Alexander DeSouza
Renfrew County is not quite La La Land, but a recent encounter could see more local students dreaming of Hollywood.
Canadian director and editor Alexander DeSouza joined Renfrew Collegiate Institute’s Drama and Media Studies class earlier this month to encourage students to pursue opportunities in the Canadian film industry.
Teacher Adam Noack says you don’t need to look hard to see the chances are out there.
Noack adds that being able to chat with DeSouza, who has been featured at the likes of Toronto Reel Asian and the Edmonton International Film Festival, as well as on brands like the Discovery Channel, Super Channel, and Corus, has given his students valuable insight into the current state of the Canadian film industry, the impact of streaming services and artificial intelligence, and ways to begin breaking into the business.
The discussion comes during a point in time where Noack believes Canadian creators are ready to shed the inferiority complex and treat their art on the same level as their American counterparts, regardless of it being made in filming hotspots like Toronto, Nova Scotia, or even close to home in the picturesque holiday destinations nestled in the Ottawa Valley.
DeSouza’s visit was made possible by Reel Canada, an independent initiative from people in the film and television industry that aims to bring Canadian films to classrooms across the nation.
(written by Kasey Egan)