About
Canada Unscripted: Conversations with Canadian Media Icons showcases twenty-one of the most influential voices in Canadian film and broadcasting. In these intimate and often surprising interviews, celebrated actors, journalists, directors, and producers share stories that are raw, funny, and deeply revealing. At the heart of the book are the CBC and the National Film Board: two institutions that helped shape Canada's cultural identity. These conversations offer behind-the-scenes insight into landmark productions, pivotal news moments, and the personal journeys that shaped a generation of storytellers. With reflections that range from the political to the poetic, this is a book for readers who care about media, memory, and the power of creativity. The interviews were conducted by Vic Sarin, one of Canada's most acclaimed filmmakers, whose career has spanned continents, genres, and generations. With warmth and insight, Vic draws out the essence of each storyteller.
Introduction by Vic Sarin
As I look back on my life, I feel deeply thankful. My journey as a filmmaker has lasted 65 years, and 25 of those years were spent at CBC. It was during my time there that my career truly began to take shape. The CBC opened the door for me, offering not only a job, but an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to work alongside some of Canada's most talented people. Later, I founded Sepia Films in Vancouver, where I continue to focus on telling stories from many parts of the world and working with people from different cultures. But none of that would have happened without the CBC's support in those early years.
At CBC, I was given freedom. Freedom to tell stories. Freedom to experiment. Freedom to work with creative people who cared deeply about their craft. Whether in front of the camera or behind it, I was surrounded by people who helped shape Canadian television and film. The producers, writers, camera crews, editors, and sound people were just as important as the actors we saw on screen. I learned so much from them. Those years built the foundation for everything that followed in my life.
One memory from early in my career has always stayed with me. In 1968, I went on my first CBC assignment around the world. Our first stop was Somalia. As we set up the cameras and equipment, a group of local children gathered around us, curious about who we were. They kept asking, "Where are you from?" I answered, "Canada." Most of them didn't know where Canada was. Then suddenly, an older boy ran up and shouted, "Film Board! Film Board of Canada!" Even there, so far from home, people knew Canada through the National Film Board. That moment showed me how powerful stories can be. Long before many people had heard of Canada, they had seen its films.
Over the years, I came to know many filmmakers, actors, and artists who had started at the NFB. I admired the way the Film Board gave people room to be creative and try new things. Like CBC, the NFB trusted people to tell Canadian stories their own way. Both organizations believed in developing Canadian voices. They didn't try to copy Hollywood or anyone else. They simply let Canadians be Canadians.
That's why, after so many years, I felt it was time to celebrate these two special institutions. CBC and NFB have helped Canada find its voice. Our country is large, stretching across four and a half time zones, with many languages, cultures, and communities. Yet CBC and NFB helped bring us together. They allowed us to see ourselves reflected on the screen. They helped build our sense of identity.
When I started this project, my first idea was to speak with people I knew - friends and colleagues I had worked with over the years. Many of us worked side by side for decades. We often remember the stars, but behind every program there are countless people whose names you may not know - the writers, directors, camera people, and editors. Without them, none of the shows we love would
Introduction by Vic Sarin
As I look back on my life, I feel deeply thankful. My journey as a filmmaker has lasted 65 years, and 25 of those years were spent at CBC. It was during my time there that my career truly began to take shape. The CBC opened the door for me, offering not only a job, but an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to work alongside some of Canada's most talented people. Later, I founded Sepia Films in Vancouver, where I continue to focus on telling stories from many parts of the world and working with people from different cultures. But none of that would have happened without the CBC's support in those early years.
At CBC, I was given freedom. Freedom to tell stories. Freedom to experiment. Freedom to work with creative people who cared deeply about their craft. Whether in front of the camera or behind it, I was surrounded by people who helped shape Canadian television and film. The producers, writers, camera crews, editors, and sound people were just as important as the actors we saw on screen. I learned so much from them. Those years built the foundation for everything that followed in my life.
One memory from early in my career has always stayed with me. In 1968, I went on my first CBC assignment around the world. Our first stop was Somalia. As we set up the cameras and equipment, a group of local children gathered around us, curious about who we were. They kept asking, "Where are you from?" I answered, "Canada." Most of them didn't know where Canada was. Then suddenly, an older boy ran up and shouted, "Film Board! Film Board of Canada!" Even there, so far from home, people knew Canada through the National Film Board. That moment showed me how powerful stories can be. Long before many people had heard of Canada, they had seen its films.
Over the years, I came to know many filmmakers, actors, and artists who had started at the NFB. I admired the way the Film Board gave people room to be creative and try new things. Like CBC, the NFB trusted people to tell Canadian stories their own way. Both organizations believed in developing Canadian voices. They didn't try to copy Hollywood or anyone else. They simply let Canadians be Canadians.
That's why, after so many years, I felt it was time to celebrate these two special institutions. CBC and NFB have helped Canada find its voice. Our country is large, stretching across four and a half time zones, with many languages, cultures, and communities. Yet CBC and NFB helped bring us together. They allowed us to see ourselves reflected on the screen. They helped build our sense of identity.
When I started this project, my first idea was to speak with people I knew - friends and colleagues I had worked with over the years. Many of us worked side by side for decades. We often remember the stars, but behind every program there are countless people whose names you may not know - the writers, directors, camera people, and editors. Without them, none of the shows we love would