Online platform aims to help Indigenous women pursue careers in TV and film

An award-winningAnishinaabe/Ashkenaziproducer and directoris launching an online platform for Indigenous women interested in pursuing careers within the television, film and media industries.

Jennifer Podemskihas produced TV shows and films such as Moccasin Flats, The Other Side, Empire of Dirt, Future History and the Indspire Awards, and hasacted in Cardinal, Hard Rock Medical, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Fire Song, Sensitive Skin, Blackstone, The Diviners, and Dance Me Outside.

The online platform, the Shine Network, will provide a digital space with access to resources like master classes and tutorials and will also have an exhibition component to showcase content created by Indigenous women.

She said the idea for the platform came from the feeling that a space for Indigenous women to expand their potential in the media arts was needed "and I was compelled to do something about it."

I know what it's like to be the only one in the room and that is not just a scary feeling but it's an unnecessary feeling.- Jennifer Podemski

She saidthe platform had been in her mind for about a year but during the pandemicshe hadtime to make it a reality.

"With everything that was happening with the protests, issues of representation, issues of systemic racism, the realities being faced by Indigenous women in terms of disproportionate outcomes when it comes to success in all sectors and murdered and missing Indigenous women, I just got to thinking I want to be a part of the solution," she said.

"I think in order to really change things for the better, my best option is to offer my services and answer the call to provide a platform to Indigenous women who are in pursuit of a career in the film television and media arts sector."

Over the last four months, Podemski has been working withthree other women her sister, social media strategistRebecca Nixon and web designer Victoria Vaughan to create the platform.

So far the initiative has beenself-financed and Podemski islooking for donors and strategic partners for support.

In 2019, the fifthOn Screen Report by Women in View, a not-for-profit organization forstrengthening gender representation and diversity in Canadian media,foundwomen, especially Indigenous women and women of colour, were underrepresented and underemployed in Canadian publicly-funded film and television productions.

For example, the report said that in 2017 in Canadian publicly-funded television, women made up 43 per cent of writers, 27 per centof directors and nine per cent of cinematographers,but zero per cent were Indigenous women, across all categories.

Between 2015 and 2017, there were 267 publicly funded film projects and 12 contracts went to Indigenous women: six for writing and six for directing.

Podemski said in her 30 years of experience in the television, film and media industry landscapeshe's faced an array of barriers, from the impact of systemic racism, lack of support for Indigenous perspectives andaccess to funding.

"My focus for this initiative is to accelerate the professional development of Indigenous women so we can see more of us reflected in front of and behind the camera," she said.

"I know what it's like to be the only one in the room and that is not just a scary feeling but it's an unnecessary feeling.

"I think the most important thing is to build capacity and to create the kind of inspiration and knowledge required to take the next step in your career."

The Shine Network is slated to launch in January 2021.