Steven Bidwell, a 2021 Film and Television – Business (FTVB) program graduate, embarked on a career in the entertainment industry a couple of decades ago. From attending the Acting for Film & Television program at the Vancouver Film School to moving to New York City, where he attended Circle in Square Theatre School, Steven’s journey has taken him through various creative endeavours, including producing cabarets and charity events upon graduating. However, it was a short film project titled The Bench Project that took his production aspirations at the time to new heights.
“It’s a series of short films that all take place on various benches. The idea was to give people work. Each writer was given the same restrictions of a script, no longer than three to five pages, and it took place on a bench with two actors,” Steven explains. “From there, I did some fundraising, and we shot six short films, and I released five. Shockingly, they ended up on Amazon with a distribution deal, which was far more than I could’ve ever asked for. They are no longer there, but they are on YouTube.”
Despite a desire to pursue production and work behind the scenes, Steven says his work visa was restrictive in New York, as it only allowed him to work as an actor. “I could produce my own work, but I couldn’t work for anyone else,” he explains. When the pandemic halted work, Steven seized the opportunity to enhance his skills, leading Steven to pursue the free certifications that Entertainment Partners was offering. Upon spending a month learning about production for film at the New York Film Academy, Steven delved into screenwriting, which resulted in him writing his first feature film – which currently resides on his hard drive.
STEVEN’S JOURNEY TO CENTENNIAL
Seeking to broaden his production knowledge in the Canadian film industry, something that he didn’t have prior work experience in, Steven decided to explore graduate programs and discovered the FTVB program at Centennial. Due to the pandemic, the program’s online delivery allowed Steven to enroll while he was in New York City. While a student in the program, Steven shares that it was overwhelming at times because of the unfamiliar aspects, but he found value in how broad the program was, as he says he got a taste of everything. “I already had the skills of a production coordinator, but this really helped to hone them and apply my knowledge to the Canadian industry,” he adds.
Reflecting on the FTVB program, Steven emphasizes the significance of understanding the funding options available in Canada – something he considers one of the strongest facets of the program. He shares that this was really vital for those coming from out of the country who didn’t know about this funding system. “My classmates all had varying interests and experiences and have been able to take what they learned in the program and apply it to incredibly varied positions within the industry,” he adds.
For those considering the FTVB program, Steven encourages completing preliminary research and gaining on-set experience. He also shares the importance of determining if the program aligns with personal aspirations early on.
LIFE AFTER GRADUATION
Now a couple of years post-graduation, Steven works for Border2Border Entertainment. Having started as a Producer’s Assistant, he has been credited as a Production Coordinator for several shows and, more recently, a Production Manager. “It’s a small company, so I’ve also been credited as a cinematographer for some B-roll and a graphic artist for some of the work I did there,” he shares. From scouting to craft services, Steven has taken on several diverse roles, including being responsible for social media for the company and putting together pitch packages for funding applications.
“More recently, I’ve been given the title of Development Lead, and I’ve been helping more closely with funding applications. However, that said, as an actor, I am being pulled away to do some theatre work, so I’m doing as much as I can to help out in advance. I’m very blessed to work for a very understanding friend. He’s incredibly supportive of all of my endeavours,” Steven adds.
THE IMPACT OF CENTENNIAL’S STORYWORKS COURSE
Storyworks, a component in most programs at Centennial’s School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design, allowed Steven to gain even greater experience in this industry through a hands-on project, which seamlessly led into his current work. Knowing he wanted to work in development, which was more creativity-focused, the client Border2Border Entertainment was putting together a funding package for the Bell Fund for the show Drag Heals; Steven was tasked to assist in the process. Securing funding was a success, and the show's third season aired that spring on OUTtv prior to Drag Race.
“I put together the creative brief and the required documents. This was in the early stage of Canva, so I really helped to elevate the document that was being presented. I think that’s pretty standard now, but I’ve also become an expert in using the platform,” he explains. “I was excited about the project, but it was also very cool to then work on the show itself and to see its release. Seeing something through from the early stages is very rewarding.”
Steven's work within the Storyworks project is something he continues to do now, as he says every project needs new documentation for new applications and pitches.
FINAL THOUGHTS
With the FTVB program online for Steven's cohort, he shares that he is envious of the classes that meet in person. "It's very surreal to me that I was in a class with almost thirty people for two terms and yet only know a handful of them in real life." This program was a stepping stone for Steven, who continues pursuing roles in this industry, with his passion for production and acting leading the way.
Article by: Alexandra Few
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