Canada NSI, Telefilm Announce Training Program

Canada's National Screen Institute and Telefilm Canada, in association with Zeros 2 Heroes Media, have announced a call for applicants for a writers' training program that provides an opportunity to earn a games industry internship. The program, titled NSI PlayWrite, is intended to provide opportunities for all types of Canadian writers without existing design credits to break into the video game industry as narrative designers. The program also offers the chance to earn an internship with a Canadian game developer. Zeros 2 Heroes created web tools for the application process, through which applicants 'pitch' themselves online by uploading a profile, images, narrative critiques, video blogs and work samples. Chosen applicants win a paid trip to Vancouver to participate in a "boot camp" training session at New Media BC's Vidfest media festival in May 2008. Following the training session, applicants are given two months to design game concepts, which will then be screened before a jury who will decide which entrant earns the internship. Said Matt Toner, President of Zeroes 2 Heroes Media, "Our company is passionate about giving fans the opportunity to break into all forms of genre entertainment. Games are a huge part of that. We know that there are plenty of skilled writers out there who love games, but may not have a way to get their foot in the door at a game studio. If we can help them turn their screenwriting skills into techniques that work for a non-linear medium, they will be that much closer to living the dream." Interested parties may find further information at nsiplaywrite.zeros2heroes.com.