About Us
Fry’n Pan Productions is a Métis and women-owned production company based in Vancouver, founded
by Michelle McLean. With over a decade of industry experience, Michelle brings a wealth of creative and
production expertise to the company. Her work includes an early unscripted series optioned by
Convergent Entertainment, in partnership with OUTtv, and a scripted TV movie for Hallmark’s
Crown Media. Michelle’s leadership ensures that Fry’n Pan Productions consistently delivers compelling,
culturally rich stories that resonate with broad audiences while honouring Indigenous heritage and
community. Rooted in a commitment to authentic and impactful storytelling, Fry’n Pan Productions
specializes in developing original unscripted and scripted content that amplifies contemporary
Indigenous voices and diverse perspectives. The company’s name reflects the many stories "cooking" in
their creative “fry’n pans,” ready to be developed and shared with the world.
About the Founder
Michelle McLean
Michelle McLean is a Vancouver-based creator and a 2025 recipient of the Bell Fund Slate Development Program. A proud member of the B.C. Métis Nation, she brings an adventurous spirit and a deep passion for storytelling to her work across scripted and unscripted television.
After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Art History with Great Distinction and spending nearly a decade in the gallery world, Michelle transitioned into film and television. Represented by Anna Archer of Lucas Talent, her projects have been commissioned and developed with APTN, Fireworks Media, Crown Media, Lighthouse Pictures, and Convergent Entertainment/OUTtv.
In 2023, Michelle founded Fry’n Pan Productions, a company dedicated to creating authentic, unscripted stories that amplify contemporary Indigenous voices. Her current slate includes The Guiding Season, a BC–Ontario co-production with SandBay Entertainment, which received development support from the Canada Media Fund.
An advocate for inclusivity and collaboration within the industry, she recently completed the Inclusive Workplaces for Film & Television program and has been a member of IATSE 891 since 2013.
Contributor: Helga Ungurait
Helga Ungurait brings a wealth of experience from the scripted television world, having served as a script supervisor and creative producer on numerous high-profile series, including The X Files and Once Upon a Time. Her career includes collaborations with renowned actors such as Halle Berry, Donald Sutherland, Robin Williams, Benicio Del Toro, and Chow Yun-Fat. Transitioning into the documentary field, Helga worked with Might for Right Productions, where she contributed to projects that support Indigenous communities and social justice causes. Her work on Dialogue Between Nations provided Indigenous members a platform to record and share meaningful conversations.