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It’s a quiet autumn day on southern Vancouver Island. Fog settles in among the trees and the grey sky reflects off the water. It feels, to some degree, eerie.
That’s what made it the perfect spot to film the new series Yaga — a new supernatural mystery inspired by Slavic folklore around Baba Yaga — that has been trending on Crave since it premiered on Oct. 23.
Rugged coastlines and dense forests feature prominently in the series, produced by Blink49 Studios and Vancouver-based company Front Street Pictures.
Not only was the setting ideal, but the pool of local actors and crew made B.C. an attractive option for producers.
“British Columbia has an extraordinary depth of talent, both in front of and behind the camera, and a production infrastructure that makes it possible to bring ambitious stories to life,” Pancho Mansfield, Blink49 Studios’ president of global scripted television, said in a statement.
“To now see Yaga at No. 1 on Crave is incredibly rewarding. It speaks to the work of our cast and crew and creative partners, and is a great reminder of what B.C. filmmaking can deliver when local talent and compelling storytelling come together.”
Yaga follows a private detective investigating the disappearance of local heir, Henry Park, played by B.C. actor Hudson Williams of Heated Rivalry fame.
While Williams, who has ties to Kamloops, Kelowna and New Westminster, is certainly a local talent that will draw viewers, the series also stars Burnaby-born Carrie-Anne Moss, who some may recognize from her roles in The Matrix films and Chocolat, or from several Marvel Cinematic Universe series including Jessica Jones and Daredevil.
B.C.-born actors Hudson Williams and Carrie-Anne Moss star in the new Crave series Yaga. (Christopher Lawrence/Crave)
Vancouver’s Emilija Baranac, who played Midge in Riverdale, also makes an appearance, as well as Ezra Franky, an Ulkatcho First Nation actor and musician whose character, Pam Russell, piques the interest of investigators given her history with the missing man.
“Pam is very independent,” Franky told CBC’s On The Coast. “She’s an athlete, she’s a student … she is also Henry Park’s ex-girlfriend, but I like to say that’s the least interesting thing about her.”
British Columbia, and particularly Vancouver Island, was the perfect place to shoot the series, she said.
B.C.’s coast features prominently in the new Crave series Yaga. (Christopher Lawrence/Crave)
“There’s a moodiness to the Island that sets the tone in Yaga really well. And the small-town energy in Victoria just fuels the mystery: everyone knows everyone’s business and you don’t know who to trust.
“It’s so beautiful filming in B.C.. We have city, country, mountains, ocean, or really whatever environment your story calls for, right at our fingertips.”
Ulkatcho First Nation actor and musician Ezra Franky is one of the stars of Yaga. (Christopher Lawrence/Crave)
Castmate Williams got himself in hot — or maybe lukewarm — water with some locals in March when he said at Paris Fashion Week that the city was “dead as f–k,” and then again in October when he made similar comments about the city’s “hot spots” during an interview with etalk.
“A lot of hot spots of old people on the little scooters, people retiring, like, that’s Victoria. Hot spots for what? Like retirement homes and fricking bingo? I’m sorry Victoria.”
WATCH | Yaga cast talks about shooting in Victoria:
Franky said his comments were funny, and very honest.
“It’s Canada,” she said with a laugh. “If you go and find the fun, the fun will find you.”
She enjoyed working with Williams, who she described as a “very good actor and a great scene partner.”
“He is such a joy to work with,” Franky said. “He always made the situation very comfortable and safe to explore the character.”
