LISA MEECHES
Founding Partner, Executive Producer
Lisa Meeches is one of the most dynamic and respected producers in the film industry and is Anishinaabe from Long Plain First Nation. After studying broadcasting in North Dakota, Lisa began her career in 1986 with the Native Media Network. She later began news reporting for Craig Broadcasting Systems in Manitoba and Alberta, where she established a liaison team that connected the newsroom with surrounding First Nations communities. Her journalism career recently came full circle with a Beyond Borders Media Award for her work on Taken as co-creator, executive producer, and host. Lisa also directs episodes of the series and has been nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards for Taken (Best Factual Series, Best Cross-Platform Project).
Lisa has produced numerous projects to critical acclaim including The Sharing Circle, Canada’s longest-running Indigenous television series; Ice Road Truckers; Tipi Tales, a Parent’s Choice award-winning children’s series; and Elijah, a Gemini Award-winning MOW; and the 3-times nominated 2-time winner of CSA’s Jack. She Executive Produced the 4-time CSA nominee and 2-time winner We Were Children, is widely praised by residential school survivors for its power to heal, while general audiences have been moved by its accurate and truthful portrayal of the impacts of Canada’s colonial past. Prior to this project, Lisa traveled the country with her team interviewing residential school survivors about their experiences for the Legacy of Hope project. Lisa was also the Director, Events Planning and Artistic Programming for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Most recently Lisa served as Creative Director/Executive Producer for the National MMIWG Inquiry. Her work was honoured with two gold medals at the international Shorty Awards for excellence in social media. Lisa is co-executive producer on the CBC/eOne/CW series Burden of Truth, in prep for Season 4.
Lisa has been critical to the success of the Manito Ahbee Festival since its inception 15 years ago where she has acted in the capacity of board chair on a volunteer basis until stepping down to assume the role of Executive Director. True to her heritage, Lisa is a renowned champion fancy shawl dancer. Lisa is Executive Producer of Orange Daisy Project, a social action campaign in support of mental health for teen girls. Among her numerous awards and nominations are: the 2007 National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Media & Communication, the 2009 YMCA-YWCA Woman of Distinction Award in the area of Creative Communications, the University of Manitoba's Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Award, the Women in Film and Television 2009 Crystal Award for Mentorship, the Order of Manitoba, and she was even Ms. Chatelaine.
KYLE IRVING
Partner, Head of Production, Executive Producer
A partner in Indigenous-owned Eagle Vision for over 18 years, Kyle Irving has produced more than 200 hours of television content. He recently served as executive producer of his third season of Eagle Vision, ICF and eOne’s drama series Burden of Truth for CBC, which is also a hit on the CW (New York Times “Here’’s What to Watch This Summer”) and Universal UK. He co-created and executive produced four seasons of the hit true-crime doc series Taken (4 Canadian Screen Award nominations, including “Best Factual Series”) for CBC and APTN, and was a producer on the international hit television series Ice Road Truckers (2 nominations at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards) which is one of the most successful and longest-running docu-drama series in television history for History Channel, AETN and more than 80 countries around the world. Irving currently has two feature films in post-production, Diaspora, and Danis Goulet’s Night Raiders (Executive Producer, with Lisa Meeches and Taika Waititi).
Irving has produced numerous other award-winning feature film and television productions, notably the Oscar and Golden Globe winner and multi-nominee (including the Oscar for Best Picture) Capote for Sony, Columbia Pictures and United Artists; Walk All Over Me, which premiered in competition at TIFF, was bought by the Weinstein Company; Blue State starring Oscar-winner Anna Paquin released by MGM; and the multi award-winner We Were Children, which premiered at VIFF and IDFA. Irving also produced Reasonable Doubt for Lionsgate, starring Oscar-nominee Samuel L. Jackson. Irving produced the CSA nominated feature film Lovesick currently distributed in Canada by eOne, the film had its world premiere at the Whistler Film Festival and went on to win the Audience Award at its US premiere at Cinequest in San Jose, the film was released theatrically in 10 US cities and was sold to Amazon Prime worldwide.
Some of Irving’s other television productions include Jack, a made-for-TV movie for CBC that was the winner of two CSA’s; the award-winning long-running doc series The Sharing Circle; the multiple Parents’ Choice Gold Award-winning children’s series Tipi Tales; and numerous one-off documentaries.
Irving has a strong focus on talent development and has mentored and supported numerous emerging writers, directors, producers, and crew. He is also a strong supporter financially and in-kind to independent films. Irving is a sponsor and the facilitator of the Whistler Film Festival Indigenous Filmmakers Fellowship. Irving is a member of the Board of Directors of the CMPA and is Co-Chair of the CMPA Industrial Relations Committee and has been an industry leader in the province's and nation's COVID protocols for production.
