TV, eh?

From Karen Mazurkewich of the Financial Post:

• Bridging the media gap
  “The television industry may be in an upheaval these days, but a small group of producers has found a perch in the eye of the storm.” Read more.

From a media release:

Outstanding list of finalists announced for the 2009 WGC Screenwriting Awards

The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) will celebrate the winning words of 2008 on April 20 at the 13th Annual WGC Screenwriting Awards, honouring excellence in screenwriting. More than 150 scripts vied for the judges’ attentions this year. The entries have been narrowed to 37 finalist scripts across 11 categories, including screenwriting for feature film, episodic half-hours and one-hours, documentary film and more. In all, 51 screenwriters are up for awards. Several special awards, including the WGC Showrunner Award, will also be handed out at the event. Click here for a full list of nominees.

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From a media release:

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is pleased to announce the nominations for the 23rd Annual Gemini Awards, recognizing the year’s best in Canadian English-language television. The Gemini Awards Broadcast Gala will be presented in Toronto, ON at the John Bassett Theatre on Friday, November 28, 2008. Canwest Broadcasting joins the Academy in celebrating this year’s exceptional achievements, airing the Gemini Awards Broadcast Gala on E! Network and Showcase at 9 pm ET.

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From Marija Djukic of Media in Canada:

• August is time for marathons – on TV, that is
  “Showcase has the third season of Regenesis set to air weekdays at 7 pm beginning August 4.” Read more.

From Paige Albiniak of Broadcasting & Cable:

• Program Partners Renews Syndie Crime Franchises
  “Program Partners renewed all three of its crime dramas — Da Vinci’s Inquest, Cold Squad and ReGenesis — for seasons four, three and two, respectively, the syndicator said Monday.” Read more.

From Bill Harris of the Toronto Sun:

• ReGenesis winds up revealing The Truth
  “The X Files used to promise us that ‘the truth is out there.’ Well, apparently if the truth is what we’re seeking, we need look no further than the series-finale of acclaimed Canadian series ReGenesis, which airs Sunday on The Movie Network and Movie Central.” Read more.

From a media release:

After four groundbreaking seasons, Shaftesbury’s Gemini Award-winning television series ReGenesis concludes this Sunday, May 25 at 8 p.m. ET on The Movie Network (eastern Canada) and 9 p.m. PT on Movie Central (western Canada). Created by Christina Jennings, the series stars Peter Outerbridge as molecular biologist David Sandström.

Currently broadcast in 20 languages and more than 115 countries worldwide, ReGenesis was the first syndicated original drama series to be offered in high definition in the U.S. Its innovative storylines have regularly preceded real world events, such as the assertion that the Spanish Flu outbreak started with birds (episode 113); that people can awaken after years in a coma (episode 204); that “Virgin” birth is a real phenomenon (episode 310); and reports of birds attacking en masse (episode 408).

Kate Trotter guest stars in the final episode ‘The Truth’ with a glimpse into the future revealing that Nina’s (Rosa Laborde) unborn child is Bob’s (Dmitry Chepovetsky) clone, Robert Melnikov Jr. – the first human clone.

Robert thought he was fulfilling his parents’ dream of spreading the gift of empathy to families who wanted children by opening a fertility clinic for the sale of his highly desirable sperm. What he didn’t know was that his DNA had been mutated during the deadly flu pandemic of 2010, and that his clinic had become “ground zero” for every global pandemic in the years to follow.

David (Peter Outerbridge) had always known that Bob and Nina’s decision to bear a human clone would have devastating repercussions. And given this new insight into things to come, it looks like he might have been right.

From Brendan Kelly of Variety:

• Shaftesbury’s shift to TV pays off
  “Shaftesbury’s growth began when it shifted its focus from features — a business that’s hardly a profit center in Canada — to TV production. That decision soon paid off, with shows like the bioterrorism-themed drama “ReGenesis” [pictured at right] and kids’ series “Life With Derek,” both of which have sold to more than 100 countries. Shaftesbury recently upped its profile bigtime thanks to “The Listener,” a drama about a Toronto paramedic with telepathic powers, which has been sold to NBC in the U.S. and CTV in Canada.” Read more.

From Victoria Ahearn of the Canadian Press:

• State of the Union, ReGenesis, Trojan Horse on TV
  “On the Gemini-winning Canadian sci-fi series “ReGenesis,” Wes enrols in a new medical program after an experimental treatment for hepatitis C nearly kills him. This episode also has the FDA under pressure to fast-track drugs to help a woman with smallpox. (The Movie Network Movie Central)” Read more.

From TV Guide:

• Save the scientist, save the world: ReGenesis combats new biological threats in its final season
  “Molecular biologist David Sandström is arrogant. He’s cocky. And, more often than not, he’s right. As played by Toronto native Peter Outerbridge on ReGenesis, the chief scientist at the NorBAC (North American Biotechnology Advisory Commission) lab thwarts global viral threats daily. Stomach-turning threats, like brain-eating bacteria, immunosuppressant drugs and lethal crow attacks.” Read more.

From Bill Harris in 24 Hours:

• ReGenesis restarts
  “Here’s a quick primer: ReGenesis stars the excellent Peter Outerbridge as David Sandstrom, a passionate chief scientist at the North American Biotechnology Advisory Commission, a fictional organization with a lab in Toronto. David and the NorBAC team deal with biological threats, both natural and man-made, everywhere on the continent.” Read more.

