What's New?
09.12.06: Funding Deadline set for
February 2007
Nova Scotia film, television and new media producers are
advised that the next funding round deadline is set for 5:00PM
on Friday, February 9, 2007.
Applications will be accepted for most Nova Scotia Film
Development Corporation (NSFDC) Programs including Development
Loans, Equity Investment, New Media, Sponsorships,
Partnerships in Training, and Feature Film Distribution Assistance. Please note that
applications for Market & Festival Assistance and
Professional Development Assistance are accepted throughout the
year.
Any questions concerning these programs can be directed to
Linda Wood, Program Administrator for the NSFDC, at (902)
424-7177.
08.25.06: Guideline Changes for September 2006
Please be advised that the Nova
Scotia Film Development Corporation has recently revised its
Feature Film Distribution Assistance guidelines.
If you have any questions,
please contact Linda Wood, Program Administrator.
Feature
Story
Arcadia – Sailing on a sea of creativity
Nova Scotians
have traditionally turned to the sea to earn their living.
They have harvested fish, both near shore and far off shore.
They have gone into the sand and mud underneath to harvest
clams and mussels. They have gone below the sea floor in
search of oil and gas. But more than anything, they have
climbed aboard countless ships and sought their fame and
fortune on the seven seas. They traded fish and lumber for
sugar and spices, and they left their mark across the globe.
Today, another
company has looked to the sea for its livelihood. But this one
trades in images and sound. Arcadia Entertainment (www.arcadiatv.com)
produces TV series about the oceans, or more specifically,
what’s under the oceans. This is the Halifax-based company
that produces Dreamwrecks, Buried At
Sea, Marine Machines and other ocean-related pop
documentaries. There are many more series in production or
development.
Arcadia is the
brainchild of John Wesley Chisholm, a Nova Scotian who admits
to having “a slight obsession with boats.” Chisholm, goes
on to say “When I knew I wanted to make
television programs, I was just
naturally drawn to boats and the seas they sailed.” He is an avid diver, surfer and sailor and has
participated in discovering several famous shipwrecks.
After years in
the music industry – he played, composed and arranged for
the hugely popular Johnnie Favourite Swing Orchestra – John Wesley wanted off the treadmill. “One day, we were
playing a huge concert in Ontario, and when it was over I
thought to myself – okay that’s it, I’m done.” Life on
the road took its toll and John Wesley wanted to
spend more time at home with his young family.
John Wesley returned home
and combined his obsession with boats and his love of the
oceans to create Arcadia Entertainment. But this was no
“pie-in-the-sky” wishful thinking. John has a degree in
International Finance and a keen business mind. “I knew our
competitive advantage was our once and future closeness to the
ocean; that we could understand it and reveal it uniquely in
the world.”
His insight and
his vision have merged into reality. Arcadia now produces a
staggering 75% of the world’s sea programming. Yes – 75% of the world.
Arcadia
’s
programs, translated into 26 languages,
have been picked up by National Geographic, Discovery
USA
, CBC, History, Vision, Z, Outdoor Life, Channel 5 (UK)
and other networks in 140 countries.
Chisholm
is pleased, but not entirely surprised. The oceans are
“the Wild West of the modern age, full of bigger-than-life
characters,” he says. “All we wanted to do was to tell
some simple ocean stories, particularly about shipwrecks, technology and adventure. It’s
something everyone can relate to, because, really, the sea is
shared by all of us.”
The original vision of ocean-based documentary is
continuing with several projects in the works, including Buried at Sea - a one-hour documentary special about weapons
dumped, lost and abandoned on the ocean floor... surprisingly
close to home. GO DEEP – An 8 hour ocean tech series, and Dreamwrecks -
26 episodes exploring and documenting the most beautiful
wrecks in the world in the most beautiful locations in the
world.
John Wesley is
also expanding Arcadia’s vision beyond the sea – again
from something close to his heart. He is a practicing Scottish
Rite Freemason, and recently wrote, directed and produced a
one-hour documentary on the history of freemasonry. This was
so successful that he is following up with a further three
one-hour episodes on the subject – already sold to national
and international networks.
John Wesley is
the first to say that the company’s success is because of
some very talented, very hard working colleagues. There is a
significant creative team working with him at Arcadia
Entertainment – a staff of 24 who are involved in every
aspect of the creative process.
With John
Wesley’s musical background, it comes as no surprise that he
has composers and musicians in house to create the individual
sound-tracks to go with each episode and in each documentary.
Arcadia also
has its own editing suites, captained by seasoned editors.
There are also writers and producers along with key support
staff. And everything is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
“Absolutely,”
says Chisholm when asked if location is a key factor in
Arcadia’s success. “Not only do we seem to have an
inherent affinity for the ocean, jutting out into the Atlantic
also gives us great credentials when we talk to world
markets.”
Chisholm is
also keen on how the industry has grown and matured, not just
for Arcadia, but for all producers. “Look around,” he
says, “and you’ll see this province producing programs
that are among the best in the world.” Chisholm is also happy
about the level of support that productions are getting from
government agencies like the Nova Scotia Film Development
Corporation (NSFDC).
The NSFDC
provides a range of programs and services that encourage the
industry’s growth. Nova
Scotia’s film and TV production industry is the fourth
largest in Canada, generating $100 million a year for the past
eight years. Of that, half is generated by Nova Scotia
production companies and the other half from outside companies
coming in to shoot movies and TV shows.
“That
doesn’t surprise me a bit,” says the businessman inside of
Chisholm. “We have really talented, dedicated and
professional people in every aspect of making a film or TV
production.” For Chisholm and his colleagues in the TV and
Film industry, the burgeoning industry is another example of
why Nova Scotia offers a lifestyle that is unique in North
America.
As John Wesley
Chisholm says, “Years ago, we would have had to leave Nova
Scotia to make Arcadia successful. Now, we can do it all right
here.” John Wesley sees smooth
sailing ahead.
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