MEET OUR EXPERTS!

JULIAN BLACK ANTELOPE

Representing the Buckskin/Black Horse family of the Weasel People, Julian Black Antelope (aka “JBA”) is a Canadian actor of First Nations/Central American and Irish descent. JBA’s performing career first began in the Canadian music scene before transitioning to acting in film and television in the early 2000’s. As a self-taught actor with a growing family, JBA built the foundation of his career with an amalgamation of day player roles, stunts and working various crew positions on a steady stream of projects in southern Alberta including DreamWorks/TNT’s epic six-part mini-series Into the West (2005). JBA’s breakout role in a television series would come on the gritty and critically acclaimed Blackstone (2009-2013). Four seasons of Black Antelope’s portrayal of Darrien Tailfeathers earned him several accolades including a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Actor alongside Ed Asner and William Shatner.

In 2014 JBA was cast as “Mr. Kidd” in John Logan’s Penny Dreadful (2014) which took him overseas to Ireland and has since worked consistently both nationally and internationally on Film and TV projects such as Dominion Creek (2015), Condor (2018), Dark Justice (2018), Caught (2018), Hold the Dark (2018) Debris (2021), The Flash (2021), and now is starring in the soon to be released Netflix series Grendel (2022).

Also an accomplished award winning writer, director and producer JBA has produced an impressive slate of award-winning feature films that have screened worldwide in high profile festivals and whose work on his own television series, Secret History TM of which he is creator, writer, director and showrunner of, continues to win awards, nominations and accolades. With his own Alberta based growing production company Herd of 1 Media, JBA’s industry relationships, skills, experience and hands on approach continue to make him a strong and valuable asset to film and television productions and creative development.

CHERYL FOGGO

Cheryl Foggo is a playwright, author and filmmaker, whose work over the last 30 years has focused on the lives of Western Canadians of African descent. In 2020 her NFB feature documentary “John Ware Reclaimed” had its World Premiere at the Calgary International Film Festival where it received the Alberta Feature Audience Choice Award. The film was also awarded the 2021 Grand Prize in the Regards D’ici section of the Vues d’Afrique Festival and is now screening on nfb.ca. Additionally in 2020, the 30^th anniversary edition of her book “Pourin’ Down Rain: A Black Woman Claims Her Place in the Canadian West” was released by Brush Education Press. She is the 2021 recipient of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Outstanding Artist Award, the Calgary Black Chambers Black Achievement Award in Arts, Media and Entertainment and the 2021 Doug and Lois Mitchell Outstanding Calgary Artist Award from Calgary Arts Development.

EDMON ROTEA

Edmon Rotea is an Edmonton-based documentary and feature film producer. Edmon strives to help filmmakers from diverse walks of life—including emerging, artistic, newcomer, neurodivergent and LGBTQ2S+ filmmakers—create films about cultural, environmental, and social justice issues. Edmon has experience working in the areas of food security, healthcare, national defence, and union activism that have inspired him to bring more attention and awareness to marginalized populations, workers, and mental health issues. Edmon’s producing credits include the 2020 documentary The Line and the 2023 feature film Skinamarink. Edmon is also a board member for the Film and Video Arts Alberta Society of Alberta (FAVA), Alberta Media Arts Alliance Society (AMAAS), and the International Festival of Winter Cinema (IFWC). Edmon is also a recent recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.

JENNY STEELE

Jenny Steele is a quadruple threat: Producer, Director, On-Air Talent and Dancer/Choreographer. Her media career started in front of the camera, hosting entertainment programs that brought her face to face with countless celebrities, including George Clooney, The Rock, and Sarah Jessica Parker. Soon Jenny was producing and co-creating her own programs, leading production teams that took programs from concept to completion. Her work has been broadcast on almost every Canadian network, including E!, CTV, CityTV, CBC, OMNI, The Biography Channel and Sportsnet.

Over the past two years she has concentrated on Impact Documentary production, developing projects that are entertaining, thought provoking, and empowering. She still balances her producing career with her work as a Television Personality, Host, Actor and Voice Artist. She’s appeared in numerous commercials, the TV shows, Heartland and Jann, the theatrical feature film, Left Behind and she landed principal roles in the movies, From Italy with Amore and Key To Love. Jenny is thrilled to continue her passion for storytelling and to help bring important and impactful stories to life.

MICHELLE WONG

With more than 25 years in the film and television industry, Michelle brings an unparalleled breadth and depth of production experience.  She is a writer, director, producer and executive producer, and the current Head of Business Affairs at Seven24 Films and Beans and Rice Inc.  Michelle’s production credits cross all formats, from television movies to feature length documentaries, performing arts specials and features, including but not limited to Heartland and Wynona Earp.  Michelle began her formal film training at the National Film Board (NFB) working with the Oscar award-winning Studio D, where she directed and produced her first documentary Return Home, following up with the emotionally powerful Pieces of a Dream: A Story of Gambling.  Michelle is a Board Member of the CMPA and Women in View.