What does it take to produce three feature documentaries, a feature comedy, and have two more in the works? Producer Leslie Bland shares the “special sauce” that’s made his production companies Orca Cove Media and Less Bland Productions so successful. There’s plenty to learn as he tells host Joyce Kline why filmmaking pulled him away from a successful career in live professional theatre, how he made cross-cultural connections through his collaboration with Cowichan filmmaker Harold Joe, and how, in a competitive world, sticking with original IP can lead to success.

LESLIE BLAND’s film and TV work has been featured on Bell Media, Discovery Networks, Amazon, Super Channel, Knowledge Network, FNX, Télé Quebec, Hollywood Suite, APTN, and streamers and broadcasters in New Zealand, France, China, Australia and around the world. His award-winning, feature length documentary Gone South: How Canada Invented Hollywood featured interviews with celebrities Howie Mandel, Neve Campbell, David Foster, David Shore, Shannon Tweed and the late Alex Trebek.

About Leslie:
https://lessblandproductions.co,
https://orcacovemedia.com

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-bland-b401b941/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leslie.bland.96/
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3736322/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orcacovemedia/?hl=en

Subscribe to catch the latest episodes of Push In on Apple Podcasts:
https://apple.co/2S5WB7q

Podcast Production Team:

· Technical Director: Paul Ruta

· Sound Editor: Michael Korican

· Host, Researcher & copywriter: Joyce Kline

· Co-Producers: Joyce Kline, Michael Korican, Paul Ruta

KATHLEEN GILBERT, long-time CineVic supporter and head of Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission shares what the Film Commission actually does, how it's financed, what it can offer indie filmmakers, and how we can support their work to expand local film production. Learn what she considers the biggest accomplishment—and biggest disappointment—of her tenure as Commissioner.

Kathleen Gilbert took on the job of Film Commissioner in 2010 after a lengthy career as a location manager for film and TV. Under her dedicated leadership, by 2022 alone, the Capitol Regional District’s burgeoning film industry had grown from bringing $6 to $60 million dollars a year to the Capitol Regional District’s economy.

About Kathleen:

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-gilbert-831b931a/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.d.gilbert
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0318126/

Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission:
https://www.filmvictoria.com/

Subscribe to catch the latest episodes of Push In on Apple Podcasts:
https://apple.co/2S5WB7q

Podcast Production Team:

· Technical Director: Paul Ruta

· Sound Editor: Michael Korican

· Host, Researcher & copywriter: Joyce Kline

· Co-Producers: Joyce Kline, Michael Korican, Paul Ruta

Did you know Victoria had one of the first film studios in Canada and the province’s first film commission? Here's your chance to learn the fascinating history of filmmaking in southern Vancouver Island from someone who knows the film scene inside and out - outgoing Head of the Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission, Kathleen Gilbert.

Kathleen took on the job of Commissioner in 2010 after a lengthy career as a location manager for film and TV. Under her dedicated leadership by 2022 alone, the Capitol Regional District’s film industry had grown from contributing $6 million to $60 million a year in direct spending. Listen up as she shares her start as a founder member of Cinevic, her weirdest encounter as a location manager and what she’ll miss most when she moves on from Commissioner to civilian.

Mentioned in this episode: https://www.filmvictoria.com/

About Kathleen:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-gilbert-831b931a/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.d.gilbert
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0318126/

Subscribe to catch the latest episodes of Push In on Apple Podcasts:
https://apple.co/2S5WB7q

Podcast Production Team:

· Technical Director: Paul Ruta

· Sound Editor: Michael Korican

· Host, Researcher & copywriter: Joyce Kline

· Co-Producers: Joyce Kline, Michael Korican, Paul Ruta