BIOGRAPHY
RAS Creative has been providing strategic communications to a wide range of Canadian, US and international clients since 1995 - as a part-time business first, before becoming a full-time venture in 2004. Company President RoseAnna Schick prides herself on being an effective and efficient multi-tasker with expertise as a writer, editor, publicist, planner, coordinator, manager, consultant, speaker, facilitator, trainer, and entrepreneur. She is involved ‘hands on’ with every project, staying up-to-date on trends and practices, and maintaining a knack for overseeing the biggest of pictures and smallest of details.
RoseAnna is passionate about sharing the knowledge she has acquired in film and television, the music industry, and arts and entertainment. She thrives on being part of special events, exploring markets, supporting tourism efforts, and creating positive awareness of Aboriginal initiatives. RoseAnna's hard work was recognized in 2007 with nomination for the Manitoba Women Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, and nomination at the 2001 Prairie Music Awards for Outstanding Manager of the Year, while managing business and promotion for rock band Pushing Daisies. She also received three Best Music Video nominations for producing their debut video Disagree.
In 1999, RoseAnna won the MIPCOM Fellowship Award, which allowed her to gain valuable film and television market experience in Cannes, France, and Mannheim, Germany. Prior to that, she received the CFTPA International Intern Award for training in film marketing, which took her to the NATPE television market in New Orleans. A proud alumnus of Red River College's Creative Communications program, RoseAnna was honoured to be presented with the prestigious Lieutenant-Governor's Medal at her graduation in 1995. In her first year of studies, she received the MTS Scholarship and Stan Helleur Award. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree (English/Political Studies) from the University of Winnipeg in 1992.
An outdoors enthusiast with a tendency for canoe-tripping and backwoods roaming, RoseAnna was selected from more than 500 applicants to participate in the adventure-of-a-lifetime during the summer of 2001. This epic journey involved the historical re-enactment of fur trade voyages that took place in the 1800’s, produced as the five-part series Quest for the Bay for History Television. RoseAnna - the only woman on the eight-person crew - fondly remembers it as "the worst job in her life... and the absolute best experience!" Today, she is often asked to share her unique story by speaking at corporate conferences, for school groups and organizations, and at special events.
In addition to being committed to her own professional development, RoseAnna believes in personal betterment and staying active. When she isn't working on her 'next big thing,' she can be found training as a competitive Masters rower for the Winnipeg Rowing Club, learning to play hockey on her team the Hockey Bags, trying to break 100 on any given golf course, or out roaming in the Canadian wilderness… the more remote the better…
motion picture industry
RoseAnna began her diverse career in the motion picture industry as director of marketing & communications for Buffalo Gal Pictures, overseeing marketing and distribution for nearly two dozen film and television projects. Along the way she gained invaluable experience as a production coordinator and unit publicist, assisted with the development of various projects, and managed the spectrum of corporate and communication materials on behalf of the company and its principals.
RoseAnna received the CFTPA International Canadian Youth Intern Award in 1997 for training in film marketing, which took her to the NATPE television market in New Orleans; and the MIPCOM Fellowship Award in 1999, which involved market exploration in Cannes, France, and Mannheim, Germany. She also represented Buffalo Gal Pictures at industry events including Hot Docs Festival in Toronto (2000), Local Heroes International Film Festival in Edmonton (1998), and the Banff TV Festival (1998-1999).
Unit publicist credits on feature films include Amreeka, The Stone Angel, High Life, The Hessen Affair, The Good Life, Population 436, Full Of It, Lucid, The Law of Enclosures, One Last Dance, and desire; and feature-length movies Something Beneath, Eye of the Beast, Hybrid, Maneater, Off Road, and Children of My Heart. RoseAnna also managed publicity for television dramatic comedy series' Cashing In and Less Than Kind, award-winning documentaries Gabrielle Roy and The Genius of Lenny Breau, acclaimed children’s series Tipi Tales, documentary series The Sharing Circle, and lifestyle series Magnificent Obsessions. As a production coordinator, RoseAnna worked on television movies Society’s Child and Framed, features The Crimson Code and Nostradamus, and other film and television projects.
With a passion for industry development, RoseAnna spent two years as executive director of the Manitoba Motion Picture Industry Association (MMPIA), where she was responsible for the management and administration of the member-driven association. During her time at MMPIA, most notable accomplishments included renewal of a $4.65 million program jointly funded by federal and provincial governments, and co-delivery of a new economic impact study and training needs assessment for Manitoba’s motion picture industry.
