TV show 18 to 35 is putting London, Ont., on the map, giving local talent a chance to shine

What would you do if you thought you had booked a trip to London, England, only to arrive at a hostel in London, Ontario?

That's the premise of 18 to 35, a new TV series that just wrapped up filming at Citi Plaza in London, Ont., and is set to air on Bell Fibe TV1 later this year. In addition to showcasing the Forest City, the production has provided opportunities for local talent both in front of and behind the camera, including 20 of the 23 crew members.

"I really think it's going to help the industry here to grow," said Paula Vergara, who served as the production designer for the series.

Vergara is the co-owner of Half and Half Agency, a London-based agency that has produced documentaries, commercials, music and other creative projects in both Canada and the U.S.

Vergara and her husband Frederico Pereanez moved to Canada from Columbia and founded their company in 2005. They work with graduates from the production programs at Fanshawe College and Western University, as well as professionals from overseas.

She said creating opportunities locally opens doors for immigrants like them who are qualified, but may otherwise be overlooked for work.

"They are very professional back in their country, but when they come to Canada, it is impossible for them to get a job unless they have a university degree or Canadian experience," she said. "Seeing that 18 to 35 gave them that opportunity, I'm very grateful."

In addition to the crew, four actors for the series are local, including Natalia Gracious, who plays the show's protagonist, Misha Patel.

"It's so amazing to have opportunities to work and create Canadian content here. I think it is so cool because we have so many talented artists, actors and crew," said Gracious. "I love seeing them get more work."

Gracious got her start in the acting business as a high school student in London's art scene. She was a student at the Lester B. Pearson School for Arts and participated in local productions at the Grand Theatre. She has since moved from the city to build her career but was excited to have an opportunity to work at home.

"It's really special to me that I get to continue my craft in this city," she said. "My family is very thrilled to have me in this story about London."

The series is the brainchild of Charlie Whalley and Rahul Chaturvedi, two creatives with a wealth of experience in creating Canadian content. Whalley helped to produce shows like Ginny & Georgia and Chucky, while Chaturvedi has experience bringing productions like Late Bloomer and Bollywed to life. The show was picked up by Bell Fibe TV1 for production after the pair won a pitch competition at the 2023 Forest City Film Festival.

LISTEN | 18 to 35 co-creators Charlie Whalley and Rahul Chaturvedi discuss their comedy set in London:

Chaturvedi said that highlighting local places and talent is critical, particularly when the industry is facing uncertainty, given the ongoing trade war between Canada and the U.S. and comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump.

"We have seen so much TV coming out of L.A. or New York," Chaturvedi said. "But having support for community TV gives us this sense of Canadian identity and gets us excited to travel more within the country itself, especially at the time where we are right now."