The YVR Screen Scene Podcast

Five years ago, actor Giles Panton swung by the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to talk about voicing Iron Man in Marvel Battleworld: Mystery of the Thanostones, the sleighful of Christmas movies in his filmography, what he learned playing the minister of propaganda for the American Reich in Amazon Prime's critically acclaimed dystopian series The Man in the High Castle, and the Barbie commercial that broke up his band. It's a fantastic episode (which you can find in the episode footnotes or wherever you listen to podcasts), but a lot can change in five years. For instance, you can move from being the guy that always loses the girl in the rom-com to the guy who gets her. You can win a Leo Award for Best Performance in an Animation Program for your work in animated horror anthology series Red Iron Road AND a UBCP/ACTRA Award for voicing Carnage and Norman Osborne in Absolute Carnage. You can get an ADHD diagnosis that explains so much of how you move through the world. You can become a dad. In this compelling conversation – at times poignant; at times funny; always authentic and entertaining – Giles reflects on the many changes of the last five years, what it takes to be a leading man, working with Andrea Brooks on Snowy with a Chance of Christmas, pursuing joy, constructing grilled cheese sandwiches, and how his ADHD diagnosis changed his life. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Baljit Sangra's new documentary issues its central question in its title: Have You Heard Judi Singh? If you have to think about it, the answer is no, because once you've heard Judi Singh sing, you'll remember it – her clarity, her lyricism, the ease with which she scat and sang bebop and standards and original music – you'll remember that you've heard Judi Singh sing for the rest of your life. Originally from Edmonton, gifted jazz singer Judi Singh defied expectations as a Punjabi-Black artist stepping onto the stage in the late 1950s. Though her ethereal voice captivated musicians and audiences, the music industry failed to give her the recognition she deserved—an all-too-familiar story for women and artists of colour. In this lively and deeply felt documentary portrait, Judi's daughter Emily Hughes and Baljit retrace Judi's life and music through archival recordings, intimate recollections, and the bohemian spaces she once inhabited. Weaving together moments of brilliance, struggle, and resilience, the film reintroduces a forgotten artist to the spotlight she always deserved.More people will have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with Judi's voice and her remarkable story after Have You Heard Judi Singh? has its world premiere at the 2025 DOXA Documentary Film Festival. Filmmaker Baljit Sangra returns to the podcast to discuss Judi's artistry and legacy. Episode sponsor: Directors Guild Of Canada, BC District Council

House of David on Amazon Prime tells the story of the shepherd boy who brought down a giant Philistine warrior with a slingshot and a stone and, ultimately, became king. But the story of David – outcast David, underdog David, King David – is more than a single parable – and the first season of House of David lays out David's journey from childhood until moments after he felled Goliath with a single stone. Although the series – which aired its first season finale earlier this month and has already been renewed for a second season – is filmed in Greece, it boasts an impressive contingent from Vancouver. Louis Ferreira is David's father, Jesse. Kimani Ray-Smith is stunt coordinator. Todd Giroux is post producer. Alexandra La Roche and Michael Nankin directed episodes. And Vancouver's own Jonathan Lloyd Walker is executive producer, writer, and season one show runner. In this compelling conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Jonathan discusses his journey to House of David, the joys and challenges of bringing these biblical personages to the screen, and where the show will take viewers in season two. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Wildfire is a phenomenal, deeply moving, and heart-pounding five-part series that airs on Knowledge Network beginning on April 29. Filmed across British Columbia in 2023, during the worst fire season on record, the series examines how an unprecedented fuel build-up, combined with a hotter, drier climate, created a volatile tinderbox situation. It also introduces us to the communities impacted by wildfires and the humans who put their lives on the line to fight fire however they can: with water, with axes, with ingenuity, and with fire itself. We see firsthand the daunting climate emergency we face and meet the people standing between British Columbians and complete devastation. Wildfire is executive produced and co-directed by friend of the pod Kevin Eastwood, and co-directed and produced by Nelson filmmakers Simon Shave and Clay Mitchell. In this fascinating episode, Kevin Eastwood reflects on what he learned about the British Columbians who are stepping up to fight these record-breaking wildfires, and how he and his team handled the logistics of filming the firefighting up close. Episode sponsor: Directors Guild Of Canada, BC District Council

In this special episode of the YVR Screen Scene Podcast, Allegiance star Supinder Wraich and executive producer Nimisha Mukerji reflect on the crime procedural's emotionally searing second season. Season one introduced us to Sabrina Sohal (played by Supinder), a star rookie police officer in the CFPC who must grapple with the limits of the justice system as she fights to exonerate her politician father Ajeet Sohal, played by friend of the pod Stephen Lobo. Season two finds Sabrina earning a probationary spot as a detective in the Serious Crimes Unit, and with a new partner: Detective Corporal Zak Kalaini played by Samer Salem, from a CFPC branch in Alberta, who has a much different style of policing than Sabrina.Allegiance is set and produced in Surrey, British Columbia, and is very much a character in its own right. Season two brought us even deeper into the community, and also into issues that are at once specific to Surrey and also universal: issues like violence against women in the South Asian community; sexual predation of teen boys; violence against the unhoused; PTSD; and also grief: how we navigate it, and how we need to fold it into our lives somehow or risk losing ourselves altogether. In the first half of the episode, Supinder Wraich reflects on Sabrina's journey in season two, her own journey in Sabrina's detective shoes, and healing through representation. In the second half of the episode, executive producer and director Nimisha Mukerji reflects on the emotional resonance of Allegiance's second season, and what Sabrina Sohal represents for her. Episode sponsor: Directors Guild Of Canada, BC District Council

