As a writer, director and executive producer of an eight part mini-series about the Canadian tainted blood scandal of the early 1980s, Robert Cooper knows the story well.

The series, which is shooting in the Comox Valley, is also very personal for the Canadian filmmaker: he was born with hemophilia and required blood products during the scandal.

含羞草研究社�(Hemophilia) is a genetic disease that affects your blood clotting and you require a blood product in order to have your blood clot - it can affect you in minor or major ways. In the 含羞草研究社�80s when HIV and other infectious diseases like hepatitis were infiltrating and affecting the blood system, hemophiliacs 含羞草研究社� because they depend on blood; take a lot of it 含羞草研究社� were largely affected by that unfortunate situation.含羞草研究社�

While he did not get HIV from tainted blood, he has drawnon both his own experience and that of others to create Unspeakable, which is set to air on CBC and Sundance Channel in the U.S. next January.

The Vancouver-based production is shooting at two locations in the Valley - the Comox Valley Airport and St. Joseph含羞草研究社檚 General Hospital, which served as hospitals in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver because the look changes from floor to floor.

含羞草研究社淭his is the first time shooting in the Valley,含羞草研究社� explained Cooper, whose is known for his work on the Stargate television franchise.

含羞草研究社淭here are certainly logistical challenges around it because we were a production that was originally built to work in Vancouver, but it含羞草研究社檚 something we含羞草研究社檝e been looking at since the opportunity was presented to us in the fall, but our production team has done an amazing job making it an incredibly seamless process.含羞草研究社�

While the blood scandal affected the Canadian health care system, Cooper explained it is a global story, and added it is about human beings struggling with health issues in a world in which bureaucracies, money and institutions rule.

含羞草研究社淚 feel like that is something everyone can identify with. We all have our struggles. I think that is the reason we seek out stories like this because there is a community in finding commonality - the same human experience and it makes us feel like we are not alone.含羞草研究社�

The production 含羞草研究社� which stars Sarah Wayne Callies (Colony, Prison Break, The Walking Dead) and Shawn Doyle (Desperate Housewives, Big Love) 含羞草研究社� has been very co-operative with the other parts of the building that are still being used, such as The Views.

Joan Miller, film commissioner for the Vancouver Island North Film Commission said the production serves as an opportunity for graduates from North Island College含羞草研究社檚 TV & Film Training Programs to gain work experience, as well as for many local services to be contracted, including restaurants, hotels and security firms.

As for the shift from sci-fi to drama, Cooper said the drama genre presents its own challenges, but noted it is very rewarding to have people engage in conversations or scenes about real emotion and real-life stakes.

含羞草研究社淓veryone who has been part of the cast and crew have talked about [how], particularly in Canada, these types of shows don含羞草研究社檛 get made all that often, and it含羞草研究社檚 a rare opportunity to really tell a human story about us that is important to our country.含羞草研究社�

Shooting in the Valley for Unspeakable ends Friday, but the production is set to wrap at the end of June, with an estimated air date of January 2019.

For more information on the mini-series, visit