How much do you know about an amusement park that was to be built on Okanagan Lake’s Rattlesnake Island? Or the whereabouts of BC’s first train robber, Bill Miner’s, stashed loot? Or why camels were used in the goldrush? No ideas? Well, funny that, neither do we. But we’re going to bust our researching asses (errrr... minds) and share it with you.

We’re in the midst of pre-production on a TV show with Bob Kronbauer, from Vancouver is Awesome. The show is about BC’s weird and wonderful history. It is called BC Was Awesome (don’t worry we still think BC is awesome).

Bob will host the show. You’ll join him – a proud British Columbian, storyteller, and amateur historian – as he travels around BC collecting the strangest pieces of our history. He’ll take you to weird places and introduce you to a host of characters (living and dead) with offbeat tales. It’s going to be a ton of fun.

“He’ll take you to weird places and introduce you to a host of characters (living and dead) with offbeat tales. It’s going to be a ton of fun.”

At this point we’re combing the archives (digital and analogue), chatting with historians, and reading books. We’ve got a solid roster of stories. Now we’ve got to figure out which aspect of the story we want to tell. Are we going to have Bob taste 23 Camels Merlot from Fort Berens Estate Winery? Or is he going to make canvas camel shoes with a historian? Once that is sorted we then have to figure out which style of animation we’re going to use for that specific story.

Yes, we’re going to animate all the stories! So when Bob regals us on camera about the camels that were used in the Gold Rush, we’ll have some animated camels prancing around the screen. Or maybe we’ll place these camels right behind Bob. It’s going to be everything from stop motion, 2D, 3D, manga (Jem and I are still debating this), and some archival manipulation. Basically, it’s going to blow your mind.

“Yes, we’re going to animate all the stories!”

Our first shoot will be in Victoria as Bob visits the Royal BC Museum's archives. He’ll meet with some historians and attempt to pet a camel pelt (we’re guessing they won’t let us touch anything there...but it can’t hurt to ask can it?)

BC Was Awesome is funded by TELUS Optik Local, and will be available for free on demand on Optik TV in Fall 2016. Wahoo!