Rendering Visions of the future

In the heart of Fort McMurray, where the oil industry often takes the spotlight, the vibrant and thriving arts community will have its crowning jewel. Arts Council Wood Buffalo is embarking on an exhilarating journey to establish a haven for the arts – Arts INC – a purpose-built community space for creativity.  

Ashley Laurenson, a passionate filmmaker, is embarking on a groundbreaking project – Rendering Visions – a documentary exploring the dreams and aspirations of artists in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, as they explore their artistic disciplines, and what a project like Arts INC means for the future of their art, and the arts in the region.   

Alongside her talented team at M'Guphynn Media and fueled by a $20,000 Telus STORYHIVE grant and an additional $1,000 in top-up funds from the Alberta Film Commission, Ashley is set to create a documentary that not only captures the present state of the arts in Wood Buffalo but also paints a vivid picture of the dreams and aspirations for Arts INC – a major innovative force in the future of Fort McMurray's creative landscape. 

"A message from the past, an artistic dream for the future." Ashley Laurenson's documentary is more than just a visual journey through Fort McMurray's artistic tapestry; it's a thought experiment, a conversation between artists of today and those yet to come. The film will showcase the diverse disciplines of arts in the region, including visual, spoken, written, musical and performance, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the vibrant cultural scene here in Wood Buffalo. The film will serve as a time capsule, preserving the current state of the arts and acting as a testament to the cultural impact of Arts Council Wood Buffalo, and the Arts INC project they are embarking upon. 

Ashley Laurenson's personal journey from an amateur filmmaker to a key player in Fort McMurray's film scene adds a layer of authenticity to the project. This, coupled with her diverse experiences in the local arts community, positions her as the ideal storyteller to bring Rendering Visions to life. 

Rendering Visions is not just a documentary; it's a celebration of the artistic spirit that thrives in unexpected places. Ashley Laurenson and her team at M'Guphynn Media are not just capturing moments; they are weaving a narrative that connects the past, present, and future of the arts in Wood Buffalo, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of the region. 

You can check out the pitch video for the project here

To learn more about Art Council Wood Buffalo, and the Arts INC project – visit: https://artscouncilwb.ca/acwb_blog/arts-incubator/  

Intern in Technicolor!

For those of you following our social media, you may have seen snippets of another upcoming project we just started production on, “Midnight in Technicolor.” This is a collaborative production between M’Guphynn Media and Arts Council Wood Buffalo focusing on the 2021 Buffy Awards

Keeping with our motto of “Thinking outside the box,” M’Guphynn Media is proud to announce another part-time internship. We are seeking a motivated individual who is looking to be mentored by a team with a record of professional film production made with indie passion. If this is you, apply today. Details below.

 M’Guphynn Media Part-time Paid Stipend Internship

Application Deadline: Aug 31, 2021

Role: Production Assistant, Fort McMurray, Alberta

Company Background 

M’Guphynn Media is comprised of a multi-disciplined team of producers from Northern Alberta who manage projects based on our respective skill sets. 

We have collaborated on genre short films ranging from Comic Book, to Horror, to Comedy and even Documentary since 2012.  

Our latest collaboration is with Arts Council Wood Buffalo on the 2021 Buffy Awards

The Role 

We are looking to mentor a Production Assistant who is available weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) to help us film the narrative story of the 2021 Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards with Arts Council Wood Buffalo.

The selected candidate will 

• Be available Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and a weekday or two in September, in particular September 17-19. Up to 6 days during filming period. 

• Have a valid driver’s license and vehicle to transport themselves to filming locations. 

• Assist with rehearsals and filming of scenes and inserts.  

• Assist with the movement of camera equipment.  

• Go on Coffee/Lunch runs as required. 

• Have a knowledge of Google Docs/Microsoft Office for small administrative duties as required. 

If you believe in professional media production made with independent film passion, this is the mentorship role for you. 

Apply with your resume at info@mguphynn.com 

Stipend Payment 

The selected Candidate for the Production Assistant role will be paid in the form of an $950 Stipend. Production Assistant will be required for a total of six (6) days during the period of September 7th to September 26th on Saturdays/Sundays and occasional weekdays. Shifts will be up to eight (8) hours.

Keeping the Creative Spark Alive

Earlier this year, the great folks at Arts Council Wood Buffalo (ACWB) reached out to us about filming interviews for their Artist in Residency (AiR) program. The thing that has always impressed us about ACWB is that they share our passion to “Think outside the Box.”

If you check out their 2020 Buffy Awards, it’s clear to see that our region is super fortunate to have an arts administrative body that truly supports the growth and strength of Artists in our region.

We pitched the idea of instead of interviews, why not make a short documentary film about Author Carla White’s process in writing her first play through the AiR, based on the stories of Fort McMurray residents who experienced the 2016 Horse River wildfire first hand. ACWB's response was that of true artists in that they asked “How do we help make this happen?”

If you’re an artist in the Wood Buffalo region, or even if you don’t identify as an ‘artist’ and are thinking of doing something creative, we urge you to reach out to ACWB. Like 2016 before it, 2020 has been a difficult year for the residents of our community. Think about the number of shows we have binged to keep our minds engaged and positive. Now, more than ever is our time to keep the creative spark alive.

It is in that spirit that we are proud to share the trailer for “Sparking Creativity.” Look for it in early 2021.

We're Hiring an Intern!

For those of you following our Instagram, you may have seen snippets of an upcoming project we just started production on called “Sparking Creativity". This is a collaborative short documentary production between M’Guphynn Media and Arts Council Wood Buffalo focusing on their Artist in Residency program.

Keeping with our motto of “Thinking outside the box,” M’Guphynn Media is proud to announce our first-ever part-time internship. We are seeking a motivated individual who is looking to be mentored by a team with a record of professional film production made with indie passion. If this is you, apply today. Details below.

 M’Guphynn Media Part-time Paid Stipend Internship

Application Deadline: October 9th, 2020

Role: Production Assistant, Fort McMurray, Alberta

Company Background 

M’Guphynn Media is comprised of a multi-disciplined team of producers from Northern Alberta who manage projects based on our respective skill sets. 

We have collaborated on genre short films ranging from Comic Book, to Horror, to Comedy and even Documentary since 2012.  

Our latest collaboration is with Arts Council Wood Buffalo on a unique documentary project following the ACWB Artist in Residency Program.   

The Role 

We are looking to mentor a Production Assistant who is available weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) to help us film interviews and additional scenic footage for the ACWB Artist in Residency Program Documentary titled “Sparking Creativity” 

The selected candidate will 

• Be available Weekends (Saturday and Sunday). Up to 8 days during the filming period of Oct 17 - Dec 12. 2020.

• Have a valid driver’s license and vehicle to transport themselves to filming locations. 

• Assist with interviews and filming of footage.  

• Assist with the movement of camera equipment.  

• Go on Coffee/Lunch runs as required. 

• Have knowledge of Google Docs/Microsoft Office for small administrative duties as required. 

If you believe in professional media production made with independent film passion, this is the mentorship role for you. 

Apply with your resume at info@mguphynn.com 

Stipend Payment 

The selected candidate for the Production Assistant role will be paid in the form of an $800 Stipend. Production Assistant will be required for a total of eight (8) days during the period of October 17th to December 12th on Saturdays/Sundays. Shifts will be six (6) hours.