Tag Archives: Netflix

Children's Programming, Featured

Preview: CBC Gem’s Fakes offers up great performances and a unique story

I never had a fake ID, but I knew plenty of fellow high school students who did back in the day. The thought of having one always intrigued me, but I was scared too. What if I got one and it was discovered? I imagined a months-long grounding. For best friends Zoe and Becca, grounding is the least of their worries.

Kicking off its entire first season for streaming on CBC Gem, Fakes tracks Zoe and Becca as they create a fake ID empire only to see it all come crashing down. Created by David Turko (Warrior Nun), Fakes is notable not just because of its subject matter but for its leads. Emilija Baranac, as Zoe, and Jennifer Tong as Becca serve up standout performances worthy of checking out. These friends have each other’s backs and you cheer them on from Minute 1, even if they’re doing something highly illegal. And, utilizing the popular trope of speaking into the camera only adds to the effectiveness of the storytelling, particularly when we get into who is really responsible for the pair getting caught.

In Episode 1, we’re introduced to Vancouver teens Zoe and Becca, who are in the midst of being collared by the police. Then, we’re transported back in time to Zoe’s first attempt (and success) making her first fake student ID. Impressed by her friend’s handiwork, Becca asks for one of her own. When they’re not growing their fake ID business, the girls are dealing with everyday drama, like Zoe’s thief brother and Becca’s family falling apart. And, in the debut, we’re also introduced to Tryst (hilariously played by Richard Harmon), a bleached-blonde stoner who works at the clothing store the girls frequent.

Fakes is the story of the pair’s ultimate betrayal, a comedy-drama with two unreliable narrators who are both competing for the last word. And, I have to say, it’s pretty great.

Stream Season 1 of Fakes on CBC Gem now.

Image courtesy of CBC.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Marblemedia’s groundbreaking competition series Blown Away returns for Season 3 on Netflix

From a media release:

Blown Away is back for Season 3 on Friday, July 22, on Netflix, with some of the glass world’s heaviest hitters, all competing for the title of Best In Glass.

Ten glass artists have come to North America’s largest hot shop to push themselves to their creative limits. In each episode, the glassblowers must impress the evaluators or risk being eliminated. At stake is a life-changing prize that will send their careers to new heights.

YouTube science influencer Nickpedia and former NBC’s America’s Got Talent contestant Nick Uhas hosts the series alongside resident glass evaluator and overall glass master Katherine Gray.

Blown Away was filmed in the largest glassblowing studio in North America, designed and built specifically for the scope and scale of the competition

The series was commissioned by Netflix (global) and Blue Ant Media (Canada). The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY, serves as a key consulting partner on the series and took part in the series.

This season’s competitors include:
• Claire Kelly (Corning, NY)
• Trenton Quiocho (Fircrest, WA)
• John Sharvin (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Rob Stern (Miami, FL)
• John Moran (Gent, Belgium)
• Brenna Baker (Weston, FL)
• Dan Friday (Shoreline, WA)
• Grace Whiteside (Brooklyn, NY)
• Maddy Hughes (Stourbridge, England)
• Minhi England (Seattle, WA)

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Industry News

Netflix’s Bela Bajaria and Participant’s David Linde join the Banff World Media Festival’s Keynote Summit Series lineup

From a media release:

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is proud to announce Bela Bajaria, Head of Global TV for Netflix and David Linde, CEO of Participant as Summit Series keynotes, a premium speaker lineup featuring the boldest voices and world’s most influential media leaders. The 43rd edition of the Festival will take place in-person June 12-15, 2022 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

“We are beyond excited about Bela and David joining us at BANFF this June,” said BANFF Board Chair and Lionsgate Television Group Chair Kevin Beggs. “The incredible line-up of speakers, award recipients, and talent reinforce what we have been saying for years now – The Banff World Media Festival is the ‘it’ gathering for global content creators. See you in June!”

“Bela and David are two of the most accomplished and inspiring entertainment executives in the industry,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival. “We’re looking forward to hosting them on the BANFF stage as they deliver what are sure to be thoughtful insights on the future of the industry, programming opportunities and their unique content strategies.”

The BANFF Summit Series is a curated lineup of keynotes featuring global players who are shaping the future of the media industry.

Now in its 43rd year, BANFF is the international conference and marketplace where new business partnerships are forged and new TV, film and digital media projects are ignited. With delegates from 50+ countries, the Festival attracts the world’s top creators, producers, showrunners, talent, networks, studios, streamers, press and media companies. In addition, BANFF continues to deliver important fellowships and initiatives including The BANFF Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media, supported by the Government of Canada which empowers and trains Canadian women entrepreneurs to launch and grow their own sustainable businesses within the screen-based industries as well as the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative, a program that jumpstarts and accelerates the careers of up to 100 Black, Indigenous and People of Colour producers and creators.

ABOUT BELA BAJARIA
Bela Bajaria was named Head of Global TV for Netflix in 2020, overseeing all English language and local language scripted and unscripted series around the world. Bajaria leads the team for all of television, responsible for hit series including Bridgerton, MAID, Stranger Things, Lupin and Squid Game. Previously, she oversaw local language originals, managing the teams behind shows such as La Casa de Papel (Spain), The Witcher (Poland), Who Killed Sara? (Mexico) and Kingdom (Korea).

