NEW YORK and TORONTO – Streamer CBS All Access announced Friday a new series order for comedic documentary series For Heaven’s Sake, which will be co-produced for and aired by CBC in Canada.
The series “blends comedy and crime documentary formats for a unique take on uncovering the truth,” says the press release. The series will follow the search for Harold Heaven, who disappeared from his cabin near Minden, Ontario during the winter of 1934.
While local police searched the nearby woods and dredged the adjacent lake, Harold was never found nor heard from again. The case was closed as a…
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“Rare” move means many Indigenous Manitobans remain without broadband
By Ahmad Hathout
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS for years been dealing with two parties vying for federal funds to deliver high-speed broadband to one of the worst connected regions in the country.
But last week – in the same month it was meeting the proponents of its preferred project to try and salvage it – ISED withdrew $30 million in earmarked Connect to Innovate money because the project had not progressed in a “timely and effective manner,” the government said in an email to Cartt.ca.
That project was led by Wekitowak Communications, telecom RFNow,…
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TORONTO — CBC and production company Accent Entertainment today announced original sketch comedy series TallBoyz has started production on its second season, which is scheduled to premiere on CBC and CBC Gem in winter 2021.
With a collective height of 25’2”, the TallBoyz cast — Guled Abdi, Vance Banzo, Tim Blair and Franco Nguyen — will return to jab at popular culture from a very tall point of view, says the CBC press release.
“This season’s sketches range from silly, absurdist themes, like taking down a buffet or rearing an oil barrel, to hard-hitting examinations of power, privilege, racism, blackface and…
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“PEOPLE LOOK AT the news and see Black and brown faces reading the news,” says Hamlin Grange, who used to do just that for a living.
It’s progress, but it’s far from good enough.
“That’s representation, not inclusion,” Grange told our Bill Roberts in a recent interview for the Cartt.ca podcast. Without people of color in decision-making roles, or “power-broker” positions like executive producer, or even higher up – and there are very few Black, Indigenous and people of colour in such jobs in Canadian media – the industry can’t claim to be making progress. So much remains to be done.
Grange…
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Minister raises, and tamps down, expectations
By Greg O’Brien
HERITAGE MINISTER STEVEN Guilbeault gave precious little away last Wednesday afternoon during a CMPA- and AQPM-sponsored town hall meeting.
As is well known by now in the TV and production communities, after five years of study and work through three different Heritage ministers, the federal government will finally have something concrete to announce sometime during the next session of Parliament this fall. It is expected Wednesday’s Throne Speech will have something to say about new broadcasting legislation.
While Minister Guilbeault was asked a few different ways during the interactive virtual session (he’s pictured…
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TORONTO — CBC’s Schitt’s Creek had a historic night at the 72nd Emmy Awards on Sunday, winning a total of nine awards this year, including Outstanding Comedy Series, marking the first time a Canadian television program has taken the top comedy series prize.
It was also the most primetime Emmy awards ever won by a Canadian series, as well as being the most Emmy wins in a single season for any comedy series.
In addition to winning for outstanding comedy series, other awards went to: Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy for outstanding lead actress and outstanding lead actor in a comedy…
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TORONTO – CBC and Radio-Canada Media Solutions today announced the launch of a branded content division.
Called Tandem, the CBC says it can now enhance its offer to advertisers and media agencies in Canada with the dedicated service for the creation of unique and distinctive branded content.
“The launch of Tandem is in response to what our advertising partners have been asking us for: the opportunity to work with our country’s most trusted media brand to create content experiences that resonate with Canadians on a deeper level,” said Barbara Williams, executive vice-president, in the press release.
“Tandem will help Canada’s strongest brands…
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TORONTO – Kids and family entertainment maker and broadcaster WildBrain, announced Thursday it has reorganized its distribution team.
As part of its new structure, the company has appointed Caroline Tyre (above) to the new position of vice-president, global sales and rights strategy, and created a new role for Lara Ilie, who will take the title vice-president, revenue share and transactional.
Tyre will be responsible for leading WildBrain’s international sales team outside of China and will oversee the implementation of the company’s commercial content strategy, says the company press release. She will report to Deirdre Brennan, executive vice-president, content partnerships and will…
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TORONTO — CBC announced today production on season three of its hit original drama series Coroner has started in Toronto. The series is produced by Muse Entertainment, Back Alley Films and Cineflix Studios.
Inspired by the best-selling series of books by M.R. Hall, Coroner is created for television by Morwyn Brebner (Saving Hope, Rookie Blue) and stars Serinda Swan (Inhumans, Ballers) as coroner Dr. Jenny Cooper.
Joining the cast this season are Mark Taylor (Flashpoint) as Clark, a crown attorney working with Jenny on a new inquest, and Uni Park (Kim’s Convenience) as Melanie, the coroner office’s new pathologist. Returning cast…
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NEW YORK — U.S. media conglomerate WarnerMedia today announced the creation of a new Canadian talent development team which will focus on increasing representation of diverse talent in front of and behind the camera.
The company says the move is part of its ongoing commitment to building a more inclusive and innovative industry and to forging deeper connections with audiences around the world.
Leading the new Canadian talent development team’s efforts under WarnerMedia’s Global Access Programs initiative are Canadian industry notables Deanna Cadette (pictured, left), serving as executive director, and Melanie Nepinak Hadley (mush gih wii kihnew ikwe, right) in the…
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