Tag Archives: Pure

Super Channel to air first season of Mennonite drug drama Pure premieres January 22

From a media release:

In advance of the highly anticipated Canadian premiere of the second season of Pure, Super Channel is pleased to give subscribers a chance to catch up on the first season of the acclaimed Mennonite drug drama, when it premieres Tuesday, January 22 at 10 p.m. ET on Super Channel Fuse. Each episode of the six-episode first season will also be available on Super Channel on Demand the day following its linear broadcast.

Season One of Pure introduces viewers to the insular world of the Mennonite community and the double life that one pastor must adopt to protect his family from a crime syndicate. Inspired by true events, Pure follows the journey of Noah Funk, a newly-elected Mennonite pastor, who is determined to rid his community of the scourge of drugs and its nefarious ties to a transborder smuggling alliance with ruthless Mexican cocaine cartels.

Pure stars Ryan Robbins (Arrow, Falling Skies, The Killing) as the good-hearted and conflicted pastor, Noah Funk, and Alex Paxton-Beesley (The Strain, Murdoch Mysteries) as his devoted wife, Anna. Season one also stars A.J. Buckley (SEAL Team, Murder in the First), Rosie Perez (Rise, Search Party), Peter Outerbridge (Taken, 12 Monkeys, The Expanse) and Gord Rand (Orphan Black).

Super Channel has greenlit a sophomore season of the scripted series, with Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother, American Pie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) joining the cast as a recurring guest star. Season Two of Pure is slated to premiere in Spring 2019.

Pure is produced by Two East Productions and Cineflix Studios in association with Super Channel, WGN America, Hulu and the CBC.  The series is created and written by Michael Amo (The Listener) with Ken Girotti (Orphan Black, Vikings) as series director. Amo and Girotti will serve as executive producers for the second season, along with Brett Burlock, Peter Emerson and David MacLeod (Call Me Fitz, Haven). Cineflix Rights has the exclusive worldwide distribution rights to Pure.

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Link: Halifax remains Pure thanks to Super Channel

From Bill Brioux of Brioux.tv:

Link: Halifax remains Pure thanks to Super Channel
Pure fans, your prayers have been answered. Super Channel has resurrected thee Mennonite mob drama for a second season.

The series seemed deader than a Roseanne revival after CBC walked away after six episodes. That was a blow to the Halifax production community, coming on the heels of other series shut downs in the wake of provincial cut backs on tax incentives. Continue reading.

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Super Channel announces casting for second season of Pure

From a media release:

Super Channel is pleased to announce casting details for the second season of acclaimed Mennonite drug drama, PURE, currently shooting in Nova Scotia. The six-part second season is anticipated to premiere on Super Channel Fuse in 2019.

Ryan Robbins (Arrow, The Killing) and Alex Paxton-Beesley (The Strain, Cardinal, Copper) return as Noah and Anna Funk, Mennonites trying to protect their family and preserve their faith while battling drug trafficking within their community.

Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother, American Pie, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) joins the cast as a recurring guest star for season two as “Esther Dunkel”, a lapsed Mennonite who is nobody’s fool and has been helping her lawyer boyfriend funnel a fortune in cash through a local bank. When the cops start closing in on the ever-resourceful Esther, she has no other option but to engineer her own escape.

Also joining the cast in season two are Chris Heyerdahl (Hell on Wheels), Zoie Palmer (Ransom) and Victor Gomez (Orphan Black).

PURE takes us deep inside a closed, secretive subculture through the eyes of a conflicted, good-hearted Mennonite couple trying to protect their family and preserve their faith.  Inspired by actual events, PURE is the journey of Noah and Anna Funk, determined to rid their community of the scourge of drugs and its nefarious ties to a transborder smuggling alliance with ruthless Mexican cocaine cartels.  But just when they believe the danger is behind them, they are pulled back into a world of violence, greed, and betrayal.

Produced by Two East Productions and Cineflix Studios (Pure East 2) Inc. in association with Super Channel, WGN America, Hulu and the CBC, PURE is created and written by Michael Amo (The Listener) with Ken Girotti (Orphan Black, Vikings) as the series Director. Amo and Girotti serve as executive producers for the second season, along with Brett Burlock, Peter Emerson and David MacLeod (Call Me Fitz, Haven). Cineflix Rights has the exclusive worldwide distribution rights to PURE.

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Screen Nova Scotia announces 2018 award winners

From a media release:

Screen Nova Scotia hosted its fourth annual awards show on Wednesday, May 16th, in front of a sold-out crowd at Casino Nova Scotia. Featuring the Screen Nova Scotia Awards, the ACTRA Awards, the Digital Animators of Nova Scotia Award, the Film Crew Excellence Award, and the Women in Film and Television Atlantic Award, the evening was a celebration of the incredible talent, creativity, and passion that are the trademarks of Nova Scotia’s film, television and animation industry.

The event was co-hosted by a star-studded cast that included some of Nova Scotia’s brightest talents, such as Jonathan Torrens, Cathy Jones, Bette MacDonald, and Robb Wells. Presenters included producers, directors, crew members and actors, with musical accompaniment from the Bill Stevenson Trio.

