From a media release:

WHIZBANG FILMS ANNOUNCES START OF PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON NEW MINISERIES THE YARD FOR THE MOVIE NETWORK AND MOVIE CENTRAL

• Starring Alex Cardillo, Shemar Charles and Quintin Colantoni and Executive Produced by Paul Gross, Frank Siracusa, David Eddie and Michael Mabbott

Whizbang Films, in association with Astral’s The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central (Western Canada), announced today that production has begun on THE YARD, a six part, half-hour miniseries about the day to day struggle for supremacy between two schoolyard gangs. Shooting will take place in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, through August 21st, 2010, and the series will premiere on The Movie Network and Movie Central in 2011.

Executive produced by Paul Gross, Frank Siracusa, David Eddie and Michael Mabbott, the original series stars Alex Cardillo (Durham County, 18 to Life), Shemar Charles (Camp Rock 2, Overruled) and Quintin Colantoni (Flashpoint, Party Down) and newcomers Kofi Payton and Sarah Cranmer. Michael Mabbott (The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico, Baxter) will direct.

“We’re very excited about the show” says Executive Producer Frank Siracusa. “Even though the cast is strictly kids – most between the ages of 10 and 13, anyone who has ever stood in a schoolyard at recess will be able to relate. Reading the scripts brought me right back to grade six, but much funnier.”

The Yard, is set in an urban elementary school, and chronicles two rival gangs vying for control of the schoolyard. In this provocatively humorous series, we follow 12-year-old Nick (Quintin Colantoni) and his crew trying to walk the razor’s edge of maintaining peace and defending their turf against the ruthless Dos Santos brothers (Daniel Lupetina, Daryn Karp), who will stop at nothing to regain control of the Yard. It’s a tough world out there: corruption, greed, violence, seduction and betrayal – and that’s just recess.

The Yard was created and written by Michael Mabbott (The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico) and David Eddie (House Broken, Globe & Mail’s Damage Control). Thom J. Pretak (Cra$h & Burn, This is Wonderland) is producer. Director of Photography is D. Gregor Hagey (Pure Pwnage, The Border) and Peter Emmink (Living in Your Car, The Line) is Production Designer. Aubie Greenberg and Kathleen Meek from Astral’s The Movie Network and Julie Di Cresce from Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central are the production executives overseeing this series.

From a media release:

Til Debt Do Us Part’s Gail Vaz-Oxlade Transforms Spoiled Princesses Into Self-Sufficient Women In New Original Series on Slice

Behold “Princess”: racking up thousands of dollars in credit card debt, living the life, while family and friends pay the price for her reckless spending. In the brand new original series Princess, Gail Vaz-Oxlade, financial expert and host of SliceTM’s popular financial series Til Debt Do Us Part, confronts, cajoles and guides these princesses, with the hopes of transforming them from selfish spenders into money-savvy women. Premiering Tuesday, September 7 at 9pm ET/6pm PT on SliceTM, this 13-part series features compelling stories from women of all ages, and the loved ones who are tired of being taken for granted.

“Til Debt Do Us Part consistently ranks as SliceTM‘s top Canadian series among Adults 25-54,” says Vanessa Case, Vice President, Content, SliceTM. “Viewers who love Gail Vaz-Oxlade for her no-nonsense approach to finance and practical advice will tune in to Princess to watch her tackle brand new financial problems and confront some of her most resistant participants yet.”

“These princesses are pampered and spoiled. They don’t give two hoots about how their spending affects anyone else, and they take zero responsibility for their own money,” says Gail Vaz-Oxlade. “The goal in this series isn’t just to curb a shopaholic lifestyle; it’s about changing the princess’ attitude towards her life. I want them to spend consciously; I want them to take a serious look at the effect of their destructive and manipulative behaviour on their relationships; and I want them to grow up and get serious about being strong, independent women who are in control of their own futures.”

From the young, single mother, too busy shopping and partying to notice either her daughter or her debt, to the 40-year-old self-proclaimed “Daddy’s Girl” who recently quit her job as a bartender with only a closetful of designer purchases to show for it. Although each woman is in a different life situation, each is living the same outrageous lifestyle – way beyond her means and borrowing money from credit cards and loved ones to fulfill her shopping habits, designer label obsessions and idealistic standard of living.

It’s time these princesses got a rude awakening – and SliceTM’s Gail Vaz-Oxlade is just the woman to give them the tough love and financial wake-up call they need to turn their lives around. Putting them on a cash diet, Gail gives the women six weeks to complete a series of challenges and achieve their financial goals, with the promise of up to $5,000 to pay down their debt if they succeed.

Princess is for anyone who has ever disregarded the fate of a pending bill in order to fulfill the wants of that perfect pair of shoes or designer purse. For those who have maxed out their credit cards – or someone else’s – on costly spa treatments in order to boost their self-worth. And for everyone with a “princess” in their life who could use some tough love herself!

Full episodes of Princess and additional content including finance articles and quizzes will be available exclusively online at www.slice.ca following each broadcast.

Continue reading Princess premieres September 7 on Slice →

From a media release:

OPENING IN 24 HOURS? NO PROBLEM

• Renowned Chef and Restaurant Consultant David Adjey is on a Mission to Help New Restaurateurs Open Up
• The Opener Premieres August 31 at 9pm ET/10pm PT on Food Network Canada

The restaurant industry can be a difficult and risky business, especially for rookies. In Food Network Canada’s brand new Canadian original series, The Opener, celebrity chef and restaurant consultant David Adjey is on a mission to give restaurateur newbies a wake-up call before they open their doors and potentially lose everything. Premiering Tuesday, August 31 at 9pm ET/10pm PT, The Opener takes viewers on a dramatic and entertaining ride behind the scenes and into restaurants across North America. From money management and leadership to floor plans and staffing, David Adjey stops at nothing to avoid disaster. For David, failure is not on the menu.

In each episode, David Adjey answers calls from wide-eyed restaurant rookies and does whatever it takes to make their opening dreams come true. Between a pair of former fraternity brothers looking for their next great adventure, an ex-nightclub promoter eager to parlay his skills into the restaurant business, and an owner who has hired a strict vegetarian as his head chef, David has his work cut out for him.

Whether high-end or casual dining, opening a restaurant calls for more than just Grandma’s secret lasagna recipe, friends willing to wait tables, a little money from your parents, and charm. “First-timers often don’t see past the glamour of owning a restaurant,” says David Adjey, host of The Opener. “They’re in for a real shock if they’re not ready to put in 90-hour weeks, early morning set-up, and meticulous cash flow management. They might as well put their money on the floor and set it on fire.”

Having seen all kinds of success and failure in the restaurant industry, David Adjey brings expertise, inspiration, motivation and the brutal truth to new restaurant owners. His unorthodox methods and tough love give aspiring restaurateurs a shot at recouping their money and living their dream.

Foodnetwork.ca will feature a The Opener show page including streaming of episodes after broadcast airing and exclusive content consisting of interviews with David Adjey, David’s insight on how a restaurant can turn a profit, a “where they are now” series following up with show contributors, and a tour of David’s kitchen. For more information visit www.foodnetwork.ca.