Production is underway in Winnipeg on the dramatic comedy series Don’t Even for Bell Media streamer Crave and APTN.

The Indigenous-led 6 x 30-minute series is created by showrunner Amber-Sekowan Daniels and coproduced by Pier 21 Films, Frantic Films Manitoba, and Sekowan Media. Daniels is an executive producer alongside director Zoe Hopkins, according to a news release.

Laszlo Barna, Nicole Butler, Karen Tsang, and Vanessa Steinmetz serve as executive producers for Pier 21 Films alongside Frantic Films Manitoba’s CEO Jamie Brown and Stephanie Fast. Lori Lozinski is producing, Karen Hill is co-executive producer and Meg MacKay is coproducer. Production wraps July 14 and the series is scheduled for a 2024 release, a publicist tells Playback Daily.

Don’t Even is produced in association with Crave and APTN, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, Manitoba Film & Music, and tax credit assistance from the Government of Manitoba, the Government of Ontario, and The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.

Set in the late ’90s, the series is described in the release as “an urban Indigenous, coming-of-age story.” It follows the story of two best friends who are facing “adult life choices” after they graduate from high school. The project was first announced as part of Bell Media’s June upfront presentation.

The series stars Leenah Robinson (1923), Victoria Turko (Burden of Truth), Joel Oulette (Trickster), Gail Maurice and Jennifer Podemski.

“We don’t often get to see Indigenous women as funny, weird, and distinct, so I hope this series shows that complexity,” said Daniels in a statement.

Pier 21 Films’ Butler said, “we’re fortunate to have both Crave and APTN as partners sharing a vision in striving to make an incredibly original, and iconic new show.”

Added Brown: “As a Winnipeg-based company, Amber’s stories have a special resonance, and we love her voice and the authenticity of her storytelling.”

Photo courtesy: (L-R) Gail Maurice, Jennifer Podemski (top), Leenah Robinson, Victoria Turko, Joel Oulette (bottom)