As MMPIA’s executive director, RoseAnna oversaw production of the Blizzard Awards (bi-annual event honouring Manitoba film and television), coordinated the first regional event between three prairie associations (MMPIA, SMPIA, AMPIA), launched a corporate strategic planning program for production companies (the first of its kind in Canada), and lead an international trade mission of producers to Los Angeles. She also rallied the Manitoba motion picture industry to come together and enter a community float in Winnipeg’s annual Christmas parade – which won first place!
Other highlights included representing Manitoba at industry events like the Banff TV Festival (2002-2003), the CFTPA Policy Conference in Ottawa (2002-2003), the Toronto International Film Festival (2003), Canada Day Celebrations in Los Angeles (2003), Hot Docs in Toronto (2003), and Showcase in Regina (2003).
music industry
RoseAnna got her start in the music business as agency administrator and corporate publicist for Paquin Entertainment Group, responsible for agency contract administration for more than 30 artists, as well as corporate communications. Artists on the agency roster included Buffy Sainte-Marie, Susan Aglukark, Fred Penner, Al Simmons, Marc Jordan, Amy Sky, and others.
With a growing interest in Winnipeg’s ‘indie music’ scene, RoseAnna manages business and promotion for "Winnipeg's firecracker" singer/ songwriter Serena Postel. She spent three years as artist manager for Winnipeg rock recording artists Pushing Daisies, and general manager of their record label and publishing company Catch 23 Records Inc. During this time, the band made impressive strides in the industry - most notably capturing an opening spot on The Guess Who’s Running Back Thru Canada Tour in 2000, and opening shows for the Headstones, 54-40, and The Jeff Healey Band.
RoseAnna developed and produced Pushing Daisies’ debut music video for the single Disagree, which garnered Best Music Video nominations at the Prairie Music Awards (2000), the Blizzard Awards (2001), and the Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival (2001). The video received regular rotation on Canadian music network MuchMusic, at the same time the song was receiving airplay at more than a dozen commercial rock radio stations in major markets across Canada. RoseAnna’s professionalism, determination and ingenuity in her work with Pushing Daisies were recognized with a 2001 Prairie Music Awards nomination for Outstanding Manager of the Year.
Since then, RoseAnna has represented other independent artists like Eagle & Hawk, Sheena Grobb, Tracy Bone and Easily Amused at industry events like the JUNO Awards, Western Canadian Music Week, Canadian Music Week, Prairie Music Week, and on tours. She managed a national publicity campaign for rock band The New Meanies during their tour with David Wilcox, and currently consults with indie recording artists about the music business.
Committed to community involvement, RoseAnna was a member of the Board of Directors for the Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association (MARIA) for three years. During this time, she was one of the driving forces behind the complete restructuring of MARIA's Board and association operations. She was instrumental in the creation of the Prairie Music Alliance as a founding member of its very first Board of Directors, and helped launch its inaugural Prairie Music Week in 1999.
special events
RoseAnna managed marketing and publicity for the 2006 Western Canadian Music Awards, and assisted with publicity for the 2008 Canadian Country Music Awards. In 2005 she took on the task of local publicist for the JUNO Awards in Winnipeg, and publicist for both the Winnipeg Host Committee and the Manitoba Aboriginal Music Host Committee, whom she also worked with to raise Manitoba's profile at the 2005 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards in Toronto.
Other special events include taking on publicity for the 2006 Grey Cup Festival in Winnipeg. A highlight of Grey Cup weekend was working with the CFL communications team on game day, helping coordinate on-site interviews for recording artists Nelly Furtado and Eva Avila. And afterwards, getting to watch the football match from the sidelines - the best non-seat in the house!
From 2007 to 2009, RoseAnna provided publicity services to the Aboriginal economic development conference Vision Quest. She assisted the Manito Ahbee All Nations Festival and the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards in announcing and launching their inaugural events in 2006, and managed media relations for the festival and awards show in 2008. She was part of the MMPIA Blizzard Awards team in 1999, 2001 and 2003, which celebrates the best in Manitoba film and television production.
The most memorable experience in RoseAnna's career so far was coordinating media at the Sacred Assembly in Hull, Quebec - a national conference organized by the Honourable Elijah Harper in 1995. As a Metis woman with a passion for exploring her spirituality, this unforgettable event will forever be etched in her memory.
publishing & writing
An avid freelance feature writer, RoseAnna provides a fitness and health column called Fit Nations to the monthly publication Urban NDN. Her experiences as a 'wannabe' hockey player and amateur athlete are featured in a blog on NHL.com. Previous to this, she wrote a bi-weekly golf column called Fore Play in the Winnipeg Free Press for two seasons, and spent one winter writing the snowmobile column On Track.
