New kid-oriented web series showcases siblings
EiKids began streaming this month, featuring singer Hailey Morgan & actor Cainan Wiebe.
    ...Roxanne Hooper, Langley Advance, Friday, January 22, 2010.

The younger generation, without question, are prolific users of Internet as a communication tool.

So it shouldn't be a big surprise that a brother-and-sister team from Walnut Grove created a new web broadcast designed to communicate with, entertain, and educate children like themselves - who are currently involved, or interested in making a name for themselves, in the entertainment industry.

EiKids (Entertainment Industry Kids) debuted online Monday, Jan. 11, featuring 14-year-old actor Cainan Wiebe and his 15-year-old sister, singer/songwriter Hailey Morgan, as hosts.

When the idea was conceived 13 months ago by the Wiebe family, it was devised as an innovative means to promote, offer added experience, and give increased exposure to these two local artists.

But over the months, the concept grew and evolved into a variety show designed for children ages six to 17. 

The outcome is a weekly 22-minute webisodes - complete with comedy skits, demonstrations, spoofs, reviews, biographys, music, trivia, exercises, and interviews - posted every Monday at: www.eikids.ca.

"It's an inside look into acting, music, and other entertainment specialties from the perspective of kids in the biz. It's interactive. It's educational," said Hailey.

In each episode, the siblings talk about how to get into the entertainment industry, then leave the webisode up for a full week, so aspiring artists can go online and view the segments as many times as they want for free, explained Cainan.

Filming of EiKids began last October, fit in primarily on weekends around the kids' homeschooling schedules, Cainan's auditions, Hailey's performances and recording sessions, Cainan's gymnastics classes, and Hailey's swim meets.

"EiKids has been a family affair. We do everything from pre-production (writing, script, wardrobe, etc.) to filming to post production (music, editing, and marketing)," said their mother Julie Wiebe.

"We are all very proud and excited how the show has turned out and the feedback has been wonderful," she said. "Obviously, we love the arts and want to share our experiences, talent, and knowledge with those kids and families who would like to go down the same road."

The crew has already completed nine of the 12 episodes for the first season, and nearing completion of the last few. They're expecting to start filming the second season later this month.

"Filming the second season will be more challenging with Cainan working on 16 Wishes, a Disney Channel original movie this month and next," Julie said.

Nevertheless, they're planning to produce 12 to 16 seasons and hope EiKids will run for the next four years - at least. 

Cainan said he see himself hosting EiKids until he's too busy filming TV and movies to continue, while his older sister would be content to go indefinitely.

"However long it airs," she said. "It's something I really love and have a lot of fun doing. So, as long as we're filming episodes, I'll be there."

EiKids is more fun and rewarding than either hoped or expected.

"There's a ton of joking around that goes on, on and off the camera, so it's a totally awesome atmosphere we have when we film the episodes," said Hailey.

Her highlight so far was shooting the Bear episodes.

"I came up with the character, wrote the script, and directed the shoot. It was amazing to see it all come together, from those words on a page to the final show that made it into the EiKids webseries," Hailey told the Langley Advance.

For Cainan, his best moment was bringing his favourite character of Professor Dumblestein to life. "He walks with a cane, he travels through time, he brings back unique artifacts, and he's a bit off his rocker," said Cainan. Professor D visit's EiKids in episode 3, airing Jan. 25 at 4 p.m.

So what's in store for EiKids?

"We'd like to... be on the road for the EiKids' Specials; and of course, the pièce de résistance: for EiKids to go viral. Wow! That'd be something," Julie said. "We'd love for the show to go on tour. And for Hailey Morgan and Cainan to be household names."

rhooper@langleyadvance.com

MUSIC: SINGING, SONGWRITING IN THE GENES
    ...Roxanne Hooper, The Langley Advance, Friday, August 14th, 2009.

Pop-rock artists Hailey Morgan, 15, celebrates a family passion for entertainment with the release of her first CD.

Hailey Morgan's parents were convinced there were stars in their little one's future when the three-year-old belted out a tune from her highchair.

"I was shocked, I had no idea she could sing, let alone knew a song," recalled her mom Julie Wiebe. Of course, it should have been expected, when you consider Hailey has not one, but two professional musicians as parents.

It's fair to say it's in the genes, the home-schooled Walnut Grove teen told the Langley Advance. Her parents could tell when their daughter was born "she's going to be a star, so let's give her a star's name." Hailey Morgan was subsequently named after actress Morgan Fairchild.

Hailey subsequently grew up immersed in the world of dance, music and theatre. For most of her formative years, Hailey's parents operated a performing arts school in Surrey and encouraged both their children to participate in various productions.

"Hailey's been on stage singing and performing since before she could tie the shoelaces on her sneakers," said her father and manager Hank Wiebe. Even after they closed the school, her folks helped fostered Hailey's interest in music, enrolling her in piano lessons at age eight, and upon her request helped her co-write her first song over the course of a long weekend that same year.

That first song, No Boys Allowed, told of planning for a big party with candy and cake, but no boys, Hailey recalled. From there, Hailey hasn't stopped writing, scribing literally hundreds of songs, with 10 of her favourite showcased on her debut CD, You & Me, which was released last month.

But on the music front, Hailey isn't only writing songs, she also sings and plays piano. Hailey has studied the piano to the Grade 5 level with the Royal Conservatory of Music, but plays mostly by ear. And while Hailey's parents recognized she had some strong musical interests and abilities early on, they admittedly didn't really take realize her potential, until at the age of 12, she placed in the top 10 in a West Coast singer and songwriter's competition - vying against 120 adults.

