Island film director and producer Jenna MacMillan has traveled extensively during her career; and while film has taken her from Iqaluit to Georgia, she still feels most inspired here at home. As a Creative Executive for Northwood Entertainment, the company that produces Anne, and the recipient of the 2018 WIFT-T DGC Ontario Director Mentorship, MacMillan is truly an inspiration – and is certainly making an impression in her industry.
Q. Tell me a bit about your background. Where are you from and what are your interests outside of film? I was born in Summerside and grew up in Charlottetown, PEI. The Island remains a strong part of my identity to this day and will be with me my whole life – PEI’ers are a proud and loyal bunch. I’ve ended up spending a fair bit of time in the big city for work, but I always stick close to my fellow Island expats when I’m there. I spent four years studying Film Production at Ryerson University in Toronto, making friends and contacts that I keep today. Creatively, I’ve always been drawn to what makes people do the things they do; naturally, this interest dovetails with my obsession for storytelling – specifically, movies. I also love playing cards, red wine, swimming in the ocean, and above all hanging out with my nearest and dearest.
again the next year. By December of my first semester, I had dropped my psychology classes and remained only in my film elective. I was introduced to Stagecoach, Singing in the Rain, The Apartment and On the Waterfront. I dug deeper into my love of movies and realized that I could possibly watch and make films for a living. I took this as a sign that I should probably first learn how to actually go about making a film since I had only ever been on the other side of the camera. I applied to Ryerson University a year later and much to my good fortune was accepted.
This mentorship represents a turning point in my career where I’m being recognized not only as a producer but also as a director in my industry. As part of the mentorship I will shadow a director who is working in the Canadian film and television industry. I’ll have one-on-one access to a directing and business mentor who I’ll be able to ask specific questions about how to navigate and customize my career path. It’s a humbling opportunity and I intend to take full advantage of it.
Q. What has your experience been working as a woman in the film industry?
Q. What’s it like being an Island film director and producer?
I’m grateful to have a myriad of badass female mentors who have excelled and shone bright in the film industry. I have taken the trail they blazed while continuing to stick to my guns and use my voice to encourage other female content creators to do the same. There have been hiccups, of course, and I’ve had moments where I’ve felt silenced or marginalized – but overall, the tide is shifting. Q. What would be your ideal career path? Where would you like to see yourself ending up long term? Ideally, I’ll be showrunning a television series set and filmed on PEI in the next five to ten years. My goal is to make it more accessible for Island filmmakers and film industry professionals to work where they live while bringing our stories to the world.
During my time at Ryerson, I realized that PEI was the well I continuously drew from for inspiration – no matter how global I tried to go in my storytelling; it always came back to my beloved Island. There was a moment when I tried to resist that impulse but now I see it as an invaluable tool. My home, its people, the landscape and the perspective I have because of all of those elements is something I now cherish. I will continue to strive to bring the stories of the East Coast to the global stage. The more I work in the industry the more I realize that audiences are drawn to films with a sense of place. I’m so proud to be part of a community of filmmakers that have honed their skills despite the size of our industry. Q. How do you feel after being chosen as the recipient of the 2018 WIFT-T DGC Ontario Director Mentorship? What are your plans within that mentorship?
Q. What brought you to film?
I was originally an actor and always loved movies. I have vivid memories of being so excited when I got sick because it meant I could stay home and watch movies all day that my parents would rent from Jumbo Video. That’s how I watched Star Wars, The Little Mermaid, Titanic & Indiana Jones to name a few. When I graduated from Colonel Gray high school, I auditioned for the National Theatre School in Montreal and was shortlisted but didn’t get accepted. I decided to go to Concordia University for Psychology (back to the fascination with the mind) so that I could be closer to NTS – it was my goal to audition
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