Other publications that have featured her work include CAA Magazine, Playback Magazine, Going Places Magazine, The Prime Times, Winnipeg Sun, Northwest Minnesota Adventures, Manitoba Calling Magazine, Manitoba History Magazine, University of Winnipeg Alumni Journal, Grassroots News, Fish & Boat Magazine, and Campus Canada Magazine. The fansite Guns N' Roses Daily has also featured RoseAnna's writing, and so has On Screen Manitoba and Olympia Cycle.
RoseAnna has earned an excellent reputation and track-record as a freelance travel writer and photographer, who specializes in outdoor activity, wilderness adventure, golf destinations, and romantic travel. She has taken part in media tours of Australia, Mexico, Philadelphia, Cape Cod, Kentucky and Minnesota, and has also traveled extensively across Canada and throughout her home province of ‘Friendly Manitoba’ – a place she is very proud of!
RoseAnna's copywriting experience includes creative and professional writing projects for businesses, organizations, and artists. She specializes in bios, profiles, press releases, newsletters, and website content. She also has a keen knack for creating effective corporate materials, and has written numerous proposals, plans, and reports.
Her own successes included writing a business plan, establishing a business strategy, and securing private investors for the development and publication of Connect! - a weekly entertainment newspaper launched in Winnipeg in 1998. In addition to holding a corporate director position, she multi-tasked as music editor, music reviewer, production manager, proofreader, marketing and public relations manager, and community liaison. As the special features writer, her most memorable interviews were with Kiefer Sutherland, Colin James, Jim Cuddy, Adam Beach, and The Kids in the Hall.
education & training
A believer in the merits of education and training, RoseAnna obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree (English/ Political Studies) from the University of Winnipeg in 1992. She went on to acquire a Creative Communications Diploma (Public Relations/ Television/ Journalism) from Red River College in 1995, receiving the MTS Scholarship and Stan Helleur Award in her first year, and presented with the prestigious Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal at graduation.
During her time at Red River, RoseAnna held the position of vice president student affairs and was responsible for representing the interests of students on various college committees and councils. Today, she welcomes the opportunity to impress upon youth the importance of education and ambition, and is often found making presentations in classrooms, speaking at conferences, and delivering workshops. She was honoured when asked by Sturgeon Creek Collegiate – her high school – to give the Graduation Alumni Address in 2000.
RoseAnna believes in ongoing professional development, and has attended dozens of music and motion picture conferences that offer workshops, panels, and networking events. She volunteers her time as a member of Red River College's Creative Communications Advisory Committee, MMPIA's Marketing Committee, and the Department of Culture's Ministerial Advisory Council on Manitoba's Sound Recording Industry.
RoseAnna is currently an active member of her industry associations On Screen Manitoba (formerly MMPIA) and Manitoba Music (formerly MARIA), as well as the Western Canadian Music Alliance, the Women Business Owners of Manitoba, the Manitoba Writers' Guild, the Arts & Cultural Industries Association of Manitoba, and alumni associations for Red River College and the University of Winnipeg. She is also a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation and Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce.
adventure & activity
A wilderness enthusiast with a tendency for canoe tripping and backwoods roaming, RoseAnna was selected from more than 500 applicants to participate in the adventure-of-a-lifetime during the summer of 2001. This epic journey involved the historical re-enactment of fur trade voyages that took place in the 1800’s.
RoseAnna – the only woman along with seven other 'tripmen' – traversed a York Boat from the heart of downtown Winnipeg north to York Factory on the Hudson Bay, following a traditional fur trade route and using only 1840’s gear and provisions. The 1,225 kilometer trip took 61 days to complete and was taped for Quest for the Bay, a five-part television series produced by Frantic Films for broadcast on History Television.
Today, RoseAnna stays active as a competitive Masters rower at the Winnipeg Rowing Club, taking powerskating lessons and learning to play hockey , running half marathons (personal best 1:59:54), golfing, curling, cycling, rollerblading, doing hot yoga, playing racquetball, trying biathlons and duathlons, and going hiking, canoeing, kayaking, or roaming any way and anywhere in the wilderness… the more remote the better…
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(updated 11/15/09)