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Megan Folden

Successful Tour Helps Flash Back Win Third Saskatchewan Music Award

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Nathan Daschuk was a successful grant recipient of our Tour Support (Music stream) grant for his band “Flash Back” to tour in the summer of 2023.

Saskatchewan-based alternative rock band, Flash Back, have amassed countless fans and listeners since releasing their first frequencies in 2020.

After two years of dedicated touring throughout several countries such as Canada, USA, UK, Germany, France, Slovakia, Belgium, and Poland, Flash Back released their new album, North American Nü Metal 2, on June 2nd, 2023. With funding from Creative Saskatchewan’s Tour Support grant, the band went on tour to help market the new music.Flash Back

Flash Back planned their tour by looking at where they’ve played in the past and where their demographics thrive. With the band’s most popular cities being Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, and Tulsa, Flash Back decided on a west coast tour with additional stops in Texas and Oklahoma.

Through thrilling, high-energy, and captivating performances, Flash Back showed audiences what they’re all about. Social media activity and word-of-mouth have been an integral part of Flash Back’s success, but they’ve shown that touring is the fastest way to build their loyal fanbase and listeners.

“This funding helped our tour thrive,” says Daschuk. “Creative Saskatchewan’s assistance for this tour allowed us to plan additional tours later in the year without lingering debt that would have been caused without this funding.” Flash Back’s successful tour and album release helped them secure a third Saskatchewan Music Award for Heavy Artist of the Year.

Watch Makes Connections in Cannes

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Jessica Watch (Trilight Entertainment) was a successful grant recipient of our Showcase or Sell Travel Grant, which was utilized to pitch their movies at the Cannes Film Festival 2023.

Jessica Watch is well-educated in the business of film.

Jessica Watch
Jessica Watch

Watch graduated from the University of Regina in 2015 with a degree in Film and Video Production and a Minor in Business Administration before starting as a Production Coordinator right out of school. She spent these early years of her career learning the industry while taking a keen interest in business affairs and production. For two years, Watch worked on ten films in a variety of roles, kickstarting her knowledge and expertise in film production.

Today, Watch oversees production-related legal and business affairs, including drafting agreements, navigating provincial tax credit systems, and completing delivery for all of Trilight Entertainment’s feature films. With just under a decade of experience in production, six of which focused on business affairs, she has extensive experience in all stages of development.

Over the last three years, Watch has been able to attend the Cannes Film Festival with the help of Creative Saskatchewan Showcase or Sell Travel Grants. Overseas, Watch makes connections that are vital to Trighlight’s success.

Meeting with different writers, producers, and companies in Cannes has made a world of difference for the business. In 2022, for example, Watch locked in both a director and financing for their movie, Summer at Charlotte’s. In 2023, she locked in a distributor for A Cowboy Christmas.

“Creative Saskatchewan’s support is very important,” says Watch. “I rely on them to allow me to go to these markets and make these connections.”

As Trighlight continues its growth, Watch is looking forward to the release of The Gifts of Christmas and We Kill Them All, both of which were shot at Elk Ridge Resort in Saskatchewan.

Cuthand Pitches Private Gig in Whistler

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Shawn Cuthand is a man of many talents. The writer, actor, stand-up comedian, and producer is currently working on a horror comedy feature film called Private Gig about the life of a stand-up comic during the pandemic.Shawn Cuthand

Cuthand had the opportunity to work on Private Gig through the Whistler Film Festival 2023 Saskatchewan Market Accelerator, a new, unique program funded by Creative Saskatchewan in partnership with the Whistler Film Festival. One of just six producers chosen for the program, Cuthand experienced an intensive multi-phase project development program designed to accelerate the careers of Saskatchewan-based producers.

In Whistler, Cuthand pitched to Neon Pictures and Raven Banner. He received great feedback and encouragement to finish his script and was able to push the project further.

After his time in Whistler, Cuthand received an Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) grant to help finance Private Gig‘s development. Cuthand notes that having the experience of participating in the Saskatchewan Market Accelerator program on his resume assuredly helped him receive the ISO Development Grant.

Cuthand knew about Creative Saskatchewan and all the great things they were doing for a while, but he never thought he would be eligible for funding from them. But after applying for and receiving a travel grant to attend the Yorkton Film Festival, he met with Creative Saskatchewan staff who really encouraged and helped him apply to go to Whistler.

“Starting the application for a grant is the hardest part,” Cuthand says. “But after you apply once, you get in the habit and applying for more grants becomes easier.”Shawn Cuthand - Comedy

In addition to Private Gig, Cuthand is preparing for the Vancouver Fringe Festival where he’ll be performing as part of the Full Metal Comedy stand-up comedy show this September, and is working on Season 2 of The Feather News with Danny Knight, Ryan Moccasin and Muskwa Lerat.

Book Publishing Grant Helps Marc Rousseau Launch New Career

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Marc Rousseau was successful in applying for a Book Publishing Production Grant (author-funded stream) for his book A Miserable Guide to Saskatoon 2: It’s Just More of the Same.

