A Hong Kong-based television broadcasting company filmed two new shows in and around Yellowknife this week.

Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB)'s crew arrived in Yellowknife last weekend to start filming and will be in town until Nov. 30. One of the things they are filming is a Christmas special called Unexpected Journey which will air to about 1.5 million viewers on their national broadcast channel, said Rachelle Francoeur, a casting agent and location scout.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 like a mini-series but it feels like itSA国际影视传媒檚 a mini-series that lasts three to five minutes each segment, so I have no definition really what the format is,SA国际影视传媒� said Francoeur.

SA国际影视传媒淭he story of Unexpected Journey, starring TVB artistes Judy Kwong and Jarvis Chow, takes place during Christmas and centres around a boy and a girl in their mid-twenties who have just won two tickets to Yellowknife as part of a contest,SA国际影视传媒� said Stephanie Wong, senior manager of corporate and community relations at TVB, in an email. The two characters don't get along at first, as they are an unlikely duo of "Ms. Perfect" and the geekiest kid ever, Wong explained.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen they arrive, not only are they strangers to each other but also to their new surroundings. They stumble upon many adventures during their time in Yellowknife which really test their character,SA国际影视传媒� said Wong, adding that they hope to see the aurora borealis before they leave. SA国际影视传媒淎s the story progresses their bond with one another grows,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t is part comedy, part adventure, part romance.SA国际影视传媒�

The 10-episode mini program will be aired on TVB's flagship Jade channel in Hong Kong beginning December 10, as well as on the international version of TVB Jade channel TVB Anywhere, an OTT platform dedicated to overseas viewers, including Canada, said Wong.

The other series is called Aurora the Beautiful, which is hosted by TVB artiste Maggie Wong and KOL Sandy To. KOL stands for Key Opinion Leader, also known as a social media influencer.

SA国际影视传媒淸They] are out to find the best things that Yellowknife has to offer,SA国际影视传媒� said Wong. SA国际影视传媒淚t is the online companion program to SA国际影视传媒淯nexpected JourneySA国际影视传媒� visiting the same filming locations and showcasing the city of Yellowknife on the way.SA国际影视传媒� Aurora the Beautiful will be uploaded on the Facebook page SeeSeeTVB starting December 21.

TVB was seeking local actors for the shows last month, including a SA国际影视传媒渃reepy-lookingSA国际影视传媒� middle-aged white man, some gangsters and a handful of extras as Aurora viewers. The company specifically requested non-Asian actors for these roles, said Francoeur.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey have this definition I guess of what we should look like,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淥r they just wanted something exotic in what they present their viewers. For me, it was almost on the verge of you canSA国际影视传媒檛 really discriminate but I wrote the formula non-Asian preferred and hopefully I wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 going to get any complaints about it,SA国际影视传媒� said Francoeur.

SA国际影视传媒淲hile our main casts are from Hong Kong, we feel the responsibility to diversify our cast whenever we have the opportunity,SA国际影视传媒� said Wong. SA国际影视传媒淲e have therefore casted the supporting roles in Yellowknife.SA国际影视传媒�

They were able to find actors for all the roles they needed in Yellowknife. People were not necessarily selected based on their level of training, but based on their audition tape, said Francoeur.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 some people that got training that I was not aware of, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 some people that I knew they could act but I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know that they had formal training,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd then thereSA国际影视传媒檚 people that just wanted to try.SA国际影视传媒�

While some parts of the shows will be shot in Yellowknife, most of it will take place outside the city, said Francoeur.

SA国际影视传媒淭here will be some stuff in the city, especially with the special of Aurora the Beautiful where they visit places,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding that they planned to do some shooting around Bullock's Bistro in Old Town.

When there is filming occurring in the city, there will be a sign indicating that filming is in progress, but people shouldn't anticipate any major disruptions Francoeur said.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not going to be Yellowknife-only with a big production,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Wong said they chose to film in Yellowknife because of its reputation for being able to see the northern lights. SA国际影视传媒淎s well as for its beautiful winter scenery,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t is the perfect location for our fictional characters to thrive.SA国际影视传媒�

Francoeur said she's happy to see the territory getting more attention from the film industry.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 just glad that the film industry is getting more people to come up here and are interested in shooting in the Northwest Territories,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淥f course, itSA国际影视传媒檚 good for people that work in this line of business. It is growing and weSA国际影视传媒檙e really happy to welcome productions like that.SA国际影视传媒