ABOUT
Jacqui Swedberg is a short story writer who centers her work around life on the Canadian Prairies. She previously worked as a reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, as well as an Associate Producer for Verité Films. Jacqui currently resides in LA with her husband, raising their two kids, and a bearded dragon. She was recently named part of the 25thEmerging Writers Annual Showcase for the New Short Fiction Series and placed second for the James Kirkwood Award in 2021. She also received a nomination for the Allegra Johnson Writing Prize in 2020.
WORKS
Available for publication:
Chokecherry (novel in short stories);
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Available for production:
UnMotivated (Television Series, Comedy);
Blackberry Giants (Feature, Drama).
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Works In Progress
Doubtful Sounds with Sandflies (novel);
Bob’s Birds (series, comedy);
Exquisite Corpse (co- writer, series, horror).
AWARDS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
James Kirkwood Literary Prize - 2021
2nd Place
Awarded 2nd Place in the James Kirkwood Prize for Pile O’ Bones, one of the shorts from the Chokecherry collection.
​​Allegra Johnson Writing Prize - 2020
Nomination
Nominated for the Allegra Johnson Writing Prize for the novel “Doubtful Sound with Sandflies.”
EDUCATION
Certificate Creative Writing
UCLA Extension
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Short Story I, II, & III
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Creating the Short Story Collection
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Character & Conflict; Story Structure for the Novel
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Novel Writing II
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The Art of Creative Non-Fiction; Poetry
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Writing the Persona Poetry
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Certificate Feature Film Writing
UCLA Extension – Awarded with Distinction
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Writing the First Screenplay I, II, III, IV
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Feature Film Writing Workshop Acts 2 & 3
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Writing the One-Hour Pilot
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Degree Communications / Journalism
Mount Royal College (Canada)
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Print Journalism
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Feature Writing
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Photojournalism
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Broadcasting, Communications
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Public Relations
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Graphic Design
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Business Writing
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Diploma/Photojournalism
SAIT (Canada)
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Print Journalism
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Feature Writing
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Photojournalism
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Ethics in News
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WORK EXPERIENCE
MOM
Head of the Department of Children's Great Lives
2010 - Present
Proud Mom of two kids, with alternate titles including: Cook, Chauffer, Stylist, Hair-cutter, Professional Frisbee/ Football Thrower, Unofficial Therapist (Shoulder cryer on-er), Booboo Cleaner, Gift buyer, School Email Expert, Activities Advisor, and Official Hug Specialist 24/7 - 365 days a year. Have won several Mom of the Year Awards (via children’s drawings to me), and several bouquets of mostly flowers, plus one very old French fry handed to me during an intense McDonald’s experience.
VERITÉ FILMS
Associate Producer
2007 - 2009
Assistant at Production Company on episodes of award-winning television, including an International Emmy. Assisted with booking Guest Stars for Canada’s number one series Corner Gas, including Prime Minster of Canada Stephen Harper, Dog the Bounty Hunter, the Stanley Cup, Kiefer Sutherland, Michael Bublé and David Suzuki. Assisted Producers, Cast, Network and Writers for shows Corner Gas and renegadepress.com. Reviewing notes and scripts during Cast Read-Throughs. Writing of awards applications, episode loglines, and show Credits (as per contracts), and being all communication between Producers and set crew/ Directors.
LULLABY FOR PI
Assistant Director (TAD 3rd)
2010 (Release Date)​
Assistant Director (equivalent to 3rd AD in USA) for international movie starring Clemence Poesy, Forrest Whittaker, and Rupert Friend. Duties: Placing background, looking after Cast, assisting 1st AD on set for all duties and communication to ensure smooth production of film.
SLEEPWALKING
Assistant Director (TAD 3rd)
2008 (Release Date)​
Assistant Director (equivalent to 3rd AD in USA) for international movie starring Charlize Theron, Dennis Hopper, Woody Harrelson, Nick Stahl and Anna Sophia Robb. Duties:Placing background, looking after Cast, assisting 1st AD on set for all duties and communication to ensure smooth production of film.
CORNER GAS
Assistant Director (TAD 3rd)
2005 - 2007
Assistant Director (equivalent to 3rd AD in USA) on award-winning series Corner Gas. Duties: placing background, looking after Cast, assisting 1st AD on set for all duties to ensure smooth production of series.
RENEGADEPRESS.COM
Assistant Director (TAD 3rd)
2008 (Release Date)​
Assistant Director (equivalent to 3rd AD in USA) on award-winning series renegadepress.com. Duties: placing background, looking after Cast, assisting 1st AD on set for all duties to ensure smooth production of series.
CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION
Associate Producer/ Field Producer, Researcher/ Copywriter
2003 - 2008​
Wrote stories and intros as well as cut tape for a National News program called CBC news. real, focused on news for kids aged 12 to 18, and another one 8 to 12 (two separate versions). Long version would air in some classrooms across Canada (teacher recorded) for discussions on current events, covering all topics in the news boiled down into a more teenage appropriate context. Smaller version would air nationally after school on CBC Kids for younger groups, with news stories told in age-appropriate ways, and language. Hosted as well, both solo and with another Host, for a period of a few months. Also worked for CBC Newsworld (the local branch in Calgary), as a Researcher, and for CBC Regina, writing and field producing and some occasional on-camera for various news stories and segments.
COURTENAY/COMOX NEWS AND PQB NEWS
(BRITISH COLUMBIA)
Reporter/intern
2002​
Published stories for both Vancouver Island newspapers, including taking and publishing the first photo of a murder suspect in a high-profile case. Other lighter topics included publishing stories on bug-b-cues (downing cricket cookies and chocolate covered mealworms), cave spelunking, sailing, sandcastle competitions, and local happenings. Interviewed and wrote daily articles, juggling two to three stories of various lengths on any given day, all of them published.
CALGARY SUN / REGINA SUNDAY SUN
Internships
2000​
Worked as a Reporter for one month at each location for a work internship, publishing stories on various Features and Entertainment related stories (movie/theater reviews) and articles about dogs who specialized in alerting owners who had Epilepsy on seizures, articles about the Food Bank, and reviews on movies and local theater.
