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Industry News

Makeful adds a bouquet of new programming to spring lineup

From a media release:

Makeful, Blue Ant Media’s lifestyle specialty channel, is debuting two highly anticipated new original series during its four-week free preview, which begins on February 29. Dedicated to showcasing the beauty and value of creating handmade goods, Makeful’s March lineup includes two brand new series that take special occasions to the next level with creative flair and one-of-a-kind touches. Post My Party (13 x 30), a series featuring vivacious DIY event planner Lynzie Kent and Taste of the Country (13 x 30), which follows the journey of Danielle French who hosts beautiful, rustic weddings and parties at her country estate, premiere back-to-back on Sunday, March 13, at 8 p.m. ET/PT and 8:30 p.m. ET/PT respectively.

Dovetailing with the channel’s spring lineup, Makeful will treat its audiences to a stream of originally produced and inspiring short-form videos for viewing online and on Makeful TV. In all, Makeful is creating more than 100 digital shorts that will roll out in 2016, featuring DIY projects, helpful tips and profiles of Makeful TV hosts as well as talented makers from Makeful’s growing online community.

Makeful’s free preview will also give viewers the opportunity to watch new episodes of Endless Yard Sale Showdown, Holiday Makeover and Portrait Artist of the Year.

Makeful March Premieres
Post My Party (New Original Series, World Premiere) launching Sunday, March 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, follows event expert and DIY maven Lynzie Kent as she helps each host bring the handmade party of their dreams to life through a series of DIY projects to create memorable experiences. From a Barcelona-inspired housewarming to a Hollywood-glam engagement party, Lynzie never disappoints as she takes her clients in search of a truly unique and personalized occasion.

Taste of the Country (New Original Series, World Premiere), airing Sunday, March 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT,introduces viewers to Danielle French, a former real-estate professional, who followed her dream to leave the big city with her four daughters for a life in the country. Turning her passion for rural living into an event business operating right out of her farmhouse, Danielle shows viewers how she uses her home to host weddings, private parties, outdoor cookouts and unique workshops. The series will also bring audiences farm-fresh food and rustically beautiful décor, custom-created for each event by Danielle and her passionate team.

New Series and Episodes:
Holiday Makeover (New Episodes, Original Series, World Premiere) is a special six-part series celebrating special occasions throughout the year, in which one lucky person gets the help of the series’ three talented hosts, Alison, Denise and Adjoa, to create a fairytale celebration. Holiday Makeover’s Mother’s Day instalment will follow the hosts as they lend their collective expertise in crafting, baking and decorating to create special inspirational features for a Mother’s Day gathering. The episode premieres on April 17 at 7 p.m. ET/PT and repeats on Mother’s Day, May 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. New Holiday Makeover episodes will roll out over Father’s Day, July long weekend, Halloween and Christmas.

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Awards, Industry News, Schitt's Creek

ACTRA Toronto announces 14th annual winners

From a media release:

ACTRA Toronto is proud to announce the winners of the 14th Annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto.

Outstanding Performance – Female
Catherine O’Hara (Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, “Wine and Roses” Produced by Not a Real Company)

Outstanding Performance – Male
Christopher Plummer (Zev Guttman in Remember. Produced by Serendipity Point Films)

Outstanding Performance – Voice
Julie Lemieux (Granny Butternut in Numb Chucks, “Tough Love” Produced by 9 Story Media Group)

Tantoo Cardinal presented ACTRA Toronto’s 2016 Award of Excellence to Sarah Gadon.

A special presentation of statuettes was made to ACTRA Toronto’s stunt pioneers: John “Frenchie” Berger, Matt Birman, Shane Cardwell, Shelley Cook, Bobby Hannah, Chris Lamon, Dwayne McLean, Brent Meyer, Branko Racki, Alison Reid, Morris Maurizio Santia, John Stoneham Sr., Anton Tyukodi and Billy E. Williams.

The 14th Annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto were presented at a live show and gala at The Carlu. The show was hosted by comic Martha Chaves with live music by Salsa Norte.

