It's about changing minds, isn't it?

SARA SCHMIDT IS MANY THINGS, SOME OF WHICH ARE:

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Versatile

(ˈvɜːsəˌtaɪl)

Capable of many things

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Award-Winning

(əˈwɔːdˈwɪnɪŋ)

Having received awards

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Filmmaker

(fɪlmmeɪkə)

A person who makes films

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CONTACT

Profile

Sara F Schmidt

Distribution Coordinator at Breakthrough Films & Television

Broadcast Media | Toronto, Canada Area, CA

Summary

With 10 years of experience in the broadcasting and media industry, I have developed a diversified portfolio in Production, Digital Media, Marketing & Events, Programming, and Distribution.

Flemish Beauty is an arts collective I helped to establish a few years back. Our film, The Inquisitive Snail, made waves at film festivals internationally, and we recently created a group of stop-motion station IDs for WFN: World Fishing Network.

My most recent move is to Breakthrough Films & Television, where I will be coordinating international distribution.

Full-time employment has found me at the centre of film distribution & broadcasting companies as an executive assistant to a group of executives. I love this, as it keeps me on my toes & brings me into contact with a wide array of situations & people.

I spent many years working the film festival circuit as a venue manager & box office rep. This has been a most rewarding experience because my job entails dealing with the public, industry, press, and most importantly, with other filmmakers.

My wish is that I'll eventually produce & direct award-winning feature films, new media projects, and ground-breaking TV.

Experience

Dec 2011 - Present
Distribution Coordinator / Breakthrough Films & Television

Working with the distribution team, I coordinate the flow of contracts, deliverables etc. for our clients internationally.
2011 - Present
Programmer / TAAFI - Toronto Animated Arts Festival International

In its inaugural year, TAAFI will happen June 2012.

This animation festival is bound to push the envelope on ALL forms of animation. I'm happy to be part of the team!

Send us your submission by clicking: http://taafi.com/submit/
Sept 2006 - Present
Animation Professional / Flemish Beauty

Flemish Beauty is yet another Toronto collective. An ever-expanding lot of filmmakers, writers, technicians, actors, animators, sculptors, painters, photographers, musicians, and circus performers with divergent interests but common goals. A ragtag crew who defy conventional filmmaking wisdom and embrace the chaos of decentralized decision-making. To date, 3 short films have been produced, all of which have been in the form of traditional stop-motion animation.

The Peril Tree, which was my thesis film at Ryerson University and won the prestigious Natalie McDonald Prize, started the collaborative process since most of us had never animated before. Happy Endings Sanatarium was our 2nd collaboration with many of the Peril Tree crew. The Inquisitive Snail, which screened at over 20 film festivals internationally and won several awards was our 3rd work, and the first film that was not a film school project - not bad, for a 1 minute film!

Our most recent project is a set of station ID promos which were commissioned by WFN: World Fishing Network.

Flemish Beauty is also a pear.
Jan 2009 - Dec 2011
Digital Analyst & Executive Assistant / World Fishing Network

WFN: World Fishing Network is the only 24/7 television network dedicated to all segments of fishing with programming that covers instruction, tips, tournaments, travel, food, boating, outdoor lifestyle and more.

My role as Executive Assistant sees me in the centre of the company, supporting our President and CEO and a team of senior management, as well as liaising with hosts, producers, the sales team, and the marketing & affiliate departments.

In March 2010 my role expanded to Digital Analyst, which keeps me in the centre of the company, supporting our management team with web-related research & strategy including Google Analytics, comScore, Open Ad Stream Ad Server, Twitter, and Facebook. I also assist the Digital Department with the upkeep of www.worldfishingnetwork.com & manage Audience Relations.

Recently I have been leading the project management of the sales sheets & media kit redesign as well as coordinating graphics for these projects.
2002 - 2009
Theatre Representative & Box Office Rep / Hot Docs

I began my love of festivals by vollunteering full-time at Hot Docs in 2002. Setting up the festival office, setting up viewing stations in the press library, taking tickets, helping coordinate the industry programming on-site, working parties... the list goes on. By the following year, I was working for most of Toronto's festivals, and fast on my way to Sundance.

Over the years I worked for Hot Docs in the Advance Box Office, as a Theatre Rep, assisted at Doc Soup year-round screenings, assisted with programming data entry, and in the video library.
Nov 2007 - Dec 2008
Executive Assistant / Video Service Corp.

VSC is one of the last independently operated distribution companies operating in Canada and the US. With major clients including HBC, HMV, Costco, and WalMart, the selection of DVDs produced while I was in the Exec Assistant role included Corner Gas, Kenny vs. Spenny, Canada's Juniors, Super Dave's Super Stunt Spectacular, and many other DVD collections.

My role started as an admin assistant, and quickly grew to include contract auditing & management, and managed our 3 e-commerce websites. I also sourced prints of rare Canadian films, and liaised with our roster of producers, directors, and the many post-production companies and archives we employed.
Dec 2006 - Jan 2008
Graphic Designer/Associate Producer / Shadow Shows Inc.

