A professional development association for people who work in factual, lifestyle & documentary television.
FW25 Conference
Returning for the tenth year on November 7 & 8, 2025 with a two-day event, FactualWEST is a one-of-a-kind conference for producers and crew working in factual, lifestyle, reality and documentary television. This year’s theme, “Global Shows with Canadian Roots” is all about celebrating Canada’s world-class hub for reality and factual TV, with large-scale multi-cam shows leading the charge.
From pitching and selling, to boots-on-the-ground production, challenge producing, and fast-paced post, we’re diving into the entire multi-cam pipeline. Hear directly from the executives and creatives shaping the future of the genre, and gain the real-world insights and skills you need to get in the game—or level up your play. Our crews are booked and busy, the world is watching, and Canada is delivering. If you want to be part of the boom, this is where your journey begins. Join us and be part of the movement.
This year’s sessions cover the whole journey of making great content: from development and directing to production, post, and even the behind-the-scenes business. Our practical, hands-on workshops are led by top talent from LA, Toronto, and Vancouver, and you’ll hear directly from the creators, showrunners, and producers behind The Snake, Beast Games, and Extracted.
And of course, the crowd-pleasers are back: our high-energy Pitch Thunderdome, one-on-one network pitch sessions, and plenty of opportunities to mix, mingle, and make deals.”
PRESENTED BY
Join us for professional development & networking.
FactualWEST is a non-profit, member driven organization created in 2013 to bring together creators, producers, crew and suppliers who work in factual, lifestyle & documentary television.
Originally known as Field & Post, we are based in British Columbia but welcome anyone active in the industry to join us.
We organize the FactualWEST Conference every November, the StoryLab for writers/story editors, Field & Post Pub Night networking events; and workshops offering skills development.
We also work with other industry organizations, schools and the community to promote the genres we work in, and encourage people to pursue a career in this business.
Our goal is to offer members the chance to network with peers, increase their skills and build their careers in a social environment – while promoting project development and production, and contributing to the growth of the Canadian television industry.
Membership is just $25/year, includes free admission to most events & workshops (plus a discount to the conference). Membership is open to anyone working in the business, so please join us.
Dana Johl, President
Dana has been in the business of creating factual and reality television for over 25 years, most recently as Line Producer on large-scale American reality series for Netflix and Fox. She has been in management positions in the industry several times, including as VP Production at Great Pacific Media and as Head of Production at Force Four Entertainment.
She has been Series Producer or Line Producer on a wide variety of shows for all of the major broadcasters, from reality to lifestyle to doc-series.
Dana is passionate about putting great teams together and using any possible influence to attract production work to BC. She co-founded FactualWEST with Kate Green and Rob Hardy, for this purpose.
Sophie Morgandinho, Treasurer
Sheona McDonald, Co-Secretary
As a producer, writer and director, Sheona has spearheaded many films. Most recently, feature length documentary Dead Man’s Switch a crypto mystery and the short doc Into Light. Prior to that: Candice, a documentary about feminist pornographer Candida Royalle; A short Essay on Men, exploring contemporary masculinity; Inside Her Sex, about female sexuality and shame; When Dreams Take Flight, exploring why humans are compelled to fly like birds; and Capturing a Short Life, about families dealing with infant loss. She directed season 2 of Emergency Room: Life and Death at VGH and directed several episodes of Love it or List it.
Sheona series produced, directed and co-wrote the recent Knowledge Network series Transplant Stories and series produced the last dozen episodes of the popular television series Border Security: America’s Front Line.
Sheona has a number of other projects & scripts in development, across genre.
Amber Verville
Amber Verville is a senior producer with over two decades of experience in documentary television. She has guided series from development through delivery, overseeing production and post-production on popular Canadian series including Underdog Inc., Vet Detective, Pets & Pickers, Pamela’s Garden of Eden, The Bachelorette Canada, Jade Fever, Yukon Gold, and Cold Water Cowboys for broadcasters such as Netflix, Prime, Discovery, History, AMI, CBC, and NFB. She is skilled in contracts, Canadian funding, and multi-platform delivery, and brings authentic Canadian stories to life in series that resonate with international audiences. Amber leads diverse teams, mentors emerging talent, and delivers ambitious productions on time, on budget, and to the highest standard.
