We believe in the power of storytelling as a vehicle for societal change, and a tool for radical empathy.
Our projects place people and curiosity at the forefront
Our Work
Whether we're producing a factual or scripted project, or working across podcast, tv, or film, we start with finding the core of the story, the message and the questions behind it, and then build out from there to create media that makes impact.
We approach every project with a commitment to authenticity and creativity.
An Artist’s Journey - Legacy of Japanese Canadian Internment
44min - Documentary
CBC Absolutely Canadian Doc Series, 2026
Set to premier on CBC Gem on May 1st.
The documentary follows Autistic multimedia artist Laura Shintani, whose work has been exhibited across Canada, as she leads a new generation of Japanese-Canadians to confront the legacy of WWII internment.
Through art and intergenerational dialogue, the audience will follow Laura’s symbolic journey across the country, as she retraces her ancestors’ path of forced relocation, reclaiming history and community along the way.
Key Creative team
Directors: Max Attwood & Rachel Arundel
Producer: Jane Aster Roe
Executive Producers: Jane Aster Roe, Rachel Arundel, Adele Cardamone-Martel (CBC Ontario - Absolutely Canadian
The Defendants Podcast - Season one
The Defendants is a podcast exploring how sexual assault cases move through the justice system… and why it never seems to work in favour of victims. We want to know what has to change within the system for it to actually work, and we are interrogating what justice means in the aftermath of trauma.
We created the podcast to help figure out exactly how the system fails, why, and what to do about it.
Episode 1 coming May 21 to wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Creator & Host: Jane Aster Roe
Executive Producers: Rachel Arundel, Jess Strachan, Jane Aster Roe
Leadership team
Jane & Rachel have been described as having strong road trip energy.
Jane Aster Roe
Founder and CEO Jane Aster Roe, an award-winning multimedia writer, producer, and storyteller based in Toronto, Canada. She is driven by her own experiences and innate curiosity about human nature.
As the founder and CEO of Aster Roe Productions, Jane has helped to facilitate the production of several award winning theatrical productions, short films, and has multiple long form series in development and production. Through her work she strives to tell unknown stories and tell familiar stories through new lenses.
Jane has experience working across all platforms and budgets from small indie houses to bigger companies like CBC.
Rachel Arundel
Co-Owner and Creative Director Rachel Arundel is a New Zealand-Canadian Creative Director and Producer with over 15+ years experience working in film/television and advertising. Her directorial debut ‘An Artist’s Journey - Legacy of Japanese Canadian Internment’ will premier on the CBC in May, 2026.
Rachel is known for her boundless enthusiasm, and gets a kick out of connecting dots that others often overlook.
She has worked in New Zealand, Europe and Canada, and has created interactive experiences and social campaigns for brands such as YouTube, Netflix, Samsung and Education New Zealand. Her production credits include Come Dine with Me Canada (Food Network), Investigation Shark Attack (National Geographic), Gangland Chronicles (History) and Gold Rush (Discovery).