Mother-son duo step into IT universe

Kahnawa’kehró:non actors Jennifer Podemski and her son, Michael Podemski-Bédard, are making their mark in the HBO series Welcome to Derry, the newest chapter in Stephen King’s iconic It universe.

When Jennifer Podemski first arrived on the set of HBO’s Welcome to Derry, she expected her role to be purely behind the scenes supporting her son, Michael Podemski-Bédard, through long shooting days, helping Michael with schoolwork, and the unpredictable schedule of a young actor.

What she didn’t expect was to be invited into the It universe herself.

“It was really cool being there as a witness to my son’s experience,” she said. “I really enjoyed my time as a set mom and also had the chance to play a role.”

Jennifer, known for her work as an actor, writer, and producer dedicated to Indigenous representation, stepped into the role of a Penobscot clan mother. Ensuring cultural accuracy was essential.

“It felt so good to work with an authentic and legitimate cultural advisor, John Bear, who made sure everything was precise,” she said. “And also having the Indigenous costume designer, Lyndsay Reader, just for this episode made me feel safe enough to not worry about anything cultural. Add to that the leadership of our director Tazbah Chavez who just runs a tight, safe ship!”

Podemski-Bédard has been steadily building his career since Anne With an E.

“It feels surreal since I am a huge fan of the It franchise,” he said.

Life on a major production set, however, is no simple task.

“It’s not always exciting; it’s hard work,” he said. “It’s a lot of waiting and often very uncomfortable wearing wigs, tight belts, and costumes. There’s freezing winters, boiling hot summers, but there is always someone asking how you are and taking care of you.”

And yet, the challenges came with deep rewards.

“I always feel excited to meet new people and build friendships. It’s also so inspiring for me to witness because I want to be behind the camera one day and being on set is an amazing place to learn.”

With decades of work behind her, Jennifer sees her journey as a compass for her son’s ambitions.

“The work I’ve done and the career I’ve had has given him insight into a whole career rather than me at his age having no idea what to do. It’s a very difficult business and can be emotionally and psychologically taxing, so I just try to make sure he knows he has agency and can do it in whatever way works for him for now,” she said.

She fully supports his aspirations, she said.

“It worked out and it was so fun to be in it with him,” she said.

What made Welcome to Derry especially meaningful was the Indigenous presence both in front of and behind the camera.

“There’s no reason why Indigenous people shouldn’t be at the forefront of genre storytelling or any storytelling for that matter,” Jennifer said. “We will get there, and people won’t know what hit them.”

Their shared experience alongside Jennifer’s mother, who also appears on screen, has become a memory they’ll carry forever.

“There were so many moments that were beyond anything I have ever experienced,” she said. “Just being with so many Indigenous friends and colleagues felt so surreal because we got to be together for three weeks and just have the best time. The whole thing just felt like a once in a lifetime thing and I’m so grateful I was there.”

Michael echoed that gratitude: “I am so lucky to have been included in this show, it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

[email protected]