Velcrow Ripper Announced as Keynote Speaker

Posted on March 7, 2014 by AMPIA

Award-winning documentary Filmmaker Velcrow Ripper will be the keynote speaker at the 1st Annual March Madness Professional Development Day.  Join us Saturday, March 15 at the Shaw Theatre (NAIT Campus, Edmonton, AB) where the Director of Occupy Love (2012) will be discussing the new revolutionary practices of crowd-sourcing, building audiences and self distribution.

Velcrow Ripper

“If anyone can find the silver lining in a mushroom cloud, it’s this astounding, thoughtful filmmaker.” – The National Post

This workshop is FREE for AMPIA, FAVA and CSIF members and students of NAIT, SAIT, or Red Deer College.  Non-Members fee is $75.00. Call AMPIA to register (780) 944-0707.

 

More About Velcrow Ripper:

Velcrow Ripper is a Canadian Academy Award (Genie) winning filmmaker, writer,  sound designer and public speaker. He creates powerful, theatrical feature documentaries that deal with the central issues of our times.
His most recent film, Occupy Love  is the culmination of his epic “Fierce Love Trilogy” which began with Scared Sacred, named one of Canada’s Top 10 movies of 2004, and winner of the 2005 Genie (Canadian Academy Award) for best feature documentary. It  continued with 2008′s award winning Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action.
Ripper’s earlier films include In The Company of Fear, a documentary on non-violent resistance to the “dirty war” in Colombia; Golden Gate Award-winning Open Season, about bear hunters and the activists who “hunt the hunters”; and the multi-award-winning non-fiction feature Bones of the Forest, (co-directed with Heather Frise) about the struggle to save the ancient forests of British Columbia (Best of the Festival, 1996 Hot Docs! Festival; and Best Feature Doc, 1996 Genie Awards).
Velcrow’s films are stylistically innovative, engaging and moving. Particular attention is given to the sound design. He is well known for his award-winning sound design of such films as The Corporation (Best Sound, Leo Awards), and A Place Called Chiapas (Best Sound, Hot Docs!; Best Sound, Leo Awards). He was recently named “one of the top ten filmmakers to watch in 2012″ by the Independent Film magazine.   Website: www.velcrowripper.com

March Madness – Professional Development Day

Posted on February 27, 2014 by AMPIA

AMPIA’s first annual “March Madness” is the perfect crash course for filmmakers and producers! If you’ve been standing on the periphery of the industry and trying to figure it out all by yourself, this is the time to GET SERIOUS! Get involved and find the direction you’re looking for.

Already a member? This is the time to get up-to-speed on current trends in the industry and network with exciting new people.

Come down and meet the representatives from Alberta’s leading industries, including: Scot Morison (Writers Guild of Canada), Brad Stromberg (Edmonton Film Commission), Tina Alford (ACTRA Alberta), Sandi Perkins (Super Channel), Dylan Pearce (12pt Media), Camille Beaudoin (Mosaic Entertainment) Michael Jorgensen (Myth Merchant Films) and more!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: VELCROW RIPPER
The award-winning documentary filmmaker hailed as a “Cinematic Activist” will be speaking on new revolutionary practices of crowd sourcing, building audiences and self distribution.

Read full itinerary here: March Madness

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Email lmcneill@ampia.org or call 1-800-814-7779. Workshop is FREE for members of AMPIA, FAVA, and CSIF and students of NAIT, SAIT, and Red Deer College.  Non-Members fee is $75.00

AMPIA Welcomes Calgary Studio Announcement

Posted on February 4, 2014 by AMPIA

AMPIA welcomes this morning’s announcement by Alberta Minister of Culture Heather Klimchck that a purpose-built Studio and Sound Stage will be built in Calgary, led by Calgary Economic Development. We look forward to learning more about the details of the proposal, which we understand will be coming soon.

“AMPIA is pleased to see that this project is moving forward as it will encourage new production in Albert, both indigenous and ‘off-shore,’ given the current lack of infrastructure in Southern Alberta for professional studio space for film, television and digital media productions,” says AMPIA President Joe Novak.  “We believe a studio facility in Calgary will significantly grow our screen-based industry, diversify the economy and will be a very strong economic driver in Alberta.”

“We are excited to see that the Calgary Film Studio represents a collaboration between the Province of Alberta, the City of Calgary and the private sector, which will ensure a viable economic model for the project. This investment is critical infrastructure in the film, television and digital media sector will grow our industry in Alberta, and help retain jobs for media professionals and craftspeople coming through our training programs.”

For more information please contact AMPIA Executive Director Bill Evans at (780) 944-0707.