A St. Albert singer-songwriter-actor is about to discover a second round of fame.
Following his success on the reality series The Next Star, Alex Zaichkowski, 17, is tapped as a lead in Lost & Found Music Studios, a brand new Family Channel teen series debuting Jan. 8.
“The filming process was wonderful with crazy hours,” said Zaichkowski. “But I genuinely love what I do.”
Produced by Temple Street Productions (Orphan Black), the 30-minute television program follows a group of young musicians from an elite after-school music program.
Each year Mr. T., the founder of Lost & Found Music Studios and an established producer, admits a select number of new musicians. At year’s end, only a standout number of players are invited to participate in a live tour.
“They turn passion into a profession,” Zaichkowski explained.
In a highly competitive environment, the adolescents explore their musical identities and goals in addition to dealing with normal teenage relationships.
Zaichkowski nabbed the role of John, a romantic, shy singer-songwriter who finds escape from an unhappy home life through music. John’s mother just died and his relationship with his father is difficult.
“It’s a very tense relationship. Every time his father looks at his son, he sees a bit of his wife. They don’t see eye-to-eye on things and they have several spats. But at the end of the day, his father loves him.”
While sparring with his father, John also develops a burgeoning romance with Michelle (Victoria Baldesarra), a talented dancer from The Next Step.
Lost & Found is an offshoot of Family Channel’s already established dance drama, The Next Step, about a group of top tier dancers pursuing their dreams of a national title. Baldesarra appears in both series.
“He’s (John) head over heels in love with Michelle. She brings out what he was. But he also fears what that might bring. He’s afraid of hurting himself. His story centres around getting back to his self after the tragedy.”
When Zaichkowski won a berth as a finalist on YTV’s The Next Star 2013, he compared the event to “winning a lottery.” Today he credits that initial burst of television experience for securing the role of John.
“Next Star was a key element in feeling comfortable in front of a camera. Because of Next Star, I was able to do this.”
Temple Productions filmed a pilot in Toronto in the summer of 2014 followed by a major shoot of 26 episodes from April to July in 2015. Although each episode is scripted, actors were encouraged to improvise.
“They think it’s more genuine if you can come up with lines and if you interject what you feel.”
Now completing Grade 12 at Paul Kane High, Zaichkowski was supplied with a tutor during shoots.
“But I found it frustrating. I struggle with self-motivation and I get distracted easily,” he laughs.
Dealing with new on-camera experiences and the responsibilities of school brought out a new-found maturity.
“I’ve definitely learned how to be confident in my own skin and to take on another person in a role. I’ve learned an infinite amount about other people and writing and this whole industry. I knew very little about how television works and it’s been very enlightening.”
The first 13 episodes will be broadcast on Family Channel starting Friday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.