Working at Shadow Shows - Bruce McDonald's production company - has been a most rewarding experience. Initially I worked as an assistant, dealing with the day-to-day email and phone management, making notes on scripts, ramping up for feature films, grant applications and graphic design for projects that are in development.

For the past 4 years, I've been on the sidelines, working on contract on graphic design for in-development projects, and occasionally helping out during the shooting of films, like This Movie is Broken, which my partner, Howard Ng produced.

I recently Associate Produced Ma Jeanne d'Arc, which is a feature documentary, a Shadow Shows production, directed & produced by Dany Chiasson.
2006 - 2008
House Manager / Toronto Fringe Festival

Managed several venues over a few years' span at Toronto's most accessible theatre festival, the Fringe!

Trained and managed the box office volunteers, oversaw financial reconciliations, ticket administration, and patron safety. Dealt with patron escalations and liaised with festival administration.
Jan 2003 - Jan 2008
Theatre Manager / Sundance Film Festival

January is Sundance Time! I used to manage the Egyptian Theater on Main Street. Before that, I was assistant manager at Eccles, The Holiday, and The Prospector.

Tackled day-of-event coordination of A-list talent, publicists, international press, public audience, and industry, ensuring that all films start on time, box office sales are accurate, managing volunteers & other staff and ensuring that everyone in the building is safe.
Sept 2001 - Sept 2007
Theatre Representative / Toronto International Film Festival Group

September is TIFF Time! The largest festival event of the year, it takes over downtown Toronto and infuses the streets with cinematic air. I began as a volunteer in 2001, then became a Front of House Assistant in 2002, and in 2005 I became a Theatre Rep.

Tackled day-of-event coordination of A-list talent, publicists, international press, public audience, and industry, ensuring that all films start on time, managing volunteers & other staff and ensuring that everyone in the building is safe.
Jun 2005 - Jun 2007
Theatre Manager / CineVegas Film Festival

June is CineVegas Time!

Tackled day-of-event coordination of A-list talent, publicists, international press, public audience, and industry, ensuring that all films start on time, box office sales are accurate, managing volunteers & other staff and ensuring that everyone in the building is safe.
2003 - 2006
Box Office Rep & Theatre Rep at Worldwide Short Film Festival / Canadian Film Centre

I worked for CFC's Worldwide Short Film Festival over several years, starting in the Advance Box Office.

As a Theatre Rep I tackled day-of-event coordination of A-list talent, publicists, international press, public audience, and industry, ensuring that all films start on time, box office sales are accurate, managing volunteers & other staff and ensuring that everyone in the building is safe.

Education

1999 - 2006

Ryerson University

BFA in Film Studies

Activities: Ryerson University Film Festival (RUFF)
1996 - 1999

Park View Education Centre

International Baccalaureate

Activities: Drama Club, Youth for Social Justice, SeTA

Additional Information

Websites:

Flemish Beauty, Breakthrough Entertainment, TAAFI

Honors:

"Top 20 Emerging Filmmakers in Canada 2009" - Victoria Film Festival "Natalie McDonald Memorial Award" - Top Female Graduate Film for The Peril Tree, Ryerson University, presented by Bruce McDonald "Audience Award" - Best Short, Spokane Film Fest 2009 - for The Inquisitive Snail "Best Short Runner-Up" - Spokane Film Fest 2009 - for The Inquisitive Snail "Audience Award" - Best Animated Short - Austin Film Festival 2009 - for The Inquisitive Snail "Audience Award" - Best Short - Toronto One Minute Film & Video Fesival 2007 - for The Inquisitive Snail "Jury Prize" Best Animation - Toronto One Minute Film & Video Fesival 2007 - for The Inquisitive Snail

Interests:

hearing music, eating food, animating, travelling.

... sara is on... linkedin

Updates

today's estate sale didn't give us standard goods - instead we got a table saw, a chop saw and a planer for under $500. It's a GREAT day to be Howie & Sara. Did I mention, they all come with stands??? :D

14 hours ago
on a complete sugar high including giggles after eating half a bag of chocolate covered almonds.

40 hours ago
doing expenses inevitably leads to Facebook breaks.

45 hours ago
mascot basketball. amazing!

3 days ago
surprise! I get to go to a B-Ball game tonight!!! :)

3 days ago
wish I could clean up the loft by rolling my katamari around.

5 days ago
CORPORATIONS SUCK. (specifically, Great West Life and Fido) because both have screwed me over in the past day, and complaining about it takes more effort than I'm willing to commit to. After 2 hours on the phone with Fido I still don't have my stolen phone back, and I still have to keep paying my monthly bill, and Great West won't pay my orthotics which I purchased while still employed at my last job. WHY OH WHY do they mess with ya? WHY????? And how does a gal like me win?

8 days ago
watching Game of Thrones again, this time with Howie. So good, and to know what happens while Howie's in the dark is kinda fun!

9 days ago
Yup, it appears to be official. my iPhone 4 is no more. Can you please message me your number, since some jerk has it, and I don't? Also, who's got the best cheap non-futuristic phone plan these days, since by the sounds of what Fido's offering, I'm better off paying out my contract & going un-apple. There's a lesson in this... I just have to find it.

10 days ago
lost/got my phone stolen. faaaaak.

10 days ago