REBECCA GIBSON
Partner, Head of Development, Executive Producer
Following graduation from the New York Film Academy, a CFTPA International Internship took Rebecca to Los Angeles at the start of her film journey. As a writer, director, and producer, Rebecca’s work includes the digital documentary series Child First, which premiered at the Understanding the Disability Trajectory of First Nations Families of Children with Disabilities National Summit, the doc Daphne Korol: The Drama Queen of Winnipeg, and the award-winning short comedy Hard Way Girl, which played festivals around the world. Rebecca co-wrote and produced award-winning drama H&G which premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival and is distributed by Multiple Media in Canada and Amazon Prime in the United States and Europe. H&G was recently honoured with a retrospective screening at the TIFF Lightbox. Rebecca founded Orange Daisy Project, a social action campaign in support of mental health for teen girls, that includes a 40-part digital documentary series, a mentorship for emerging female filmmakers, a school and community tour, and a best-selling mental health workbook, which Rebecca co-wrote. Rebecca was honoured nationally as a CAMH Difference Maker, and was ACTRA Manitoba's 2018 Woman of the Year. Rebecca’s acting credits include her award-winning work in the film that launched The Murdoch Mysteries, her ACTRA-award-winning role in The Pinkertons (Netflix), and the recent Juliana and the Medicine Fish opposite Adam Beach. Rebecca plays "Bee" in Tyson Caron's film Lovesick, and "Wendy Ross" on Burden of Truth. She will soon be seen in Jeremy Torrie’s thriller The Corruption of Divine Providence.
Rebecca was co-creator, showrunner executive producer, and an award-winning episode writer and director of Eagle Vision's Taken. She won a Beyond Borders Media Award and was nominated for three Canadian Screen Awards — Best Factual Series, the Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research, and Best Cross-Platform Project. She was project lead on the Taken Knowledge Keeper App. Most recently, Rebecca was part of the Eagle Vision team who were honoured as finalists for five international Shorty Awards (the best of the world’s social media), winning gold distinction for two. Rebecca also writes and directs the Taken podcast. Formerly one of Western Canada’s top casting directors, Rebecca also oversees casting for many of Eagle Vision’s projects.
Rebecca is devoted to mentorship, working with the CMPA (member of Skills Development and TV committees), Film Training Manitoba, Freeze Frame, Women in the Director’s Chair, Women in View, Creative Manitoba, and several other organizations to support diverse artists of all ages in film, television, and theatre, and various charitable and social organizations. She also co-founded the Gimli Film Festival's Future is Female* Mentorship Program.
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HANNAH JOHNSON
Producer, Head of Business Affairs
Hannah Johnson Eagle Vision’s Head of Business Affairs, and In House Producer. Hannah graduated on the Dean’s Honour List from Queen’s University specializing in Psychology and Gender Studies. Her focus on intersectional social issues and human rights is something she applies to her career and all aspects of her life.
Hannah most recently worked as a Producer and Production Manager on four seasons of Eagle Vision’s series Taken. She has worked with Eagle Vision and Manito Ahbee for several years, as a Production Manager and Production Coordinator for the Indigenous Music Awards. Hannah also has Production Coordinator credits on Ice Road Truckers, Aboriginal Day Live, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights’ Opening Ceremonies & Concert, and The United Way’s One Night for Winnipeg Concert. Hannah worked as an event coordinator and stage manager for Manito Ahbee’s Celebrate Indigenous Music Concert. She helped coordinate the WITBN Kanata Conferences & WIJA Gala, a biennial conference to share experiences in broadcast media, encouraging communication and cultural preservation among Indigenous Media Worldwide. She also ran the Canadian Education Coalition’s event, The Winnipeg Boldness Project and worked on the TRC’s Northern & Alberta National Events.
Hannah was Line Producer of the feature film Ruthless Souls which recently premiered at ImagineNATIVE. Hannah is the Associate Producer on Burden of Truth for CBC and The CW starring Kristin Kreuk. Hannah recently served as Project Manager for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry Project: Red Shawl Campaign and Truth Sharing Podcast Project for the Government of Canada, which reached one-third of all Canadians. Hannah has produced seasons 1 and 2 of the web series Frozen Justice and was Producer, Director, Writer, and Editor on the web series Orange Daisy Project documentary series about teenage girls’ mental health. Hannah also directed a Skate Canada Documentary featuring the NHL’s Mark Scheifele. Hannah was also a Production Assistant on the Ray St. Germain family documentary, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Alberta and Northern National Events; House Concerts on Kingston; and the Ballsy Bastards of St.Boniface documentary. Hannah is also a devoted volunteer, including serving as the Event Coordinator & Committee Member for Beyond Borders ECPAT Canada, Canada’s global voice against child sexual exploitation. Hannah was recently selected as the recipient of the CBC Business of Broadcasting Mentorship through Women In Film and Television Toronto, of which she is a member. And she just completed the CMPA Emerging Producer Mission to Berlinale.
