Erica Hargreave, the Founder of Ahimsa Kids, Ahimsa Media and StoryToGo, is in the unique position of having both taught and worked other jobs in production. She is a writer, actor, host, producer, researcher, and digital strategist and storyteller in the industry. In addition she teaches digital and interactive storytelling in the Broadcast and Media Communications Program at BCIT, and has PAed, been a stand-in, done background, assistant directed, and provided craft services on her colleague’s productions.
This gives Erica an understanding of how best to meet productions needs, while ensuring that the youth are well looked after on-set and are kept up-to-date and engaged in their schooling.
Our other teachers on the Ahimsa Kids team also all have eclectic experiences that make them valuable set teachers for film and TV productions in British Columbia.
- Jennifer Garcia is an actor and acting coach; in addition to writing, directing and producing a short film.
- Lori Yearwood is a dancer, dance coach, and choreographer; in addition to working with Erica at Ahimsa Media and StoryToGo as a writer, producer, researcher, and digital strategist and storyteller. She has also chaperoned her own children when they were youth actors, and is a children’s book author.
- Anne Webster has been in movies as a pianist and a background performer; in addition to acting as a simulated patient in medical training scenarios.
- Taryn Roo Yoneda is an actor.
- Bastienne de Graaff is immersing herself in production by working as a production assistant.
- Pamela Pascal is a children’s book author.
Having taught in traditional and outdoor settings, our teachers are adaptable to the variety of learning environments present on location. Erica, Jennifer and Anne also ensure that all of our teachers are familiar with life on a production set and the etiquette appreciated by all crew members.
Additionally, as a teacher, Erica built an independent school, created much of the Ministry Approved Curriculum for that school, and held the position of Head Teacher there. She has also had both investors and parents approach her about running two other independent schools. As a producer, Erica has produced both broadcast and educational media projects of her own. Many of these have involved the use of child actors. These experiences have given Erica an understanding of both the needs of production and that of the child. She established Ahimsa Kids to best meet the needs of both parties, and has trained our set teachers to reflect this understanding.
