Cold Lake, AB – Vancouver-based Paperny Films will begin its 35-week-long production of Jetstream, an 8 x 60 for Discovery Channel Canada, on April 3.

The $3.5-million series – financed by Discovery – follows six recently graduated Canadian fighter pilots selected specifically to learn to fly new state-of-the-art fighter jets over eight months. According to executive producer Cal Shumiatcher, the access given to Paperny by the military for the project is ‘unprecedented,’ but it took about 18 months of negotiations to work out.

‘It was a matter of winning their trust,’ says Shumiatcher. ‘They’ve seen our historical military documentaries [such as Victory 1945], and know that we tell an even and entertaining story. I think they want the human side of this story told. For an eight-month period we will be living cheek-by-jowl with these fighter pilot trainees and their instructors. ‘

Laine Drewery is producing, with Kelly McClughan serving as series director. John Westheuser is directing and sharing DOP duties with John Collins. David Paperny is executive producing with Shumiatcher. Vancouver’s Art Effects Studios is creating the series’ 3D animated components.

Shumiatcher says a companion Internet site will be launched with the series that will allow users to virtually fly simplified versions of missions featured in the show, and give them the chance to compete against other desk-chair pilots for online Top Gun status.

Jetstream will be shot at the Canadian Air Force’s 4 Wing Cold Lake Airbase in Alberta. Production is scheduled to run until November, with the series earmarked to begin airing on Discovery in April 2007.