Former P.G. resident a winner at Leo Awards
A former Prince George resident was a winner at this year’s Leo Awards, the pinnacle of the B.C. screen arts industry.
Leia Hutchings was co-nominated along with Zach Williams for their work (directors of photography) on the show Paramedics: Life On The Line.
They were up for Best Cinematography-Documentary Series. That trophy went to Shane Geddes for the show The History Of Food – The Future of Food.
Another nomination for the show – Grant Greschuk in the Best Direction-Documentary Series – also came up short of the win, but the Paramedics: Life On The Line crew still got to feel the rush of victory.
All involved were thrilled to hear their name called out as the overall Best Documentary Series in the province.
“I couldn’t be happier or more proud,” Hutchings told The Citizen following the Leo Awards.
“It was truly a team effort and everyone worked so hard. But the accolades go to our producers who made it all happen and most importantly to all the paramedics who truly are heroes.”
Those producers were Louise Clark, Erin Haskett, Murray Battle, Rudy Buttignol, David Moses, Andrew Easterbrook, Megan Cameron, and Ashley Olpherts.
While in Prince George, Hutchings worked in broadcasting.
She was a video journalist for CKPG where winning awards was also part of her experience, picking up the 2012 Dave Rogers Award for Best Short TV Feature – Small Market from the Association of Electronic Journalists (RTDNA) of Canada.
She also won a coveted Webster Award for student journalism.
After leaving Prince George, she went on to work for CBC’s Kelowna bureau and then went into the film production sector.
Her list of credits includes acclaimed documentary series projects like Airshow, Emergency, High Arctic Haulers and Highway Thru Hell for which she is the story editor.
Paramedics: Life On The Line was made by Lark Productions for the Knowledge Network.
The Leo Awards had other Prince George content on the nominees’ list.
Musician Bryant Olender, formerly of this city and now living in the Lower Mainland, was nominated for his composition in the film Exhibit Man, in the Best Musical Score-Short Drama category (won by Sean William for the film Small Fish).
Fort St. James actor Dylan Playfair was up for Best Performance-Music, Comedy Or Variety Program/Series for his work in the popular series Letterkenny.
That category was won by Priscilla Faia for You Me Her – You Be You And I’ll Be Me. Playfair is a multiple nominee and a past winner at previous editions of the Leo Awards.
A first-time nominee this year was Prince George’s Madison Smith for his work in the show Narcoleap.
He was shortlisted for Best Performance, Male-Web Series.
The category was won by Matt Hamilton for The Actress Diaries.
Narcoleap won no trophies this year but the show accrued three Leo nominations to cement its reputation for quality.