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 of quarterly modules featuring 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, including connecting experienced producers with emerging producers to discuss early-career challenges

Resources

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

CURRENT MODULE | Sustainability and Climate Action

The Sustainability and Climate Action module will help producers incorporate eco-friendly practices into their productions, so they can deliver high-quality content while reducing their environmental impact. The module will kick off with a webinar that delves into the budgetary implications of sustainable production practices, followed by a practical workshop on how to use the albert carbon calculator to track a production’s carbon footprint. Plus, a virtual networking event will connect producers with consultants and leaders in green production practices.

Presentation | The budgetary implications of sustainable production practices

The sustainability and climate module kicked off with a webinar on Wednesday May 24, 2023 about the budgetary implications of sustainable production practices.

This webinar, hosted by the CMPA’s Tracey Friesen (Managing Vice-President, BC Producers Branch) featured Telefilm’s Deborah Patz (Investment Analyst) who unpacked their revised budget template, the CMF’s Marcia Douglas (VP, Growth & Inclusion) who dug deeper into eligible costs and best practices and Hans Dayal (Production Manager and Chair of the DGC BC Sustainability Committee) with valuable insights into how you can incorporate eco-friendly practices into your production budget. Tracey also reviewed the CMPA’s recently released research report “Towards a Green Budget Framework.”

To view a recording of the session, click below:

Workshop | Carbon calculator training

As some funders begin to introduce carbon tracking requirements for funding, calculating the carbon footprint of your production will become an important step in understanding its environmental impact.

In partnership with the CMPA, Reel Green is offering a free carbon calculator training as part of the STAR Producer Program. CMPA members and non-members can attend this free training session on Thursday June 8 at 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET / 9:00 am to 10:00 am PT.

Derived from one of the motion picture industry’s leading carbon calculators, albert, Reel Green has adapted a carbon calculator, for free, for film productions to use.

Calculating the carbon footprint of your production is an important step in understanding the impact of film production. Having consistent data and metrics from the industry can help organizations like Reel Green understand priority areas for sustainable practices as well as help productions understand and measure their carbon impact.

Additionally, with more available data points we can also derive economic benefits of going green on production!

The albert carbon calculator tool is available free for all productions to use. It has helped streamline the process of inputting and collecting data needed to calculate carbon impact. Multiple productions can be tracked on this tool, and having a single data hub helps to develop benchmarks for productions to work from and improve upon.

The June session has sold out. Reel Green is in the process of organizing an August session. Stay tuned for registration information.

Networking | Virtual networking roundtables with green production partners

On Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET / 9:00 am – 10:00 am PT, the CMPA’s STAR Producer Program will host a virtual networking event where producers will have an opportunity to meet with consultants and leaders in green production practices and climate storytelling.

This networking event will occur over four rounds of meetings, each lasting 10 minutes. Producers will meet in small groups over Zoom, with the companies of their choice. Representatives from the companies will present an overview on their organization and their specialties, and set aside a portion of time for questions and discussion.

We are happy to welcome the following companies to the networking event:

Earth Angel
Good Energy
Good Planet Innovation
Green Spark Group
Picture Zero Productions

Space is limited and prior registration is required. We encourage interested producers to register as soon as possible to secure a spot.

To register, click here.

Resources | Sustainability and Climate Action

The CMPA encourages all producers and industry stakeholders to take action to reduce their carbon emissions as quickly as possible. Under the Producers Toolkit section of our website, you can find a selection of resources to help you design and implement sustainable practices to reduce your production’s carbon footprint. New links will be added to this toolkit on an ongoing basis, across the topics of training and tools, climate content, and consultants.

Nghia D. Nguyen, Vice-President, Business and Legal Affairs, is responsible for overseeing the business and legal affairs for all development and production at WildBrain, the largest kids & family production and distribution company in Canada. Prior to joining WildBrain in January 2022, Nghia served as VP, Business and Legal Affairs at Boat Rocker for 3.5 years; and was Vice-President and General Counsel at Breakthrough Entertainment for 18 years.

Throughout his 26-year career as an in-house counsel, he has served as both corporate counsel and production lawyer on numerous television, feature film and new media projects. He has extensive experience in intellectual property, corporate/commercial law and all other elements of entertainment law. A graduate of the University of Victoria (LL.B.) and McGill University (B.Sc.), he was called to the Bars of British Columbia and Manitoba in 1996, and the Bar of Ontario in 2000, and has appeared often as a lecturer and guest speaker in the film and television industry.

Register here →

Coaching program

The CMPA is currently in a transitional phase of the STAR Producer Coaching Program as we design and implement a more robust, easy to use platform that will help connect established and emerging producers. Stay tuned!

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 →

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 | IP monetization

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

Past modules

The STAR Producer Program consists of a series of modules, offered throughout the year. 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.