Nina
“Women are powerful yet rooted to nature.”
Nina is a passionate creator who is dedicated to her work. She is an artist who aspires to see change and who uses her position to help enact it. Meet Nina. This is her story.
Nina and her dog Rocky at the Woodbine Park in Toronto
P: Please introduce yourself!
N: I'm an independent producer, director and designer with 30+ years of professional experience. I founded my company Beevision in 1993 and in 2000 my life partner Paul Hart became my business partner. We have two kids, Jamie (26) and Liam (21), who grew up in and around our studio.
From left to right - Paul, Nina, Liam and Jamie at the premiere of the Little India -Village of Dreams documentary
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
N: I work hard and draw my inspiration from great creative ideas and people. I am passionate about the environment and social justice and try my best to live a life that is respectful of Mother Earth and all living things. I am happiest when I can combine my passions with my work.
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
N: My resilience. Being a creative indie means you encounter a lot of highs and lows, but if you can stick it out over time, you develop insights and competencies in many areas and eventually that experience turns into wisdom.
Nina interviewing Sadhan Mullick in Carterpuri, India for The Idealist - James Beveridge Film Guru documentary
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
N: I've had many definitive experiences, and each one has accumulatively made me stronger. Recently I was fortunate to work with a new production company in Toronto called Oya Media Group. "OYA Media Group brings a genuine Black Canadian perspective to media platforms, from film and TV to virtual reality". It is owned and run by 2 black Canadian female entrepreneurs, Ngardy Conteh George and Alison Duke. I was inspired by their partnership, exemplified by their excellent communication, honesty, commitment to quality and dedication to their work. I worked with Alison and Ngardy as a production manager on Ngardy's film "Mr. Jane and Finch" and assisted with the development of a number of productions. When the #BLM movement exploded in the summer of 2020, Alison and Ngardy were ready to take on the Canadian media scene with purpose. They are flourishing and achieving their goals. It taught me what you can achieve when you live and work with intention and clarity.
P: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
N: Respect and listen to the advice of others, but also listen to your gut when making key decisions.
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
N: I grew up with two older brothers and attended 9 schools by the time I finished high school. It made me tough. I have never tended to think about myself along gender lines. My understanding of sisterhood is something that has come to me later on in life, and now with the help of my outspoken, kickass daughter a new world of feminism has opened up for me to explore. Women are powerful yet rooted to nature. I am grateful to live in a country like Canada where I can live my authentic self without oppression.
Nina with cast and crew of Sloppy Jones (a series co-created and co-written by Nina’s daughter Jamie) in early 2020
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
N: I'm a big fan of news journalist Adrienne Arsenault. I dreamed of being a foreign correspondent for years and I admire her courage, intelligence and reporting chops. I would want to spend an evening listening to her tell stories of her experiences as a foreign correspondent.
I'm equally inspired by the brilliant writing of Arundhati Roy whose book The God of Small Things I consider to be the most beautifully crafted gem I have ever read. Arundhati Roy is now risking her life daily challenging and exposing the increasingly oppressive Indian government under Narendra Modi and his extreme right wing BJP party.