Actor-filmmaker Ben Immanuel (Down River) and actress Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas) swung by the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to discuss Are We Done Now? The comedy-drama tells the story of therapist Pamela (played by Gabrielle) and her diverse young clients as they participate in a (fictionalised) documentary exploring the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on their mental health. Through this experience, they—and the filmmaker, played by Ben—gain unexpected self-insight, leading to a deeper understanding of their identities and roles in our transformed world. Besides Gabrielle, this comedic and emotionally resonant film stars Favour Onwuka, Eliot Ramsay, Natalie Farrow, Giacomo Baessato, Jennifer Spence, and Camille Sullivan—and on April 12 and 13, it will screen at VIFF Centre as part of National Canadian Film Week. In this thoughtful interview, Ben and Gabrielle reflect on filming a comedy-drama about COVID during the (mostly dramatic and not very funny) first year of COVID, and the impact of unprocessed pandemic grief on artists. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Filmmaker Carl Bessai and actor Vincent Gale are legends of the Vancouver screen scene. These two legends have worked together before – Vincent was nominated for a Leo Award for his work in Carl's iconic comedy-drama Fathers & Sons – and their latest collaboration, Field Sketches, screens at VIFF Centre on April 12 and 14 as part of National Canadian Film Week.Carl mined his own life and family history for Field Sketches. Vincent stars as Peter, a middle-aged architect whose business and personal life are imploding. With nothing left to hold him in the city, Peter decides to move to his family farm and spend the winter in Saskatchewan. He soon discovers that pioneer life is much more than he bargained for. And the silence and loneliness play tricks on his imagination. Field Sketches takes its characters and audiences from a gorgeous mid-century modern home in Vancouver, to Peter's rustic family farm in Saskatchewan (played by Carl's family farm), and into the past, to East Germany (played by Berlin). The result is a singular piece of art that is rich with surprises, fleeting and impactful beauty, and insight into what it means to age as an artist, an immigrant, and the descendent of immigrants. In this fascinating conversation, Carl and Vincent reflect on their journey with Field Sketches, and how their own experiences with art align with Peter's journey.Episode sponsor: Directors Guild Of Canada, BC District Council

Emily Bett Rickards (Arrow's Felicity Smoak) swung by the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to discuss one of the most wildly entertaining, audacious, and empowering films of this or any year, Queen of the Ring. Emily shines as Mildred “Millie” Burke, the legendary professional wrestler and single mom who defied incredible odds to become the first million-dollar female athlete and longest reigning champion at a time when the sport was banned across most of America. Queen of the Ring was written and directed by Ash Avildsen. The cast also includes Walter Goggins, Josh Lucas, Francesca Eastwood, Tyler Posey, and Marie Avgeropoulos. Queen of the Ring opens in Canada on April 4, including at VIFF Centre and the Rio Theatre in Vancouver, and Emily joined Sabrina Rani Furminger on the pod to talk about Mildred's commitment to intersectionality, muscularity, and femininity, what she learned about Millie by jacking up for the role, and the conversation she'd love to have with the late wrestling star. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

It's a short film extravaganza! This double-header features interviews with not one but two fearless filmmakers who've created something very special in the short film space. First, Jackie Hoffart talks about The Reveal, a comedy about nonbinary Stevie, who struggles to support their sister's gender reveal party while harbouring some news of their own: that they have started on testosterone, that they are transitioning. The Reveal has its world premiere on March 29 at the 2025 Crazy8s Film Gala, AKA the hottest ticket in town. That conversation is followed by a stirring chat with filmmaker, actor, and dancer Juliana Bergstrom about mining her personal life and passions for Harbour. The film premiered on CBC Gem on February 6, and is at once a love letter to art and dance, and the struggles and triumphs of life as an artist. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Our very own Sabrina Rani Furminger recently joined Sasha Pobochii on the Cultural_Front.UA Podcast to talk about her upcoming documentary Our Hall (about her family's long history of activism), how the events of February 24, 2022 altered Ukrainians (in Ukraine, displaced, and diaspora), and how non-Ukrainians can hold space for Ukrainians during this tumultuous time. And before that, Sabrina gives an update on the new season of the YVR Screen Scene Podcast.

Maja Aro and Dani Johnson are two of the talented dynamos behind Abby and the Muffins. The series – which dropped on YouTube in late 2024 and quickly amassed more than 100,000 subscribers – stars the wildly talented Dani as Abby, a singing, stunting, and dancing tour-guide who leads pre-schoolers through an imaginative world of fun, play, movement, learning, and exploring. In this fascinating conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Maja and Dani talk about the joys and challenges of putting together an original series combining live action, animation, and original music, working with kids, the benefits of trying scary things and creating the content you want to see in the world, and why growing up shouldn't mean giving up playtime. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

