Scripted Series Lab Mentors 2025
Announcing our 2025 Scripted Series Lab mentors! These talented and generous showrunners are working one-on-one with our cohort to help each of them refine their own pilot scripts. This is an integral and invaluable part of our program as it helps writers polish their personal projects, deepen industry connections, and hone their craft.
The Mentors & Mentees
Ken Craw and Shaun Balbar
Shaun Balbar is working on his hour-long drama with mentor, Ken Craw. While his protagonist makes some arguably bad choices, Shaun’s pick for a mentor was a great selection!
Ken Craw is a Writer/Co-Executive Producer on the legal drama series Family Law as well as Writer/Co-Executive Producer on the long-running ratings hit Heartland. He was also the Showrunner on the streaming series Hudson and has previously written on several other scripted dramas and documentaries that have aired or streamed internationally.
Jennica Harper and Deborah Vogt
With the support of her mentor, Jennica Harper, Deborah Vogt is working on the half-hour comedy that already had members of the application review committee laughing out loud.
Jennica Harper was our celebrated 2023 Showrunner-In-Residence and is most recently Co-Showrunner for Season 3 of CBC’s Run the Burbs. Before that, she was Showrunner and Co-creator of the award-winning comedy series JANN (CTV/Hulu) starring Jann Arden. Jennica was a Writer and Co-Executive Producer on the light mystery The Spencer Sisters (CTV/CW), medical adventure drama SkyMed (Paramount+/CBC), horror-comedy cult favourite The Order (Netflix), and critically acclaimed thriller Cardinal (CTV/Hulu), among others. Jennica has won two WGC Awards for best script, one for the kids comedy Some Assembly Required, the other for the pilot script of JANN.
Sasha Leigh Henry and Mateo Gugushe
Mateo Gugushe is working on his protein-filled workplace comedy under the wing of Sasha Leigh Henry.
Sasha Leigh Henry is a writer, director, and producer based in Toronto. Recently named one of Variety’s 10 to Watch and the creator of the comedy series Bria Mack Gets a Life. (Crave) Her most recent film Sinking Ship, penned by her creative partner Tania Thompson, debuted at TIFF 2020 and was the winner of the 2021 Vimeo Staff Pick Award at Aspen Shortsfest. Her film Bitches Love Brunch screened at festivals internationally before being acquired by CBC Gem.
Lynne Kamm and Sam Kieran Macneil
Sam won our hearts with their half-hour dramedy and we can’t wait to read it again after a mentorship with Lynne Kamm.
Lynne is an EP/Writer on Plan B starring Patrick J Adams. She has been recognized for her writing on Emmy nominated 19-2 and Hulu’s Letterkenny.
Robina Lord Stafford and Cindy Hu
Cindy is pleased to be working on her charming multi-generational comedy with the mentorship of Robina Lord-Stafford.
Robina Lord-Stafford is an award-winning Jamaican-Canadian Screenwriter/Producer. She is a Co-creator of the St Pierre (CBC) and the dramedy They Said This Would Be Fun, as well as a Co-EP for Macy Murdoch and a Producer/Writer on Wild Cards, Pretty Hard Cases and Moonshine. She has written for Hudson & Rex, Frankie Drake Mysteries, and Blood & Water.
Damon Vignale and Corina Bizim
Corina’s witty procedural romance of the week is in good hands and she learns from Damon Vignale.
Damon is known for his work on the hit crime-drama series Motive, the Emmy nominated 19-2, and the critically acclaimed series Blackstone. He was Creator-Showrunner of The Murders for City TV. His crime documentary The Exhibition received numerous accolades including a 2014 International Emmy Award and Canadian Screen Award. Most recently, Damon wrote and directed on the CBC/Paramount + drama series SkyMed.