We know shows in development don’t always make it to series. We also know there are a lot of great series that deserve to build some buzz right from the beginning. If you have a Canadian TV project in development or know of one, send details to TV, eh?. We’ll be launching our In Development series of posts soon.
From a media release:
Production Begins on New CTV Original Movie HORSES OF MCBRIDE
CTV and Whizbang Films announced today that production is underway on the new CTV Original Movie, HORSES OF MCBRIDE. The two-hour movie is inspired by the heart-wrenching true story of how the community of McBride, B.C. pulled together to rescue two starving horses trapped on a mountainside during Christmas 2008.
Written and directed by Anne Wheeler (BOMB GIRLS, END GAME, THE GAMBLER, THE GIRL AND THE GUNSLINGER), HORSES OF MCBRIDE stars Aidan Quinn (PRIME SUSPECT, WEEDS, BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE) and Canadians Kari Matchett (COVERT AFFAIRS, LEVERAGE, 24) and Mackenzie Porter (DINOSAPIEN, WILD ROSES, THE HAUNTING HOUR). Principal photography is underway in and around Calgary, Alberta through March 16, 2012.
Continue reading Horses of McBride TV movie in production
From Scott Stinson of the National Post:
King, Showcase – Season premiere
Last season, a disgruntled Detective Sergeant Derek Spears (Alan Van Sprang) had a public meltdown and Jess jumped at the opportunity to lead the force. Accepting the new position had its consequences and Jess struggled to find a balance between tackling deadly cases and planning a family with her third husband, Danny (Gabriel Hogan). After trying to get pregnant in season one, Jess finally gets her wish, but is Danny the father? This season sets fires to viewers’ burning questions about King’s pregnancy, her husband’s gambling issues, and the changing dynamics of the M.C.T.F. Rebuilding the squad according to her own style and flair, King has brought on new team members who will inevitably shake things up, forcing Spears to adjust if he wants to keep up.
Dragons’ Den, CBC – “Update Special”
After the studio lights and cameras shut off, the lives of the Den’s entrepreneurs can take many different paths. This special edition of DRAGONS’ DEN will take you across the country to reveal what’s happened to your favourite pitchers, track down the most memorable disasters and catch up with some of the biggest success stories in the show’s history.
Republic of Doyle, CBC – “Two Jakes and a Baby”
Stuck in Her Majesty’s Penitentiary, Jake’s only chance of freedom lies in the capture of a wanted kidnapper; Mal and Rose investigate a case that hits close to home; Walter helps Kathleen with a parenting issue. Guest Stars: William MacDonald, Jessica Kennedy, and Brandon McGibbon.
Blackstone, APTN – Season finale “Human”
Andy is faced with losing everything when a body is discovered in a Blackstone dump.
Canadian TV-on-DVD news
According to Alliance Home Entertainment’s media site, Metal Evolution, Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen’s heavy metal/hard rock documentary series, comes out May 1, 2012, on DVD. The release covers the first eleven episodes. The show airs on MuchMore in Canada, and VH1 Classic in the United States.
A three-disc Franklin set hits United States DVD May 8, 2012, through kaBOOM! Entertainment. Franklin was in production by Nelvana from 1997-2004, in its first incarnation. The Phase 4 Films web site claims “44 complete episodes;” Franklin‘s video and DVD releases treat each standalone story as an episode, so keep that in mind.
As for Franklin and Friends, Nelvana’s current (2011- ) version of Franklin, “Super Cluepers” appears on DVD May 15, 2012, through kaBOOM! Entertainment. This is the fourth release of the Franklin and Friends series; the third release, “Franklin’s Earth Day,” debuts on DVD March 20, 2012.
Other upcoming, non-Franklin children’s DVD titles from kaBOOM! Entertainment include:
The Great, Unending CanCon Debate
Pierre Juneau, as the first chairman of the Canadian Radio-Television Commission, ushered in Canadian content regulations for music and television. These content regulations have long been the subject of debate, and The National Post‘s Marni Soupcoff…is one of its debaters.
Soupcoff’s article argues that the free market and new delivery systems make government-mandated Canadian content obsolete, and that CanCon was never good, from a moral and ethical standpoint. Then again, Soupcoff’s article never mentions the broadcaster’s role in releasing a profitable overall product, while still adhering to CanCon regulations.
Do CanCon regulations hurt the television business, or are Canadian broadcasters just not creative enough in exploiting those regulations? That’s a question I’d like to see answered. For instance, Toronto’s Citytv, which put out indigenous shows like FashionTelevision, MediaTelevision, and Electric Circus, managed profitability during its CHUM Limited ownership. It can be done in this country.
More public subsidies for online series?
The Canadian Media Production Association wants more public subsidies available for standalone online series. The report, prepared by Duopoly Inc. president Catherine Tait, argues that the Independent Production Fund is the only subsidy currently available for standalone online series. The dominant funding model is do-it-yourself, no-budget, and non-union.
According to the CMPA, most of the online eyeballs go to Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, MyDamnChannel, and other non-Canadian players. In addition, the Bell New Media Fund and Canada Media Fund merely bring traditional television producers into the digital realm, rather than produce unique online content, in what CMPA sees as a burgeoning market.
The report was released two days before CMPA’s 21st Prime Time in Ottawa networking conference.
Odds and sods
Akron Beacon Journal‘s pop culture writer, Rich Heldenfels, answers a question about former Global show The Guard. The Guard aired in the United States, on the ION program service, from March-April 2010. It eventually moved to ION’s sister service, ION Life.
Twitter scoops TSN and Sportsnet during the NHL’s trade deadline day…which is something a crowd-sourced, 140-character medium should excel in, by design. At least the ten hours of pomp and circumstance brought in healthy afternoon ratings for TSN, so the promotion for TradeCentre 2012 worked.
