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Developing new skills and telling local stories: ‘STORYHIVE has definitely changed my life.’

First time and emerging content creators are encouraged to apply for STORYHIVE Voices, open now!
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Alessia Proietti with videographer Ryley Surian and teammate Sean McIntosh on the set of their STORYHIVE project, ‘The Currency of Contribution.’ Applications for STORYHIVE Voices are now open!

UPDATE: STORYHIVE Voices intake deadline has been extended to midnight PT on May 11, 2023 to welcome in even more amazing community stories. Make sure to send in your application before then for your chance to receive $10,000 in funding.

When Alessia Proietti graduated from journalism school in Montreal, her dream was to become a multimedia journalist. The first step towards that goal was moving to Red Deer for a job writing for a local online paper, but she kept her eyes open for opportunities to stretch into other media. That’s when she learned of TELUS STORYHIVE.

“STORYHIVE was looking for beginner content creators — only from Alberta and BC — and I thought, ‘This is made for me. I have to take this opportunity. I’m going to apply, and I’m going to give it all I’ve got!’”

Her video documentary series The Currency of Contribution was selected for STORYHIVE Voices 2.0, and she (along with videographer Ryley Surian and teammate Sean McIntosh) will release it later this year on TELUS Optik TV and online channels. And while Proietti completes her project, she’s also encouraging other new and emerging creators to apply to the now-live Voices 3.0.

“STORYHIVE is awesome, and I recommend it to content creators starting their journey. It’s definitely changed my life in so many ways.”

Do you want $10,000 to create content? How about accessing over 1 Million new viewers? Applications for the Voices program are now open and STORYHIVE is encouraging new and emerging creatives from B.C. and Alberta to apply for a chance at $10,000 to produce a how-tos, visual podcasts, docuseries, lifestyle shows and more! Apply before midnight PT on May 2, 2023 with your idea and you could be one of up to 100 creators to receive $10,000 in production funding, customized online training sessions, access to a community of content creators and distribution on TELUS Optik TV and online channels.

Visit storyhive.com/voices to get started.

Your Passion, Your Community. Apply for STORYHIVE Voices 3.0 today! 

STORYHIVE is particularly interested in supporting stories from underrepresented communities, so Proietti’s project, The Currency of Contribution, was a perfect fit. The series highlights the uniquely Red Deer attitude that your community contributions are much more important than what you do for a living.

“Social currency in Red Deer is based on how much you contribute — I’ve never heard that before I moved here!”

Through interviews with volunteers and community organizations, Proietti is telling local stories, and practising valuable skills at the same time. The production funding from STORYHIVE allowed her to buy a laptop with enough power for video editing, a microphone, lights, and pay a videographer. She’s also been grateful for the STORYHIVE training and community of support.

“Big shout out to my program manager, Georgina — she’s been amazing, and is always there to answer my questions. I’d had education and experience on how to build a story, but I’ve learned a lot about how to put a production together, how to lead a team, and the legal and practical rules to release my project,” Proietti says.

Alessia Proietti interviews Red Deer City Councillor Michael Dawe for her STORYHIVE project, ‘The Currency of Contribution.’ Send in your application to STORYHIVE.com/voices before midnight PT on May 2, 2023!
Alessia Proietti interviews Red Deer City Councillor Michael Dawe for her STORYHIVE project, ‘The Currency of Contribution.’ Send in your application to STORYHIVE.com/voices before midnight PT on May 2, 2023!

For content creators considering applying to the Voices program, Proietti’s advice is simple: keep it simple! Know your goals, whether that’s learning to use equipment, develop interview skills or tell a better story. Then don’t overthink it and apply.

“Join us as we celebrate our third season of STORYHIVE Voices! We are so proud that we have been able to grow this program aimed at new and emerging content creators interested in user-generated content styles over the last two years,” says Shaun Cathcart, STORYHIVE territory manager. “One goal with all STORYHIVE programs is to showcase that content creators don’t need to be from the big cities to create meaningful content. We’re looking forward to sharing the stories of communities across B.C. and Alberta and can’t wait to hear from the people of Red Deer.”

Application intake opens on April 4, 2023. STORYHIVE is funding up to 100 creators across B.C. and Alberta with $10,000 in production funding, customized online training sessions, access to a community of content creators and distribution on TELUS Optik TV and online channels.

No experience required! Your Passion, Your Community. Send in your application to storyhive.com/voices by May 2, 2023!

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STORYHIVE is celebrating their 10 year anniversary this year. Since 2013, TELUS STORYHIVE has been able to support a community of thousands of local content creators across British Columbia and Alberta, providing over $52 million in production funding and creating a safe space for storytellers to hone their skills and bring the projects they care about to life.