Board Of Directors
To reach board members of the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission please contact our office:
Phone: (250) 386.3976
Toll-Free: 1-844-816-3456
Email: admin@filmvictoria.com
Annie Wong-Harrison, President NATIONAL CAR & TRUCK RENTAL & ARBUTUS INN OWNER & MANAGING DIRECTOR National Car and Truck Rental and the Arbutus Inn have been major supporters and sponsors of the Commission and many other community organizations for many years. Annie has been on the Board of the Film Commission for over 15 years and has worked with numerous producers, production and location managers. Annie has served as a member at large, secretary and is currently the President of the Board. Annie has also served as a Board member for The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce (where she served on the finance and audit committee) and she is currently on the Board of Golf Vancouver Island. Annie’s skills are in sales, marketing, operations and HR. In her time on the Board, the Film Commission landed the Disney movie The Descendants, Netflix series Maid, Netflix series Reginald the Vampire and the series GracePoint . In her term as President, the Film Commission hired a new Film Commissione Kathleen GIlbert. With renewed energy on the Board, the Commission took great leaps forward by securing the Distant Tax Credit for the CRD and generating upwards of $50 Million in direct spending annually around the region. Building on the successes, Annie is committed to providing a desirable place to film in the CRD, as well as maintaining stable funding for the Film Commission. |
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Paul Rayman, Vice President THE PEDALER PRODUCER & OWNER
Paul Rayman has worked in the Film and Television Industry for 20 years, including a stint from 2001-2003 when he served as the Alberta Film Commissioner.
After moving to Victoria, he has worked for the past ten years as a producer and production manager. During the past five years, he has served on the Board of the Film Commission, first as a director and currently as the Vice President. He has made himself available to the Film Commissioner as a resource, being both a producer and former Film Commissioner. He has attended almost every regularly scheduled board meeting over the last five years and has served on several committees.
He hopes to continue to offer his time and expertise to the Board as the Film Commission moves forward. |
Hazel Braithwaite, Secretary MUNICIPAL COUNCILLOR, DISTRICT OF OAK BAY
Hazel Braithwaite is currently serving her fourth term as a Municipal Councillor in Oak Bay. Some of her many roles on Council include the Public Arts Advisory Committee, Royal and McPherson Theatres Society, Canadian College of Performing Arts, Oak Bay Tourism, the Oak Bay Business Improvement Association and she was the council liaison to the Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission. She is also the 2ndVice-President for the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC).
Hazel loves giving back to the community through her involvement with organizations like United Way, Kiwanis Pavilion, Sovereign Order of St. John and the Oak Bay Tea Party. She was named the Oak Bay News, Women in Business, Community Leader of the Year in 2018 and was awarded the Black Press Community Initiative Award in 2019.
She worked as a geophysicist in the oil and gas industry in Calgary, taught Mathematics at the University of Lae in Papua New Guinea, facilitated Adult Learning at Coast Capital Savings for 20 years and until recently was the Director, Donor and Partner Relations at United Way Greater Victoria.
Hazel is an avid long-distance backpacker and has tackled trails all over the world along with her husband Rod. She has been a longtime supporter of the Film Commission and was instrumental in supporting funding for the commission from Oak Bay. |
Todd Webber, CPA, CA, Treasurer CONTROLLER Experienced accounting professional and auditor with a demonstrated history of providing exceptional client service, project management and financial services. Skilled in Budgeting, Tax Preparation, External Audit, and Accounting. Strong professional graduated from Camosun College. |
Directors At Large
Barbara Coultish Owner & Talent Division Management
Owner of Barbara Coultish Talent and Model Management, a 40-year-old company which manages a large group of actors and models from Vancouver Island. Currently Manages the Talent Division of Coultish Talent and Model Management.
