Episode Summary:

Director Grant Harvey brings over three decades of storytelling experience to the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast. With credits ranging from cult classics like Ginger Snaps: Back to hit series like Orphan Black, Heartland, and Pretty Hard Cases, Grant has built a career defined by range, visual style, and story-driven precision. In this candid conversation, Grant reflects on how Alberta’s collaborative and entrepreneurial spirit shaped his early career, the evolving expectations of episodic directing, and why clarity of vision, not technical mastery, is what makes a director stand out. He also shares the story behind his latest feature How We Ended Us, a student-supported, independently produced project that reignited his passion for mentorship and storytelling.

Whether you’re an emerging filmmaker or a seasoned producer, this episode offers real-world insight into navigating the industry, developing your creative voice, and building a career with longevity and integrity.

In This Episode:

• Grant’s 30-year journey from indie features to premium episodic television
• The value of being typecast early and when to break out
• Directing across genres: horror, sci-fi, family drama, and documentary
• Why Alberta’s screen community shaped his efficiency and creativity
• The importance of pitching with a clear creative idea
• The challenge of finding your voice and the value of curiosity
• Behind the scenes of How We Ended Us and its student mentorship model
• Tips for emerging directors: know every role on set, but lead with story

Contacts:

Grant Harvey

Director | Producer | Visual Storyteller

https://www.grantharveydirector.com/about

https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-harvey-3830b7a/

https://www.instagram.com/grantcombustion/

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0367538/bio/

This podcast is brought to you by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA), championing Alberta’s screen sector for over 40 years through advocacy, industry events, and professional development. Learn more or become a member at ampia.org.

Help amplify Alberta’s screen industry: rate, review, subscribe, and download the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast on your favourite platform.

Share this episode with your network and keep the conversation going.

CREDITS

Hosted by: Justine Gamez Huckabay & Brent Kawchuk

This podcast is proudly presented by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA)

Produced in collaboration with Metamorphosis Media Group

Studio space and internship support provided by Mount Royal University, Broadcast Media Studies

Promotional support courtesy of the Alberta Film Commission

Series trailer edited by Joe Media Group

We’re grateful to these organizations for helping bring Alberta’s screen stories to life and into the world.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast, we sit down with Tom Cox and Jordy Randall, the executive producers behind SEVEN24 Films. With Heartland as Canada’s longest running one-hour drama and one of the most-watched shows on Netflix globally, these two Alberta industry leaders reflect on building a production company that’s helped define the province’s screen identity. From early days of advocating for local infrastructure to managing major productions like Wynonna Earp and Brokeback Mountain, Tom and Jordy share lessons on longevity, leadership, and the work ethic that drives Alberta-made storytelling.

• How Tom and Jordy’s shared birthday sparked the name of their production company
• The origin story of Heartland, and how it became a Canadian cultural export
• Why Alberta, not Quebec, became the home for Heartland, and what it took to convince CBC
• Building a production company in Alberta when there was no studio infrastructure
• The evolution of Alberta’s screen sector and what’s changed since the “late 1900s”
• A behind-the-scenes look at Wynonna Earp, and the global fan campaign that saved it
• Why Alberta’s film crews are “filmmakers first,” and what that means for production culture
• The risk and reward of producing in a province where the business is still catching up to the passion
• How 724 has created thousands of jobs over two decades and why mentorship matters now more than ever
• Tips for emerging talent: what Tom and Jordy look for in new collaborators

Contacts

Guests: Tom Cox & Jordy Randall

Titles: Executive Producers & Managing Partners, SEVEN24 Films Films

https://seven24films.com/about/

https://gem.cbc.ca/heartland

“We’ve always said we’re building one season at a time. You’re only as good as your last year.” 

– Jordy Randall

“We didn’t just want to make shows; we wanted to build a business in the place we love to live.” 

– Tom Cox

This podcast is brought to you by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA), championing Alberta’s screen sector for over 40 years through advocacy, industry events, and professional development. Learn more or become a member at ampia.org.

Help amplify Alberta’s screen industry: rate, review, subscribe, and download the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast on your favourite platform.

Share this episode with your network and keep the conversation going.

CREDITS

Hosted by: Justine Gamez Huckabay & Brent Kawchuk

This podcast is proudly presented by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA)

Produced in collaboration with Metamorphosis Media Group

Studio space and internship support provided by Mount Royal University, Broadcast Media Studies

Promotional support courtesy of the Alberta Film Commission

Series trailer edited by Joe Media Group

We’re grateful to these organizations for helping bring Alberta’s screen stories to life and into the world.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Super Channel President & CEO Don McDonald joins the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast to share the broadcaster’s evolving role in Canadian media, how to pitch to Super Channel, and the growing importance of Canadian-first content. From genre channels and licensing models to the power of authentic stories, Don offers crucial insights for emerging and experienced producers alike.

