Reality show follows the lives of Whistler residents
WHAT: Whistler Stories
WHERE: Life Network (Channel 70)
WHEN: Premiers Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
There isn’t a million dollar prize for the winner of the reality television show Whistler Stories because there isn’t a winner – but in a sense all of the characters are survivors of one kind or another.
For a period of more than four months last winter, camera crews followed the lives of 10 busy locals, chronicling their very different experiences in saving lives, organizing events, making art and music, wooing sponsorships, planning weddings, driving taxis, getting married, and doing the best they can in a town that moves so fast it almost defies description.
The cast of supporting characters is practically everyone the main characters come across in their daily routines, as well as all the people who ski the slopes and partake in Whistler’s aprés ski nightlife. If you watch carefully, you might even spot yourself in there.
The Life Network calls Whistler Stories "a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at the true Whistler that goes well beyond the glossy magazine spreads and tourist brochures. Challenges on the slopes, a thriving nightlife, and every day struggles and triumphs all come into play as the cameras roll in this extraordinary town."
The project, which was put together by The Eyes Multimedia Productions, was produced by Stan Feingold, an acclaimed producer and director. Most recently, he received international accolades for Heroines, a documentary on drug addiction, prostitution and survival in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
With Whistler Stories, Feingold used multiple crews and shot literally thousands of hours of footage to put together 13 half-hour episodes.
"Our crew was at the mercy of the weather, alpine conditions, and the whim of our characters," he says. "But that’s what makes Whistler Stories so much fun – and it can be pretty unpredicatble."
None of the Whistler locals who participated knew what the final format for the show would be, and had very little interaction, if any, with the other characters. Sometimes the action is completely spontaneous, while at other times the featured characters are giving interviews and encouraged to ham it up a little for the cameras.
Who are the characters?
The main character is undoubtedly Linda Stang, Miss Yamaha Canada and the organizer of the World Freestyle Snowmobiling Association Pro Bowl for the past two years. Stang is featured in 11 of the 13 episodes, with camera crews following her dogged, and often frustrated efforts to single-handedly organize a snowmobile big air event.
"One girl who works at Garfinkel’s who saw a preview episode of the show freaked out when she saw me, and says ‘Oh my God, your life is like a roller coaster, there’s always something happening," says Stang. "That’s what it felt like at the time. I personally haven’t seen it but she says it was just incredible."
Stang says she wasn’t nervous to have the cameras rolling, but it was exciting to have a film crew follow her around.
"I’m pretty comfortable with the camera. I’ve been working on a career similar to this since I was 16, although this is the largest project I’ve ever been involved with," she says. "I have a lot of different things in my portfolio, but nothing like this, and hopefully I can use it to keep moving in this direction."
She also feels the show will vindicate her by showing how much hard work and promotion went into the event.
"From the responses I’ve gotten over the last two years, people think it’s some kind of weekend ordeal to organize an event like this. People need to realize that it takes a full year, and costs a lot of money. This show will demonstrate all the hardships, getting permits from Land and Water B.C., dealing with the municipality, talking to sponsors, promoting the event…"
She says Whistler Stories will also document the run-around she was given by the Resort Municipality of Whistler. The municipality supported the event at first, but withdrew their support at the last minute, which forced Stang to find another venue.
Another key character is freeskier, trainer and model Cat Smiley, a New Zealander who moved to Whistler in 1997 at the age of 19. She is featured in about eight of the episodes.
Like Stang, Smiley is no stranger to cameras and the art of self-promotion. She has been featured in Oxygen Magazine, and will host an online fitness talk show called Physically Tweaked. In addition, the former freestyle athlete competes in freeskiing competitions and park events, including the halfpipe.
Smiley has only seen a few clips from the show, and is curious to see what became of almost four months of filming with the Whistler Stories’ crew. While she tried to act natural, she says it wasn’t always possible with everything else that was going on.
"It’s hard not to look stupid when the camera is on and things are not going as well as you had hoped," she says.
In addition to following her to sponsors and competitions, the crew was also interested in her humble ski bum beginnings – sleeping in a tent and even under a canoe at one point – as she established herself in the world of skiing.
Smiley says her number one priority was to show the whole lifestyle and the sacrifices you have to make. And why those sacrifices are worth it.
"I want to promote the joy of skiing, and give a lot of people that don’t ski an insight into what people here go through for their passion. Luckily I’m one of the people who is able to live their passions every day, and I hope that can inspire people," she says.
Wedding planner Linda Marshall is featured in two episodes on weddings. The brides and grooms share the spotlight in these segments, and the cameras capture a little of how hectic things can be behind the scenes for a wedding planner and event organizer.
Marshall says she was recommended for the show by other locals, and agreed to be on the show after meeting the producer. The camera crews followed her on Valentine’s Day, when Marshall also delivers balloons and flowers as well as the weddings.
She says she didn’t know anything about the show while it was being filmed, and hopes that the editors are kind.
"I wasn’t nervous about the cameras, but I am worried about the quality of service for clients and things were pretty hectic," she says.
"I had mixed feelings when I found out it was for a reality show. I hope they show things as they happened instead of taking the story and sensationalizing it."
Marshall agreed to be part of the production because she felt it would be a good promotion for her business and the resort. The crews followed at a distance for the most part, and a number of people she ran into didn’t even realize the cameras were there while they were talking to Marshall.
Those types of friendly encounters make Whistler look good, says Marshall, and portray the resort in the best light.
"It’s good P.R. for the whole resort, showing what it takes to make it work," she says.
Still, she says she is not an actress, so "you’re going to get what you get."
Other locals featured in the show include musicians Pete Couillard and Chad Olliver of Whole Damn County Fame, cab driver and fire dancer Alison Kemp, British tour operator Mark Knight, on-slope physician Dr. Bruce Mohr, WAG head Lauren Fraser, and artist Chili Thom.
Whistler Stories – Episode 1
Linda Stang hustles sponsors to raise money for her extreme snowmobile event; Cat Smiley trains on the slopes to attempt a comeback as a competitive freeskier; and tour operator Mark Knight picks up a new group of vacationers.
More episode summaries to follow each week.