"Hailey Morgan is able to emote expression and feeling into her songs and mesmerize an audience with her talent and performance. There's a rawness, a passion in her voice and lyrics surprising for someone so young," expressed a very proud pappa. An early influence on her vocals and music was the rock group Evanescence, and specifically lead singer Amy Lee's powerful and angelic voice, Hailey explained.

Today, this emerging artist definitely has developed her own sound and style, but said her pop-rock music is inspired by female singer/songwriters including Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch, Stacie Orrico, and Mariah Carey - to name a few. Hailey's sound can be likened to a mix of Kelly Clarkson and Sarah McLachlan.

"She has Kelly's strength and vocal range with Sarah's airiness and ease of melody," said Hank, who started playing in a marching band in his teens and has never given up his passion for music - both parents more into the jazz and country genres. However, her parents' music admittedly takes a back seat to fostering their children's career. Hank, for instance, works full time during the day in the construction industry, but evenings and weekends are devoted to his manager duties.

As for Hailey, she can usually be found poised at the keyboard in front of her bedroom window, which offers a picturesque view of the neighbouring forest, working on her latest originals. In fact, Hailey spends a few hours ever day writing new material, and her parents actually have to coax her away from the piano.

"This work ethic no doubt comes from a child who has been home-schooled most of her life," Wiebe said. So Hailey was asked a natural question for any young aspiring artists: Did your folks push you into the entertainment world?

After all, her 13-year-old brother Cainan Wiebe is also a rising star in the acting realm, earlier this year receiving two acting awards in Hollywood, for his work in the world of commercials, television and film. Hailey described her parents as supportive, noting her father focuses on helping her develop her career, while their mother manages her brother's career.

"My parents are like my chauffeurs, taking me to the gigs," Hailey chuckling. But seriously, she added, she's never felt strong armed into singing or performing. It's a passion - especially the songwriting - that she said engulfs her.

"I just love to write," she said, noting she's also scribing a fantasy novel for young adults, which she hopes to get published next year. She's also penned a few drama, comedy and action screenplays, but she's not sure if anything will ever come of those.

In the meantime, she's writing her music every day, and it's not uncommon for her to complete one song every couple weeks, noting she typically writes the music first, then adds the lyrics, which she says flow naturally. So much of this new pop-rock CD features original songs that delve into the subject of lost love and heart break.

But what does a teen (she turns 15 today) know of such things, Hailey was asked. Admittedly, she has no personal experience. Instead, she plucks ideas for many of her songs from books and movies, and spent the past two years in and out the studio recording these new songs.

"I wonder what they feel, and I write songs about it," she explained. Addicted to writing, the Grade 10 student said she's already got some songs in the works for her next CD.

"My ultimate goal would be to be a touring performing artist... travelling around the world would be awesome." And focused on making that happen, Hailey practises and writes every single day and performs in public every week or two.

She routinely performs for the Cloverdale Rodeo and Vancouver Canadians baseball, and in revue shows, festivals, charity fundraisers, contests, private and community events, songwriter's showcases, and coffeehouses in and around Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and through the Lower Mainland.

Hailey will be singing at the Port Moody farmers market this Saturday, and at the Cuppa Joe coffee shop on Fourth Avenue in Vancouver on Aug 21. Other performances are noted on her website at: www.haileymorganonline.com

SHINING STAR
    ...The Langley Times, Sunday, September 3, 2006

     Langley's Hailey Wiebe sings Broken Hearted, a song she composed, on the Rogers amphitheatre stage at the PNE. Wiebe was participating in the Semi-finals of the Vancouver Star Discovery kid's talent division at the annual fair.

Festival makes CAMEO
...The Langley Advance, Friday, August 25, 2006

     Dozens of talented musicians from all over the Fraser Valley will gather in Fort Langley to perform at the fifth annual CAMEO Music Festival this weekend. 
     Also called "Rockin' on the River," the event will be hosted by CAMEO, the Canadian Association for Musical Empowerment and Opportunity...Among the headliners are March Hare, Steel Wheels and Heart of Gold. Along with these top notch show bands are emerging Langley artists, including Joanne Chiasson, Emily Adams and Hailey Wiebe.

Local musicians to rock on the river
...The Langley Times, Friday, August 25, 2006

     Hailey Wiebe, 11, is a singer/songwriter who will take the stage at the annual CAMEO Festival. A variety of talented musicians from all over the Fraser Valley will gather in Fort Langley this weekend to perform at the fifth annual CAMEO Music Festival, also called Rockin' on the River...Three female vocalists will represent Langley at the event, including: Joanne Chiasson, Emily Adams and Hailey Wiebe.
     ...Eleven-year-old Hailey won a Youth Talent competition at Abbotsford Agrifair recently. She has been singing and writing songs since she was eight years old.

Topping That Group
...The Abbotsford News, August 2006

     Topping that group was Hailey Wiebe of Langley. Despite being just 11 years old, she has already been singing for eight years and writing her own material for three years. In fact, she won with a song of her own entitled "Broken Hearted." ...

There's no business like...
...Andrea Johnson, The Langley Times, Friday, October 21, 2005

     Bring together a group of talented seniors and children singing show tunes and it creates quite the combination...Hailey Wiebe, 11, will add a younger voice to the performance.

Top talent discovered
...The Langley Advance, Sunday, September 3, 2004

...Other Langley performers also did well in the talent search competition. Hailey Wiebe, who sang "My Immortal," and Meaghan Gipps, dancing to "Supercalifragilistic," both were semi-finalists in the Kids Division. The Event is the largest talent search in B.C., with semi-finalists selected from right across the province.