War Tails tells the story of a small group of volunteers in Ukraine working tirelessly to prevent a continent-wide rabies outbreak. Displaced filmmaker Olha Byrledianu's feature-length documentary – which screens on March 3 as part of the 2025 Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival – takes us into the world of a handful of volunteers from Canada and Ukraine as they work to rescue, heal, vaccinate, and sterilise dogs and cats in some of the most dangerous parts of Ukraine. At the heart of War Tails are two volunteers – Dan Fine from West Vancouver, and Krystina Dragomaretska in Ukraine – who are united in their desire to rescue animals and prevent a rabies epidemic. War Tails is stirring, heart-pounding, devastating, and life-affirming. This documentary has it all: missile strikes, cute animals, blow darts, powerlifting champs turned animal rescuers and, most important of all, a call to action. In advance of the film's Canadian premiere at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival – which will be followed by a Q&A featuring Olha, Dan, and Krystina in conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger – the filmmaker and the West Vancouver dog lover join Sabrina in the YVR Screen Scene studio to talk about the how's and why's of making War Tails.Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Friend of the pod Praneet Akilla returns to reflect on his recent on- and off-screen adventures – including SkyMed, currently airing its third season on CBC Television and CBC Gem. Praneet is back as Chopper, who is still coming to terms with the death of his astronaut dreams in season two while exploring what it means to be a leader and also the possibility of a new entanglement with recently arrived chief nurse from the big city, Marianne (portrayed by Nicola Correia-Damude). It's fun to watch Praneet in the role of Chopper; we get to see him be funny and charming and also deal with the big dramatic beats and heart-pounding moments that make SkyMed must-see-TV. In this funny and fascinating episode, Praneet discusses the emotional beats and blockbuster fun of SkyMed's third season, Chopper's “dark” era, his guest role as a badass gang leader on the brilliant locally shot crime drama Allegiance, and why he'll always make time for theatre.Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Actress Natalie Moon is fully bidialectal, meaning she's equally proficient in using two or more dialects of the same language. In fact, she's so proficient at being bidialectal that she's an in-demand accent coach, and has coached big bold names like Jon Voight and Kristin Chenoweth. She also produced How To Make it in Hollywood (When You're Foreign AF), Alessandro Miro's hilarious web series that skewered stereotypes around accents in the film biz. In addition to her work in the accent realm, Natalie is also a talented actor who has performed in an array of fan favourite productions, including The Flash, Motherland: Fort Salem, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Death Note, and a recent episode of Superman & Lois in which she portrayed Lex Luthor's ex-wife, Erica Alexandra del Portenza Luthor. In this fascinating conversation, Natalie talks about what it takes to be bidialectal, the creative ways she builds backgrounds for her characters, that time Sir Patrick Stewart read Moby Dick to her class at the Oxford School of Drama, and how she prepared to play Erica, Lex Luthor's ex-wife, on Superman & Lois (also: Sabrina shares her unpopular opinion on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine).Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Chris Haddock's impact on the Vancouver and Canadian television landscapes is undeniable. He's a showrunner, writer, producer, and all-round storyteller whose filmography includes Da Vinci's Inquest, Da Vinci's City Hall, Intelligence, Boardwalk Empire, and The Romeo Section. He's been instrumental in launching the careers of some of our local industry's shining stars, and centred Vancouver in the majority of his shows. All of this is to say that, if anyone knows the television landscape in this country, it's Chris Haddock – and with this landscape in the midst of profound change, we invited Chris onto the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to talk about about the lessons he's learned over the course of his storied career, how artists can change with the times or resist, and the joys and challenges of both. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Late last month, Kandyse McClure won a 2024 UBCP/ACTRA Award for her work as fearless firefighter Kaia Bryant on Netflix's wildly popular dramatic serial Virgin River. Audiences first met Kaia early on in season five, when she delivers a baby on the side of a mountain with Mel and Cameron consulting over FaceTime. From the jump, it's clear that Kaia is an alpha woman: she's confident, shoots back sipping tequila, and goes after what she wants, which by the end of that first episode is Preacher, played by Colin Lawrence – and the fact that she has a douche-canoe of an estranged husband and a high-octane career aren't going to hold her back from getting what she wants. As season five ends, Kaia is Virgin River's new fire chief, and Kaia and Preacher are building something new together. Things would be perfect if it weren't for the fact that the body of an abusive asshole that Preacher buried seasons before in order to help Paige has just been unearthed. What does this blast from the past mean for Kaia and Preacher? We'll get closer to some answers to this and many other questions when Virgin River returns for its highly anticipated sixth season on December 19. In this fascinating interview, Kandyse dishes on what she learned about fighting fires from the pros, where Kaia ends and Kandyse begins, her Virgin River scene partner Colin Lawrence, and that fan-favourite leap over the bar. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Powerhouse actress Sharon Taylor swings by the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to talk about her role on Cross, the number one Amazon Prime series in the world. Cross stars Aldis Hodge as the famous detective from James Patterson's books and, later, films starring Morgan Freeman and Tyler Perry – but this is not your grandparents' Alex Cross. Yes, this Alex Cross, like the Alex Crosses of yore, uses forensic psychology to identify murderers and bring them to justice. But the Alex Cross of 2024 is more of a fully fleshed human being. We see the fullness of his life as a Black man, father, widower, friend, lover, and detective in a white supremacist world upended by the murders of George Floyd and Sandra Bland. Cross on Prime is sexy, dark, addictive, and made even more delicious by the presence of the aforementioned Sharon Taylor. Sharon plays Oracene Massey, Cross's immediate boss, which is a tough position to be in, because it's hard to be Cross' boss sometimes, especially when you're very pregnant, and there's a serial killer terrorising your city and your team. In this funny and fascinating conversation between long-time friends, Sharon and Sabrina delve into the joys and beautiful challenges of Sharon's juicy role in this critically acclaimed thriller. NOTE: Crucial spoiler talk re: Cross occurs between 34:34 and 44:28. If you don't want to be spoiled, skip ahead! Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

If you live in Canada, you're probably familiar with Heritage Minutes. Produced by Historica Canada, these sixty-second short films educate viewers on fascinating or little-known stories from Canada's history. Dozens of Heritage Minutes have been released since 1991, and many of them are iconic, like “Doctor Penfield, I can smell burnt toast!” and “You never know, it might be worth something someday” and especially “Both of you know I canna read a word.” The latest short film to join the pantheon of iconic Heritage Minutes tells the story of Mary Riter Hamilton, a brave Canadian painter who ventured into No Man's Land in the aftermath of World War One. She bore witness to the destruction and devastation, painted what she saw, and suffered mentally and physically as a result. The haunting Heritage Minute – which stars Megan Follows (AKA Anne Shirley) as Mary – was written and directed by a Vancouver-based dynamic duo, Hayley Gray and Elad Tzadok, whose previous Heritage Minute told the story of Paldi, one of the most successful multicultural communities in our history. In this fascinating episode, get to know this trailblazing but little-known artist from the first half of the 20th century, as well as the dynamic duo who stepped up to tell her story. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

“If the Ghostbusters and the Scooby-Doo gang got stoned together in Stanley Park and Frankensteined a high-larious single-camera sitcom, it would probably look something like Paranormal Solutions Inc.” That's how our valiant host Sabrina Rani Furminger opened an article she wrote in 2016 for the Westender newspaper about the first season of Paranormal Solutions Inc., a fabulous series from the funniest people in Vancouver. Eight years later – and nearly 10 years after visiting their set in Gastown where they filmed much of season one – the Paranormal Solutions Inc. gang is back, with season two. This time around, the PSI gang is even funnier, more of a collective hot mess, and getting themselves into even zanier and grosser paranormal situations than in season one, even serving up a delightful smorgasbord of homages to some of our favourite horror properties, from The Blair Witch Project to Halloween to The Shining to Cujo – and, for some reason, there's also a lot of kale. Paranormal Solutions Inc. stars David Milchard, Julia Benson, Nicholas Carella, Daniel Bacon, Diana Bang, Christina Sicoli, and Matt Clarke, with cameos from local favourites like Sara Canning and Jordan Connor. It's produced by Tilt 9 Entertainment and executive produced by another long list of our favourites: Milchard, Carella, Clarke, Michelle Ouellet, and Dylan Collingwood. In this rambunctious episode, Sabrina is joined by Nicholas Carella and Matthew Clarke to talk about the how's and why's and WTF's (including the joys and challenges of acting opposite a taxidermied rodent) of this side-splitting horror comedy series. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

