A career in film has seen Karen Shopsowitz climb cranes to get the perfect shot, mountains near active volcanoes to tell important stories, and stages to accept awards. Since 2014, the Peabody award-winning producer, director, editor, and cameraperson has also been ascending the stairs of the Story Arts Centre to the broadcast editing suites and classrooms. It’s where she teaches her craft to the next generation of film, television, digital media, and radio professionals.
The Diversity of Broadcast Jobs
"Working in film, you’re giving voice to people who aren’t always heard or understood," says Shopsowitz, whose filmmaking is primarily focused on documentaries. "When it comes to teaching, you’re helping students discover their career path. I always ask second-semester students what they want to be. Some will be certain they want to be a director or a cameraperson. By the fifth semester, many have discovered they love something else. You can’t replace that excitement of seeing them figure it out."
Shopsowitz’s own journey into filmmaking started as she grew up with an amateur filmmaker father. His footage eventually made it into her lauded documentary My Father’s Camera, which traces the history of home movies from the 1920s through to the amateur explosion of the ‘30s and beyond. Years before that full circle moment, Shopsowitz completed a journalism program with a minor in film studies and worked as a reporter before obtaining a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Video.
"Many of my films are very personal and intimate," she says. "They have even made a profound difference in my own life. For the CBC doc One Summer at Camp Winston, we spent a summer at a camp for kids with complex neurological disorders. I fell in love with the place, and they asked if I’d do workshops with the kids. I did that for 10 years and got to see some of the kids in the doc grow up."
Not only has a career in film created opportunities to cover various topics, but Shopsowitz has also taken on a diversity of roles. Karen recently edited three episodes of Yearbook, now airing on TVO and produced by Nomad Films and Open Door Co., and is the director and writer of Magic Shadows, Elwy Yost: A Life in Movies. She is also the producer, director, editor, and second cameraperson of The Other Side of the Hero, a documentary about first responders. It aired on CBC’s documentary channel and has been screened across North America at festivals and events. Throughout her career, Shopsowitz has also taken on other broadcast jobs, including series producer, co-editor, and writer.
Bringing Her Experience to the Centennial Broadcasting Program
Today, Shopsowitz balances a career in film with her work as a professor and program coordinator of Centennial’s Broadcasting - Film, Television, Digital Media and Radio program. The two sides of her profession intersect in various ways. Shopsowitz teaches her students the importance of a well-rounded skill set, such as her own. She brings her experiences into the classroom for relevant, real-time lessons. And she helps her students to ensure they participate in real-world application before graduation.
"There is something about Centennial students that’s really special," she says. "What I love about our program is how well-rounded it is. The way our industry is, you need to know everything. When I send out students on their field placement, they have basic skills in everything and excellent skills in their specific area of interest. It helps them to be competitive when they seek out broadcast jobs."
In preparing students for graduation, Shopsowitz has also fostered a Broadcasting program community. Through efforts such as on-campus filmmaking group projects and a Facebook group for alumni, students cultivate lifelong friendships — and a connection to Centennial. Shopsowitz says she hopes such efforts help students to see themselves as part of a network of encouragement.
"I hope our students complete their program with the same excitement they came in with but with a refocused vision," she says. "I hope they learn responsibility, flexibility, strength, resilience, and confidence. We want to instill in them that the Broadcasting program is a place they can always return to share their wins and find support."
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