MARGARET MARDIROSSIAN

President - Vancouver

President of Anaïd Productions, Margaret Mardirossian is a graduate of Montreal’s McGill University.  Margaret began her career in theatre as director and stage manager.  She produced and directed her first documentary on internationally renowned puppeteer entitled Ronnie Burkett: A Line of Balance garnering the Canadian Conference for the Arts’ Rogers Communications national award for most innovative documentary in 1994.

Mardirossian went on to produce 39 episodes of The Tourist, a comedy travel series for Outdoor Life Network, Travel Channel in the US and UK, and Life Network; 52 episodes of the award-winning children’s dramatic television series Mentors for Family Channel; 49 episodes of the weight-loss documentary series Taking It Off for Life Network, which was awarded a Gemini for Best Lifestyle series in 2003; the documentary special Keeping It Off?, the follow-up companion to Taking It Off. Most recently, she has been Executive Producer for three seasons of the documentary weight-loss series X-Weighted on Slice, which was awarded a Gemini for Best Human Interest series in 2008; and 2 seasons of The Rig, a half-hour documentary series for the Outdoor Life Network that explores the wildcat world of Alberta oil rigs.

Currently, Mardirossian is Executive Producer of The Family Restaurant, for Food Network Canada, which is set to hit the airwaves for its third season and for season 4 of X-Weighted, a 60 minute documentary series following weight loss journeys, this season focused on Canadian families.

Margaret has directed two episodes of Mentors: the second season finale entitled “Future Tense” featuring Gordon Pinsent and the third season finale entitled “Homesick” as well as co-directing and co-writing the documentary special Keeping It Off?

In addition, Margaret volunteers her time on numerous industry-related committees and has been a guest speaker at a number of industry and business related panels. 

In 2000, Margaret was featured as Global Television’s “Woman of Vision”.

HELEN SCHMIDT

Vice President, Business Affairs - Edmonton

A partner in Anaid Productions and a Certified Management Accountant with a diploma in Business Administration, Helen Schmidt supervises all aspects of Anaid’s business affairs and accounting procedures. She is responsible for financial forecasting, project and company budgets, post-production accounting and financial records.

Helen is distinguished in the field of accounting by her understanding of Canadian film financing and its related issues. She is adept at navigating the complexity of CAVCO applications and federal tax credits and documentation. Helen’s meticulous accounting practices and comprehensive financial reporting have enabled Anaid Productions to earn an impressive and notable reputation with investors and broadcasters alike.

DEBBIE BROWN

Director of Factual Development - Vancouver

Debbie manages both the creative and logistical aspects of Anaid’s in-house factual development activities. She hails from South Africa and brings with her more than a decade’s experience in film and television. Debbie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Drama and Film (hons) and since graduating has worked as a writer, director, creative consultant and story editor. She played a pivotal role in the conception and development of three successful children’s television series and worked as a writer on ten kids’ television shows, often for multiple seasons. For 6 years she was head writer for the first motion-capture-animated show in Africa. Later, Debbie made her foray into the world of reality TV, working as a house producer and story editor on Endemol’s BIG BROTHER. Before joining Anaid, Debbie spent two years as Head of Development for Infinity Films in Vancouver, where she was responsible for all factual and drama development, as well as writing and directing projects for high-profile corporate clients. Debbie has a passion for storytelling that drives her to create dynamic, entertaining and innovative television content.   

MICHELE WHITE

Director of Drama Development - Vancouver

Michele White is Anaid Productions’ Director of Drama Development.  Michele comes to Anaid with extensive background in scripted programming.  As a producer, content creator, show runner and production executive she has produced nearly 200 hours of programming. 

Most recently as an independent producer, and through her production company Ohana Pictures Inc, she has developed television series, MOW’s, and feature films with partners including CTV, Movie Central, CHUM television, the Harold Greenberg Fund, Telefilm, Cogeco and BC Film.  She has also frequently been contracted for story editing and development consulting services, and provided business affairs services on three MOW’s for Lifetime television. 

Prior to establishing Ohana Pictures, Michele was Vice President, Production and Development for Peace Arch Entertainment where she was the senior executive in charge of dramatic programming.  Some of the productions during her tenure included: First Wave (Sci-Fi Channel, Space Channel, and Pearson/Fremantle Television); Dead Man’s Gun (Showtime, MGM Television and CHUM Television); and the family films Double Play and Ronnie and Julie for Showtime and Hallmark Entertainment.  While at Peace Arch Michele also developed the ½ hour comedy series Big Sound (Global Television and VH1) which she went on to executive produce and act as showrunner along with fellow executive producer David Steinberg. 

Michele has also developed and produced documentaries for CTV, TLC and Bravo -- and prior to her position with Peace Arch was active in the independent feature film industry.  As an associate producer she was involved in the development, financing and production of the feature films Crying Freeman, Red Scorpion 2 and Digger.

ERIN BERUBE

Manager of Production/Digital Media - Vancouver

Delighted to be back at Anaid, Erin is responsible for managing production budgets and business affairs, as well as focusing on digital media opportunities for Anaid’s current programs.

Erin started her career with the Anaid team in Edmonton in a variety of roles, from Assistant to the Producer to Supervising Producer, on series including Mentors, Taking It Off, and X-Weighted before moving to Nova Scotia.

