Big Soul Productions Inc.

Big Soul Productions is 100% Aboriginal owned and operated, and was established in August 1999 by Laura J. Milliken and Jennifer Podemski. [ [http://thenaica.org/edition_six/spotlight/bigsoul/video/intro.htm NAICA Online: Summer Edition 2007: Spotlight: Big Soul Productions ] ] Since its inception, Toronto-based Big Soul Productions has become a leader in Aboriginal content programming. The company is now under the sole proprietorship of Laura J. Milliken under the new name, Big Soul Productions Inc. [ [http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ps/abc/ab00325-eng.asp Big Soul Productions - Aboriginal Business Canada - Indian and Northern Affairs Canada ] ]

Programs

Big Soul’s third season of Moccasin Flats received three Gemini nominations for Best Dramatic Series, [ [http://www.aptn.ca/content/view/497/39/ Aboriginal Peoples Television Network - APTN.ca - APTN ANNOUNCES GEMINI NOMINATIONS ] ] Best Original Music (Donald Quan/Q Music) and Best Actress on a Continuing Leading Role (Andrea Menard). [ [http://www.cbc.ca/sask/features/unsung/andrea.html CBC Saskatchewan - Features - UnSung - Host Bios: Andrea Menard ] ] This is an historical event for Canadian television as Moccasin Flats is the first Aboriginal created, produced and controlled dramatic series in North America [ [http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=1206 TurtleIsland.org :: View topic - Moccasin Flats - Six Part Dramatic TV Series ] ] and the first to receive the distinction as a Best Dramatic Series Gemini nominee. All three seasons continue to air on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and the third season is currently airing on Showcase Television. Seasons One and Two continue to air on the Saskatchewan Communications Network.

Big Soul Productions also produced three seasons of its own original award-winning youth television series, The Seventh Generation. [ [http://www.podemskichicks.com/jenco_june.html Jennifer Podemski ] ] This popular series received numerous awards and recognition throughout the world and continues to air on APTN, Saskatchewan Communications Network, Access Alberta and Canadian Learning Television.

In 2000, Big Soul began a series of Aboriginal youth media empowerment workshops entitled repREZentin’ to train Aboriginal youth in all areas of filmmaking. Workshops have taken place in Kettle and Stoney Point, Ontario, Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, Regina, Saskatchewan, Toronto, Ontario and Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan, and most recently, Shoal Lake, Onatrio. Many of these projects resulted in completed half-hour films that were broadcast on APTN. The Regina workshop resulted in the short film, Moccasin Flats, which went on to become a nationally televised series, and starred the youth from the original film. The most recent workshop installments, 133 Skyway (2006), Good Looking (2007), and Shoal Lake No. 39: Anti-smoking PSA’s (2007) are currently being screened at festivals around the world.

Big Soul has also completed numerous short films, documentaries, training and recruitment videos; music videos for George Leach, Derek Miller, Tru Rez Crew, Manik1derful and Tamara Podemski; and promotional videos for Six Nations Tourism, the Department of National Defence, The Metis Women’s Circle of Hamilton, the National Aboriginal Capital Corporation, Waubetek Corporation, Bank of Montreal, The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation and many others. [ [http://www.bigsoul.net/corporate.htm Clients ] ]

Media Empowerment Workshops

PROJECT ONE GENERATION

Project One Generation is an Aboriginal youth training program rooted on the principle that “It only takes one generation to end a destructive cycle.” The cycle can be anything from addiction and abuse to pollution to racism. The programs created under Project One Generation encourage the consumer to “be the one” generation to break a cycle that adversely affects Aboriginal families and communities.

Media training programs, facilitated by Big Soul Productions, engage Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal media professionals to mentor Aboriginal youth and adults in film production to use it as a vehicle to convey this message.

"'Programs that have resulted from past workshops: March 2007

Shoal Lake No. 39 – Anti Smoking PSA’s created by The Junior Chief and Council of David Kejick School .

April 2007
Good Looking directed by Joseph Lazare a short film, is the humorous and light-hearted story of a struggling actress must choose between getting the part and maintaining her integrity.

April 2006
133 Skyway directed by Randy Redroad and written by Tara Beagan A short film that portrays the struggles faced by homeless Aboriginal people in Toronto.

The films and PSA’s are edited at Big Soul and then submitted to festivals and broadcasters for consideration. All of the projects are eventually packaged for distribution to Aboriginal communities and schools.

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External links

* [http://www.bigsoul.net Official website]

References