Premiere event for national TV series set for North Bay on Saturday
‘Lights, Camera… Kitchen!’
That’s the title of a new Bell FibeTV1 original series inspired by the experiences of five women across different generations running a film craft and catering business on active movie sets in Northern Ontario.
Pasha Patriki, producer, says the idea for the show came about after hearing hilarious stories from his wife Nataliya and daughter Kristina.
“About how they got stuck on the mountain and couldn’t get down from the ski hill,” he says. “How they had to walk these meals across a big field on foot or how a bear got into their salad and ate all of their fruits and vegetables once.”
The series centers on best friends Nataliya and Leeza, their mothers Irina and Sasha, and Nataliya’s daughter Kristina. Patriki says it blends humour, pressure, family dynamics, and entrepreneurship.
“It is the comedy and drama of the kitchen mishaps and all the multi-generational conflicts between them while they’re trying to cook meals for a 100-person crew,” he says. “It’s a local show. It was shot in the North Bay and surrounding area on several film productions.”
Patriki says North Bay’s growing film industry takes centre stage with a public premiere screening event on Saturday.
It takes place from 5-7 pm at the Capitol Centre.
Along with opening remarks and a screening of the first episode and series teaser, there will be a live audience Q&A with members of the cast and production team.
Admission is free with tickets available on Eventbrite.
Nataliya Patriki makes her directorial debut with the series.
“The series was born out of real situations, real stress, real friendships, and real cultural differences colliding inside the unpredictable world of independent filmmaking,” she says. “Because I was living these moments alongside everyone else, the camera became less of an observer and more of a participant. I wanted the audience to feel that they were truly inside this chaotic, funny, emotional environment with us.”
Officials say the premiere highlights the growing role North Bay continues to play in Ontario’s film and television sector, adding the series brings important representation to the screen through its focus on a women-run, immigrant-led business operating within the film industry.
Richard Coffinhttps://www.mynorthbaynow.com/Richard Coffin has been a reporter and news anchor on the radio in North Bay for over 25 years. From premiers to people in the neighbourhood, he enjoys connecting with newsmakers and writing stories that matter to area listeners on a variety of topics including healthcare, education, politics, sports and more.