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Lara Bannister VFX Production Manager After over 10 years in the film industry, and a healthy career in high-scale events, Lara has a unique combination of experience, international networks, and home-town pride to offer the VISFMC Board. Her recent career highlights include an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or Movie for her work as VFX Production Manager on Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Apple TV / Legendary), Senior Operations Manager for the FIFA26 Opening and Closing Ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York, and Sr VFX Coordinator on Apple TV’s latest feature Mayday. Lara has a thorough understanding of the intricacies of all stages of production and the integral role a strong film commission plays in promoting a unique place like Victoria as a desirable and affordable place to shoot. Lara’s motivation for joining the board is two-fold; Firstly, she truly believes that Victoria can define itself as a hub for west coast film-making at all levels. Secondly, having higher representation of board members actively working in the film industry to compliment the skills and experience of film-adjacent board members is beneficial – everyone has something to bring to the table. She is very keen to support the current efforts being made to bring a purpose-built studio to the Island, as well as continue the work elevating our local crew through outreach and education. There is an opportunity for many fundraising and visibility campaigns benefiting the VISFMC that she would be proud to champion as a member of the board. Lara is passionate about connecting communities that can support one another, and is grateful for your consideration as a candidate! |
Gord Whittaker Gordon Whittaker is a senior Canadian creative-industries leader with more than 30 years of experience across film and television, the public and private sectors, business development, operations, finance, strategic planning and governance. Gordon recently served as Senior Director with Screen Nova Scotia, where he led the development, acquisition and launch of Nova Scotia’s first dedicated film and television soundstage and studio campus. Working with government, industry, investors, executives and community stakeholders, he leveraged an $8 million provincial investment and guided the initiative from concept through acquisition and operational launch. He negotiated the acquisition of a 20-acre, multi-building studio campus, developed its capital improvement plan and strategic and business direction, established governance and partnership frameworks, and oversaw the facility’s opening and early growth, including securing its first major production tenant. His broader career includes senior leadership roles with Telefilm Canada, DHX Media, Side Door, a start-up music platform, and Oakport Limited, as well as serving as Executive Director of the Atlantic Film Festival and General Manager of an animation studio. At Telefilm Canada, he was responsible for regional operations, industry development, Atlantic Canada’s feature film portfolio and investments, business development, strategic planning and stakeholder relations, working closely with governments, producers, creative organizations and industry partners across four provinces. Gordon also brings extensive governance experience. He has served as Chair of the Downtown Halifax Business Commission, Vice-Chair of the Devour! Food and Film Festival, and as a member of the Boards of Governors of the Atlantic Film Festival and NSCAD University, where he was appointed a Life Governor. These experiences have given him a practical understanding of the connections between film production, infrastructure, talent, government policy, investment and regional economic development. Gordon began his screen-based media career in Vancouver after obtaining his MBA and is excited to be back in British Columbia. Now based in Victoria, he is particularly interested in contributing to the continued growth and development of the Vancouver Island South film and media sector. He brings a collaborative and inclusive leadership style, a long-term strategic perspective, and hands-on experience building the infrastructure, partnerships and business environment needed to attract productions and create opportunities for local talent and businesses. |
Michael C. Fisher Director of Photograpy/Steadicam Operator, ICG Local 669 Hello, I’m Mike, a Victoria local IATSE Director of Photography and Steadicam operator. In 2016 I worked in Victoria for the first time and fell in love with the island. After several more jobs here, I finally made the decision to pack up from Toronto and make this place my home in 2020. When I began working in film and TV in 2012, I was a PA, then electric, then grip, then spent over a decade in the Camera department working on a wide range of shows such as Prey, Shazam, Star Trek in many positions. Last year I had the pleasure of working locally on Private Eyes and Crew Girl as both a camera operator and 2nd unit Director of Photography. Filmmaking is a way of life for me, and it’s the only language I feel fluent in. It has taken me to so many incredible places from Los Angeles to New York, from Halifax to Victoria, and everywhere in between. Along this wild ride I can confidently say only one place has ever felt like home. We all know no matter where you go, or what you do, Victoria is the place to be. It is my hope and commitment to help this