From Etan Vlessing of The Hollywood Reporter:
Canadian TV Producers Take on Hollywood With Streaming Dramas
Canadians are headed to Hollywood again, only this time to get their digital-first dramas on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu slates.
After Canadian dramas like Flashpoint, The Listener and Rookie Blue nabbed co-production deals with the U.S. networks nearly a decade ago, a lack of subsidies back home for online dramas is once again driving indie producers south. Continue reading.
From a media release:
CBC ANNOUNCES NEW DRAMA, COMEDY, AND FACTUAL LINE UP, PLUS RENEWALS FOR 2015-16
CBC today announced the addition of 10 bold new original productions along with the renewal of 14 series. The schedule to date includes a diverse slate of new premium dramas (THE ROMEO SECTION, NEW ADDRESS, SHOOT THE MESSENGER), single-camera comedies (KIM’S CONVENIENCE and Bruce McCulloch’s YOUNG DRUNK PUNK), factual programming with both heart and humour (HELLO GOODBYE and STILL STANDING with Jonny Harris) as well as returning favourites. Additional announcements regarding documentary and arts programming, acquisitions, and specials will be made at a later date.
“I’m thrilled to welcome back to the CBC some of the finest creators in the country and to be working with extraordinarily talented voices, new to the CBC, whose stories will resonate with Canadian audiences,†said Sally Catto, General Manager, Programming, CBC Television. “I’m equally proud of our factual slate that connects and engages audiences across the country by showcasing personal, poignant and humourous moments in Canadians’ lives.â€
CBC’s programming for 2015-2016 to date includes the following titles:
Continue reading CBC announces 2015-16 lineup
Young Drunk Punk, City – “Ian and Shinky Make a Moveâ€
After seeing the film Eraserhead, Ian (Tim Carlson) and Shinky (Atticus Mitchell) decide to make their own movie using the security cameras at Brae Vista, forcing a tired Lloyd (Bruce McCulloch) to work overtime trying to figure out what’s going on. But when Helen (Tracy Ryan) tries to help out by giving Lloyd some suspiciously effective pep pills, things in Brae Vista start to go seriously off the rails.
Dragons’ Den, CBC
Business partners show the Dragons how they’ll wipe away the competition; one entrepreneur reveals his strategy in the Den; and a family promises their product will relieve the Dragons’ swelling desire for a successful brand. Plus, one business tries to prove they have the right ammunition to zero-in on becoming an industry leader.
X Company, CBC – “Kiss of Death”
The team infiltrates a brothel and a Gestapo headquarters as they battle to stop atomic research from falling into the hands of the Nazis. Meanwhile, things get personal for Aurora when she learns the tragic fate of her lover.
From a media release:
The second season of hit original series MASTERCHEF CANADA, which debuted following massive on-air promotion during the Super Bowl on February 1, is currently averaging 1.5 million viewers as a Top 15 hit this winter among all key demos, making it the #1 Canadian series on television. Also in February, SAVING HOPE continued its run as the #1 Canadian drama series this broadcast season among the key adult demos. Its explosive season finale was watched by 1.7 million viewers.
In a word, yes. Although we’re happy that the Canadian television and film industry are celebrated by a week of glitzy events, fan zones and a televised award ceremony, the Canadian Screen Awards are far from perfect.
As Diane, Anthony and I discussed on this week’s podcast, the decision to tape delay Sunday’s broadcast of the big categories is silly and antiquated in the world of social media. We weren’t alone in that belief, or the suggestion that some award categories be trimmed down so that the Screens don’t become, as TV critic Bill Brioux called them, the Needies.
So, how do we fix the Canadian Screen Awards? Will a live broadcast do it? What if we added a red carpet ceremony that was televised in the hour leading up to broadcast? Every award show in the U.S. does it, so why not us? Should the CSAs be moved to another time of year, or at least a couple of weeks away from the Oscars, so as not to send people into awards show overload? Do we go back to having an awards show solely devoted to Canadian TV?
Let’s put on our thinking caps and solve the problem! Send us your suggestions in the Comments section below.
