Development & Production

Robert Hardy

Head of Development

Robert Hardy spent nearly a decade as a broadcaster working at CBC and CTV, including four years heading CTV’s western development office in Vancouver, where he oversaw the development  and production of dozens of shows including series, movies of the week, documentaries and alternative programming. His credits at CTV include Executive in Charge of Production of the 13 x one-hour series Defying Gravity (a co-venture with ABC, BBC and Fox TV Studios) and the Force Four television movie Playing for Keeps (for CTV and Lifetime). Robert is also an experienced writer and producer of television and digital media, and got his start writing and directing award-winning commercials & developing consumer and business brands.

Dana Johl

Head of Production

Dana Johl is an experienced producer specializing in lifestyle, reality and factual television. As Force Four’s Head of Production, Dana manages start-up, hiring and production on all Force Four projects.

Dana has worked as Series Producer on W Network’s The Cupcake Girls, (winner of the 2010 Gemini Award for Best Reality Series) and Smart Cookies, OWN’s Murder She Solved: True Crime and HGTV’s Urban Suburban, Take it Outside and She’s Crafty. She also created and executive produced YTV’s Spy Academy, a multi-crew kid’s reality show, for its two-season run.

Dana has a degree in Broadcast Journalism from Ryerson University and worked researching, writing and reporting for BCTV News as well as in lifestyle programming at Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting.

Deb Wainwright

Head of Creative

Deb Wainwright is an award-winning director and Gemini-nominated producer who has been working in Vancouver’s television industry since 1986. Her experience spans the genres from children’s shows and music specials to reality and documentary series and one-offs. Her ability to tell stories that entertain and inform make her a natural fit as Force Four’s Head of Creative where she oversees the creative treatment of programs such as The Cupcake Girls, Urban Suburban, Million Dollar Neighbourhood, and Border Security.

Deb has a PhD in Communications from the Annenberg School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology, Human Learning and Development from the University of British Columbia.

Tara-Lee Novak

Development Producer

Tara-Lee has had a penchant for film & television since watching Patrick Swayze lift Jennifer Grey in the closing scene of Dirty Dancing.   Assuming the mantra, “Nobody puts Baby in the corner”, Tara-Lee graduated with honours from the University of Toronto with a degree in English and Sociology, followed by a diploma in Broadcast Journalism from BCIT.

She has contributed to a variety of Force Four series including W Network’s Cupcake Girls, OWN’s Murder She Solved and HGTV’s Urban Suburban.

Currently, Tara-Lee works full-time as Force Four’s development producer, contributing to the logistic and creative development of an ongoing and exciting slate of new projects.

Nicholas Treeshin

Development Producer-Director

Nicholas Treeshin is a writer director with over 75 episodes of television under his belt, directing for the likes of National Geographic, OLN, HGTV, OWN, CityTV & W Network. Constantly creating & evolving new concepts, Nicholas was born for development. His love of music has led him to numerous collaborations with hip-hop music producer Religion, directing videos for Moka Only, EDGE & Pittsburgh native Jasiri X. In addition to lifestyle-reality television, Nicholas is also passionate about the scripted side of things & his latest short film Leave Us Alone is slated to have its Los Angeles festival premiere at Screamfest 2013. With a BFA in film production, Nicholas is a graduate from the University of Regina.

Maresa McLaren

Assistant Producer

As Assistant Producer, Maresa works closely with development and the executive producers, contributing to various projects in production and in development. Maresa also manages Force Four’s social media networks.

Maresa joined the company in 2011 for W Network’s The Cupcake Girls. She has a degree in Psychology from the University of Victoria.

Amanda Seip

Office Manager

Amanda previously worked as a make-up artist on two Force Four productions: Wakanheja and Art Zone. She enjoyed the experience so much that she jumped at the opportunity to join the Force Four team permanently as the Office Manager.

Amanda manages the office and ensures that everything runs smoothly for clients and employees alike.