The 14th Annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto was sponsored by: DIAMOND: Actra Fraternal Benefit Society. PLATINUM: ACTRA National, Performers’ Rights Society and Recording Artists’ Collecting Society; Bell Media. GOLD: CBC, CMPA, City of Toronto Film, Television and Digital Media Office, Deluxe, In Your Ear Productions, IATSE 873, Rhombus Media, Shaftesbury Films, United Steelworkers. SILVER: Cavalluzzo, Directors Guild of Canada (Ontario), RBC Royal Bank. BRONZE: Addenda Capital, Creative Arts Savings & Credit Union, Don Carmody Film and Television, eOne, Grant Thornton, HUB International, New Real Films, Rolling Picture Company, Serendipity Point Films, Take 5 Productions, Whizbang Films, Writers Guild of Canada.

ACTRA Toronto is the largest organization within ACTRA, representing more than 15,000 of Canada’s 22,000 professional performers working in recorded media in Canada. As an advocate for Canadian culture since 1943, ACTRA is a member-driven union that continues to secure rights and respect for the work of professional performers.

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Industry News

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) Announces U.S. Sister Network

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From a media release:

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), a Canadian based cable channel dedicated exclusively to indigenous content, has committed to launching All Nations Network (ANN) in the U.S. ANN will be the first network to bring both native and non-native audiences in the U.S. a 24-hour network providing native news, sports, scripted, lifestyle, feature-length movies and children’s programming written, produced, and directed by Native Americans, among others. Network distribution in the U.S. is being represented by Castalia Communications.

In the midst of the discourse over the lack of diversity in Hollywood, some of entertainment’s top stars and creators have joined to endorse ANN’s U.S. entrance. From Robert Redford to Oscar nominated actor Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves), Robbie Robertson (The Band) and acclaimed director Jim Jarmusch they have joined in endorsing the network. Their voices echo the Golden Globes speech by actor Leonardo Dicaprio who thanked the First Nations people in his acceptance speech for his award for “The Revenant.”

For more than 15 years, APTN’s award-winning programming in Canada has reached a staggering 92% of Canadian households and commercial establishments, and has strong traction with both First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples and non-Aboriginal communities. Over 80% of Aboriginal men and women in Canada find content on APTN a source of pride. ANN will provide an opportunity to bring reflective, contemporary, compelling, and original content to consumers of all cultures in the U.S.

The network will be headquartered in New Mexico. Native American filmmaker Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals and NBC’s “Friday Night Lights”), is a Sundance Film Festival and Director’s Guild of America award-winner who will be working closely with All Nations Network to launch in the United States.

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Industry News, Van Helsing

Link: ‘Van Helsing’ Series Casts Kelly Overton In Title Role Of Hunter’s Daughter, 5 Others

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From Nellie Andreeva of Deadline:

‘Van Helsing’ Series Casts Kelly Overton In Title Role Of Hunter’s Daughter, 5 Others
Kelly Overton has been cast as the lead in Van Helsing, the 13-episode sci-fi series from Nomadic Pictures (Fargo, Hell On Wheels), which is set to air on Syfy in the U.S. Also cast in the show, from Neil LaBute, are Jonathan Scarfe (Hell on Wheels), Christopher Heyerdahl (Hell on Wheels), Paul Johansson (Mad Men), David Cubitt (Ray Donovan) and Tim Guinee (Homeland). Continue reading. 

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Industry News

Link: Melanie Joly, Heritage Minister, Vows CBC Help After Years Of ‘Planned Demolition’

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From Zi-Ann Lum of The Huffington Post Canada:

Melanie Joly, Heritage Minister, Vows CBC Help After Years Of ‘Planned Demolition’
The NDP pressed the federal government over its platform pledge to boost funding to CBC/Radio-Canada, days after the heritage minister hinted Liberals could renege on the marquee campaign promise.

“For 10 years the CBC was attacked and needs some oxygen,” NDP opposition heritage critic Pierre Nantel said in question period Monday. “The government made promises it has to keep them now.” Continue reading.

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