Welcome to the Ontario Production Studio
Welcome to the Ontario Production Studio
We’ll be posting stories, pictures, behind the scene glimpses, conversations and announcements of people, projects and productions throughout the year. We hope to bring you inside the studio and share some of our highlights, both big and small.
With a slate of projects, in varying stages of research, development and production at any given time, we work with the creative talent of Ontario’s independent film and media community from producers, directors, editors, interactive architects, designers and more, to create and produce award-winning, critically acclaimed documentaries (Stories We Tell, Highrise, My Prairie Home) for the world stage.
We believe stories have the power to open and change minds and can reflect truths far deeper than the facts. As a public producer, we strive to make work of significant cultural and social impact, with a uniquely Canadian point of view. As a creative lab, we push to challenge and expand documentary storytelling, which we believe to be one of the most relevant artforms for the 21st century.
Meet the Ontario Studio Team:
Anita Lee
Executive Producer
Anita is a multi-award-winning producer of some of the most inventive works in recent NFB history, including Sarah Polley’s internationally acclaimed Stories We Tell. Prior to joining the NFB in 2005, Anita produced award-winning independent films that premiered at international festivals including TIFF, Sundance and Berlin. She is a co-founder of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival.
Which NFB doc subject or character would you like to be/meet/date?
Buffy Sainte-Marie, because she was a great storyteller and a pioneer…and I can’t carry a tune.
Lea Marin
Producer
Since 2006, Lea’s innovative NFB productions include short dramatic films, documentary series, and features screened at international festivals and on television. Recent credits include the 2014 CSA-nominated documentary My Prairie Home, The Portrait, by Oscar-nominated director Hubert Davis, and the interactive documentary co-production The Next Day.
Which NFB doc subject or character would you like to be/meet/date?
I’d like to meet Danny Williams.
Justine Pimlott
Producer
Justine began her film career interning with the NFB’s Studio D, earning early credits on The Company of Strangers and Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives. She is a co-founder of Red Queen Productions where she produced award-winning documentaries. She recently joined the NFB’s Ontario Centre as a producer.
Which NFB doc subject or character would you like to be/meet/date?
I would like to meet the cat in The Cat Came Back. I have a knack for taming cats.
David Oppenheim
Producer
Before producing with the NFB, David was both Head of Documentary Development and Interactive Producer at Kensington. His recent work includes the Scopify mobile app, and the interactive Museum Secrets website. He has worked as both producer and director for Discovery Health, CBC Newsworld, and TVOntario.
Which NFB doc subject or character would you like to be/meet/date?
Bear 71.
Kate Vollum
Associate Producer on Highrise
Kate Vollum is the Associate Producer for HIGHRISE, which has won 2 Emmys and a Peabody award. Previously she worked as a Production Coordinator on many films including Stories We Tell, My Prairie Home, and The Portrait.
Which NFB doc subject or character would you like to be/meet/date?
I would date Leonard Cohen circa Ladies and Gentlemen… Mr. Leonard Cohen era in an instant. I’d also like to meet the Cat.
Stefanie Brantner
Production
Coordinator
Stefanie is a Coordinator who began at the Quebec Studio before joining the team in Toronto. Her current projects include The Apology and The Deeper They Bury Me. She follows a film from development to completion, ensuring all things are executed smoothly so that we don’t have to “fix it in post’.
Which NFB doc subject or character would you like to be/meet/date?
Be: Log Driver (Log Driver’s Waltz)
Meet: Waneek Horn-Miller (Club Native)
Date: it’s a tie between a young Paul Anka (Lonely Boy) and Adam Beech (Reel Injun).
Andrew Martin-Smith
Production
Coordinator
Andrew is currently coordinating The Faith Project and Fallen Heroes. His previous experience includes work on HIGHRISE. When not coordinating, Andrew spends his free time moonlighting in the edit suites with the tech crew.
Which NFB doc subject or character would you like to meet?
Bill “Spaceman” Lee.
Jenn Bertling
Production
Coordinator
Jenn recently joined the studio as a Coordinator, and is currently involved with Digital Citizenship and The Apology Interactive. She facilitates all aspects of production from concept to completion and provides support to her fantastic colleagues.
Which NFB doc subject or character would you like to be/meet/date?
Sarah Polley (all of the above)
Josiah Rothenberg
Studio Administrator
As the Studio Admin, Josiah’s work spans budgeting, cost reporting, rights, and business affairs, as well as administrative duties required to keep the Studio running smoothly.
Which NFB doc subject or character would you like to be/meet/date?
Meet Girl Talk, at one of his live shows.
Christine Kleckner
Executive Administrative
Assistant
Christine worked at the NFB as a Coordinator from 2005-2011 before becoming a freelance producer. Her most recent film Barefoot (2012) premiered at TIFF and received honourable mention at The Berlinale. She’s happy to be back at the NFB as the Assistant to the Executive Producer until May 2015.
Which NFB doc subject or character would you like to be/meet/date?
Paddle to the Sea
Mark Wilson
Production Supervisor
After 14 years at the NFB, Mark has overseen the production of more than 100 films, animations, and online projects in just about every flavour of technology available. He played a key role in the NFB’s first interactive project, Late Fragment, and later led the team on the Ontario Centre’s first 3D documentary, Let the Daylight into the Swamp. In 2012, he supervised production and post on Stories We Tell, which included nearly 500 rolls of Super8 film(!).
Which NFB doc subject or character would you like to be/meet/date?
Glenn Gould. I always wanted to play the piano.
Marcus Matyas
Technical Coordinator
Marcus joined the dynamic Ontario Centre team in 2008 and has since contributed in the production of over 40 films. Although much of his time is spent in the edit suites, he is integral to production in a variety of technical and creative roles. He is also the guy who can ‘fix it in post’.
Which NFB doc subject or character would you like to be/meet/date?
Paul Anka in Lonely Boy. Like many campfire musicians, I fantasize about stardom, stepping onto the stage and playing a stadium rock show.
