TELUS STORYHIVE Scripted Edition: $20K grants available

A police officer in Northern BC spots a suspicious vehicle stopped down a logging road off of Northern BC's Highway 16 in the middle of the night. This highway is known as The Highway of Tears due to its history of missing and murdered women, unsolved cases, and a disproportionately high number of indigenous victims.

What happens after is the focus of Prince George-based filmmaker Daniel Stark’s’ film, The Logging Road, which he created as a part of the 2018 Digital Shorts Edition with the goal of telling a story relevant to Prince George and to explore an aspect of his hometown that he felt he was equipped to explore.

It was thanks to production funding from TELUS STORYHIVE that Stark was able to bring the impactful story to life.

STORYHIVE is now accepting applications for scripted and locally relevant stories through the new Scripted Edition. They are seeking short to mid-length fiction films or community TV pilot scripted stories, from uproarious comedies to intense dramas and everything in between.

Most importantly, the story needs to take place within the community in which you are applying from. So, if your script is about a family of vampires struggling to make it to the modern world… sounds great! But remember that the family of vampires need to live in your community.

“The launch of the new STORYHIVE Scripted Edition is an exciting opportunity for new and emerging filmmakers in BC and Alberta to engage in a dedicated program designed to support fully scripted, locally-reflective content,” says Audrey Kiss, STORYHIVE Interior BC Territory Manager.

“We are thrilled to present this opportunity to our communities and eagerly anticipate the creative ideas and narrative that will be brought to life through this program. Whether it's a gripping drama, a laugh-out-loud comedy or any genre in between, we're seeking new and emerging filmmakers to reflect the rich diversity of the Okanagan.”

If selected, you will receive $20,000 in production funding, training, professional mentorship (in partnership with the National Screen Institute) and distribution on TELUS Optik TV, Stream+ and STORYHIVE’s YouTube channel.

Stark shares of his experience: “There was a ton of creative freedom and STORYHIVE gave the room for us to make mistakes, attempt solutions, and ultimately grow without ever stepping on the filmmakers' instincts.

“Living in Northern BC, creatives are constantly looking for funding opportunities and sometimes it feels impossible to get the attention of the people or organizations with the money,” Stark says. “STORYHIVE is an organization I knew that looked into parts of the provinces that are often overlooked, and felt that they could provide the support we needed to make our first funded short film.”

One of his most memorable experiences during the process, Stark recalls, showed him what consistent and stable filmmaking in Northern BC could look like.

“I remember being on The Logging Road in the middle of the night with our pirate crew of northern filmmakers surrounded by buzzing bugs and the eerie roar of passing semi-trucks on the highway, racing to finish before sunrise and seeing our brilliant actor, Matt Russell, locked into the most emotional part of our film. I thought, ‘This is exactly what filmmaking is all about. We are really doing it.’”

Stark also shares that the impact of the National Screen Institute mentorship went beyond creative input.

“My mentor gave plenty of creative space but felt invested in filling any gaps I was needing in the process,” says Stark. “His support became incredibly helpful after the film was finished, vouching for our film to get into its first public screening and giving invaluable advice into which festivals to submit to. Having another filmmaker in your corner, giving you confidence in your work allows you to take steps forward without second guessing and over thinking.”

Stark also notes how important this funding is to smaller communities in BC and Alberta.

He shares that “without scripted programs like these, local creatives have to leave their homes to a production hub city, and the capacity for any creative growth within these smaller communities diminishes with every move south. The more funding there is for scripted projects in smaller towns, the more likely these creatives can stay and represent their communities within their communities.”

TELUS STORYHIVE wants new and emerging filmmakers to use the opportunity to unleash their creativity and create diverse and captivating projects, from comedies to intense dramas, and everything in between. It’s Your Story, Your Narrative! And you don’t need to be from a big city to tell it.

STORYHIVE has distributed more than $59 million in production funding over the past 10 years, supporting over 1,200 screen-based projects. Content creators from more than 270 communities in B.C. and Alberta have been able to use the program to bring their scripts to the screen.

Eligible formats for this program include scripted standalone short and TV pilots in the drama, comedy or other scripted genres. Projects must also be rated G or PG, but filmmakers may make non-PG versions for festivals. You will also be required to create a draft script for the application, which you will have time to develop with a mentor.

“We're here to help support creatives to bring their unique, local stories to life and to ensure these narratives reach a wider audience. It's more than just entertainment; it's about fostering a sense of community and shared experiences through compelling storytelling,” says Kiss.

"Your local stories are the heartbeat of our communities. Let’s bring your dream scripted film project to life!"

Stark's advice for people looking to apply is to, “take advantage of the opportunity.”

“There is no expectation that you need to be perfect. Be ambitious, be kind, and be creative. Tell a story that means something to you and the people around you. STORYHIVE is affirming that you have permission to sink your teeth into this and allow your dreams to take a little space, so take it! You're a filmmaker.”

To learn more about how to apply, visit STORYHIVE.com/apply and submit your application before 11:59pm PT on May 21, 2024.