Prior to joining Netflix in 2016, Bajaria was President of Universal Television, where she made history as the first woman of color to oversee a studio. Earlier, she held two key posts simultaneously: Senior Vice President, Cable Programming for CBS TV Studios, and Senior Vice President of Movies and Miniseries for CBS Network.

Bajaria currently serves on the LA Board of Governors for the Paley Center and the Board of LA’s Saban Community Clinic, where she received the Lenny Somberg award in 2018. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for Meridian International Center. Bajaria was honored by the Asia Society in 2021 as one of their Entertainment Game Changers of the Year, and has also been honored by the “I Have a Dream” Foundation of LA, The March of Dimes Foundation, and received the Industry Leadership Award from the LA Indian Film Festival.

ABOUT DAVID LINDE
David Linde is CEO of Participant, the leading global media company dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change. Founded by Jeff Skoll, the company’s contributions were honored in 2021 with a retrospective at MoMA and by American Cinematheque as the inaugural recipient of the Power of Cinema Award. Linde is responsible for leading the company’s overall strategy, content creation, social impact, operations, strategic investments and acquisitions. Noteworthy films from Participant include Oscar® Best Picture winner Spotlight; Oscar winners for Best Documentary Feature, American Factory, CITIZENFOUR, The Cove and An Inconvenient Truth; Oscar winners for Best Foreign Language Film ROMA and A Fantastic Woman; as well as acclaimed, award-winning long-form content including Steve James’ docuseries America To Me and Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us.

Linde’s background spans production, global distribution and building multiple companies from the ground up. Linde has served as chairman of Universal Pictures, co-founder of acclaimed specialty film studio Focus Features and CEO and owner of Lava Bear Films. Linde currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Board Of Trustees of the American Film Institute and the Board of Directors of Film Independent.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

marblemedia announces Blown Away: Christmas debuts November 19 on Netflix

From a media release:

marblemedia, leading global entertainment producers of numerous award-winning TV series announces today that Netflix’s “Blown Away” is cranking up the heat for a spectacular holiday showdown!

’Tis the season for redemption as five fan favourites return to the hot shop to compete in a series of Christmas-themed challenges in the quest to become The Best in Holiday Blow.

Sharing his thoughts with Variety today, host Bobby Berk says “I’ve been a fan of Blown Away since the moment it premiered, and I’m honoured to be officially joining the family as the host of Blown Away: Christmas. I got a taste of the incredible experience and craftsmanship as a guest judge on Season 2 and can’t wait to get back into the hot shop this holiday season.”

In the spirit of giving, the winner will not only receive a $10,000 cash prize but an additional $10,000 will also be donated to their charity of choice.

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Industry News

Canadian Academy announces participants selected for the inaugural edition of Women in Post

From a media release:

Today, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (The Canadian Academy) announced the six participants selected for the inaugural cohort of Women in Post, a program designed to address the barriers to entry and advancement for women in the post-production industry.

The Women in Post program provides industry access and professional development for emerging to mid-level creatives who identify as women or non-binary working in all areas of post-production. Participants will have the opportunity to develop their technical, creative, and leadership skills through strategic learning modules led by industry experts, and a hands-on mentorship at a post-production company in Canada that aligns with their area of expertise. The program participants will also receive a $2,500 honorarium; a complimentary one-year voting membership to the Canadian Academy; and invitations to attend Canadian Screen Week 2022 and the Canadian Cinema Editors’ EditCon 2022.

“We are honoured to welcome these talented professionals into the Canadian Academy family,” said Beth Janson, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. “We are confident that this program will provide meaningful career advancement and opportunities for them, and are grateful to our partners for understanding the importance and power of having a diversity of voices and perspectives contributing in all aspects of our industry.”

The creators chosen for the first edition of Women in Post bring with them a range of experience from across the creative spectrum and were selected by a jury of industry professionals led by Nafisa Murji, Director of Talent Development at the Canadian Academy. The participants are:

  • Brittany Lewis (BC), Editing/ VFX Editing
  • Elian Mikkola (SK), Editing
  • Daniela Pinto (ON), Post Production Audio
  • Ariana Saadat (BC), VFX Supervision
  • Set Shuter (ON), Post Production Supervision
  • Penelope Walcott (ON), Post Production Audio

Company 3’s VP of Sales (Vancouver) Lindsay Elizabeth Donovan comments “Diversity in creativity is crucial for our industry and programs such as Women in Post are vital in helping correct inequities in the voices we hear and stories we tell. We are incredibly proud to be the lead post house partner for this program as we understand that opportunities to gain first-hand experience and develop skills through strong mentorship are necessities for creatives to build their careers.”

Women in Post is presented by Netflix and is supported by lead post house partner, Company 3, and supporting partners, Rocket Science VFX and Urban Prairie Post.

The Canadian Academy strives to foster industry growth, knowledge, inclusion, and mentorship through a series of talent development programs aimed at creating a more equitable and diverse Canadian screen-based industry. In addition to the Women in Post program, programs include the WarnerMedia Access x Canadian Academy Writers Program, a talent activation initiative focused on experienced Canadian writers from underrepresented communities, and the Canadian Academy Directors Program for Women, a professional development program intended to advance the careers of Canadian directors in the media industry. Additional talent development programs will be announced in the coming months.

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