institute
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning

Production & Creative Development

Sugar, by Rosa Laborde, Playwright-in-Residence, 2003. Played at the Toronto Fringe Festival and was hailed as an "Outstanding New Play" of the festival. All About Al, directed and performed by Adam McDonald and Adam Frost. The Violet Pill, an original play by Jon Rannells. Life of the Party, a collective creation by the Youth Association directed by Heather Braaten. In Association productions with: Dogtooth Theatre Company, Southpaw Productions, Easy Co. In Between by Matt Austin, the inaugural production of the Young Company. It had a successful run at the Centre from May 27-June21, 2004. Running Towards Tomorrow, written by Matt Hilliard-Forde, Filmmaker-in-Residence, 2003. The film was produced with funds from Bravo!FACT (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent). Baby Girl, Prey and Sunsets are three original films made by the Youth Association. Hit and Run, written by Troy Miller, Film maker-in-Residence, 2004.

Billie Holiday Co-Production
Centre for the Arts with NTC and Elmhill co-produced Some Other Spring an original musical about Billie Holiday. Starring Shawne Jackson, one of Canadian music’s icons. Jackson’s uncanny portrayal of the singer is supported by 19 of her most memorable songs including such great standards as
God Bless The Child, Lady Sings the Blues, My Man and Our Love is Here to Stay. David McMorrow, veteran Toronto Musical Director re-unites with writer/director Paul Aspland. The production at Newmarket Theatre ran from August 16 to August 24, 2006. After it’s run in Newmarket the production will come into Toronto early this fall to begin an open ended run.

"...it has provided me with some of the best opportunities to develop my skills as an aspiring cinematographer. It is imperative that a place like Centre for the Arts exists..."