From Scriptfest to StarSuckers: How a Creative Community Became a Professional Crew
- Mathieu Seguin
- Sep 30
- 2 min read
When Season 2 of Scriptfest wrapped, something unexpected and powerful happened. The filmmakers who had just completed 12 days of passion driven production did not drift away or slow down. They stepped directly into professional work.
During Season 2, many of these creators were making their first films. By the end, they had built real experience, real confidence, and the rhythm of a working crew. That momentum carried them forward. Immediately after Season 2, Scriptfest crew members were hired on multiple professional film sets, accumulating more than 40 days of paid work. Before Scriptfest, these opportunities simply did not exist for many of them.
A Training Ground That Works
Scriptfest teaches by doing. The crew learns by working together through every stage of filmmaking. Story. Camera. Sound. Lighting. Production. Set life. Collaboration. Not in theory, but in practice.
After months of creating together, the crew became a unified team. They understood communication. They understood set discipline. They trusted each other. They were ready.
That is exactly why StarSuckers benefitted so directly from Scriptfest.
StarSuckers: A Feature Powered by a Ready Made Team
StarSuckers was produced and directed by Brett and Jason Butler, also known as the Butler Bros. When they came to Sudbury to make their film, the Scriptfest trained team stepped in as a fully prepared crew.
They had already built chemistry.They had already solved problems together.They had already worked at a high pace.
Because of that, the StarSuckers production moved quickly and smoothly. The entire feature was completed in 12 shooting days, supported by a crew that behaved like a seasoned professional unit. The brothers told you they were impressed, and they want to keep working with you in the future. That is the impact of Scriptfest.
Building a Film Industry from Within
A year before StarSuckers, many of these filmmakers had never worked a single day on a set. Scriptfest changed that. It created a pipeline. It created a community. It created trained filmmakers who are now employable, confident, and in demand.
This is the long term goal of Scriptfest:
• grow filmmakers through consistent creation• build a crew base that is always improving• strengthen the local workforce• create opportunities through action• keep the momentum moving from project to project
StarSuckers is proof that the model works. When you make films year round, you build filmmakers who can step onto any set and deliver at a high level.
And this is only the beginning.
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