One of the most deliciously terrifying shows on the planet recently returned for its third season. From – an MGM series that airs on Paramount Plus in Canada – takes place in a town in the middle of America that imprisons everyone who enters. As the residents struggle to maintain a sense of normality and seek a way out, they must also survive the threats of the surrounding forest. There's a lot to love about From: how it's at once a scary show about monsters AND a show about how humans can thrive and crumble under extreme pressure; how it forces us to consider how we would fare in similar circumstances; how it features Vancouver actress Angela Moore in a critical role. Angela is Bakta, a bus driver who arrives in the cursed town at the helm of a bus of passengers who have no idea the hell they're about to encounter. Bakta is a wonderful character – a woman who was only working this job to pay off her student loans, and stuck around a bit longer for some extra money – but she's got nothing on Angela, who is a phenomenal actress and remarkable activist who has worked on behalf of her community for many years. In this compelling interview (which begins with surprise cameo by a crow!), Angela discusses her experiences filming From, her “Actor Origin Story," her own relationship to spooky film and television, and how the industry has (and has not) changed since 2020. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

To say that actress Teagan Vincze's filmography is varied is an understatement. Her lengthy list of credits includes critically acclaimed roles in indie hits – like when she played a compassionate sex worker in Daughter, Anthony Shim's critically acclaimed first feature that screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival, or when she played a fiery adult film star in The Cannon, a nuanced role for which she was nominated for a Leo Award – as well as nuanced performances in an array of studio and network fare, including Dead Boy Detectives, The Unauthorized Melrose Place Story, and a long and growing list of Christmas movies, including A Cowboy Christmas, where we finally got to see her as the romantic lead . [NOTE: This episode was recorded before it was announced that A Cowboy Christmas will be available to view in Canada on Tubi; check our episode footnotes for more information] . No matter the role or genre, Teagan's work is fearless, and lifts roles above any cliches. In this compelling and introspective conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Teagan talks about what she's learned portraying “taboo” roles in multiple screen projects (including Daughter and The Cannon), the importance of intimacy coordinators, and the special magic of her first time as the lead in a holiday rom-com. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

In this special episode, Sook-Yin Lee, the iconic radio and TV broadcaster, musician, film director, actress, and trailblazing MuchMusic veejay, and Chester Brown, the acclaimed alternative cartoonist, swing by the YVR Screen Scene Podcast studio to talk about Paying For It. The feature film – which had its premiere in Toronto and screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival – is a live-action adaptation of Chester's best-selling graphic novel that was inspired by the end of his relationship with Sook-Yin (who, in the film, is represented by a character named Sonny who works as a veejay at MaxMusic). Here's the premise for both the book and the film: In the late 90s, Chester and Sonny are a long-term, committed, romantic couple. When Sonny wants to redefine their relationship, Chester, an introverted cartoonist, starts sleeping with sex workers and, in the process, discovers a new kind of intimacy. “Paying For It: a comic strip memoir about being a john” was adapted for the screen by Sook-Yin and Joanne Sarazen; the film was directed by Sook-Yin and stars Dan Beirne as Chester and Emily Le as Sonny. In this riveting interview, Sook-Yin and Chester speak candidly about their journey to bring this story to the screen, art as activism, and if Canadians are ready to talk about sex work as work.Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Content warning: This episode contains frank and graphic talk about mental health, mental illness, and suicide. If you're thinking about suicide or are worried about a friend or a loved one, the Suicide Crisis Helpline is available 24/7/365 at 9-8-8. You can also find links to international suicide prevention and mental health support services in the footnotes for this episode at YVRScreenScene.com. You matter. You're not alone. In honour of World Mental Health Day on October 10, Sabrina Rani Furminger is joined by Alice Ride from Set Protect, a company with a mission to help the entertainment industry better handle issues of mental health and wellness. Their conversation covers the challenges faced by film workers navigating mental illness in the film and television industry, the importance of authentic on-screen representation of mental health issues, and how to be a good ally to people experiencing poor mental health. Says Sabrina: “We need to do everything we can to ensure we don't lose anyone else.” Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Actress Nathalie Boltt and Riverdale's Penelope Blossom don't have all that much in common, despite the fact that the former portrayed the latter for all seven seasons of the wildly popular teen drama, but one thing they DO have in common is that both make a habit of defying expectations. This is particularly evident in Nathalie's lengthy filmography, which includes memorable roles in an array of seemingly disparate genres and projects, including District 9, the BBC's Inspector George Gently, The Astronauts, and 24 Hours to Live. Nathalie is also an experienced screenwriter, producer, and director who received a Leo nomination in 2022 for screenwriting in a short drama for A.T.A.C.K., a comedy about Actors Typecast As Crooks and Killers (hence A.T.A.C.K.), and she recently received funding from Telefilm for Holy Days, her feature film (a New Zealand - Canada co-pro) that will go to camera later this year. Besides being a phenomenal actress and storyteller, Nathalie is also an activist who cares very deeply about numerous issues related to the health of our planet, whether she's speaking out on the devastating impacts of palm oil farming and harvesting, bringing attention to missing and murdered Indigenous women, or advocating for Wetsuweten land defenders. On October 8, Nathalie will host the 9th Annual Sustainable Production Forum, a conference for change-makers in the film and television industry who want to ensure that the entertainment industry does no harm to our planet. In this fascinating interview with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Nathalie talks about growing up under apartheid in South Africa, her reaction to Riverdale's many transformations, the benefits of sitting in discomfort, what matters to her as a filmmaker, and combatting waste in the film industry. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Lynda Boyd first appeared on the YVR Screen Scene Podcast in 2020 to discuss her incredible acting journey (which includes an exceptional six-season run on Republic of Doyle), and in the years since, she's been busy. She had a wonderful run on Virgin River that ended with a river of tears when her character Lilly passed away. She reunited with Victor Garber on Family Law, where she played a divisive, cunning, and kinda really awful talk show host named Crystal Steele. She's a mainstay of Hallmark holiday rom-coms. And she currently has a fantastic role on Sullivan's Crossing, which follows young neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan as she flees the challenges of her life in the big city and returns to the idyllic Nova Scotia campground owned and operated by her estranged father. Lynda Boyd shines as Maggie's mum, Phoebe Lancaster, who seemingly turned her back on turbulent love in Sullivan's Crossing for something a little less turbulent (but, ultimately, not actually) in the big city. In this fascinating and funny conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Lynda Boyd reflects on her reaction to Lilly's death on Virgin River, reuniting with Allan Hawco on Sullivan's Crossing, her turn as an Ann Coulter-type talk show host on Family Law, and where she'd like to take audiences next. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Jerome Yoo (the filmmaker behind the critically acclaimed short films Gong Ju, Idols Never Die, and Recess: Third Street) stops by the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to discuss Mongrels, his feature film directorial debut that has its world premiere at the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival. Set in rural Canada in the 1990s, Mongrels follows a Korean family attempting to find footing in a new land while navigating the dark forests of grief. Dad Sonny has been hired to eradicate the feral canines plaguing the town, while sensitive son Hajoon figures out what it means to be a man. Finally, young Hana, missing her mother, dreams up ways to make her return.Mongrels is lyrical, sorrowful, dreamlike, surreal, disturbing, and surprising: an exceptional mix that is precisely what anyone familiar with Jerome's previous work would expect to see in his first feature. In this fascinating conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Jerome talks about the day on Mongrels when he directed 14 dogs, his cohort of rising Asian Canadian filmmakers (which includes Lawrence Le Lam and Mayumi Yoshida), and the parallels between his own immigrant journey and Mongrels' surreal story. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Vancouver will finally get to watch its first-ever Black+Queer dramedy web series this week when five episodes of Novelette is Trying screen at the 2024 Vancouver Queer Film Festival. Novelette is Trying follows Novelette, a cynical, anti-social, bisexual woman who finds herself newly single at 30, and decides, rather reluctantly, to take on a roommate. At first, the extroverted, outspoken Audre seems like an odd choice for a roommate. But, although their personalities clash, Audre's boldness and lack of boundaries soon rub off on Novelette in the best way, encouraging her to put herself back into the dating pool. Audacious, poignant, and funny, Novelette is Trying – which will also be released on OUTtv in 2025 – comes to us from the wonderfully creative mind of Giselle Miller, the Jamaican-Canadian writer, showrunner, filmmaker, and three-time Leo Award-nominated actor. Her credits include Young, Single, and Black, Yolanda the Goddess, and Big People Tingz. In this fascinating conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Giselle reflects on her journey to and with Novelette, and the joys and challenges of bringing this groundbreaking series to the screen. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

