MEET OUR TEAM

 
 

In 2017, after completing his MFA in Film Production at York University, Nicholas established Archipelago Productions and has built a dynamic team of diverse and talented professionals. He is known for his ability to bring unique solutions and creative fixes to any project. As Lead Producer and Director of Photography, Nicholas’ diverse portfolio includes content for Google, Netflix, The CBC, Time Magazine, and Shopify. He has served as series Producer and DP on CBC’s three-part documentary series Devout + Out, and the series Content Farm with Lester Trips Theatre for CBC Gem. As an award-winning filmmaker, Nicholas’ work has been featured internationally by Telefilm’s “Not Short on Talent” initiative, and his most recent project “Fugly” that he wrote and directed is currently on the film festival circuit. Nicholas is committed to his clients’ success, and his secret to ensuring and surpassing their expectations is to “treat every client like they’re Google.”

Nicholas Ewart | he/him | Director

As a Producer, Vinuja’s goal is to ensure projects are taken care of from start to finish with the utmost care and creativity. Vinuja has worked on True Dating Stories on CBC Gem and with clients such as CIBC and Grant Thornton on both corporate videos and animation projects. Having worked in many different roles within the film industry, her understanding allows her to efficiently run a successful production. With a background in both entertainment and branded video production, Vinuja's knowledge allows her to marry creativity and clear messaging to assist you with bringing your idea to life.

Vinuja Shanthasoruban | she/her | Producer

With a creative eye and a careful hand, Nicole captures everything from drone footage and interviews to short films, music videos and stop motion animation. With a background in visual arts, Nicole’s contribution to production is vast and covers many areas of the process including storyboarding, digital asset creation, illustrations and graphic design. Nicole has worked with high-profile clients including Shopify Plus Academy, Right To Play, Brainstation, Stella Artois and Providence Therapeutics. Nicole’s resourcefulness and flexibility on set is extremely beneficial to her clients and co-workers alike, smoothly transitioning between camera department needs, lighting design, teleprompter, all while balancing the needs of the Producers.

Nicole Ng | she/her | Director of Photography & Illustrator

As a director, Jana is known for her ability to connect with on-screen talent to evoke authentic and grounded performances. As Archipelago’s Head of Production, Jana oversees each project from start to finish, while upholding a high standard for quality of work. Jana’s experience in the commercial industry has led her to work with notable Brands including Shopify, Google, Netflix, BrainStation, House of Anansi Press and APTN. Her work has been featured in film festivals internationally including TIFF, The Atlantic International Film Festival, and Los Angeles CineFest, winning her some of the country's top awards like The Norman Jewison Award and The Harvey Hart Director’s Award. Her short film Away Home, was selected for TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival and won the Best Female Director Award at Hollywood North Film Festival. Jana directed the web series Note To Self for CBC, which has garnered over 2 million views and received a Canadian Screen Award Nomination. Clients can trust that Jana’s eye for detail and passion for storytelling will result in a meticulously crafted final product.

Jana Stackhouse | she/her | Head of Production

Tré is a multi-hyphenate creative focusing on development & production in the film and television industry. Currently working as a producer, she is excited to bring her unique perspective and experience to current and upcoming projects. Since 2019, she has worked extensively to collaborate with artists, brands & publications throughout the community to produce projects such as commercials, campaigns, events & installations. Spanning across mediums, she has worked as a Director, Producer & Consultant with industry leaders such as Roots, BULLY magazine, Hudson’s Bay, Holt Renfrew, Soho House and more. Breaking boundaries and redefining what's possible is always at the core of her work.

Tré Akula | she/her | Junior Producer

Zipporah Yohannes

As the Office Assistant, Zipporah is adaptable and attentive to team and clients needs. During her undergrad in Media Production at Toronto Metropolitan University, Zipporah wrote and co-directed the short film RIPEN which has showcased at the cineFAM, Oneness, and FascinAsian Film Festival. Zipporah has extensive experience assisting both on set and in office environments. Her wide skill set guides her to adapt and succeed in any scenario. With a passion for storytelling, Zipporah is always ready to assist with bringing projects into fruition.

Zipporah Yohannes | she/her | Office PA

As a Producer, Maeve manages our eclectic entertainment slate from development through to completion. Her work as a producer has been broadcast and premiered at festivals internationally, including her short film, I AM, I AM, which premiered at TIFF in 2019. Her feature film, Verona, was selected as part of Telefilm’s Talent to Watch program and is set for a theatrical release in the summer of 2023. Inspired by meaningful and unique stories, she has worked on a number of documentaries including Records (TVO, VIFF), Coppers (TVO, TIFF), Borealis (Hot Docs, TVO, NFB) and Writing the Land (CBC). Passionate about bringing an artist’s vision to life, Maeve strives to build a positive and inclusive environment where diverse creatives can collaborate on projects that are engaging, innovative and memorable.

Maeve Kern | she/her | Head of Development

After completing her degree in Creative Industries at Toronto Metropolitan University, Ivy gained extensive knowledge in brand development and execution in the commercial film space. Having worked on a vast number of large-scale branded projects with award-winning directors and DPs, she comes with a detailed understanding of agency and client needs. Ivy strives to produce work that continuously goes above and beyond client expectations.

Ivy Wright-Brown | she/her | Junior Producer

As a video editor, Jenny strives to refine captivating visuals and storytelling from music videos and visualizers to campaigns and advertisements. With a Bachelors in Media Production at Toronto Metropolitan University, Jenny has vast experience throughout the media world with experience as a music video director highlighting woman and queer artists and production coordinator in radio at CJRU. Jenny aims to put more focus on community and representation as a Filipina-Canadian woman in the media and believes it’s important not only for this representation to be in front of the camera but also behind the scenes!

Jenny Balite | she/her | Editor

Alex’s creative direction has the ability to transform the smallest of ideas into meaningful creations. He has produced branded videos with Google, Q4, York University, Singing OUT, Startup Canada, Mint Agency and Shopify. A queer-identified man, Alex is passionate about developing platforms and sharing stories from people in marginalized communities. He co-produced and directed the first episode of CBC Gem’s docuseries Devout + Out which has garnered over 100K views. Alex also directed a promotional video for the release of filmmaker Luna M. Ferguson’s memoir “Me, Myself, They: Life Beyond the Binary”. Prior to joining Archipelago, Alex had a career as Script Supervisor in Toronto’s film and television industry. Most recently, he co-created and starred in the independent vlog series, Queer Fear, which discusses the codified history of queer horror cinema. Alex’s thoughtfulness and first-class technical understanding of video production are invaluable assets to any brand he works with.

Alex Josselyn-Hamilton | he/him | Head of Brand and Non-Profit

Working as a Production Coordinator, Kayla ensures all projects run smoothly for both client and team. After earning her BFA in Film Studies at Ryerson University, she received The Norman Jewison Award for her short film, A Little Different. Her internship experience at the Berlinale and role of Production Coordinator for the feature film, Verona have helped develop her ability to work in fast-paced environments, while simultaneously producing quality work. Kayla’s attention to detail and passion for creative storytelling help to balance her skill-set and always ensure success.

Kayla Resendes | she/her | Production Coordinator