Edmonton – Anaid Productions (Taking It Off  ) has been granted permission to film on an Alberta oil rig for its 13 x 30 docusoap The Rig, following a group of ‘riggers’ through life on and off their huge, sometimes dangerous, workplace.

Access to a rig is not easily garnered, says Anaid president/executive producer Margaret Mardirossian (X-Weighted). She and her team, including producer Deb Proc (Icebound: The Final Voyage of the Karluk), contacted several Alberta-based drilling operations before finding one where both the oil company and drilling outfit agreed to participate. Even so, the oil company has requested not to be named on the show.

‘There is a lot of confidentiality when it comes to the oil and gas industries, so this is sort of unprecedented for us to be able to get in there, behind closed doors, and see what is really going on,’ says Mardirossian. ‘We feel very fortunate.’

The series began its 13-week shooting sked on April 11, and will follow a 16-man crew. Mardirossian says an Anaid crew of four is shooting on the rig, a potentially dangerous assignment, but the producer assures that Anaid and the drilling crew are taking all necessary safety measures.

Mardirossian says the budget is comparable to other lifestyle series, with funding from the Alberta Film Development Program, the Government of Alberta, OLN and federal tax credits. It will debut on OLN this fall.

Anaid is also currently shooting season two of Family Restaurant for Food Network. Its 10 x 30 second cycle with take the Alberta company to Cypress for a big fat Greek season-ending wedding. It is also scheduled to air in the fall.