300 episodes after her first appearance on the YVR Screen Scene Podcast, actress Veena Sood returns to talk about her three seasons (soon to be four!) playing cool mama Nisha on CTV's Children Ruin Everything, and going back to her improv roots in Colin Mochrie's Arts Club Reunion (which takes place July 19 and 20 at Vancouver's historic Stanley Industrial Alliance Theatre). Also: What impact is “wokeness” having on the comedy scene? Is the film and television industry actually, truly, and *really* diverse and inclusive? What's it like acting opposite Kim Coates (who played her season one boyfriend, Graham, on Children Ruin Everything)? And – most pressing of all, at least to Sabrina – does she still want to be a cowgirl?

Actress Camille Sullivan has acquired a boatload of awards and nominations over the course of her career for her work in an array of dramatic projects like Intelligence, Hunter Hunter, The Birdwatcher, and The Disappearance, but it's her work in a top-rated comedy series that's currently garnering her mad love from critics, fans, industry insiders, and the fine people of TikTok. The series in question is Shoresy, a spin-off of Jared Keeso and Jacob Tierney's beloved comedy series, Letterkenny. Shoresy – which recently finished airing its third season and is lacing up for a fourth – follows the foul-mouthed, chirp-serving, mother-loving, fan favourite character from Letterkenny named Shoresy as he joins the Sudbury Bulldogs in a quest to never lose again. Camille is Laura Mohr, a reporter who covers the Bulldogs as part of her beat. Shoresy lights up like a Christmas tree whenever he lays eyes on Laura. It's adorable how the normally shit-talking Shoresy is so sweet and earnest during these interactions, and it's so much fun to watch Camille as Laura react with sparkling eyes, mild frustration, bemusement, and (mostly) committed to keeping professional boundaries intact. Camille can also be seen kicking all sorts of emotional ass in thrillers like Exile with Adam Beach, which is now on VOD, and will soon be seen in the highly anticipated Shelby Oaks, which will screen at the venerable Fantasia Film Festival this summer. In this funny and fascinating interview, Camille talks Shoresy, being a loner, acting in highly dramatic movies, why she doesn't miss auditioning in “the room,” and her dream to be the Nicolas Cage of Canada. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Joel McCarthy is a filmmaker (Taking My Parents to Burning Man, I Am Alfred Hitchcock), an educator, a producer, an award winner, and a celebrated industry shit-disturber who eschews gatekeeping, speaks truth to power, and builds community through bonkers-popular filmmaking events like Shits N Giggles and Run N Gun. On June 29, the latter caps off its ninth edition (which had 2000 filmmakers creating 149 films in 48 hours) with two electrifying screenings at Vancouver's iconic Orpheum Theatre. In the busy days before the screenings, Joel swung by the YVR Screen Scene studio to reflect on a decade of shit-disturbing, whether or not he's (gasp!) gone establishment, the health of Vancouver's indie filmmaking scene, and why this year's Run N Gun is the biggest yet. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Bradley Stryker is an accomplished actor and filmmaker with an impressive, and growing, list of credits, including Devil in Ohio, Chesapeake Shores, and The O.C.. He wore both hats on Sheltering Season, his critically acclaimed alternate reality thriller that was not only inspired by the pandemic but was one of the first projects to go to camera after the industry re-opened in summer 2020. In the film, a woman (played with nuance and fire by Caitlyn Stryker) finds herself isolated in her remote home with her brother who is seeking forgiveness for the darkest moment in their family history. In this fascinating and at times emotional conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Bradley reflects on his adventures in pandemic filmmaking and storytelling, and dancing with grief. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA.

Garfield Wilson's filmography is packed with some of our local industry's best-loved and most critically acclaimed productions, including Continuum, Schmigadoon, The Man in the High Castle, Virgin River, Ivy and Bean, and Snowpiercer. His roles are often ones that require power, presence, poise, and physical acumen, and he's using all of those qualities (and more!) as Balestro on Reginald the Vampire, which kicked off its second season on May 8. SyFy's cult favourite dark comedy follows the adventures of a slushy store employee turned vampire and his human and formerly human friends. Reginald is portrayed by Jacob Batalon, who played Peter Parker's best friend Ned in five MCU films and who is now leading one of the most diverse and wildly funny shows on TV. Garfield's Balestro is the Big Bad of the new season. He's a powerful and intimidating angel who descends from heaven to announce the eventual extinction of vampires – which, obviously, is not welcomed by Reginald the vampire, his vampire friends, and the humans who love them. In addition to his family and his work in the industry, Garfield is passionate about his activism on behalf of Trans kids. Garfield's daughter Tru has been a Trans activist since the age of nine, giving TED Talks and advocating for the civil rights of Transgender and genderqueer people, and her proud dad has been by her side every step of the way. In this fascinating and wide-ranging conversation, Garfield talks avenging angels, slushy-loving vampires, and raising Trans kids in intolerant times. Episode sponsor: UBCP / ACTRA

