STAR Producer Program

Program overview

The CMPA STAR Producer Program is a comprehensive professional development platform designed to help members advance their careers and grow their businesses. STAR is an acronym for Skills, Training, Access, and Resources, which the program will offer through an extensive range of development opportunities for producers at all stages of their careers.

The program is open to all CMPA members and participation requires no commitment other than being a member of the CMPA. Individuals will have the opportunity to sign up for programming and events on an individual, case-by-case basis, throughout the year. The STAR Producer Program is made up of six modules that reflect the lifecycle of a production project: Pre-Development, Development, Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production, and IP Commercialization.

Each of the modules will run for approximately two months and will feature programming, training opportunities, and supporting materials through the following pillars:

Presentations

Keynotes, webinars, or panel discussions featuring industry leaders, sharing knowledge and speaking about their career experience

Networking

Opportunities to meet and interact with fellow producers and other key stakeholders in the industry who can help you execute your next project, and expand your career opportunities

Coaching program

Connecting experienced and emerging producers, to facilitate short one-on-one discussions focused on early-career challenges and production-focused queries

Resources

A robust library of supporting materials (reports, databases, webpages, articles, podcasts, etc.) for those who wish to dig deeper

MODULE 4 | Post-Production: Finding story in the editing suite

Module 4 will focus on topics related to post-production. Programming in this module will a feature a webinar focused on finding story in the editing suite, that will showcase an interactive discussion with some of Canada’s leading story editors. This module will also include a virtual networking event where members will have the opportunity to meet with executives from various post-production and VFX houses. In addition, in the coming days we will share more information about the STAR Coaching Program, and opportunities related to post-production.

Presentation | Finding the story in post

November 17, 2021 – 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET / 9:00 am to 10:00 am PT

With large amounts of footage and ever-evolving plot points, tackling story in non-scripted production can be a daunting task. Drawing on their vast experience, a panel of Canada’s leading story editors will discuss finding story in the editing suite. To help producers prepare and tackle their next non-scripted project, panelists will share details of the roadblocks they’ve faced, problem-solving techniques they’ve developed, and what it takes to form compelling story in post-production.

Moderated by Jean Parsons (Vice-President, Unscripted Development, Lark Productions), the panel includes:

Dinae Robinson (Writer, Producer, Taken)
Margot Daley (Story Editor, The Great Canadian Baking Show, Love It or List It Vacation Homes)
Sarah Sharkey Pearce (Showrunner, Executive Producer, Yukon Gold, The Devil You Know, Never Say Goodbye)
Ruth Nanda (Story Editor, Backroad Truckers, Rust Valley Restorers, Save My Reno)
Dylan Wertz (Story Producer, The Bachelor Canada, Paramedics: Life on the Life)

To register for this webinar, click here.

Networking | Virtual networking roundtables with post-production and VFX companies

Dates to be announced

In early December, we will host a virtual networking event designed for CMPA members to meet with industry leaders and emerging companies in the post-production and visual effects (VFX) industries.

More information, and an opportunity to register, will be shared with members in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Resources | Post-Production

CMPA staff have carefully pulled together an extensive range of materials, focused on production. Use the filter by category button to search through resources from Module 3 below. For resources from past modules, click here.

ARRAY'S The Call-In

ARRAY is the rebirth of the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM), founded by filmmaker Ava DuVernay in 2010. ARRAY is dedicated to the amplification of independent films by people of color and women filmmakers globally.

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Podcast

Bright Northern Lights: The Evolution of the Canadian Digital FX Industry

Visual effects and animation have evolved into a billion-dollar industry in British Columbia and are responsible for 12,000 jobs.

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Article

CBC's One Stop Business Workshop resources

The One Stop Business Workshop virtual series brings together organizations from across the industry to introduce emerging independent producers and content creators from traditionally underrepresented groups in the industry, to topics related to the business and financing of film, TV and original digital content.

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Resource

Coaching program

The CMPA, through its STAR Producer professional development program, is launching a new mentorship initiative aimed at connecting experienced and emerging producers from across Canada. The goal of this initiative is to create a platform where seasoned producers are able to share knowledge and best practices based on their years of experience working in the production industry.

