Name: From Format to Phenomenon: How The Assembly Flips the Script
Start: 2026-09-30T15:15:00-0700
End: 2026-09-30T16:15:00-0700

From Format to Phenomenon: How The Assembly Flips the Script

Wednesday September 30, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT

Asia Pacific Hall (Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue)

Join us for a candid conversation with local production company Small Army and CBC as they dive into how they took the global hit format The Assembly and reimagined it for Canadian audiences. Discover how they identify which international formats resonate locally, what it really takes to adapt a global success for Canadian viewers and broadcasters, and why flipping the script and putting neurodivergent voices and perspectives front and centre makes for bold, authentic, and truly unforgettable television.

Sessions and schedule subject to change.

Speakers

Jessica Schmiedchen

Director of Development, Unscripted Content, CBC Television & CBC Gem

Jessica oversees development of original content and formats in the genres of factual, entertainment and documentary series at CBC and CBC Gem. She is responsible for sourcing the best new formats from around the world, and working with the independent production community in Canada... Read More →

Sean De Vries

Owner & Executive Producer

Sean is an award winning producer, writer, and director. Over the past 15 years, he has created and run more than 200 hours of television for major networks across Canada and around the world. He is a specialist at creating and running large scale reality, social experiment, documentary... Read More →

Wednesday September 30, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
Asia Pacific Hall (Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue) 580 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1L6

FactualWEST 2026

Jessica Schmiedchen

Sean De Vries

Attendees (0)

Get help with the event

FactualWEST 2026

Jessica Schmiedchen

Sean De Vries

Attendees (0)

Sign up or log in to save this to your schedule, view media, leave feedback and see who's attending!

Get help with the event