From Judith Klassen at Movie Entertainment:

• ReGenesis: The Long Goodbye
  “In most parts of the country, March is the last slap of winter. We may be lucky and hear the crack of ice loosening its hold on the spring mud, or we may be digging out one more time — making this the perfect month for the feel bad finales of long running critical hits The Wire and ReGenesis.” Read more.

From a media release:

A NEW WAVE OF BIOLOGICAL THREATS MARK THE FOURTH AND FINAL SEASON OF REGENESIS

The award-winning bio-thriller takes its final bow beginning Sunday, March 2 at 8 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. PT

Astral Media’s The Movie Network (eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central (western Canada) present the final 13 episodes of the Gemini award-winning Canadian original drama series ReGenesis, premiering Sunday, March 2 at 8 p.m. ET on The Movie Network and 9 p.m. PT on Movie Central.

ReGenesis continues to follow a team of scientists, virologists and researchers who work together at the fictional NorBAC (North American Biotechnology Advisory Commission) lab, facing the baffling and often lethal global consequences of advanced biotechnology. In the premiere episode of season four, Bob (Dmitry Chepovetsky) is put into a medically-induced coma to reduce the risk of infection resulting from the brain surgery he underwent at the end of season three; David (Peter Outerbridge) and Carlos (Conrad Pla) investigate a drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis that’s killing Mexico’s Zapatista revolutionaries; and Rachel (Wendy Crewson) and Mayko (Mayko Nguyen) travel to a farming community where citizens are suffering horrific injuries due to an inability to feel pain.

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From a media release (so please don’t ask me what makes these Canadian TV shows independent):

Association announces CFTPA Indie Awards nominees

The Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) is extremely pleased to announce the nominees of the CFTPA Indie Awards.

The awards were created by the CFTPA in order to recognize and honour the outstanding achievements of Canadian independent producers. The Awards will be presented at a special reception and ceremony in Ottawa on February 20th, 2008.

“There is an incredible number of talented independent producers across Canada, and this is a reality that is not celebrated nearly as often as it ought to be,” said Guy Mayson, President and CEO, CFTPA “On behalf of the members of the CFTPA and the Board of Directors, we are proud to showcase such excellence and we congratulate all the nominees.”

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From me at Blogcritics:

• TV Show ReGenesis Generates Interest in Science
  “Dr. Aled Edwards is a scientific consultant for the show, and it’s his mandate to keep the show’s writers from taking storytelling shortcuts that lead to those instant lab results on House or absolute certainty on CSI. “ReGenesis is the most accurate scientific drama out there, no holds barred, for sure,” he claimed in a recent interview.” Read more

For even more of the interview with Dr. Edwards, click here.

Terry Poulton of Media in Canada :

• ReGenesis breaking the fourth wall big time
  “The idea for the public forums sprang from a brainstorming session the series’ science consultant – renowned structural biologist Dr. Aled Edwards – had with a colleague. ‘They got talking about the commonality of creativity between science and the arts, and how both areas need to be well supported to foster innovation in Canada.’” Read more.

Gayle MacDonald of the Globe and Mail adds another article on US networks looking north during the strike, but also the international success of Canadian shows in general:

• Wanted: Cancon, everywhere
  “‘They can’t do reality and reruns forever, and they only have so many movies in the can,’ says Jennings. ‘So they’re looking around. ReGenesis is on the desk of three networks, and I had a call this week from one of the Big Three presidents,’ she adds, referring to the chiefs of NBC, ABC and CBS. ‘Whether it amounts to anything, who knows? These calls may – or may not – have happened regardless of the strike, but let’s just say it pushes [available Canadian programming] up the pile.’” Read more.

James Reaney of the London Free Press talks to ReGenesis Gemini winner Ingrid Kavelaars:

• Actor praises ‘beautiful death’
  “Former Londoner Ingrid Kavelaars paid the price for winning a Gemini while guest starring on the Canadian bio-thriller ReGenesis.” Read more.

From the Hollywood Reporter:

• ‘ReGenesis’ generates most Geminis
  “The Canadian sci-fi drama “ReGenesis” led all comers Wednesday night as Canada’s TV industry continued to honor its own at the Gemini Awards.” Read more.

From CanWest News Service:

• Rick Mercer, Doomstown big Gemini winners
  “The Rick Mercer Report and the movie Doomstown were among the big winners at tonight’s Gemini Awards gala for Drama, Variety and Comedy.” Read more.

From Variety:

• ‘Doomstown’ sweeps Gemini Awards
  “A hard-hitting CTV movie about guns and violence in a tough housing project was the big winner at the Gemini Awards for drama, variety and comedy Wednesday night in Toronto.” Read more.

From CBC:

• Stars of The Robber Bride earn acting Geminis
  “Other winners at the Geminis for drama, variety and comedy, handed out Wednesday evening in Toronto, included CBC’s Dragon Boys, which was named best dramatic miniseries.” Read more.

From the Mississauga News:

• Producer picks up two more Geminis
  “9 Story Entertainment won two Gemini Awards last night for the program, Skyland. The show was chosen Best Animated Program or Series and also won in the Best Original Music Score for an Animated Program or Series category, for composer Paul Intson’s piece, Mogura.” Read more.

Susan Tolusso of Playback talks to the successful production company:

• Shaftesbury’s fabulous 42 nods
  “The Toronto prodco’s drama series ReGenesis – which follows a team of scientists investigating medical and ethical dilemmas – received 12 nominations this year, marking the third time it has been nominated in the best drama series category. Read more.