Registration for the STAR Producer Coaching is now closed. Stay tuned for future announcements.

Calling on Canada’s experienced producers: Become a STAR Producer Coach

How does it work?

Producers with 10+ years of experience register and commit 30 minutes of their time for a call, a zoom chat, or (if this pandemic ever ends) a discussion over coffee with a producer who is early in their career. Based on experience and areas of interest identified by program participants, the CMPA will match STAR Producer Coaches (established producers) with early-career producers and send an introductory email. Emerging producers will follow up to schedule a meeting with their STAR Producer Coach.

In advance, the CMPA will work with the emerging producers who sign up for the program, to ensure they are prepared and have developed questions and objectives for the meeting with their Coach.

Why become a STAR Producer Coach?

We’ve all heard the term, “it’s not what you know, but who you know.” Well in the production industry it’s both. Volunteering to become a STAR Producer Coach is an opportunity to give back to the production community in Canada, to share the knowledge and experience you’ve built over your career, and to give your early-career colleagues a boost in what is a challenging, and increasingly globally-competitive, industry.

The past year has also raised awareness of the systemic barriers that exist in our industry. Barriers, which mean not everyone has the same opportunity to network and learn from those who are established in their production careers. Becoming a STAR Producer Coach is one small way you can help the CMPA work to eliminate such barriers.

Those who succeed in production do so through a combination of knowledge, skills and professional connections. We hope you’ll consider contributing your time for this mentorship initiative. And who knows, you may even find a new production partner at the end of it all.

Become a STAR Producer Coach →

Emerging producers

Producers who are just starting out, or are a few years into their career, are encouraged to apply to participate in the program. As part of this process, individuals will be asked to outline their career experience to-date, and areas of professional interest. Based on this information, the CMPA will work to match early-career producers with a STAR Producer Coach and send an introductory email putting Coaches and “Coachees” in touch with one another.

Emerging producers will be prompted to follow up directly to schedule a 30-minute meeting with their STAR Producer Coach. In advance, the CMPA will also provide the participants with guidance and tools so they are prepared to maximize the time with their Coach.

The CMPA will work to match all interested applicants, however space in the program is limited by the number of STAR Producers Coaches who sign up to participate. Priority will be given to CMPA members and employees of member companies.

Apply to be matched with a STAR Producer Coach →

Past modules

The STAR Producer Program consists of a series of modules, offered throughout the year, which reflect the lifecycle of a production project. To access content from past modules, please click below.

Past Modules →

FAQ / contact us

Answers to frequently asked questions can be found below. Should you have other any questions about the STAR Producer Program, or if you have suggestions for future programming, events or content, please contact Andrew Addison (Vice-President, Communications, Marketing & Membership).

Do I need to commit to a full-year?

No you do not. Individuals will have the opportunity to sign up for programming and events on an individual, case-by-case basis, throughout the year.

Do I need to be a member to get access to the program?

Although some programming will be open to non-members, many of the components of the STAR Producer Program will be available to members only.

Interested in joining the CMPA? Click here.

What are the expectations for STAR Producer Coaches?

The mentorship pillar of the STAR Producer Program is an opportunity for experienced producers to give back to the production community, sharing their experience and expertise with emerging producers, who are early in their careers.

To encourage participation, the time commitment required from coaches is minimal. Volunteers will only need to make themselves available for between 30-60 to participate in short 15-minute phone conversations or zoom meetings with emerging producers. Emerging producers will be asked to provide a short agenda to their mentor in advance, and come prepared with 3-5 questions they would like to ask during the call.

For more information, or to volunteer as a mentor please contact Sarolta Csete (Director, Development & Corporate Affairs).

Is the STAR Producer Program’s mentorship pillar connect in any way to the CMPA National Mentorship Program?

No, The CMPA National Mentorship Program is a separate program, which coordinates job placement opportunities at leading production companies for aspiring producers. More information about this program can be found here.