film community grow and flourish in any way I can, and that is why I am looking for support in hopes of having a seat on the Board of the Vancouver Island South Film & Media Commission. I have watched the tireless work that the Commission has been putting in over the last few years especially and am very grateful for all the progress. My hope is that I can help bring my unique perspective to the table and share some of that load. I work shoulder to shoulder with the island crew from the indie music videos, to Frontstreet, to the union shows, and there are so many talented people we work with every day here. I have worked to bring many of these crews together and will continue to do so to strengthen our workforce whether it be with their certifications or talking with studios and producers about our local crew. We have all seen too many shows bring people from Vancouver without much attempt at meeting the locals. The film commission is doing amazing things already with this outreach and I would like to help keep that push going. I see our current position in the film market right now as incredibly fortunate, there are so many producers interested in filming here. I want to do what I can to make sure the people who do come here have massive success. I want them to tell their peers about what we can do. I want them to go home feeling that same way I did about the island. I want them to never want to leave. |
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Franco Silletta PARTNER, JONES EMERY LLP Franco is a partner and trademark agent at Jones Emery LLP, advising individuals and organizations in the areas of commercial, corporate, real estate, and intellectual property law. Franco is a native Victorian and attended the University of Victoria for both his engineering and law degrees, where he received the Law Society Gold Medal for finishing first in his law school class. After graduation, Franco clerked at the British Columbia Court of Appeal before moving to New York City to litigate complex intellectual property disputes for some of the world’s largest companies. |
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Lindsay Ashby ASSISTANT LOCATION MANAGER With nearly a decade in the film industry, I have worked across multiple departments, gaining hands-on experience as a background performer, Production Assistant, props person, and 3rd Assistant Director. Currently, I serve as an Assistant Location Manager, where I play a key role in facilitating productions by managing logistics, scouting locations, and ensuring smooth operations on set. Beyond my work in production, I am passionate about mentoring the next generation of film professionals. I have the privilege of teaching students at Kathleen Gilbert’s Locations Course at Camosun College, where I help prepare aspiring crew members for the industry. It’s incredibly rewarding to guide students and provide them with their first opportunities on set. I also co-founded a production company named Rebel Heart Media, with writer and director Jackie Taylor, and together we successfully produced a pitch deck for a series, hosting a screening that attracted over 200 attendees. My dedication extends beyond individual projects—I am deeply committed to bringing quality productions to the island and ensuring our talented local crew has access to meaningful work. |
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Michael D. Reid WRITER / LOCATIONS SCOUT
After covering Victoria’s film and television production industry for the Times Colonist for 36 years, Michael drew upon that skill set, long-established connections with readers and industry stakeholders, and his familiarity with the region to begin his new film industry career three years ago.
Michael has since actively worked as a location scout on films and television series shot in and around Greater Victoria, with credits including Hallmark’s Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries series, Lifetime’s Landry Saga series of films based on V.C. Andrews novels, Jordan Peele’s Twilight Zone and American Dreamer. He has also drawn upon his media experience as host and collaborator on EPK (electronic press kit) projects.
He feels honored having been able to serve on the commission’s board of directors over the past year, a challenge he looks forward to continuing as part of his ongoing involvement with the capital region’s film community. When he isn’t promoting the local industry, Michael occasionally appears on camera, writes about show business for various publications and is public relations liaison for the Canadian College of Performing Arts, capitalizing on his passion for musical theatre and the performing arts.
Born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, Michael moved to Victoria in 1980 from Montreal, where he began his newspaper career writing TV listings at The Montreal Star before going on to cover film, theatre and television, mentored in part by the late Doris Giller. He also wrote for Montreal’s Sunday Express and was active on Montreal’s theatre scene, founding his own theatre company, Theatrix.
During his media career, Michael has interviewed a who’s who of show business luminaries, including George Clooney, Bob Hope, Sir Ian McKellen, Ricky Gervais, Oscar Peterson, Billy Connolly, Kim Cattrall, Robin Williams and Sean Connery.
In 2019, he received the Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission’s annual Victoria Film Award in recognition of his contributions to the regional film industry. |
