Weyman, James

Person

Weyman, James

1956-

James Weyman was born in Toronto. He received his undergraduate honours bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Comparative Development Studies from Trent University in 1980. He later received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant to pursue a self-directed master's degree at York University, where he focused on anthropology and film studies. Following his graduation in 1982, Weyman and his brother, Bay Weyman, produced the film, “The Leahys: Music Most of All.” The film won an honorary Academy Award for Best Foreign Student Film from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles in 1985.

In 1989, Weyman joined the Ontario Film Development Corporation (OFDC), which changed its name to the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) in 2000, when its mandate expanded from film and television to include the book, magazine, music, and interactive digital media sectors. He headed the department of television development and production and was involved in feature film funding decisions. He also managed the Special Projects program which helped fund organizations such as Women in Film & Television - Toronto and the Canadian Independent Film Caucus. He was also involved in the creation and management of the Racial Equity Fund, a program focused on creating opportunities for diverse filmmakers. He co-created the Al Waxman Calling Card Program for short documentaries and dramas. Under Weyman's direction, the OMDC invested in over sixty half hour docs and dramas that helped to launch the careers of numerous writers, directors and producers.

As Manager of Industry Initiatives at OMDC, Weyman spearheaded initiatives to promote development among film and television professionals and provide support to new filmmakers. Weyman co-created the associate producer training program, “Practical Mechanics." He co-created the script incubator program, “StoryVision” with Marguerite Pigott and Carrie Papst-Shaughnessy and developed the “Market Mentorship Program” which supported producers breaking into international markets. Weyman also helped develop initiatives including: "The Executive Forum in New Media," a mini-Masters of Business Administration which helped incubate nascent new media content creators; “Platform,” a small content fund to support new interactive ideas; and “Pioneering Content,” which supported development and beta-testing of cross platform products. Weyman played a role in bringing the Hot Docs Forum to Toronto, based on his relationships with the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam. Weyman was also responsible for developing new market relationships and connecting producers internationally, including in the UK, Ireland, Israel, Germany, Scandinavia, India, Australia, Colombia and Brazil. Weyman was involved in the launch of BookMark, Volume One, Gold Label, which eventually became the OMDC Book Fund, Magazine Fund, Film Fund, and Music Fund.

In addition to his career at OMDC, Weyman was invited to instruct a course at Ryerson University's School of Television and Radio Arts between 2000 and 2003. The course, Business Aspects of Independent Television Production, taught undergraduates how to develop independent television programs. The final course assignment required students to deliver television program pitches to an audience of industry professionals.

In 2005, he established the International Financing Forum (IFF), a two day event during the Toronto International Film Festival that connected Ontario producers to international financing and co-production partners. IFF subsequently became Producers Lab Toronto, a partnership with European Film Promotion to connect Canadian and European producers. Other projects at OMDC in which Weyman was involved include From Page to Screen, Music Makes It, and the Collaboration and Innovation Fund. Weyman retired from the OMDC in 2016.

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Created by Christopher Long 7 September 2017