In this episode

• The unique origin and evolution of Super Channel, from its Alberta roots to its current four-channel offering
• How each of Super Channel’s brands (Fuse, Vault, Heart & Home, Quest) serves a specific audience and content niche
• The value of exclusive Canadian content, and why Super Channel recently rebranded with a maple leaf and “Canadian Always” tagline
• How producers can pitch effectively to Super Channel: know the brand, be confident, and demonstrate audience awareness
• The difference between commissioning vs acquiring, and what “late-stage development” means in Super Channel’s context
• Real-world insight into projects like the Only Up documentary, which Don greenlit from an impromptu pitch on an airplane
• Why producers need more than just a story; they need a platform plan, promotional energy, and audience fit
• Behind-the-scenes content and marketing support now becoming a priority for acquisition and promotion

• Website: www.superchannel.ca
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-mcdonald-6282244/

“You never know who you’re sitting beside on an airplane. That’s where a pitch became a five-year journey to a broadcast documentary.”

 – Don McDonald

This podcast is brought to you by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA), championing Alberta’s screen sector for over 40 years through advocacy, industry events, and professional development. Learn more or become a member at ampia.org.

Help amplify Alberta’s screen industry: rate, review, subscribe, and download the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast on your favourite platform.

Share this episode with your network and keep the conversation going.

CREDITS

Hosted by: Justine Gamez Huckabay & Brent Kawchuk

This podcast is proudly presented by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA)

Produced in collaboration with Metamorphosis Media Group

Studio space and internship support provided by Mount Royal University, Broadcast Media Studies

Promotional support courtesy of the Alberta Film Commission

Series trailer edited by Joe Media Group

We’re grateful to these organizations for helping bring Alberta’s screen stories to life and into the world.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by two powerhouses of Alberta’s film industry: Luke Azevedo, newly appointed CEO of Edmonton Screen, and Dorian Rowe, Edmonton’s Film Commissioner. Together, they unpack Alberta’s evolving screen landscape from the global impact of The Last of Us to the growing strength of local IP and talent development in Edmonton. With decades of experience between them, Luke and Dorian share hard-won lessons, the value of relationships, and how Alberta is working as one unified region to build a sustainable, talent-driven, and globally competitive film and television sector.

In this episode:

• Luke reflects on his transition from Calgary to Edmonton and the broader provincial strategy behind his new role
• Dorian shares how Edmonton’s film ecosystem has quietly built a strong foundation in local IP and post-production
• A deep dive into Alberta’s massive success with The Last of Us and why it proved Alberta is “not just one village, but every village”
• What the “Team Alberta” approach means and why collaboration, not competition, between Edmonton and Calgary is key
• How both leaders are working to attract foreign investment and support Alberta-based creators equally
• Advice for students, emerging talent, and new production companies on navigating Alberta’s fast-changing industry
• A look at Edmonton’s untapped location potential, regional tax credits, and how new incentives are fueling rural participation
• Honest reflections on industry volatility, AI, sustainability, infrastructure gaps, and long-term growth strategies
• Why Alberta's content needs to shift from service model to story ownership and how that starts with investing in people

"It’s not just about attracting productions, it’s about building a full-service industry. One that retains talent, grows companies, and makes Alberta a global destination for content creation."

— Luke Azevedo

This podcast is brought to you by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA), championing Alberta’s screen sector for over 40 years through advocacy, industry events, and professional development. Learn more or become a member at ampia.org.

Help amplify Alberta’s screen industry: rate, review, subscribe, and download the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast on your favourite platform.

Share this episode with your network and keep the conversation going.

CREDITS

Hosted by: Justine Gamez Huckabay & Brent Kawchuk

This podcast is proudly presented by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA)

Produced in collaboration with Metamorphosis Media Group

Studio space and internship support provided by Mount Royal University, Broadcast Media Studies

Promotional support courtesy of the Alberta Film Commission

Series trailer edited by Joe Media Group

We’re grateful to these organizations for helping bring Alberta’s screen stories to life and into the world.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast, a dynamic new series showcasing the creativity, innovation, and stories driving Alberta’s thriving film, television, and digital media sectors. In this trailer episode, hosts Justine Gamez Huckabay and Brent Kawchuk offer an exclusive preview of what’s ahead: powerful conversations with emerging talent, celebrated industry leaders, and the creative forces shaping Alberta’s screen future. Listeners will discover how Alberta’s creators are navigating new challenges, seizing opportunities, and making a mark on both the national and international stage. Each episode delivers authentic insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and fresh perspectives on the province’s rapidly evolving media landscape. Produced by Metamorphosis Media Group and presented by the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA), this podcast highlights the partnerships, voices, and innovations that make Alberta a powerhouse for screen content.

Want to support Alberta’s screen sector?

Subscribe, rate, and review the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast on your favorite platform.

Share this episode with your network and help shine a light on Alberta’s remarkable creative community.

To Learn more about AMPIA or become a member visit ampia.org.

Hosted by: Justine Gamez Huckabay & Brent Kawchuk

Presented by: Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA)

Produced by: Metamorphosis Media Group

Studio & Internship Support: Mount Royal University, Broadcast Media Studies

Trailer Editing: Joe Media Group

Promotional Partner: Alberta Film Commission

We gratefully acknowledge these partners for making this project possible and for championing Alberta’s vibrant screen industry.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.