Aftermeth, a documentary currently shooting on location throughout the Lower Mainland, profiles three families trapped in addictive patterns while trying to stay clean and sober. It is written and directed by Eva Wunderman (Crystal Fear, Crystal Clear), and produced by Patti Poskitt of Second Son Productions Inc. The production began in July 2009, and is scheduled for completion in April 2011. The broadcast premiere of Aftermeth will be on Knowledge Network in the Fall of 2011, which will coincide with the launch of the website www.aftermeth.com. The broadcast hour documentary is commissioned by Knowledge Network for their Storyville strand.
Aftermeth catches up with recovering Crystal Meth addict Aaron Webb from Crystal Fear, Crystal Clear, and examines the effects that the addiction and recovery process have had on his relationship with his family. After seeing himself in the original documentary he took charge of his life, but in a drastic twist there is a role reversal with his mother Michelle. After her life fell apart she now has major obstacles to overcome.
The film juxtaposes Aaron’s family dynamics with that of Andreas Terezakis, who grew
up selling drugs in a family that once controlled the majority of the drug trade in Vancouver’s notorious Downtown East side. This made Andreas determined not to become an addict, instead becoming a feared fighter in the gang world. Andreas now struggles with his past, writing powerful poems and songs as a means to deal with gangs, drugs, and violence.
The third family consists of Karen and her 23-year-old daughter Brelana. Brelana started using meth when she was 14, she often leaves home for the Downtown Eastside in search for drugs. Aftermeth follows Karen’s struggle to keep her daughter from complete self-destruction as she is convinced Brelana will die unless she is able to kick the habit. We follow Karen’s desperate attempt to find her daughter on Granville and Hastings as her life spirals out of control.
Director Eva Wunderman of Wunderman Film Inc has produced and directed award-winning documentaries since the early 1990’s. Her first documentary The Legacy of Truk Lagoon, produced for A&E, won her a Leo Award for best director. Her films continue to be broadcast around the world and for many years she directed the Gemini Award winning television series Weird Homes. Eva produced and directed Crystal Fear, Crystal Clear for CBC’s The Passionate Eye, which earned her a Gracie Allen Individual Achievement Award in New York. Her most resent documentary The Canyon War just received a Platinum Remi Award at the Houston International Film Festival. Producer Patti Poskitt and her company Second Son Productions (www.secondson.tv) has over 25 years experience in all genres of television, from game shows, children’s programs, and documentary series.
Aftermeth is produced with the support of: Knowledge Network, Canadian Media Fund, BC Production Incentive administered through CMF, BC Film, and CAVCO.
Knowledge Network is where stories live that speaks to our time. As a viewer-supported public
broadcaster, we provide commercial-free creative documentaries, arts and culture and children’s programs from Canada and around the world. Knowledge Network plays a vital role in supporting the independent production community in B.C. and the rest of Canada by commissioning, pre-licensing and acquiring documentary and children’s content for broadcast on Knowledge Network and Knowledge.ca.
Media Contact: Helen Yagi (604) 736-5517, or hyagi@shaw.ca