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April’s here, bringing with it feelings of Spring and fresh air! Also, grass! Hope you’ve shot all the Winter scenes you needed!

Creative Summit Of The Arts

Thank you to everyone who came out to the March Creative Summit Of The Arts! It was an incredible time with some incredible people, with many discussions about new projects people are working on (or plan on working on), critques on the finer points of what makes a good film good and stand the test of time, as well as many other conversations long into the night!

It is greatly appreciated that people took the time out of their busy schedules to come by and get to know the community better!

I’m looking forward to the next Creative Summit Of The Arts, which will be held this Summer! Barbecue and a Summer 48 Hour Film Challenge, anyone?

Janet & Steve! (Again!)

On March 22nd a special screening of Janet & Steve was held for friends of the production at the Peterborough Axe Throwing Club, and what a night it was! Music provided by the very talented Victoria Yeh started off the evening, followed by a screening of the first two episodes of the show, that included a lot of laughter, and even a special treat for those who felt compelled to side with either Janet or Steve in the conflict that was contained in each episode.

For folks who have a Bell Fibe TV subscription, you can watch the show on Bell Fibe TV 1, or stream it through Bell Fibe’s streaming platform!

The Dead Of Winter

48 Hour Film Challenge

The COFI (Central Ontario Film Initiative) Dead Of Winter 48 Hour Film Challenge happened at the end of March, and was a perfect demonstration of the creativity that can explode in a short period of time. Congratulations to the teams on their films and the crazy fun that a 48 Hour Film Challenge can bring!

NIRVANNA

THE BAND

THE SHOW

THE MOVIE

THE JARED

In the February edition of the newsletter, I spoke about the new film Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie, starring Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol. It is an excellent movie, and truly a must-watch for anyone who enjoys and appreciates film, comedy, and Canada.

One of the defining traits of this film is that it is a genuinely Canadian film (much like how New York is considered the 5th character in Sex & The City, Toronto is very much the 3rd character in Nirvanna The Band The Show and Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie), without it having that layer to it that so many Canadian films are said to have, where the fact that it’s a Canadian film seems to overwhelm the story and take importance away from the achievement of the film itself.

A crucial member of the Nirvanna The Band The Show (The Movie) team is Jared Raab, who is originally from the Peterborough area. He’s been a part of the team since the beginning, and is often referred to directly in the show and other films from the Zapruder gang, as the fourth wall is more of a suggestion than a rule for these projects. Often off-screen, and sometimes on-screen, Jared has been an integral part of making the show what it is.

Before the film’s release, he sat down with Gabriel Espaillat of The Optic Nerve, and spoke about his experiences, his influences, and his philosophy and approach to doing the work that has gotten him to where he is. It’s an excellent read, and you can check it out here!

Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie is now available to purchase or rent digitally, and will be available for Blu-Ray and DVD on May 26th.

Knowledge = Power

I’m always learning things that expand my skillset. Here are a few things I’ve come across that satisfy my curiosity to learn something new, or better educate me about something I already know!

Disclaimer: Some content I share may be sponsored. I support creators being paid for their work, but sponsorships can shape what’s featured. The ideas still matter, but you don’t always need the exact products shown to execute the ideas. If I ever find myself in a situation where I have affiliate links of my own to share, I will disclose that information.

C-Stand Setups!

I cannot stress the importance of a good c-stand making the difference on a production. This video from Piotr Mokry takes things further by talking about how to get the most out of a C-Stand safely in conjunction with some arm attachments.

Slit Scan VFX

A complicated and interesting method of visual effects is using the Slit Scan method, as famously used in 2001: A Space Odyssey and other science fiction projects. This video dives into the history and uses of the effect, and the host makes an attempt to re-create the effect using Adobe After Effects. An interesting watch!

What’s Happening

Here are some things happening this month in the world of film in Peterborough!

Butcher the Pig Staged Reading and Film Kickoff!

On Friday April 24th at The Theatre On King, Marc Ludwig and Tom Quinn will be reprising their roles in this wonderful two-hander written by Marc. The goal of this performance is to kick-off a fundraiser for a film adaptation of the play! Production is set to begin in October of this year, and this staged reading is a chance to talk to the people involved about the project, and to learn more about what goes into writing a play, and the work needed to adapt it into a film!

Gear Swap!

Looking for some gear? Chances are someone else is looking to sell, rent, or trade that gear! Fill out this form and it will be included the next newsletter. Who better to sell to than someone else who shares your passion!

Community

Peterborough and the surrounding area has a wonderful community of incredibly creative people, and we’re only scratching the surface. If you would like to add yourself to the directory for the possibility of collaborating with others, please fill out this form.

The Directory is available to everyone who subscribes to this newsletter.

Working on a project? Want to share something you've worked on? Looking for a crew or collaborators? Holding an event? Want to share information about a casting call, workshop, funding, or something you've learned that's helpful and will help to educate others? Then submit that information here!

Want to be featured in an upcoming edition of the newsletter? Fill out this form!

The Developing Story is a free monthly newsletter that I produce with the goal of connecting people in the Peterborough and area who have a shared interest in the creative arts with regards to film and photography, as well as other outlets.

If you would like to support me on this project, please consider making a contribution to my ko-fi. A contribution is not mandatory or necessary to have access to this newsletter. Thank you for reading!

- Adam Martignetti

April 2026