Vancouver, BC (September 4, 2024) – Gender Equity in Media Society (GEMS), formerly Women in Film and Television Vancouver (WIFTV) has announced the participants for the 2024 Emerging TV Producers Program (ETVP), overseen by Program Director Omorose Osagie. This initiative is designed to empower BC-based women and gender-diverse creators by providing them with the skills, strategies, and mentorship needed to launch successful careers in the Canadian television industry. This year’s participants are Steph Song (Blood and Water), Anya Kapustianyk (The Name’s Slim), Gabrielle Rutman, Jess Havisto (Til Ex Do Us Part), Mimi Dejene (Legion), Eloise Cameron-Smith (Hellmark), Johanne Michel (The Flash), Sarah Alma Angelle (Our Long Goodbye) and Elora Braden (Ricky in the Rough).
"Last year’s ETVP cohort have become a close-knit group, who remain in touch and continue to uplift each other, and I hope to be saying the same about this year’s talented cohort someday" says Anaïsa Visser, Executive Director of GEMS. "We are delighted to support these aspiring leaders through the Emerging TV Producers Program, with the generous support of Canada Media Fund and Warner Bros Discovery Access Canada. The third iteration of this competitive program will amplify the emerging voices of BC-based creators, advance their skills and help bring their first narrative series productions to screens in Canada and around the world."
“The program has significantly advanced my career trajectory. I joined as an actor eager to learn how to develop and produce my own work,” shared Katrina Reynolds, a 2023 ETVP participant. “The GEMS ETVP program has given me the knowledge and confidence to expand beyond acting and take the necessary steps to produce my own projects.” During her time in the program, Reynolds was mentored by Mélanie Lê Phan (CBC). Reynolds was awarded the Canadian Comedy Film Igniter Award at the Canadian Film Festival for her film A Day In The (After) Life of Diane Staples. The film is now screening at the Broad Humour Festival in Los Angeles.
Past participants of the Emerging TV Producers Program have achieved notable success, further highlighting the impact of GEMS' initiative. Recent success from past participants include producer Krista Rand’s Leo Award-winning feature film Re: Uniting, which recently had a Canadian theatrical run. Giselle Miller, is making waves with her web series Novelette is Trying, which is set to have its World Premiere at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF) this September. These accomplishments underscore the program's role in attracting exceptional talent and empowering creators to realize their visions and make significant contributions to the Canadian television and film industry.
Phase 1 of the ETVP kicks off with an immersive, hands-on workshop led by returning lead instructor Deborah Osborne in Vancouver from September 16-20, 2024. Participants will gain practical experience in identifying industry opportunities, navigating funding applications, crafting compelling pitches, budgeting, and building valuable industry connections.
Throughout the program, participants will benefit from the insights of a distinguished lineup of guest speakers, including Nelu Handa (Executive Producer of Run the Burbs and Writer on Sort Of), Jennifer Podemski (Executive Producer of Little Bird), Julia Niendorf (Post-Production Executive and Client Manager), Sarah Quan (CBC Development/Comedy), Nicola Pender (Founder of Pender PR), Lydia Guo (Entertainment Lawyer at CFA Law), Deb Patz (Television Production Specialist), Alexandra Raffe (Executive Producer of Kim's Convenience), and Camille Beaudoin and Eric Rebalkin (Producers at Mosaic Entertainment). These industry leaders bring a wealth of experience from various facets of television production, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the industry, from creative development and post-production to legal aspects and public relations.
Phase 2 takes place from October to December, where participants will apply these skills with the guidance of experienced mentors. Each participant will receive tailored support to package their projects for development funding and prepare for entry into industry markets. Mentors are thoughtfully selected to align with each participant's background, goals, and creative vision. Past mentors include the likes of Camille Beaudoin (Girls in Film & Television), Cailey Cavallin (Lark Productions), Jessalyn Dennis (SEVEN24) and more.
The ETVP cohort was selected by a jury of esteemed producers, including Alexis McLaren, Shayna Fine, and Jessie Anthony. These jurors reviewed applications from women and gender-diverse creators across BC, ultimately awarding program spots to the following participants:
- Steph Song - Strawberry
- Anya Kapustianyk - Tides Out
- Gabrielle Rutman - Toxic
- Jess Havisto - On Call
- Mimi Dejene - Uncharted
- Eloise Cameron-Smith - Mystery, Unsolved
- Johanne Michel - The Good Life
- Sarah Alma Angelle - Queen of Trash
- Elora Braden - Ricky Diamonds: Ricky In The Rough
Learn more about ETVP here.