Film Production

Grad’s Film Racking Up Awards And More: The Latest from the Writing Program

I’d like to start the term by giving you the latest news from the Writing For Film & Television Program. 2014 grad Spencer Sinclair’s short film Guess Who’s Not Coming To Breakfast, Lunch, Or Dinner has been racking up awards on the festival circuit, including Top Finalist at the Canadian Short Film Festival, Best Directing & Best Editing at IndiefilmTO, and Best Film at YoungCuts. The festival run is ongoing, I’ll keep you posted with more updates.

WFT instructor Matthew Miller has also been having great success of late – his latest film, Operation Avalanche, was just made an official selection of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Matthew is currently shooting a new TV show (title not yet released) for Vice Television, acting as Writer and Executive Producer.

2013 grad Ralph Ortega continues to work at Guru Studios, now as a 3D Asset & Script Coordinator for a number of Nick Jr. shows, including Paw Patrol. He recently acted as Producer and Story Editor on a Punjabi short entitled Vishal, which has been making the festival rounds and recently won multiple awards at the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival.

And congratulations to 2013 grad Greg Jackson who just got his first feature commission, as writer on the dramatic film Excelsis, about female MMA fighters. The film is being produced by Jaze Bordeaux and Big Shave Productions, and has a distribution deal with Universal Studios. Production begins in February, and Universal is already discussing future projects with the team.

Finally, on a personal note, my sitcom Meds, with ACT instructor Fabrizio Filippo and Brandon Firla, has been optioned by Fox Studios in Los Angeles. We are currently working on the script with Fox, and will know in the coming months if it will be selected for pilot production.

Welcome back WFT, all the best for the coming term!

Adam Till is the Coordinator of the Writing For Film & Television Diploma at Toronto Film School as well as a producer and writer, known for Billable Hours (2006), Perfect Sisters (2014) and Too Late to Say Goodbye (2009).

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