"The work that we do is just talking about our value and our worth...supporting and empowering and elevating the Asian diaspora and the racialized diaspora in North America. And I'm not gonna wait for you to say that what we bring is valuable because we know we're valuable."

Today on the Apple Box we're joined by local activist, advocate, and artist Barbara Lee. Barbara has been an inspirational voice in BC's motion picture community, advocating for racial equity and representation at every level of production. She founded the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, which celebrates its 29th year in 2025, and leads both the Racial Equity Screen Office and the East by Northwest Global Creative Summit. Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

Click here for the podcast transcription.

**WARNING: This podcast contains discussion of sensitive topics. Listener discretion is advised.**

"We want people to be able to enjoy and celebrate our culture, our rich and vibrant cultures—plural—and languages...that's really what I see June and National Indigenous Peoples Day being about."

In honour of June being National Indigenous Peoples History Month, our newest Apple Box Talks podcast features local activist and school board trustee Mikelle Sasakamoose—the first ever Director of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation for the City of Burnaby. Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk.

Click here for the podcast transcription.

"Our job is to make sure that it's a world-class experience to film in British Columbia...we're 'shot locally, seen globally.'"

Today, we're joined on the Apple Box by two leaders in the BC motion picture industry: BC Film Commissioner Marnie Gee, and Screen BC Executive Director Leslie Wootton. For a deep dive into some of the behind-the-scenes collaboration it takes to bring productions to our province, pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

Click here for the podcast transcription.

Joining us today on the Apple Box is BC's Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport, Spencer Chandra Herbert. First elected provincially in 2008 as the youngest MLA in the Legislature, the Minister is now the representative for Vancouver–West End, and has been a long-term advocate for renters' rights, environmental stewardship, and protections in the BC Human Rights Code for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Plus, the Minister has a deep-rooted connection to the BC motion picture industry — as a child, he was a background extra on the set of Legends of the Fall! Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

**WARNING: This podcast contains some coarse language. Listener discretion is advised.**

Today, April 2, marks the 63rd anniversary of the founding of IATSE 891! To commemorate this day, we are joined on the Apple Box Talks podcast by former 891 President, Don Ramsden. Having served as President in three separate stints over the course of three different decades, Don shares some of the foundational stories of how he helped shape the Union into what has become today. Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

Jillian Arnold started her career working in aerospace for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and is now the first female president in IATSE Local 695's ninety-year history, and the chair of the IATSE Artificial Intelligence sub-committee. Ahead of being the keynote speaker for the IATSE 891 AI Day of Learning and Engagement, Jillian joins us from a remote Apple Box to talk all things AI and technical solutions in the motion picture industry.

Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

"Some people say AI is not really artificial, it's actually alien. Alien intelligence. It's not something that we know. It's not like a tool that we've seen before. It has a little bit of an agency...it has a different component to it that I think is creating the fear. And I don't think fear is a bad thing."

With credits to her name such as The Last of Us, Deadpool 2, and Star Trek Beyond, we are joined on the Apple Box by industry leader Gladys Tong. Gladys entered the motion picture industry through the phone book — and now works within the intersection of human-computer interaction in the world of film. With a discussion spanning Star Trek, video playback, and the future of AI, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Pull up an Apple Box and let's talk!

Click here for the podcast transcription.

We are back with Season 2 of Apple Box Talks! To kick it off, we interview Justin Barnes, REEL Green Lead at Creative BC. With a background in environmental economics, Justin talks about REEL Green's efforts in moving the needle when it comes to sustainability in BC motion picture — with a full transition to battery technology as the ultimate goal. Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

"Costumes are the first people to meet the actors. The relationship between the costume designer and the costume team and the actor is vital — it has to be harmonious." Lorraine Carson is a 40-plus year Costume department member at IATSE 891, with credits to her name, such as Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy, Bag of Bones, To All the Boys 2, and Pirates of the Caribbean 5. Come behind the scenes of the Costume department, pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk!

Click here for the podcast transcription.

In 2021, we sat down with the legendary George Chapman, IATSE 891's first-ever Business Representative, on our Apple Box Talks podcast. In memory of George's passing, we are releasing the episode now as we go back into our podcast archives.

George walks us through his story in both his days in the Lighting and Set Decorating departments as well as his time as Business Rep. and then as President. With a library of fascinating stories to share—such as how he was referred by John Wayne for his first job in the film industry—this is an episode you don't want to miss. Pull up an Apple Box, and let's talk.

Click here for the podcast transcription.