DARCY WAITE
Producer
Darcy Waite is one of Canada’s fastest rising producers and content creators.
He recently produced his first feature film through Telefilm’s Talent to Watch program, Ruthless Souls, which premiered at ImagineNATIVE, and was featured at Berlinale in 2019. Soon Darcy will produce his second Telefilm-supported feature through Eagle Vision, Madison Thomas’ Finality of Dusk.
Darcy produced the award-winning CBC Short Docs film Zaasaakwe which played at the ImagineNATIVE Film Festival. He produced the short Lost Moccasin for APTN, which also played at ImagineNATIVE. Darcy was also Associate Producer on the CBC Short Docs film Fourth Period Burnout. Darcy won the 2017 Imaginenative Web Series Pitch Competition as the Producer of Madison Thomas’ web series Color of Scar Tissue, starring Star Slade, Mary Galloway, and Kaniehtiio Horn. The series premiered at ImagineNATIVE 2018 before airing on APTN Digital. Recently, Darcy won the ImagineNATIVE Film Festival’s Rising Producer Award.
As a writer and director, Darcy focuses on comedy. He was a director shadow on APTN’s sketch comedy series Caution May Contain Nuts season 4. Darcy’s film Case Number ####, supported by the Winnipeg First Film Fund Grant, was an Official Selection of the California American Indian & Indigenous Film Festival and the Los Angeles Skins Festival where it was nominated for Best Narrative Short. In 2018 Darcy’s script Zombie’s Don’t Eat Stupid People was selected for the Whistler Film Festivals Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship Program. He recently teamed up with FUBAR writer Paul Spence to co-write the feature film.
Darcy is a graduate of the National Screen Institute Indigenous Documentary Program, and New Voices Program. Recently Darcy completed a CMPA Digital Skills Mentorship with Eagle Vision, and recently completed the CMPA Emerging Producer Mission to Berlinale (reporting to Global Affairs Canada), with fellow producer Hannah Johnson.
Darcy’s web series DJ Burnt Bannock, that he created, wrote, and will star in, was recently greenlit for production by APTN, to be produced by Eagle Vision. Additionally, Darcy will soon host Eagle Vision’s upcoming factual series 7TH GEN. Darcy is already the host of ATPNs hit youth series THAT’S AWSM.
Currently, Darcy is on the writing team of Eagle Vision’s sitcom Family First, with the development support of APTN and the CMF. Family First will star Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas) and is anticipated to go to camera in summer of 2021. And, Darcy is playing a role in the drama series Burden of Truth.
GINGER DILK
Digital Media and Marketing Producer
Ginger Dilk is Eagle Vision’s in-house Digital Media and Marketing Producer. Her background includes a degree in Filmmaking from the University of Winnipeg, as well as specialized training in Digital Advertising and Social Media Management. She is a dedicated human rights advocate, and her work centers around building and promoting an equitable future for all.
In 2018, Ginger helped lead the award-winning “#SacredMMIWG” digital awareness and education campaign as Eagle Vision’s Impact Producer for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The campaign reached 1/3 of all Canadians, and was nominated for 5 Shorty Social Good Awards, receiving Gold Honours for excellence in the categories of Human Rights and Social Justice.
Ginger is committed to supporting marginalized groups, particularly in the areas of reconciliation and accessibility. Through working partnerships with organizations such as Women and Gender Equality Canada, she has helped market Indigenous-led podcasts The Truth Sharing Podcasts and Taken the Podcast to audiences of tens of thousands. Additionally, she has generated meaningful digital marketing content for multiple seasons of the international hit television series Burden of Truth (ICF Films, Eagle Vision, eOne, CBC). This content consistently serves to highlight important issues of inter-generational resiliency, community engagement and diverse representation in media.
Ginger recently joined the Board of Directors for On Screen Manitoba, and sits as Co-Chair of OSM’s Workforce Development Committee. She is eager to lend her drive and passion to work that will elevate new and existing voices in the industry. She also looks forward to connecting audiences with new and upcoming Eagle Vision projects, such as Deco Dawson’s highly anticipated feature film Diaspora, set to release 2021.