While in Halifax, she continued with Anaid remotely as a Casting Director for X-Weighted and The Family Restaurant.  She also worked as Production Manager for Cubers, a one-off documentary on rubik’s cube obsession, which aired on CBC in the fall ’08.  Erin then joined CTV as the Coordinator of Independent Production for Eastern Canada and served as CTV’s gateway to the Eastern independent production community. During her time with CTV, Erin handled business affairs on documentary and dramatic projects in development, accepted pitches and worked closely with producers in Eastern Canada.

BREE DREGER

Associate Producer - Edmonton

Bree is thrilled to be part of the Anaid team as Associate Producer.  Her responsibilities include compiling and submitting various funding applications for all projects in development and production and ensuring that contractual requirements for funding deliverables are met. She also obtains Canadian content, insurance and copyright certificates, monitors distribution agreements and payments and submits award/festival applications.

After graduating from NAIT’s Radio/TV Arts program and Producers Emergence course, Bree has worked numerous contract positions including; Production Coordinator for Network One Productions Edmonton: An Historic Journey and Alberta Frontiers and Futures, CFTPA Internship with ImagiNation Film and TV and Trainee Assistant Director on NBC’s Fear Itself. Bree has also produced a few short films. 

SHANTEL PRUNEAU

Office Production Assistant, X-Weighted, season IV - Edmonton

Prior to joining Anaid Productions as Office Manager/Receptionist, Shantel was employed in the oil and gas industry as a Security & Fleet Assistant, Estimating Assistant, and Office Administrator.  After three and a half years in the oil and gas sector, Shantel sought a new creative challenge and enrolled in the Makeup for Film and Television program at the Vancouver Film School, from which she graduated with Honours.  Since, she has contributed her creative talents as a freelance makeup artist on a series of Family Violence Public Service Announcements, for ACCESS Television. 

CHLOË ECKERT

Executive Assistant - Vancouver

Born and raised in Vancouver, Chloë serves the Anaid Team on the West Coast as Executive Assistant to Margaret Mardirossian.  A graduate of Capilano’s Film & TV Program, Chloë began working on independent movies and T.V. commercials in the art department as a Set Decorator. Inspired by the creative  and logistical masterminds behind the projects she worked on, she turned her focus to production. She worked on the BBC co-pro “Surviving Disaster: Eruption at Mount Saint Helens” and on “DaVinci’s City Hall” before joining Infinity Films for two and a half years. While there, she worked in various areas of production and business affairs, gaining valuable experience on documentaries, feature film, corporate videos and game shows. Chloë brings over 7 years of experience in film and television to her position at Anaid Productions. She is pleased to be working with such a talented and inspiring team!

DEREK CLAYTON

Contracts Administrator - Edmonton

Derek is responsible for reviewing and preparing standard agreements for all productions, tracking execution and receipt of CAVCO declarations and provincial residency declarations, reviewing Music Cue Sheets for all productions to ensure proper listing of rights owners, and liaising with SOCAN.

Derek has been in the entertainment industry since 2000 where he assisted the Global Visions Film Festival as their Administrative Coordinator.  Later that year, he joined the team at Karvonen Films as their Business Affairs/Production Assistant.  After three rewarding years at KFL, Derek moved to Learning and Skills Television of Alberta where he doubled as Business Affairs Assistant and Publicity Assistant.  Soon, a world of werewolves, vampires and ghosts beckoned; Derek left LTA for to join the accounting team on the NBC horror anthology “Fear Itself”.

Derek is still involved with all things dark and spooky – he is one of the coordinators of the Deadmonton Horror Film Festival.

LISA MUNRO

Executive Assistant - Edmonton

Lisa joins the Anaid team after 12 years in the world of theatre.  Throughout her previous career as a stage manager, Lisa worked in every major city from Victoria to Winnipeg, with companies as varied as the Vancouver Playhouse, Edmonton and Calgary Operas, Rosthern Summer Theatre and many others.  Lisa also has a wide range of experience coordinating various aspects of special events such as the Calgary International Children’s Festival, Edmonton First Night Festival and Edmonton Folk Music Festival.  Lisa brings strong organizational skills and a joy of interacting with people to her position as Executive Assistant for Anaid.

OKTAWIAN GALA

Production Accountant - Edmonton

Oktawian (aka “Okto”) provides corporate and production accounting services, including cost reporting for the various prodcos, administering financing on projects, payroll, accounts payable/receivable as well as corporate and production tax audit preparation.

Prior to joining Anaid Okto provided corporate and production accounting services to the Alliance Atlantis Factual Division in Alberta (formerly Great North Productions Inc.) for 7 years, becoming an  expert in tax credits and financial reporting.  From June 2004 until joining Anaid he provided all corporate and production accounting services to Kaizen West Productions .  Okto’s accounting experience as well as his unique sense of humour are a great asset to Anaid.

BRANKA PEJIC

Accounting Assistant - Edmonton

Branka is the newest member of the Anaid accounting team, working as Accounting Assistant.  Graduating from the Microcomputer Office Specialist program at Alberta College in 2002, she worked at The Access Media Group in the Accounting Department for two years prior to joining Anaid. She currently provides accounts payable services for Anaid’s projects as well as assistance in other aspects of accounting including bank reconciliations, accounts receivable, GST claims and journal entries.