First Frame

TELUS STORYHIVE
  • 5.0 (2)
  • VISUAL ARTS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

First Frame celebrates the journey of Canadian and Indigenous Content Creators. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for fresh perspectives, co-hosts Cameron Zinger and Jennifer Park bring you inspiring stories, actionable tips, and candid conversations with both emerging creators and established creative leaders, to help you on your own content creation journey. From securing funding to navigating burnout, First Frame tackles the real challenges creators face, offering a roadmap to success that’s as unique as their creative visions. Whether you’re scripting your first short film or getting ready to go viral on YouTube, this show is for you.

  1. 3D AGO

    Do I Really Need a Mentor and How do I Work With One?

    Finding the right mentor can be a game-changer for creators, but knowing how to seek guidance, give feedback, and grow from the experience isn’t always obvious. Mentorship isn’t just for beginners — it can benefit creators at any stage, helping you navigate projects, build skills, and expand your creative community. On this episode of First Frame, hosts Jennifer Park and Cameron Zinger explore the art and impact of mentorship with Mariah Braun, the CEO and founder of M3M Marketing, and one of her former mentees; Darryl Haugen, an emerging filmmaker based in Morinville, Alberta. Together they discuss the differences between formal and informal mentorship, how to approach potential mentors, and strategies for giving and receiving constructive feedback. You’ll also get insights on building lasting creative relationships, knowing which advice to follow, and how mentorship can accelerate growth and opportunity. Whether you’re looking for guidance or hoping to guide others, this episode offers practical, real-world advice every creator can use. Timestamps: (01:11) What mentorship really looks like (and why it’s not one-size-fits-all) (02:45) What mentorship means — from both sides (05:00) How to find a mentor (and why cold outreach works) (07:36) How to know if a mentor is the right fit (10:00) Common mentorship pitfalls and how to avoid them (12:55) When mentor advice doesn’t feel right (14:24) One Minute Mentor: best career advice (15:58) Formal vs informal mentorship explained (17:26) How mentors benefit from the relationship too (20:00) Trust, honesty, and giving constructive feedback (21:50) What makes a great mentor (real example) (24:17) Do you really need a mentor? (25:08) Resources for finding mentors and community

    31 min

  2. MAR 10

    How do I Build a Safety-First Creative Process?

    Safety might not be the most exciting part of content creation, but it is one of the most important. Whether you’re shooting solo TikTok videos at home or filming a full-scale production in the field, every creative choice can carry risk if safety isn’t built into your process. On this episode of First Frame, hosts Jennifer Park and Cameron Zinger tackle a topic that’s often overlooked by new and not-so-new creators alike: how to build a true “safety first” culture. They’re joined by Doryan Mash, Regional Safety Advisor at ActSafe Safety Association, who brings real-world experience from both emergency response and the arts sector to break down what safety really means in 2026. Together, they explore the common risk factors creators face, where corners are usually cut and why safety planning doesn’t have to be expensive or intimidating. You’ll also hear practical tips on emergency response planning, working alone, building a creator safety kit, and how a proactive mindset can actually save time, money, and stress. Timestamps: (0:00) Why safety matters for content creators (4:40) Top injury risks creators face (5:45) Working at heights: biggest danger on set (7:09) When creative decisions become unsafe (8:30) Common safety mistakes new creators make (9:40) Free safety support creators don’t know about (10:55) When safety planning should start (15:00) Emergency response planning essentials (18:30) Legal responsibility if something goes wrong (20:00) Safety tips for solo creators (24:52) One small change that improves safety

    28 min

  3. FEB 24

    Will AI Replace Content Creators?

    It’s one of the most polarizing questions to emerge in the world of content creation this decade: to use AI or not to use AI? There are loud voices on both sides of the debate, but the answer for most creators likely lies somewhere in the middle. On this season 2 premiere of First Frame, hosts Jennifer Park and Cameron Zinger sit down with Catherine Warren, the President of FanTrust Entertainment Strategies, to talk about the benefits and the risks of incorporating AI into your creative process. She begins by laying out her ‘five Cs’ of AI use: clarity, consent, credit, compensation, and cultural integrity, and discusses why creators need to take them into account every step of the way. She also explains why you shouldn’t shy away from AI entirely, and shares her thoughts on the expression “you may not lose your job to AI, but you might lose your job to someone who uses AI.” Timestamps: (00:00) — Is AI killing creativity? (01:26) — How AI is changing content creation (05:00) — The 5 rules creators must follow when using AI (08:10) — Who owns content made with AI? (11:04) — Can AI actually replace creators? (15:56) — How to spot fake AI videos online (17:10) — How creators can stand out in an AI world (22:33) — Will AI take creative jobs?