The murder of 14-year-old Reena Virk in 1997 sent shockwaves across Canada. Her murder thrust issues of bullying and teenage violence into the Canadian consciousness. 27 years later, Reena's story is back in the public consciousness, on both sides of the border this time, thanks to Under the Bridge, a limited series produced by ABC Signature for Hulu and streaming on Disney Plus. Under the Bridge is based on acclaimed author Rebecca Godfrey's book about Reena's case. Told through the eyes of Godfrey (portrayed by Riley Keough) and a local police officer played by Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon), the series takes us into the hidden world of the young girls accused of the murder, revealing startling truths about bullying and teenagers, family relationships, and racism. Under the Bridge was filmed in British Columbia, which is fitting, because Reena's is a British Columbia story. In this thoughtful and at times emotional episode, Sabrina speaks with two remarkable British Columbia-based artists involved in the production – acclaimed director Nimisha Mukerji, who directed the fourth episode of the series entitled “Beautiful British Columbia,” and actor Evan Rein, who portrays Officer Don Gardner, a rookie cop on the Saanich police force – about their experiences working on the series and why, nearly 30 years later, it's important to bear witness to Reena's story. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Award-winning actress Sara Canning (Remedy, The Vampire Diaries) returns to the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to talk about Sweetland. Based on the book by Michael Crummey and adapted for the screen by Christian Sparkes, who also directed, Sweetland draws its inspiration from Newfoundland's controversial resettlement program, which has removed hundreds of communities from the map. As the film opens, the government is ready to resettle the far-flung fishing community of Sweetland with a healthy pay-out, but only if the entire community signs up for the move. Retired fisherman Moses Sweetland is one of the last hold-outs, which doesn't make him popular in town. Sara is Clara, the mother of a very special young boy who has a kinship with Moses but who would benefit from treatment and therapies that aren't available in Sweetland but are available in St John's. Sweetland is devastating, stirring, and haunting – and for Sara, a born Newfoundlander and long-time fan of the book, the film is something of a homecoming. On May 17, Sweetland will begin an extended at VIFF Centre in Vancouver. In this special episode featuring one of British Columbia's – and Newfoundland's – finest actresses, Sara talks about her journey to and with Sweetland, how place influences story, and the Newfoundland of it all. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Actress Loretta Walsh (When Calls The Heart) returns to the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to discuss The Lifespan of a Fact, the based-on-real-life play that she's producing and starring in this month at Studio 16 in Vancouver. The Lifespan of a Fact tells the story of a fresh-out-of-Harvard fact checker for a prominent but sinking New York magazine, a talented writer with a transcendent essay about a high stakes event concerning a teenage boy, and a magazine editor-in-chief who needs to balance truth and art with the unsentimental realities of the magazine business. The Lifespan of a Fact is funny but, given how it holds up a mirror to our culture's current fascination with bending lies into “alternative facts,” it's also terrifyingly timely. As Emily the editor-in-chief, our dear Loretta shares the stage with longtime collaborator Ben Immanuel and Tal Shulman from So Help Me Todd, under the direction of renowned theatre artist Jennifer Clement. The Lifespan of a Fact runs May 2nd to the 12th at Studio 16, and the May 8 performance will feature a post-show Q & A with the cast, director, and special guests. And that's not all: Loretta can currently be seen in season 11 of Hallmark Channel's wildly popular When Calls the Heart, which kicked off its latest season on April 7. In this compelling and at times emotional interview, Loretta talks about The Lifespan of a Fact, how When Calls The Heart's Florence has changed since season one, acting opposite Hrothgar Mathews, and the ways that theatre can soothe a broken heart. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

In this DOXA Documentary Film Festival double-header, Sabrina Rani Furminger speaks with two filmmakers whose films are featured in the 2024 edition of the popular fest. Up first is Rachel Epstein, the filmmaker behind The Anarchist Lunch. The film is the story of a lunch – or rather, 35 years of lunches enjoyed each week by a group of ardent leftists who congregated in a Vancouver Chinese restaurant to discuss the important topics of the moment. Among them is Rachel's father, Norman. The Anarchist Lunch follows these revolutionaries over a period of several years, through the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and during the unfolding of resonant global events. As some members struggle with personal health issues, Rachel's film takes on new layers to explore the meanings of activism, camaraderie, and growing old. Next up (at timecode 26:13) is Cindy Mochizuki, whose film Between Pictures: The Lens of Tamio Wakayama re-introduces viewers to the famed Vancouver photographer and activist who passed away in 2018. Tamio spent several years of his childhood in an internment camp, after being held with thousands of other forcibly displaced Japanese Canadians in cruel and dehumanizing conditions at Hastings Park – and after the internment ended in 1946, Tamio and his family moved to Chatham, Ontario, once the terminus for the Underground Railroad. And that remarkable beginning is only just that: the beginning of Tamio's remarkable life as a photographer and activist. In these two fascinating conversations, the documentarians discuss legacy, activism, and the joys and challenges of fact-based filmmaking. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Jennifer Spence (Travelers, Continuum) returns to the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to talk about her leading role in The Trades, a new half-hour single-camera comedy series on Crave. Set in a blue-collar community where the high stress of working in a refinery are balanced by the comedic high-wire antics of its plant workers, The Trades centres around Todd (played by Robb Wells, AKA Ricky from The Trailer Park Boys), a pipefitter, and his sister and roommate, Audrey (Moonshine), who follows in her big brother's footsteps pursuing a career in the trades as a carpenter. Jennifer plays (and shines as) Chelsea, an ambitious young executive from head office who arrives in town, announces she's the new site manager, and immediately sets about making changes. At its heart, the eight-part comedy series – which is produced by Trailer Park Boys Inc and Kontent Use Productions for Crave – is a love letter to skilled trade workers, written with grit, humour, and heart. In this entertaining and fascinating episode, Jennifer talks The Trades, dick jokes, welding, East Coast vibes versus West Coast vibes, and naughty parade floats. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

