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U  N  I  Together

(you and i together)

Productions

(UNIT)

is a transdisciplinary company dedicated to creating culturally dynamic content rooted in Filipino-Canadian stories. Founded in 2016 by Hazel Venzon and David Oro, UNIT produces a wide range of creative works, including live art events, performance art, plays, musicals, graphic novels, films, documentaries, and hybrid entertainment formats.

 

Initially conceived as a multidisciplinary producing company, UNIT shifted its focus after touring with their first project, The Places We Go, realizing the need to spotlight Filipino narratives in Winnipeg. By 2019, UNIT evolved into a service organization, providing mentorship, dramaturgy, and production support to Filipino writers, creators, and emerging artists. UNIT embraces diversity by fostering relationships that are conscious of social identities such as gender, class, sexuality, and nationality.

 

UNIT’s leadership approach prioritizes human connection and equity, leading with creativity, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to explore, fail, and rebuild. Their work centers on supporting the Filipino community, helping bring underrepresented stories to the mainstream.

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It has taken thoughtful reflection and community engagement to discern UNITs pivotal role within Winnipeg’s vibrant arts scene. Founded with a mission to uplift underrepresented voices, particularly within the Filipino and broader POC communities, UNIT has grown into a key player in nurturing and showcasing diverse artistic talent. Our work bridges the gap between cultural storytelling and professional development, providing artists with the tools, mentorship, and platforms they need to thrive.

 

At the heart of UNIT’s mission is a commitment to creating spaces where artists can explore identity, cultural heritage, and community through innovative and inclusive programming. In 2025, we are proud to introduce two cornerstone initiatives that will shape the next phase of our work: the PAGBUO Workshop Series and PASKO Tales. UNIT is building a sustainable model for artistic development and cultural storytelling in Winnipeg. These programs not only provide critical professional development opportunities for Filipino-Canadian and POC artists but spaces for engagement and growth.

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UNIT is composed of Executive Director and Artistic Producer, Hazel Venzon, and Art Director and Visual Developer, David Oro. Together, they have over 20 years of art making experience. Hazel has a background in sculpture, acting, directing and theatre making and has produced and directed festivals and live events all over the world since 2007. While David’s career has stretched over graphic design & layout, digital painting, storyboarding, concept design for video games, films and animation since 2005. They share a deep interest in helping bring more Filipino stories to the mainstream through their dedication to supporting the artist and their unique pathway.

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Hazel Venzon

Executive Artistic Producing Director / Co-Founder

 

Hazel Venzon is a director based in Winnipeg, Treaty 1 Territory, whose work is shaped by relational art and community engagement to create immersive, intercultural theatre experiences. Early in her career, she noticed that traditional plays didn’t reflect the multicultural world she inhabited, inspiring her to develop her own works and collaborate with independent companies that challenge conventional ideas of character and identity. As an actress, Hazel’s performances have toured the Philippines, Berlin, Canada, and the U.S. She has produced live performances at international festivals in 11 countries, including projects like Haircuts by Children, Eat the Street, Children’s Choice Awards, and These Are the People in Your Neighbourhood for Mammalian Diving Reflex. Hazel has also produced for the Magnetic North Theatre Festival, Luminato Festival, and Vancouver International PuSh Festival, and held associate roles at Yukon Arts Centre and Prairie Theatre Exchange. Recently, she directed the remount of The Mountaintop at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Volare and Everything Has Disappeared at Prairie Theatre Exchange, and Homecoming at The Cultch Historic Theatre (Vancouver). In addition to her theatre work, Hazel is a film and TV producer and director in Manitoba as part of the DGC, with acting appearances on Netflix, Crave, Hallmark, and CBC Gem. Hazel is a member of Canadian Actors Equity Association and ACTRA Manitoba.

David Oro

Visual Developing Director / Co-Founder

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Winnipeg based artist, born and raised in Metro Manila Philippines, who migrated to Winnipeg at the age of seventeen. David Oro is a Painter, Illustrator,

Storyboard Artist, Animator, Set Designer.

He is the Creative Director of Studio SariSari and Co-Founder of U N I Together Productions. He works as a freelance content creator in film, video games, and digital media, specializing in illustration, painting, animation, concept design, storyboarding, and graphic design. Originally from Manila and now based in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 Territory, David has collaborated with companies like Electric Monk Media with his work appearing on platforms like SONY, Disney, CBC, Bell MTS Fibe TV1, and Shaw Media. Recently, he created projections and illustrations for the VR and live performance Everything Has Disappeared. He illustrated and animated the 30-minute short film Places We Go, which received awards for 'Best Animation,' 'Experimental,' and 'Innovation.' He has also storyboarded for Tales from the Loop, directed by Jodie Foster. Beyond his digital work, David has started designing stages for Art Holm and worked as a set designer for plays like Volare, Homecoming, and Feast. He is currently working as a Concept Artist for Complex Games Inc, a Winnipeg based Video Game Developer. 

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OUR WORK

2025 - PASKO Tales 

2025 - Places We Go

2025 - Pagbuo Workshop Series

2024 - Performing Identity Workshop

2024 - Art Holm no. 9 

2024 - Everything Has Disappeared

2023 - Art Holm no. 8

2023 - EHD Mentalism Residency

2023 - The Mixer 

2023 - EHD Community Residency

2022 - Places We Go

2022 - Art Holm no. 6

2022 - Debut

2022 - EHD Community Residency

2021 - Art Holm no. 5 

2021 - Belt Fest 2

2021 - EMBRACE

2021 - EHD Digital Dramaturgy

2021 - Drag meets Trad 

2021 - Bahay Perlas 

2021 - Belt Fest N’ Chill

2020 - Belt Fest

2018 - EHD Field Research

2018 - The Places We Go 

2017 - The Places We Go

(Pending)

Graphic Novel Anak Publishing Inc.

Online and In-person, Winnpeg

Kultivation Festival

Producing Partner

Co-Producer, Mammalian Diving Reflex

Producing Partner

Prairie Theatre Exchange

Live Reading featuring Marie Beath Badian

Kampnagel, Hamburg Germany

Prairie Theatre Exchange, Digital Series

 Producing Partner

Bahay Perlas, Producer

 Rosendthal Theatre, Tondheim Norway

Producing Partner

Digital Presentation and Private Showing

 Digital Livestream

Manitoba Association of Playwrights

Young Lungs Dance Residency

Live YouTube Livestream

Digital Livestream

 Winnipeg

 Manila, Philippines

ConFest, Tacloban, Leyte Philippines

Winnipeg Fringe Festival

OUR VALUES

To address the lack of professional development and training for Filipino-Canadian and POC artists. 

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To provide mentorship to emerging and established POC artists in the areas of creation, direction and artistic production. 

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To create a large volume of Filipino and Filipino-Canadian stories, delivered through both live performance and digital platforms, and accessible to as wide ranging an audience as possible. 

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To examine and uncover contemporary Filipino and Filipino-Canadian identity, and to celebrate Filipino culture through stories and entertainment. 

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To provide outstanding producing, production support and consultation to the artists we work with. 

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