Overview
FILM 5 is an intermediate level training program for emerging Nova Scotia Writers, Directors and Producers dedicated to pursuing careers as filmmakers. 

The program provides ten months of intensive training and the opportunity to create a five-minute short film, shot and finished on 35mm, the standard for theatrical release. Films produced through the program will be expected to perform in a quantifiable way – i.e. festival participation, awards, broadcast etc.

The cornerstones of the FILM 5 program are professional, creative, project and relationship development. Its principle objectives are:

• Provide emerging Writers, Directors and Producers with meaningful training opportunities designed to enhance their abilities while preparing them to pursue larger scale production opportunities (specifically feature film projects).
  
• To provide training that bridges the gap bridge between the completion of basic training and the launch of a career in the film industry.
  
• To assist with the creation of up to four high-quality short films that will perform at the national level, and which can be used by the filmmakers to advertise their abilities.
  
• To provide aspiring technical crew with classroom and on-set training.

FILM 5 delivers on these objectives through a unique combination of classroom learning, mentorship from professional filmmakers and administrative support. Participants are challenged to create well-executed, innovative short films while acquiring the skills necessary to meet the practical realities of a film production.

Relationship with AFCOOP
All FILM 5 productions are made under the supervision of the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative and the FILM 5 Core Support team consisting of the Supervising Producer, Line Producer, the Writer mentor, Director mentor, Producer mentor and Marketing mentor. All productions will be produced in accordance with the approved shooting script and locked budget.

Participant Eligibility

• Teams must consist of a Director, Writer and Producer. A Director or Producer may also be the Writer. A Director cannot be the Producer.
• Team members (one or more) must have held a key creative role (Director, Producer or Writer) on a film or video work which has been exhibited in a professional context (i.e. a juried / curated screening, acquired for broadcast etc. This does not include student screenings).
• Applicants must have completed basic film training. The training may have been completed through a post-secondary institution, a filmmaking cooperative, artist run centre or on the job.
• No single Team member can have completed more than three short films on film or thirty minutes (whichever is longer) finished on film.
• At least one member of the Team must be a full member of AFCOOP before applying to the Production Phase of the Program.
• Past participants of the Production Phase are ineligible to apply to the FILM 5 program, unless applying in a different discipline (i.e. former Director now applying as Producer).
• Participants must be residents of Nova Scotia and Canadian citizens
• Members of the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative are not eligible

Terms of FILM 5 Productions

• Projects must have a finished running time of no less than four and no longer than six minutes plus credits
• FILM 5 projects are to be shot over a period of two days in April or May.
• Documentary and animated projects are ineligible
• A Team member who is a full member of AFCOOP must hold creative control and copyright of the final product
• Projects can seek funding from external sources, however a Creative Team member must retain full ownership and creative control of the project. External funding cannot exceed $10,000.00 cash
• All productions are made under the direction of the FILM 5 Core Support Team (Supervising Producer, Line Producer, Writer mentor, Director mentor and Marketing/Distribution mentor) and are produced in accordance with the approved shooting scripts and budgets
• Acceptance into the final production stage is contingent upon approval by the FILM 5 Supervising Producer in consultation with the Core Support Team
• FILM 5 crews must consist of a minimum of seven trainees from the FILM 5 trainee program and a minimum of three paid industry keys
• AFCOOP will retain a Beta Sp copy of the finished project to be used for educational programming and other non-commercial exhibition, as well as promotional material for the FILM 5 Program

Program Structure

Phase One –  Project Development (October - December)
Up to eight teams will be accepted into the Project Development Phase of the program. Teams will attend weekend workshops, which will assist them in the development of their project proposals. Each Team member must participate in the seminar applicable to his or her role. Only Teams whose members have participated in each workshop will be eligible to apply to the next phase to enter pre-production.

Phase Two – Pre- Production (January - March)
Up to four Teams will be accepted into this phase of the program. Only Teams who have
successfully completed phase one are eligible to apply. Teams accepted into this phase of the program will enter pre-production with the understanding that they will advance to the Production phase of the program, contingent upon final approval of project plans.

During this period Teams will receive further training and mentorship while preparing their final project pitches. At the end of this phase each Team will present their finalized

project proposals to the FILM 5 Core Support Team who will assess the proposals for entry to the Production Phase.

Teams who have successfully completed this phase will receive $7,500 in cash and over $30,000 in services to complete a five-minute film. They will complete a two-day shoot in April or May, and see their projects through post-production to final delivery of a release print.

Participant Commitment

FILM 5 runs from October to October. Once accepted, participants can expect to make a considerable time commitment to both the Program and the development of their projects.

It is important to note that FILM 5 is a training program, not a funding program. As participants in a training program, teams are required to complete a schedule of workshops and courses intended to provide them with the necessary skills to complete their five-minute productions. Workshops and courses are held on weekends and weeknights. Failure to attend all the mandatory workshops may result in the Teams’ removal from the program.

Teams are required to work closely with the mentors provided by the program. They will meet with the Supervising Producer on a regular basis to plan project and development deadlines. Teams are required to adhere to a rigorous reporting schedule and to provide the Supervising Producer with any and all materials that they may request. Failure to do so may result in removal from the program.

Writers are required to meet with the Writer Mentor on a minimum of three separate occasions, and to participate in a rigorous re-writing process to final polish of script. Producers are required to meet with the Line Producer on a minimum of three separate occasions throughout the second phase of the program. Directors are required to meet with the Director Mentor on a minimum of three occasions throughout the second phrase of the program. The purpose of these meetings is to assist with production planning, trouble-shooting and overall project development. Failure to meet with mentors may result in the Teams’ removal form the program.  

Tuition

Each member of the selected Teams will be responsible for a minimal tuition fee. Tuition is $200 per Team member per first and second phase of the program. The maximum tuition is $400 per Team member. This contribution represents a small percentage of the overall costs of the training provided, and is necessary for the program’s success. These fees are to be paid to AFCOOP within 3 weeks of being accepted into either phase of FILM 5.

Please note: the $200 tuition to the Project Development Phase of the program includes workshop fees, mentorship, AFCOOP Associate Membership fee (if applicable) and application fee to the Production Phase.