Félicia Couturier
Adhar Sharma
Adhar is a versatile unscripted TV producer with nearly a decade of experience turning creative ideas into impactful visuals for global brands and leading networks. He has worked on 13 TV series productions, spanning from story and challenge to delivery, for networks such as Netflix, FOX, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and CTV.
In addition to managing complex production processes, Adhar has helped shape intellectual properties for top Western Canadian companies through format development, casting, access, and story research. His unique blend of creativity and practical production expertise makes him a flexible asset who consistently delivers engaging content for broadcasters and streaming platforms.
Carmen Forsberg
Franz Gjula-Lyonnais, Vice President
With over 17 years of hands-on post-production experience across a wide variety of major factual series, Franz has worked with most leading companies and brands in the Vancouver factual television industry. Since 2012, he has been an integral part of Great Pacific Media managing various post-production teams. Transitioning into the role of Director of Post-Production in 2018, he has been able to share his in-depth understanding of the creation process, passion for building teams and mentoring up-and-coming talent to cultivate exceptional outcomes across every project.
Anuj Tyagi, Co-Secretary
Anuj launched his career in India, where he spent eight impactful years contributing to various TV and film projects, honing a robust understanding of the entertainment industry. Upon moving to Canada, he continued to shape the media landscape over the next 16 years, playing key roles in high-profile productions such as Dead Man’s Curse (History Channel), Extracted (FOX), Highway Thru Hell (Discovery), The Amazing Race (CTV), and The Bachelor Canada (W Network).
Recently, Anuj’s innovative storytelling and production expertise have been recognized by major platforms, including Netflix and FOX US, where he has contributed to groundbreaking series. Alongside these accomplishments, he is developing a suspense thriller for a prestigious network in India and spearheading new Canadian projects for networks like History and Discovery, further demonstrating his versatility and dedication to delivering impactful, globally resonant narratives.
Jeff Wonnenberg
Jeff is a seasoned producer, business affairs specialist and occupational health & safety professional in the Canadian motion picture and performing arts industries. He has successfully delivered numerous, flagship live action productions, ranging from unscripted documentary, lifestyle and reality series, to scripted drama and comedy series. He has a strong background in production and business management, including the realms of entertainment law, contract negotiation, risk mitigation, occupational health and safety, budgeting, scheduling, financing, operations, Indigenous reconciliation and environmental sustainability, as well as the development and distribution of screen content.
Jeff is passionate about creating and delivering quality, engaging, and diverse screen content and training that reflects and celebrates Canadian perspectives. Jeff enjoys collaborating with an incredible network of colleagues and an extraordinary roster of on-camera personalities, and is always open to exploring new opportunities and navigating challenges in the screen industry.
Amber Orchard
Amber Orchard began her producing career at the age of nine on the school playground and has been driven by a passion for entertainment and storytelling ever since. For over 30 years, she produced events across the non-profit, corporate, and private sectors, building a reputation for thoughtful, high-impact experiences. She also previously served as the Association Manager for Screen BC supporting advocacy and industry-wide initiatives for British Columbia’s film and television community.
In 2020, Amber shifted her focus to screen production, joining Kate Green Productions as Production Manager on Murphy’s Law (CBC), Co-Producing Season 2 of Narcoleap, and Menopause: Coming in Hot. Her screen credits have since grown to include Bush Wreck Rescue (Discovery), Pamela’s Garden of Eden (HGTV), Million Dollar Secret (Netflix), and Extracted (Fox), along with several acclaimed short films.
Most recently, Amber joined Industrial Light & Magic as Studio Operations Manager, bringing her production and operation experience to one of the world’s most iconic studios.
Elly Ward
Get Involved in FactualWEST
Volunteers Needed
If you’re a member of FactualWEST and you’d like to volunteer, please send us an email and we will be in touch. Volunteers are needed for everything from working the door at events to helping plan and raise sponsorships for new initiatives.
Join The Board
Our membership elects a new board every spring. If you’re interested in running for the board, please email us and we would be happy to talk you through what’s involved.