What’s your name and your usual job title(s)?
Stephanie Rosloski – Director, Story Editor and Lead Story editor
How did you get started working in factual TV?
I had just finished my final year at UBC, wondering what I was going to do with my life, when I got the chance to interview for a production assistant job on ZeD, a new, cutting edge arts and culture show on the CBC. I wanted the job. I really REALLY wanted it. Despite my nerves, the interview went very well. I loved the concept of the show and I felt like I was a good fit – so when the executive producer called and told me they were going with someone else – I was heartbroken. But as so often happens in life – when one door closes another opens – and when I reconnected with one of the producers on the show, she told me they were still looking for a local VJ for their short “artist profile” segments and suggested that I pitch her some ideas. I pitched them everything around town that I found quirky and unique (East Van Chopper Bikes, An Entomologist Jeweler, ‘The Underwear Project’ photography exhibit – to name a few) and I ended up directing several spots in the season. That job gave me invaluable experience and opened the door for me to work on bigger and bigger productions in the city.
Ultimately, the production assistant job was the best job I never got, because it kick-started my career in directing and writing in factual and I haven’t looked back since.
What do you consider to be your career highlight(s)?
I truly love what I do and the past 2 years have been the best so far. Writing on The Oland Murder (CBC) was incredibly rewarding and gave me the chance to work with some of my favourite folks in the business. Immediately after that, I was lucky enough to be a part of the talented team that shaped History’s hit series,Big Timber – which is currently shooting season 2.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve had to do working in factual TV?
On my first day directing on Confessions: Animal Hoarders (Animal Planet) I was in a small mobile home in Muskogee, Oklahoma with over 300 rabbits. I’ll never forget that moment… or the smell.
One thing to note about this series was that while the content could be disturbing – it wasn’t just shock TV. The series producer, story editors, and editors took such care to shape each episode to explore the subjects’ hearts and minds and the underlying trauma they had all experienced. The hard work the story team did on this show made me want to spend more time crafting stories in the edit suite.
What’s something interesting/unusual about you that most people don’t know?
I have a Theatre Performance Diploma from Humber College in Toronto. I’ve missed not being able to see live performances during the pandemic and I can’t wait until we can all get back to enjoying shows together!
What’s your ultimate career aspiration?
There’s so much great TV being made in the city right now and I’d love to one day get a green light for one of my show ideas. Until then, my goal is to keep writing and directing on shows with great stories and working with talented, collaborative and fun people.