When Natasha Burnett and Viv Leacock work together, something special happens. Natasha and Viv play Minnie and Joseph Canfield on When Calls the Heart. The first Black family to feature prominently on When Calls the Heart, the Canfields arrived in Hope Valley a few seasons back and quickly became touchstones for many of the town's residents. Natasha and Viv are fun to watch, and they look like they're having fun working together. This fun can be seen in Legend of the Lost Locket, a film that is at once a rom-com and a mystery that spans the centuries. Natasha is Amelia, an antiques dealer from England desperate to complete the quest her late mother started to reunite two halves of a legendary locket. Amelia's quest takes her to America, to a sleepy town on the eve of its 200th anniversary, and straight into the path of the town's Sheriff, Marcus, played by Viv. Legend of the Lost Locket is currently streaming on Hallmark Movies Now, and will have its Hallmark Channel premiere on Saturday, April 13. In this fascinating conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Natasha and Viv reflect on their journey to this moment, lost lockets, what to expect for Minnie and Joseph in season 11, what Peter DeLuise said that helped them make sense of the Canfields' presence in Hope Valley, their shared love of Columbo, and what it is that makes their collaboration work. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

The award-winning documentary feature Union Street chronicles the ongoing effects of racism, displacement, and the cultural erasure of African-Canadians in Vancouver. Before systemic and political mechanisms destroyed Hogan's Alley – the historic Black neighbourhood located on Union Street – in the 1970s, the area was the home of train porters, speakeasies, juke joints, and a thriving community, and a regular touring stop for iconic musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald. The reverberations of this thriving community and its intentional and egregious erasure are still felt – and in the face of adversity, a new generation of Black Vancouverites is working tirelessly to rebuild community and facilitate Black joy.Union Street elevates and amplifies the voices of Black Vancouverites who have decided to create their own spaces. It examines how community spaces can help people heal from racism-related trauma, which is especially important in a city where the powers-that-be actively worked to erase you. Union Street was an official selection of the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival and the 2023 Reelworld Film Festival, where Jamila Pomeroy, the film's director, won the award for Outstanding Director for a Feature Film. The film is now available on Telus Optik TV Channel 8 and the Telus Originals website. Jamila joins Sabrina Rani Furminger to talk about the past, present, and future of Vancouver's Black community, and how what happened when she tried to organize a party on Union Street speaks volumes about the barriers that exist today. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Meredith Hama-Brown is the force behind Seagrass, one of the most talked-about feature film directorial debuts to come out of Western Canada in recent memory. Seagrass is the story of a family falling apart. Ally Maki stars as Judith, a Japanese Canadian woman who brings her family to a self-development retreat after the recent death of her mother. When Judith and her husband befriend another interracial couple (one who seems to have the perfect marriage), Judith begins to recognize how irreparably fractured her relationship actually is. Seagrass is devastating, engrossing, and somehow at once a family drama and a ghost story and a 1990s period piece, all set against a startling Pacific North West backdrop and lovingly shot by exceptionally talented cinematographer Norm Li. Seagrass played to sold out crowds at TIFF, won the coveted International Film Critics Awards Fipresci Prize, and was selected for Canada's TIFF Top Ten showcase screening. The film had its highly anticipated North American theatrical release in February, and will be available on VOD on April 2. In this fascinating and thoughtful conversation, Meredith discusses her journey to and with Seagrass, casual racism, where Seagrass should be placed in a video store, and what comes next. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Re:Uniting is the story of a group of college friends who graduated from university together in the late 1990s and reunite for the first time in nearly a decade on Bowen Island. They arrive on the island bearing scars from the traumas of the intervening years, as well as many secrets. Re:Uniting is Drama with a capital D – but is also rich with moments of humour, catharsis, and so much love. Re:Uniting is the feature film directorial debut from actress-filmmaker Laura Adkin and is populated by an ensemble of powerhouses: old friends of the podcast Roger Cross, Michelle Harrison, David Lewis, and Carmen Moore, and new friends Jesse L. Martin and Bronwen Smith.Re:Uniting will screen in theatres across Canada beginning on March 15, including a special screening at Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas in Vancouver on March 16 featuring a Q&A with Laura and select cast that will be hosted by YVR Screen Scene's Sabrina Rani Furminger. In Episode 305, Laura Adkin, Carmen Moore, and Bronwen Smith join Sabrina to talk about their adventures in island filmmaking, building chemistry in the ensemble, self-care for actors, why our 20s are hard, and what happens when you're trying to film something with Bronwen and she suddenly sees a seal. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Filmmaker Kevin Eastwood returns to the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to discuss his latest documentary. The Society Page – which premieres on Knowledge Network on March 17 – is an in-depth look at the life, craft, and impact of Malcolm Parry, Vancouver's iconic society columnist. For 40 years, Malcolm was a stealthy presence at events, photographing arguably more Vancouverites and VIPs during that time period than anyone else for his influential society column in the Vancouver Sun. The Society Page delves into Malcolm's role in cataloguing and shaping the city's cultural landscape, as well as his work as a journalist and editor who launched the career of numerous other icons, including Douglas Coupland (without whom this film wouldn't have been made). In this fascinating episode, Kevin discusses Malcolm Parry, the role of a society columnist in any given city, and what we can learn about that city through their lens. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Zarqa Nawaz is a writer, film and television producer, published author, public speaker, journalist, creator of Little Mosque on the Prairie, former broadcaster, and star of Zarqa, the CBC Gem comedy series in which she plays a woman named Zarqa, who sells gullible white people brown people things. In season one, a recently divorced Zarqa worked on her business while being pursued by a gaggle of men, ending in a fantastic brawl in the mosque between her ex, her imam, and her white brain surgeon boyfriend. Season two – which hit CBC Gem last fall – began with Zarqa choosing to focus on herself and her business instead of any of the men. Zarqa's pinning all of her hopes on her new product, Love Masala, an intoxicating new scent and love potion from her company, Zarqish Delights. And what better way to reach the masses than with an endorsement from global brand ambassador Pious Pinky Pervez, a Muslim social media influencer with millions of followers played with pious pink perfection by friend of the podcast Aliza Vellani? Aliza portrayed Layla on Little Mosque on the Prairie, and so Zarqa is something of a reunion between Zarqa and Aliza, except this time, they're on the same side of the camera. In this compelling conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Zarqa and Aliza reflect on Little Mosque on the Prairie, their experience shooting Zarqa more than a decade later, what diversity and representation looks like in the comedy sphere, and Zarqa's adventures in stand-up comedy. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Canadian improv comedy icon Colin Mochrie has spent a heckuva lot of time in Vancouver, where he's a beloved alumnus of Vancouver TheatreSports and The Improv Centre. From March 6-8, Colin will return to The Improv Centre for five sold-out performances of An Evening with Colin Mochrie (which are evenings of improv comedy and not anything else; get your minds out of the gutter). Colin's extensive career includes Whose Line is it Anyway? on both sides of the Atlantic, two years in This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and improv tours criss-crossing the continent. In addition, Colin has used his place as a Canadian improv comedy icon to advocate for his daughter Kinley (who is Transgender) and for all Trans people. In this thoughtful – and, yes, occasionally funny – episode, Colin lays out his origin story and discusses the addictive nature of improv, Vancouver humour, comedy in our woke age, and how to be an effective ally to Trans people. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Andrea Menard is one of the stars of Sullivan's Crossing, the hit CTV show based on the bestselling books by Robyn Carr. The dramatic series follows young neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan as she flees the challenges of her life in the big city and returns to the idyllic Nova Scotia campground owned and operated by her estranged father Sully. In October 2023, when Sullivan's Crossing was about to hit The CW after making waves north of the border, Cosmopolitan Magazine described Sullivan's Crossing as the “ultimate fall comfort watch.” If Sullivan's Crossing is the ultimate comfort watch, then Edna Cranebear, as played by Andrea Menard, is the show's ultimate source of comfort. Edna and her husband Frank – played by the legendary Tom Jackson (North of 60) – are Sully's oldest friends and the best example of a loving, honest, and mutually supportive relationship in Sullivan's Crossing. Andrea's filmography includes numerous fan favourite roles, like that of the fierce and feisty Debbie Fraser on Blackstone. Andrea is also a 15-time music award winner for her five albums, and she's toured her Metis cabaret, Rubaboo, across this land. She's a TEDx speaker, wellness trainer, founder of the Sacred Feminine Learning Lodge, has used her voice to encourage others to end violence against Indigenous women and girls, and, in 2021, was named ACTRA National's Woman of the Year. In short, Andrea contains multitudes. In this fascinating conversation, Andrea delves into these multitudes, and discusses how Sullivan's Crossing producers ensured they got Indigenous representation right, acting opposite Tom Jackson, how APTN changed the game for Indigenous artists, and the inherent joy in playing bad “B” Debbie Fraser on Blackstone. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Actress Crystal Balint (Midnight Mass) returns to the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to talk about her work in The Fall of the House of Usher, how the actors, crew, and TPTB dealt with the highly publicized cast upheaval, what it means to her to be part of Mike Flanagan's “Flanaverse,” and her delicious role on CBC's new crime procedural Allegiance. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Earlier this month, four of the stars of Allegiance – Supinder Wraich, David Cubitt, Stephen Lobo, and Brian Markinson – joined Sabrina in the YVR Screen Scene studio to discuss the new character-driven crime procedural, which premiered on CBC and CBC Gem on February 7. Supinder stars as Sabrina Sohal (Sort Of), a star rookie police officer who must grapple with the limits of the justice system as she fights to exonerate her politician father Ajeet Sohal, played by Stephen. Sabrina serves her diverse hometown of Surrey alongside veteran training officer Vince Brambilla (Enrico Colantoni). Brian appears as Ajeet's exasperated lawyer Max Portman, and David is Superintendent Bolton, Sabrina's commanding officer. Allegiance (a CBC Original Drama from Lark Productions) is the story of a young woman caught between her allegiance to her flag, to her badge, and to her family. In this fascinating and at times boisterous conversation, the actors talk Surrey, Sabrina (the character, not the host), inclusion, and the singular joy of exquisite writing. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA

