Cultural Specificity in CBC’s RUN THE BURBS: Screening + Artist Talk

Mélanie Lê Phan
Current Production Executive, Comedy at CBC Television

Mélanie Lê Phan has worked for CBC Television in both Scripted and Unscripted programming since 2013. She is currently an Executive in Charge of Production for Scripted Digital Originals for CBC, overseeing production and development of mid-length series for CBC Gem and of social video series for CBC Comedy. She has worked on the most recent seasons of The Amazing Gayl Pile, How to Buy A Baby and My 90-Year-Old Roommate in addition to other digital scripted series. Mélanie has also worked on digital unscripted content, including the doc series Farm Crime and The Artists as well as several CBC Docs: Shorts one-offs.

Andrew Phung
Actor and Comedian, co-creator of RUN THE BURBS

Andrew Phung is an award-winning actor, improv comedian, emcee, and writer. His infectious and relatable personality has made him one of Canada’s top comedic performers. His work on KIM’S CONVENIENCE has earned him four Canadian Screen Awards (2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021) in the category of Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Andrew’s recent television and film credits include RUN THE BURBS, THE BEAVERTON, EVENTS TRANSPIRING, WYNONNA EARP, and factual series THE CANADIAN IMPROV GAMES, where he served as the host, and won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Host – Digital Series. He can also be heard on CBC Radio as a regular contributor to Now or Never, The Debaters, and Because News.  He is a father it to wonderful boys, husband to the amazing Tamara, and proud owner of over 500 sneakers…seriously.

Rakhee Morzaria
Comedian, Actor and Writer

Rakhee Morzaria is an actress and comedian who produced, wrote, and starred in the Canadian Screen Award and Canadian Comedy Award nominated web-series, NOTE TO SELF about the daily adventures of an overconfident second-generation millennial.

Rakhee has performed at the Toronto Fringe Festival, Toronto Sketchfest, SheDot Festival, Hart House Theatre and Bad Dog Theatre. She is a graduate of Factory Theatre’s artistic training program, Second City’s Conservatory, the Second City Bob Curry Fellowship Program, and she has performed in various shows with the company. Her on-screen credits include Global TV’s PRIVATE EYES, FX’s WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, and HUDSON & REX.

Her comedy has been featured at the WIFT-T showcase, Atlantic Film Festival, and the National Screen Institute’s Film Festival.

Aleysa Young
Director

Aleysa Young made her television debut directing the first season of The Baroness Von Sketch Show. She directed and executive produced New Eden (Crave) and has worked on multiple comedies including Workin’ Moms (CBC), Cavendish (CBC), Kim’s Convenience (CBC), Ginny and Georgia (Netflix), and the finale episodes of Brendar the Barbarian (Nick) and Strays (CBC).

Her work has garnered numerous awards and nominations, including Canadian Screen Awards, Directors Guild of Canada, and Canadian Comedy Awards.

Her most recent projects include The Kids In the Hall reboot (Amazon), and Run the Burbs (CBC) in which she was producing director and EP.

In addition to her commercial work, she’s also working on a film about small town Chinese restaurants based on the novel Chop Suey Nation by Ann Hui.

She is a co-founder of Hire Higher, an organization focused on connecting BIPOC focused film initiatives, foundations, and talent with the commercial production industry through outreach, education, advocacy and mentorship.

If there’s a spare moment, she’s updating the Listings List, a curated collection of Craigslistings.

Joyce Wong
Director

Vinh Nguyen
Cultural Consultant