Marc Rousseau
Marc Rousseau

After leaving his life in California for a new one in Saskatoon, independent comic author Marc Rousseau noticed some quirky things about the Bridge City. Documenting these observations through a collection of comics, anecdotes, and stories, he self-published his first book, A Miserable Guide to Saskatoon to poke fun at his new home.

The book became a big hit and continues to sell well years after its initial publication. A Miserable Guide was so popular that Rousseau decided it needed a sequel. With a plan in place for a second book, Rousseau submitted a successful application for a Creative Saskatchewan Book Publishing Grant through the author-funded stream.

A Miserable Guide to Saskatoon 2: It’s Just More of the Same was published in October of 2023. Like its predecessor, it is printed locally and sold in stores and shops throughout Saskatoon. Less than a year after publication, the book is already over 50% sold out of its initial print run of 1,500 copies.A Miserable Guide to Saskatoon 2: It's Just More of the Same

The timing of the grant approval couldn’t have been better for Rousseau. After getting laid off from his part-time office job, Rousseau used the Creative Saskatchewan grant as an opportunity to pursue comic creation full-time. “It wouldn’t be possible to be where I am, at this scale, without the Creative Saskatchewan grant,” he states.

As sales for his Miserable Guide books continue to roll in, Rousseau is hard at work on his first graphic novel. The successful launch of A Miserable Guide to Saskatoon 2 has allowed him to take on this much bigger project. With regular income coming in and a strong foundation underneath him, Rousseau is able to work on the next big thing.

“It’s been a fun journey,” Rousseau reflects, “but it feels more solid now than ever.”

Showcase or Sell Travel Grant Helps Knottily Fibrearts Thrive at Fringe Fest

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Jill Siever was a successful grant recipient of our Showcase or Sell Travel Grant for her participation in the Saskatoon Fringe Festival, where she was able to sell her work.

Jill Siever of Knottily Fibrearts loves to create. “If it’s handmade, that’s what I do.”Jill Siever - Knottily Fibrearts

Whether it’s knitting, sewing, crocheting, or beading, it doesn’t matter. Getting to sell her creations to happy customers at tradeshows, craft sales, and festivals brings joy to Siever’s heart.

As a local business in small-town Saskatchewan, it can be hard for companies like Knottily Fibrearts to market and sell their products to a wider audience. When Siever came across the Showcase or Sell Travel Grant from Creative Saskatchewan, she was thrilled. “It’s really expensive to travel to a ten-day festival. Especially for a small startup business,” she says.

The opportunity to attend and sell her products at the Saskatoon Fringe Festival was a game changer. Siever was blown away. “I met lots of people, made lots of sales, and did lots of networking,” she says. “The atmosphere was just incredible.”

Though applying for grants can sometimes seem intimidating, Siever had a lot of help through the process. “Being able to work back and forth with Creative Saskatchewan really helped,” she says. “With their support, it was a really positive experience. They went above and beyond throughout the whole process to make it easier on me.”

In addition to helping Siever succeed in Saskatoon, the money she spent on lodging, dining, and payroll stayed and flowed throughout the province.

With such a positive experience behind her, Siever has since applied for another grant from Creative Saskatchewan and is excited for the future.

Jill Siever - Knottily Fibrearts - landscape
Jill Siever – Knottily Fibrearts

Market Accelerator Program Helps Van De Woestyne Grow in Whistler

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Kaitlyn Van De Woestyne is telling an important story.

Tuktoyaktuk, an Inuvialuit hamlet in the Northwest Territories, is on track to be the first Canadian community forced to relocate due to coastal erosion. Van De Woestyne’s film, On the Edge, is a documentary that follows a team of scientists as they work alongside the community to study the erosion and find mitigation strategies.

Kaitlyn Van De Woestyne
Kaitlyn Van De Woestyne

Van De Woestyne was able to pitch On the Edge at the Whistler Film Festival 23 as part of the Saskatchewan Market Accelerator, a new, unique program funded by Creative Saskatchewan in partnership with the Whistler Film Festival. She applied for funding to attend the festival after seeing an ad on Facebook and wanted to take advantage of the great networking and mentorship opportunities the festival had to offer.

One of just six producers selected to take part, Van De Woestyne enjoyed many networking opportunities, allowing her to connect with like-minded filmmakers and industry experts. “I was able to pitch my project to various broadcasters and executive producers, fostering potential collaborations,” she says.

“Attending the Whistler Film Festival has significantly supported my career as a filmmaker,” Van De Woestyne points out. “The festival provided a platform not only for showcasing my work but also for gaining invaluable insights from industry leaders. The feedback I received has significantly shaped the direction of my project, making it more impactful and refined.”

Being selected for this opportunity has helped move the needle forward in Van De Woestyne’s career. The support from Creative Saskatchewan has helped bridge the gap between On The Edge‘s development and realization.

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