Listen Now

On Episode Ten of IFL, I sat down with Lesley Saliwonchyk a veteran producer of Animation. We did a broad overview of how Animation works from development through distribution.Lesley has been actively working in the television industry for 20 years. While attending University at Ryerson to attain a BAA in Radio and Television Arts, she worked part time for The Red Green Show and Royal Canadian Air Farce, and on two productions for YTV.Since graduating Lesley's varied experience has spanned across live action including several major awards shows, and animation over several major networks. Additionally her experience has spanned across marketing, promotions, development and most notably - producing.Lesley's career in animation started at Nelvana in the early 2000's as a Storyboard Coordinator and then promoted to a Production Manager. Lesley then moved to Cookie Jar Entertainment as an Executive Assistant in Marketing and Licensing, as a strategic move to be in on the ground floor of in-studio production.Lesley quickly moved into an Associate Producer role on Johnny Test Season II and II for KidsWB. From there, Lesley has produced commercial and series content for Optix Digital and then as Development/commercial producer at Guru Studios and recruiting at Arc Productions.Currently Lesley is a series and development producer with Pipeline Studios, with a focus on the series 'Nina's World' for Universal Kids / Sprout.

On Episode Nine, Brendan sits down with Alan Bacchus, Programs Manager of the Harold Greenberg Fund. The Harold Greenberg Fund/Le Fonds Harold Greenberg is a national funding organization that supports the development of Canadian dramatic feature films. Since 1986, they have invested almost $84 million in the Canadian film and television industry. That’s over 3,892 projects.While it's a Producer driven fund, it really allows for writers to be paid in the development stage, providing the producer(s) and writer(s) the chance to properly develop their projects and thereby increase their chances of success in the market place. Their programs include:Story OptioningScript DevelopmentEquity InvestmentIndustry Initiatives including:Shorts-to-Features Program

On Episode Eight, Brendan speaks with Dan Bekerman, Producer of such movies as The Husband, Bang Bang Baby and The Witch about his career thus far as a producer and service producer.  

On episode seven of the podcast, Brendan sits down with Line Producer and Production Manager Chris Hatcher to go over what it takes to do the job and best practices for running a production. Chris has line produced feature films including Cast No Shadows, The Husband and is now the Canadian Producer/ Line Producer of ShadowHunters. 

On episode six of the podcast, Brendan sits down with Allie Elwell, Unit Publicist for The Crown, Penny Dreadful, Hannibal (among other shows) to discuss what it takes to be a Unit Publicist and how creators can ensure they're putting their best foot forward with their projects. Show Notes:Allie Elwell

On Episode Five of Indie Film Lab, Brendan sits down with Peter Huang and Evan Landry, two thirds of the creative team behind "5 Films about Technology" a BravoFact funded Short film which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival as well as Online via The New Yorker Magazine. As if that wasn't cool enough, they're also screening before every US screening of the Indie Monster Movie, Colossal starring Anne Hathaway. 5 Films about TechnologyPeter HuangEvan Landry PETITION TO SAVE BRAVOFACT & MUCHFACTBravoFact 

On episode four, Brendan speaks with Rachel Feldbloom-Wood and Norma Garcia, Grant Administrator and Content Coordinator for BravoFact about how the fund works and best practices for applying. 

On episode three of Indie Film Lab, Brendan sits down with veteran television and film producer David Brady who also happens to be Brendan's Dad.Brendan and David go through his career, from his days in Los Angeles as a kid from Canada trying his hand in the music business  to executive producing one of Canada's greatest cinematic achievements, The Grey Fox to dealing with a serious drug and alcohol addiction.David's career has had many ups and downs. His life is full of lessons that we can all learn from both for success and how to avoid failure.  Through it all David has persevered and learned to embrace adversity, which is a huge skill in this business.  Show Notes:David BradyJohnny BrowerNails (1979)The Grey FoxPhillip BorsosPeter O'BrianTax Shelter FilmsAmerican ZoetropeDixie Lanes 

On episode two of Indie Film Lab, Brendan sits down with the co-creator/writer, producer and actor of the IPF funded web series, Whatever, Linda to go over her experience of working with the Independent Production Fund and how it changed her life. Show Notes: Whatever, Linda (IPF Funded web series)Hannah Cheesman  (Creator, Producer, Writer, Actor)Julian DeZotti (Creator, Producer, Writer)Matt Eastman (Director)Mackenzie Donaldson (Co-Executive Producer)Secret Location (Executive Producer, Production Company)Working Moms (CBC TV)Graeme Manson (Writer, Orphan Black) The Mark Gordon Company (Production Company)Boring Girls (IPF Teaser)Aiken Heart Films (Coral Aiken Production Company)OMDC InteractiveNational Canadian Film Day

On the very first episode of Indie Film Lab, Brendan speaks with Andra Sheffer CEO of the Independent Production Fund. The IPF provides equity financing for web and mobile based dramatic series in Canada and has quickly become a go to fund for emerging talent. Brendan and Andra talk about the fund, how it works and what makes a project stick out. Show Notes:Independent Production Fund Canadian Media FundBell FundBen Fox Music

In this brief introduction, Brendan provides an overview of what the podcast is gonna be.