Creative individuals from around the Okanagan are taking another leap towards creating their own video-series centred around a quirky, female lawyer.

Stephanie Townsend, from Lake Country, is the production designer. After spending two years at UBCO, the 22-year-old general arts student was inspired by her professor Myron Campbell to take her talents elsewhere.

Townsend, along with Kelowna-native Sinead Grewcock, created the web series idea Gotcha!, along with eight others, most of whom are from the Okanagan Valley.

The story follows young Gina Danino, a quirky klutz and outstanding lawyer, recognized by her vibrant suit.

The pitch video received $10,000 after votes were tallied on Storyhivesa国际传媒檚 website, which funds productions and supports filmmakers in B.C. and Alta.

Stay tuned on our journey! We are excited to share this adventure with you! 馃憤

sa国际传媒� Gotcha! Series (@GotchaSeries)

sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 a lot of excitement because Isa国际传媒檝e known Sinead for a couple years now and I know how hardworking she is and how passionate she issa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 a really great opportunity for me as well to branch out and dive into something bigger,sa国际传媒� said Townsend.

Gotcha! is now one of 30 projects competing for the top spot of $50,000. Upon winning, the team will create a full-length series. The $10,000 will be put into creating a pilot episode, which will be released in early February.

Anyone can vote on the episode once itsa国际传媒檚 released on .

Intensive planning is going into the process for the pilot, now that funding has been announced.

Grewcock, 21, is the mastermind behind it all. She keeps her phone on her, writing ideas for episodes as she juggles doing improvisation performances around Vancouver and working part-time at the Independent Theatre Company.

sa国际传媒淔or so long itsa国际传媒檚 been trying to get the project supported, trying to get funding, trying to get a team. Now itsa国际传媒檚 so wonderful because theresa国际传媒檚 so many people on board,sa国际传媒� said the Mount Boucherie Secondary and Vancouver Academy of the Dramatic Arts graduate.

Grewcocksa国际传媒檚 interests with film started with acting in high school. She also enjoys a confident lead character. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e always done lead roles with strong female characters, thatsa国际传媒檚 really important to me,sa国际传媒� she said.

With Gotcha!, Grewcock imagined character Gina like Austin Powers and Ron Burgundy as sa国际传媒渏ust these really confident and competent characters who are completely oblivious to their surroundings but theysa国际传媒檙e really successful.sa国际传媒�

The colourful suit is meant to radiate Ginasa国际传媒檚 confidence and charisma, with physical comedy, said Grewcock, who will be playing the character.

The casting is also big on gender and racial diversity, she said.

Townsendsa国际传媒檚 role in design will turn Grewcocksa国际传媒檚 vision into a reality with locations, props, costumes and more.

Whatsa国际传媒檚 important is to be open to collaboration, said Grewcock.

The pair met while working at the Lake Country Coffee House a few years ago, and shared an instant connection.

sa国际传媒淲e couldnsa国际传媒檛 help but not be friends,sa国际传媒� said Grewcock, as they shared the same taste on a variety of topics.

Townsend got on board with the Gotcha! team a month ago, but the full script was already created. While attending Capilano University as a third-year student, she plans to make use of the universitysa国际传媒檚 resources for the production.

sa国际传媒淲hat I love about film is the endless opportunities I keep discovering,sa国际传媒� she said, wanting to keep pushing herself with trying new things, but also enjoying quirky, funny things.

Now in the second phase, Townsend will work with the team more in person, having previously communicated through Skype, she said. Ginasa国际传媒檚 character suits Grewcock, she said.

sa国际传媒淚 know Sinead and I know her. It makes me super happy knowing shesa国际传媒檚 doing something thatsa国际传媒檚 true to herself.sa国际传媒�

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carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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