Planned production studio in Iqaluit will be 'game changing,' says filmmaker

Nunavut filmmakers and videographers sayconstruction of a large-scale TV and film production studio inIqaluit will be "game changing" for the territory's film industry.

Iqaluit-based production company Red Marrow Media, co-founded byStacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, is leading theproject. They're currently developing a yet-untitled comedy series,commissioned by CBC, APTN and Netflix.

"It'll be the biggest show that's ever come out of Nunavut,"Arnaquq-Baril said, adding she could not yet share many details.

"We're excited to spend time in our communities on screen makingpeople laugh, which is not something we get to do on the globalstage very often."

CBC said in a news release the series will centre on a young Inukmother trying to build a new future for herself in a small Arctictown where everyone knows each other's business.

The studio will help make the show possible, as housing andinfrastructure shortages can make finding places to shoot in Nunavutchallenging, Arnaquq-Baril said. She said they have permission tofilm the series in the city's curling rink as a backup, but havepromised to only do so for one season so as to not have a long-termimpact on community programming.

Arnaquq-Baril has been working in the film industry for 20 yearsand her work includes the award-winning documentary "Angry Inuk."

She said at the start of her career, she watched other peopletell stories about Inuit that did not reflect their real lives, joy and communities. She said the new studio will make it easierforInuit to tell their own stories, involve the community in productions, develop skills and gain experience.

"The studio is not just going to make this show possible, it'sgoing to make all kinds of things possible," she said. "It's adding to the infrastructure of the community instead of taking upexisting space that is badly needed for many otherthings.

"What we hope is there will be other Inuit who are alreadyworking in the industry, but also Inuit who are considering it, [who]will see this career as an option because there's a space tomake their dreams come true."

'Training by doing'

Jordan Konek, who worked at CBC as a video journalist andproducer and now focuses on his videoproductioncompany, KonekProductions, full time, agrees the studio will have wide-reachingbenefits.

"I am a very strong advocate for having Inuit in the mediabusiness," he said."I am a believer in Inuit training by doing."

Konek said he's been most successful when he's trained otherInuit and involved them in projects, as they bring a uniqueperspective about stories that matter to people in Nunavut.

The Indigenous Screen Office recently announced it would provide$1 million in capital to support construction of the studio, whichit said will cost more than $4 million. Inuk entrepreneur Cody Dean,who will be building the studio, will also contribute $1 million tothe project.

The Indigenous Screen Office said the studio, which will take up11,600 square feet of floor space, will have two sound stages andshared office space for up to four arts and culture organizations orcompanies.

Construction is expected to start later this summer.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Metaand Canadian Press News Fellowship, which is not involved in the editorial process.