A local director has been given the green light and $20,000 towards the production of a web series pilot thanks to TELUS STORYHIVE.
Mariah Braun says ‘Life Without Diagnosis,’ is the real-life story of a woman struggling without a medical diagnosis as she seeks answers, adventure, and ways to cope with her unknown future. Braun adds it was a story close to her heart, and she is thrilled to be able to share it with the world.
“This is my first time submitting a pitch that is strictly my idea, so it’s empowering to think I can be a director on kind of a big shot kind of film.”
Braun, who admits she is still coming to terms with the announcement, says it just goes to show hard work pays off no matter where your starting point.
“It’s pretty incredible, I am born and raised in Grande Prairie and I just think I didn’t think I’d be capable of this kind of stuff.”
She adds it’s an incredible jumping-off point for production, but in the grand scheme of things, it is not the be-all-end-all when it comes to putting the episode together.
“It sounds like a lot of money, but when you factor in the number of people we are going to have to get involved; my team members, paying for any rental equipment, paying for travel, it’ll get the job done, but you’d be surprised as to how little money that is.”
Braun hopes with the help of STORYHIVE, her career can match, and hopefully even surpass those Grande Prairie filmmakers who helped pave the way for her.
“It gives me the confidence that I could go onto the next step if I wanted to. There are a lot of filmmakers in town here that got their start with STORYHIVE, and I kinda see where they’re at in their career, and it’s a goal of mine to be at the level they are at.”
When completed, the episode will run on the TELUS Optik TV and STORYHIVE platforms.