    27 min

  4. SEASON 2 TRAILER

    First Frame Season Two

    First Frame is where Canadian content creators get answers to their most pressing questions. This season, hosts Jennifer Park and Cameron Zinger tackle the top issues facing creators in 2026, from "Will I be replaced by AI" to “How do I Make YouTube Work for Me?” With insights from a top-notch roster of emerging creators, seasoned pros, and industry insiders, each episode delivers clear and actionable advice you can use right now to improve your work, whether you're a podcaster, filmmaker, live-streamer, or anything in between.

    1 min

  5. 2025-11-11

    What's the best advice for creators? A look back at season one.

    How can you connect with your creative community? Why is it critical to ensure your stories are told authentically? How can creators deepen their commitment to inclusive and representative storytelling? Those are just a handful of the big questions that came up in conversation with Canadian content creators and industry insiders on this inaugural season of First Frame. In this special retrospective, hosts Cameron Zinger and Jennifer Park look back on the most important themes and takeaways, as well as their favourite memories and moments, from the first 12 episodes of the podcast. You’ll get plenty of valuable advice and resources from familiar faces and STORYHIVE alumni, as well as some new insights from Cam and Jenn as they reflect on their own creative journeys. Stick around until the very end and you’ll also learn about some of the behind-the-scenes challenges they faced along the way to becoming bonafide podcast hosts.

    26 min

  6. 2025-10-28

    How Do I Avoid Content Creation Burnout? Prioritizing Wellness in the Creative Journey

    It’s something that’s all too easy to brush aside, especially for busy creators who are more focused on followers, funding, pitches, post-production, and other day-to-day aspects of their careers: taking care of your mental health. On this episode of First Frame, hosts Jennifer Park and Cameron Zinger are joined by Lindsay Killam, Clinical Director of Counselling Services at TELUS Health MyCare, and Tazeen Ahmed, Operations Manager at the Documentary Organization of Canada, for a frank and open conversation about the unique pressures content creators face. From public scrutiny and pressure to stay relevant, to poor work-life balance caused by the grind of churning out new content, there are many risk factors to contend with… and even today, there can still be a stigma attached to mental health issues in some circles. Thankfully, our guests also have plenty of coping mechanisms, self-care strategies, and resources to share that can benefit both content creators and anyone else who may be struggling with things like anxiety, stress, imposter syndrome, depression, or burnout.

    24 min

  7. 2025-10-14

    How Do I Rally My Community? Building Support for Your Project

    They’re ingredients any creator would love to cook with; a beloved bit of subject matter, a fervent, pre-existing fanbase, and a pinch of nineties nostalgia… but getting the recipe just right also means creating a strong connection with your community.    On this episode of First Frame, hosts Jennifer Park and Cameron Zinger chat with Jacob Weldon and Raquel Lin, the co-directors & co-producers of Reboot Rewind, a documentary series about the groundbreaking computer-animated TV show that ran on YTV from 1994 to 2001. Their conversation covers a lot of ground; from how they first discovered their shared love of Reboot and decided to make a documentary as a love letter to fans, to more tangible tactics that other creators can use to engage with their own communities. They also discuss the importance of soliciting feedback and managing expectations early and often, as well as why sticking to a regular release cadence or content calendar is a great way to keep your community informed and excited about your project’s progress.

    23 min

  8. 2025-09-30

    Why Does Representation Matter? Diversity On and Off Camera

    Representation shapes the stories we tell and how they’re told. But what does authentic representation really look like? How do you build a creative team that reflects the world around you? And how do you see the blind spots in your own work? On this episode of First Frame, hosts Jennifer Park and Cameron Zinger are joined by two champions of diverse, inclusive storytelling; Joy Loewen, the Vice President of Growth & Inclusion at the Canada Media Fund; and Winnie Luk, the Executive Director of the Disability Screen Office. Their no-holds-barred conversation shines a sometimes uncomfortable spotlight on the state of representation in the Canadian media landscape, and the barriers that still exist to persons of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities, both in front of and behind the scenes. They also explain why it’s important to see or hear oneself represented in media, and take part in a brand new segment called “Nailed It or Failed It”, in which they share the best (or worst) example of representation they’ve ever seen on-screen.

    25 min
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5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

First Frame celebrates the journey of Canadian and Indigenous Content Creators. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for fresh perspectives, co-hosts Cameron Zinger and Jennifer Park bring you inspiring stories, actionable tips, and candid conversations with both emerging creators and established creative leaders, to help you on your own content creation journey. From securing funding to navigating burnout, First Frame tackles the real challenges creators face, offering a roadmap to success that’s as unique as their creative visions. Whether you’re scripting your first short film or getting ready to go viral on YouTube, this show is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    TELUS STORYHIVE
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025
  • Show Website
    First Frame