The night’s finale was the Screen Nova Scotia Award for Best Feature Film, which was awarded to the indie drama Black Cop, the debut feature film from writer/director/performer Cory Bowles and his producing partner, Aaron Horton. The film — about a Black man torn about his role as a police officer — was made with support for Telefilm Canada’s Micro-Budget Production Program (rebranded earlier this year as the Talent to Watch Program) and recently picked up for distribution in the U.S. by Samuel Goldwyn Films.

Critically acclaimed crime drama Pure was the winner of the Best TV Series Award. Produced by Two East Productions, the second season is scheduled to begin production in Nova Scotia later this month and anticipated to premiere on Super Channel in early 2019.

Double-nominee Jennie Raymond took home the ACTRA Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Female Role for her portrayal of Maria Roach in the TV series Sex & Violence, while Shelley Thompson won Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Female Role for her terrifying turn as Monica the innkeeper in the NS horror film The Child Remains.

Filmmaker Daniel Boos’ film Thug won the Best Short Film Award, with the film’s actors also taking home top prizes. Simon Paul Mutabazi was awarded Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Male Role, and Emmanuel John won Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Male Role. The film portrays the cast’s real-life struggle to participate in the film industry stereotypes that affect their experience off-screen.

Following an emotional memorial video tribute to the iconic Nova Scotian actor John Dunsworth, ACTRA Maritimes announced the creation of the John Dunsworth Screen Actor’s Fund, which will support the professional development of Nova Scotia performers. More information on this fund will be made available shortly.

The Best Documentary Film Award went to Sickboy, directed by Andrew MacCormack and produced by Dream Street Pictures. New this year, Women in Film & Television – Atlantic presented the Best Director Award, which honours the outstanding achievement of a female director based in Nova Scotia. This inaugural award went to Donna Davies, director of the documentary High Hopes.

Digital animation was spotlighted at the awards, with Lorna Kirk winning the DANS Award for Outstanding Animation for her short film Him and Copernicus Studios taking home the trophy for Best Animated Series for their work on the Emmy-nominated Amazon show If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.

Scenic Artist Kevin Lewis (IATSE 849) won the 2018 Film Crew Excellence Award. Kevin’s recent production credits include The Lighthouse, Let’s Get Physical, Polaroid, The Mist, and several seasons of Haven. The Community Recognition Award was presented to VanEssa Roberts (Director of Community Development, Tourism & Recreation) and the Town of Windsor, Nova Scotia for their

THE FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS:

Screen Nova Scotia Awards:
Best Feature Film: Black Cop (Blac Op Films)
Best Television Series: Pure (Two East Productions)
Best Documentary Film: Sickboy (Dream Street Pictures)
Best Short Film: Thug (Oneiric Films / Make Your Day Productions)
Best Animated Series: If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

ACTRA Maritimes Awards:
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Female Role: Jennie Raymond (Sex & Violence)
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Male Role: Simon Paul Mutabazi (Thug)
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Female Role: Shelley Thompson (The Child Remains)
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Male Role: Emmanuel John (Thug)

WIFT-AT Award for Best Director: Donna Davies (High Hopes)

Film Crew Excellence Award: Kevin Lewis, Scenic Artist

Community Recognition Award: VanEssa Roberts (Director of Community Development, Tourism & Recreation) & the Town of Windsor, Nova Scotia.

DANS Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Animation: Lorna Kirk (Him)

Screen Nova Scotia would like to thank our generous partners and sponsors: their support helps us to produce a world-class event that celebrates Nova Scotia’s media creativity. Special thanks to the NS Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage.

Image courtesy of Michael Tompkins.

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The WGC announces new president, council

From a media release:

The Writers Guild of Canada is pleased to announce that showrunner Dennis Heaton is the WGC’s new president, elected by WGC council to serve the 2,200 members of the Guild from May 1, 2018 to April 30, 2020. Dennis is an award-winning screenwriter based in Vancouver; currently showrunner of the upcoming Netflix show, The Order.

“We’re very excited to work with Dennis,” says WGC Executive Director Maureen Parker. “His showrunning experience will hold us in good stead as we go into Independent Production Agreement bargaining within the next year.”

Dennis has been a member of the WGC since 2001 and has served on the Guild’s council since 2012. He was showrunner of the internationally renowned police procedural Motive (CTV/ABC seasons one and two), and has written for The Listener and Blood Ties, among other shows.

“It’s great to be the new WGC president,” says Heaton. “I’m looking forward to building on the Guild’s past successes, as well as facing the challenges ahead.”

In addition to electing a new president, the Guild also has a new council, responsible for setting policies and overseeing Guild activities. The 2018-20 WGC council is made up of experienced screenwriter members from across the country: Vice President Andrew Wreggitt (Mayerthorpe), Treasurer Mark Ellis (X Company), Marsha Greene (Mary Kills People), Alex Levine (Orphan Black), Anne-Marie Perrotta (Max & Ruby), and Michael Amo (Pure).

The WGC’s new council, along with Executive Director Maureen Parker, is ready to move ahead in a time of industry flux, and to continue the Guild’s ongoing work on behalf of Canadian screenwriters.

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