Onalee Ames Film Studio is renowned for its focus on film career development. Our mission is to help students achieve success in film acting. The industry in our region has grown significantly, supporting a vibrant acting community. As producers and directors from LA increasingly come here, they often exceed their expectations and return to make more films.
I have always compared acting to an Olympic profession; it requires resilience and an intense passion to succeed in film. The public mostly sees the glamour after a film is made, but few witness the grit it takes to make it in this business. Many actors wait years for their big break.
It is well-documented that drama therapy and other forms of acting can improve mental health. Just as athletes train their minds, actors must also work on their mental well-being to sustain long careers. We must train to stay in the game, even when the game isn’t in sight. We must think, train, and believe like athletes.
The best part of training to be an actor is the development of the craft of being present, which produces incredible communicators. I have witnessed profound improvements in the well-being and emotional states of many students.
I believe that at least half of an acting career requires constant attention to personal health and well-being. Many therapists refer patients to me because acting classes allow participants to access and process emotions, often bypassing the brain’s filters. In cold reads, students delve into the emotional states of their characters without overthinking, allowing the body to express emotions more freely.
Over the years, I have been asked to bring acting to unconventional spaces. When my father was in a nursing home with vascular dementia, I taught a class where clients could enjoy the present moment through cold reads without worrying about memory. Acting classes became a reliable source of joy and engagement for those who had lost interest in other activities.
Ten years ago, I taught acting and scriptwriting at the Manitoba Youth Centre, working with some of the province’s highest-risk youth offenders. It was humbling and sacred to work with these kids, who were suffering in extreme ways. While we only scratched the surface of what could have been achieved, the program was successful. I continued writing a movie with one of the inmates after the program, but sadly, she passed away this year at a young age. Her spirit continues to inspire me to help others share their voices.
I am currently employed part-time at Kelburn Rehab Centre, where I teach clients with addictions. In collaboration with therapists, I use psycho-drama in a program that helps patients tackle emotional issues in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. I am excited to see the program grow, thanks to Ian Rabb, who has always valued my work. The work in addiction recovery in our province must continue to grow and flourish, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute beyond film acting.
In the new year, Onalee Ames Film Studio is proud to introduce new programming. We have partnered with Psychologist Dr. Toby Rutner to offer our first-ever psycho-drama class. Dr. Rutner, who has been practicing since 1972, brings a wealth of experience. He has worked at the Jacksonville State Hospital, the Selkirk Mental Hospital, and has run a private practice since 1973. He also provides services to the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans Affairs Canada, the Workers Compensation Board, and MPI. Dr. Rutner is a member of the Psychological Association of Manitoba, the Manitoba Psychological Society, the Canadian Psychological Association, and the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. His work has been widely published.
Dr. Rutner’s class promises to push students to become more aware of their psychological states and help them break habits that hold them back from success. Just as athletes use psychological techniques to stay in the game, we will use these techniques to stay in the film industry. The class will use emotional role-playing and psycho-drama to confront limitations and break through self-imposed barriers, freeing up emotional energy that can be directed toward achievement and success.
As our industry continues to grow, our studio will provide the necessary instruction to succeed and stay in the game, creating environments that set Manitobans up for success in the film industry. We are excited for the strike to end and our industry to return to full capacity. We can’t wait to see you at the studio to start your film career.