How the co-creators of Kim's Convenience turned the Fringe Festival play into a CSA-nominated series

Everyone has a crazy or dysfunctional story to tell when asked "What are your parents like?" — and that's no different for the co-creators of CBC's Kim's Convenience, Kevin White and Ins Choi.

For Choi, growing up as an aspiring actor only led to frustration as he was faced with the same stereotypical Asian parts offered to him again and again. Instead of going after parts he didn't want, Ins created his own in the stage play of Kim's Convenience, which he wrote based on his own personal family experiences.

The play struck a chord with Kevin White, who saw the play as a spectator but — unbeknownst to him at the time — would soon partner with Choi as co-writer, co-executive producer and co-creator of the TV adaptation. As Kim's Convenience continues to gain popularity among Canadian audiences, Kevin and Ins are thankful that they have this platform to tell diverse cultural stories that deserve to be told.

Kim's Convenience has received 11 2017 Canadian Screen Award nominations. The 2017 Canadian Screen Awards air Sunday March 12th at 8pm local time (9pm AT/9:30 NT) on CBC TV or stream them online here starting with the red carpet at 7:30pm ET.