A Comox Valley filmmaker was awarded $20,000 in production funding to create a pilot of his web series drama, Home Stay.
Chukwumuobi Obasi was awarded the funds through Telus Storyhive’s Web Series Edition, which provides a venue for content creators and screen-based storytellers to hone their skills, take risks and bring the projects they care about to life.
Obasi, who is from Nanaimo but lives in the Valley, will have his story follow the journey of an international student’s struggles when he arrives in Canada to study.
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The web series will tell the story of international student Cheajahaobuike Orji as he tries to adjust to his new environment where he homestays with a Canadian family, The Pattersons, to complete his studies.
When Orji loses his source of sponsorship, he must find a way to raise the next terms’ tuition to avoid deportation. Obasi dives into the challenges faced by Orji as he tries to make money on his own while facing conflicting pressures from both the Patterson family and his immediate family back home.
Obasi’s project was one of 40 selected from 326 applications to receive $20,000 in funding from Telus Storyhive’s Web Series Edition to support storytellers in creating, pitching and producing innovative comedy, drama or documentary web series pilots that reflect on experiences and stories found in their local communities.
When complete, the creators will showcase their pilot to a panel of judges where an additional $60,000 in funding will be presented to the top pilot from B.C. and Alberta (one per province) to bring their web series to life.
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