Ukrainian filmmaker Khrystyna Syvolap returns to the YVR Screen Scene Podcast to discuss her journey to find work in the Vancouver film and television industry after arriving in Canada with her young daughter in spring 2022, her February 10 screening of Viddana at North Vancouver's Centennial Theatre (a fundraiser for the Adam Tactical Group), and why people outside of Ukraine should care about the war. Episode sponsor: Fish Flight Entertainment

Actress Jennifer Robertson is beloved 'round the world for her astounding work as Jocelyn Schitt for all six seasons of CBC's iconic comedy series Schitt's Creek, and, more recently, for playing Ellen Baker, Georgia's regularly frazzled neighbour, on Netflix's Ginny and Georgia. Canadians will soon see the Vancouver actress in a new role: as host of The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down. The eight-episode competition series – which premieres on CBC Television on February 8 – follows the trials and tribulations of 10 passionate potters, drawn from every background and every corner of the country. The series was filmed last summer on Granville Island in the space formerly occupied by Emily Carr School of Art and Design. Besides Jennifer, viewers will also get to see Seth Rogen, who is both the executive producer of The Great Canadian Pottery Thrown Down and as passionate about pottery as he is about pot. In our season opener, Jennifer discusses Schitt's Creek's Jocelyn and Ginny and Georgia's Ellen, her misadventures doing stand-up and also trying to decipher her pre-teen's texts, what she learned hosting The Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down, and Seth Rogen's commitment to living that #potterylife. Episode sponsor: UBCP / ACTRA

Welcome to the first-ever #YVRScreenScenePodcast Christmas Special! Strap in as Sabrina and the star and voice director of Hope Street Pod's A Classical Christmas Chord – Nhi “The Christmas Cracker” Do and Rhona “The Mistletoe” Rees – don their ugly Christmas sweaters, swig Baileys and bad eggnog, and talk Christmas rom-coms, traditions, tropes, Whamageddon, festive innuendo, and the best (and worst) Christmas gifts they've ever received. It's riotous, it's festive, it's fun, it goes off the rails on numerous occasions: in other words, it's a perfect way to kick off the Christmas season! Episode sponsor: UBCP / ACTRA

Kat Montagu has spent much of her career telling and shaping stories for screens large and small, and helping others do the same. A distinguished writer, producer, script analyst, story editor, and teacher, Kat's impressive background includes writing for the television series Alienated and collaborating on a time travel novel-to-TV series adaptation with Sara B. Cooper. She holds a BFA and an MFA in Creative Writing as well as multiple awards and development funding grants. Currently serving as Head of the Writing Department at Vancouver Film School and the senior story editor for Crazy8s, Kat is unabashedly and unreservedly passionate about helping writers discover and hone their unique voices. In this absorbing and informative conversation with Sabrina Rani Furminger, Kat talks storytelling, screenwriting, gaming, Oxford commas, finding your voice, breaking into the industry, Dennis Heaton, and why A.I. is no replacement for human writers. Episode sponsors: Biz Books + The Drama Class