His show has catapulted into such popularity that even Brad Pitt professed his fandom from the Oscars red carpet, but executive producer of Letterkenny Mark Montefiore has not forgotten his roots.
Montefiore, who has been making his mark on the Canadian film and television industry since graduating from NC’s Broadcasting – Radio, TV and Film program in 2003, reached out to students from his alma mater on March 31 through a remote webinar.
Appearing alongside BRTF faculty Dutch VandenBerg, Tom Otto and Bruce Gilbert via Zoom, Montefiore shared advice with students from the College’s Broadcasting and Acting programs.
It was all his idea. Montefiore had reached out to BRTF faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic with a desire to speak to students during this challenging time.
The remote webinar took place just two years after Montefiore addressed students in person at the Welland Campus. This time, the president of New Metric Media appeared on their screens ‘live on location’ from his home – or, more specifically, from his future baby’s room – awaiting the birth of his first child. With his office closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he admitted that the backdrop was by default; he got rid of his home office years ago to create more balance in his life – along with implementing daily morning meditations.
Montefiore not only shared tips on how to break into the industry but how to navigate through the current challenges faced by both students and professionals alike during COVID-19.
‘Get back on the horse’
While their internships have ended and many are in self-isolation pursuing their studies remotely, Montefiore encouraged students to push forward with pursuing their dreams.
“We had last week to mourn and let our fears drive us and be concerned about everything. Now we’ve got to get back on the horse,” he said.
Because nobody knows how long the current situation will last, Montefiore advised students take advantage of the time they have now, to best position themselves for the future.
“I wouldn’t let this get you down. There’s a long-term success in this field. Business is built over time,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity right now to start thinking about what you want to do and how you can be productive.”
Instead of putting their aspirations on hold, he encouraged students to figure out what they can do with the time and materials they do have. He spoke about the upside of this time, when students have more freedom and flexibility to pursue projects and look at what they could be developing now.
“Get inspired during this time,” he said.
Montefiore cited one of his favourite videos – one from actor Will Smith speaking about what skydiving taught him about fear. Like Smith does in his video, he told students that there is no need for fear before they ‘jump,’ and that the best things in life are on the other side of fear.
“There’s no point to being worried or concerned. There’s no benefit – all it does is distract you,” he said. “Keep your head up and focus on the future. It is bright. Put yourself in a position to take advantage of that. Be a light to those around you.”
Montefiore told students to keep their connections strong with their classmates and with their industry contacts. He encouraged them to reach out to their network, check in, and offer to help, however they can. He advised them to view their classmates as colleagues, not competitors. He spoke of how his college classmates became a valued part of his network when he began working in the industry.
“It’s easy to forget stuck at home by yourself but everyone is in the exact same position and you’re able to help each other out,” he said. “From a creative standpoint, there are lots of people in your class to read your script and give feedback on it.”
Students should also get creative with the equipment and resources that are available to them – even without professional equipment they may typically have access to – and keep creating.
He spoke about how even Letterkenny began by a creator producing five YouTube videos that captured his attention and he ended up spinning into a popular TV series.
“What can you create that doesn’t have to be in the same vicinity as everybody else,” he said. “Are there stories to be told in the life we’re living right now?”
He also encouraged students to take this time to hone their administration skills – an area that can give many a ‘foot in the door’ into the industry.
During the hour-and-a-half webinar, Montefiore covered a lot of ground as he fielded incoming questions from students – from what his typical workday is like, to the state of his own company and the industry in general during the COVID-19 pandemic, to how he deals with stress.
‘A bright light of inspiration’
It proved to be an engaging experience for students who participated. Faculty and students were grateful for Montefiore’s guidance during what has been a stressful time for many students.
“It was a bright light of inspiration in what feels like dark times to many of our students,” noted Dutch Vandenberg, who noted that his phone lit up with texts of appreciation afterward.
“Mark’s messaging was incredibly timely – keep moving, keep creating, don’t give up and don’t let technology be the hurdle; use whatever tools you have access to,” said VandenBerg. “Our students needed to hear that even the pros are adapting and utilizing less than professional means to continue creating content.”
Second year BRTF student Jordan Gascon found the webinar engaging, interactive and insightful.
“Mark definitely had a lot to say that struck me as interesting on both a professional and personal level. I feel like I received a lot of validation from today’s conversation and I was able to ask lots of questions which was great as well,” said Gascon, who is in the TV stream of the program. “I will definitely be taking much of what he said today with me as I move forward in production.”
Jensen Croughan, also second-year BRTF student majoring in TV production, wrote down Montefiore’s tips and now feels more confident preparing to enter the industry.
“I got some inspiration knowing that he likes to create content all the time. Even when he was volunteering he was creating content to get his name out in the industry,” said Croughan. “That really stuck with me and inspired me to keep up with my YouTube channel.”
About Mark Montefiore
Named The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Generation Under 36 (2015), and Playback‘s Top 10 to Watch (2012), Montefiore’s name draws crowds as the executive producer of Hulu/Crave TV multiple-award-winning original comedy series Letterkenny and What Would Sal Do, and Netflix/City TV original drama series Bad Blood.
He also has several film credits to his name, including his feature film Cas & Dylan – starring Richard Dreyfuss and Tatiana Maslany – which won a Circuit Audience Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival; as well as award-winning films Easting Buccaneers and The Armoire.
Recently, Mark conceived of and negotiated a landmark global partnership with Bell Media to produce more than 40 additional episodes of Letterkenny over the next three years.
Visit newmetricmedia.com/.
Related articles
March 19, 2018: NC grad returns: Letterkenny producer Mark Montefiore offers students inspiration, advice
Encore magazine, 2018 issue, pages 24-25: Alumni profile Mark Montefiore: How this award-winning producer got his start at NC
View digital magazine here: niagaracollege.ca/insidenc/2018/06/23/hot-off-the-press-view-2018-issue-of-encore-magazine/
