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
Module 3 will focus on productions and offer members the opportunity to gain a significant understanding of new virtual production technology and techniques through a wide-ranging overview webinar, a two-day intensive workshop, and a robust collection of supporting resources. This module will also include a virtual Summer Fund Fair networking event where members will have the opportunity to meet with individuals from various national and provincial funds.
Presentation | Producing for virtual productions
July 21, 2021 – 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET / 9:00 am to 10:00 am PT
Designed by Sheridan’s Screen Industries Research and Training Centre (SIRT) and presented in association with the Canadian Film Centre, this webinar will provide producers with a working knowledge of virtual production and the contributing technologies, an understanding of the hardware and crew implications of virtual production; and how this approach to production shifts resources from post-production to pre-production.
Presentation | Virtual Production Workshop
September 21 & 22, 2021
The virtual production workshop aims to give participants skills and knowledge to identify when and where virtual production can be used as an effective production tool. During the two-day program, participants will cover how to plan for, schedule, and execute in-camera visual effects (ICVFX) production shoots.
Networking | Summer Fund Fair
August 24, 2021 – 12:00 pm ET / 9:00 am PT
The CMPA’s STAR Producer Program hosted a virtual Summer Fund Fair where producers had the opportunity to hear directly from national and provincial funds and network in roundtable discussions. The Summer Fund Fair occurred over three rounds of meetings, each lasting 25 minutes. Producers met in small groups, with the funders of their choice. Representatives from the funding organizations presented an overview on their fund, and set aside a significant portion of time for questions and discussion with participants. There was also an open networking session at the end of the program, which allowed members the opportunity to informally meet with funders and producers alike.
Resources | 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.
- Resource
- Article
- Directory
- Database
- Podcast
- Toolkit
- Report
- Program / event
Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct
The Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct is dedicated to preventing and reducing harassment, discrimination, bullying and violence within Canada’s creative industries. On November 23, 2017, a coalition of Canadian creative industry stakeholders released a statement committing to zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination, bullying and violence and established working groups to explore the development of a Code of Conduct, safer reporting measures and industry-wide education and training. This Code of Conduct is only the first step in achieving these goals.
Crowdfunding to Build Independence
The Crowdfunding to Build Independence is a course that teaches you the essentials for engaging your audience at every stage of your project, and how to leverage that for distribution and your next project. The class has been taught at hundreds of film festivals, organizations and schools for a reason: class attendees have a 90% success rate funding on Seed&Spark.
Diverse hiring databases
BIPOC TV & Film’s list of diverse hiring databases that can be used for productions.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
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.