All posts by Diane Wild

Diane is the founder of TV, eh? She loves books, movies, TV, science, space, traveling, theatre, art, cats, and drinking multiple beverages at the same time.
Shoot the Messenger

Shoot The Messenger in production for CBC

From a media release:

SHOOT THE MESSENGER

  • Created by award-winning Hungry Eyes creative team Jennifer Holness and Sudz Sutherland
  • Principal photography now underway in Toronto

As production gets underway in Toronto on the new hour-long drama SHOOT THE MESSENGER, Hungry Eyes Film and Television in association with CBC Television and ITV are thrilled to announce the show’s topline cast – Elyse Levesque (“CEDAR COVE”, “SGU: STARGATE UNIVERSE”), Lucas Bryant (THE GIRL KING, “HAVEN”), Lyriq Bent (“BOOK OF NEGROES”, “ROOKIE BLUE”, PAY THE GHOST), and Alex Kingston (BUKOWSKI, “DOCTOR WHO”, “ER”).

The eight-episode, hour-long dramatic series from the multi-award winning creative team of Jennifer Holness and Sudz Sutherland (HOME AGAIN, “GUNS”) will shoot in and around the Toronto area through the end of November.

A gritty political thriller that centres on the complex relationships between crime reporters and the police, SHOOT THE MESSENGER follows Daisy Channing (Levesque), a sharp and ambitious j-school grad trying to balance a messy personal life while working at a big city newspaper. Things begin to go sideways for Daisy when she witnesses a murder she thinks is gang related, only to find herself slowly drawn into an interconnected web of criminal activity that reaches into the corridors of corporate and political power.

As Daisy, her editor Mary Fowler (Kingston), co-worker Simon Olendski (Bryant), and lead homicide detective Frank Lutz (Bent) pull at the threads of a cover up that gets more complicated the more they unravel, SHOOT THE MESSENGER also explores the ambiguous line between the private and the personal in the digital age.

The dynamic cast also includes Hannah Anderson (LIZZIE BORDEN TOOK AN AXE) Ari Cohen (Ricky Gervais’ SPECIAL CORRSPONDENTS), Edie Inksetter (“HEMLOCK GROVE”, “REIGN”), Al Sapienza (“PERSON OF INTEREST”, “HOUSE OF CARDS”), Nicholas Campbell (“HAVEN”, “DAVINCI’S INQUEST”), and features special appearances by The Barenaked Ladies’ Ed Robertson, The Raptor’s Jamaal Magloire, and ex-NBA television star Rick Fox (“SIN CITY SAINTS”, “OZ”).

The series is scheduled to air in the summer of 2016 on CBC Television.

“We’re extremely excited to be working with the CBC and ITV on SHOOT THE MESSENGER and deeply appreciate the support the CBC has shown us over the years,” said Hungry Eyes principal Jennifer Holness who also co-created, produces, and writes on the show. “SHOOT THE MESSENGER is an ambitious show that deals with challenging issues and we couldn’t do it without the staunch support of our partners. It is going to be a fast paced, atmospheric drama that is driven by contemporary urban issues in media, policing, and politics.”

Sutherland added, “We’re thrilled with the young, exciting cast that have boarded the show. Elyse Levesque has demonstrated incredible charisma in her past projects – she’s like a magnet on camera. SHOOT THE MESSENGER audiences are going to be introduced to her impressive dramatic range and vulnerability that really connects to the viewer – she also brings a sharp intelligence which was absolutely required for this material.”

Previously for the CBC, Holness and Sutherland created, wrote, produced and directed GUNS, a two-part mini-series which won Best Direction, Best Writing, Best Performance by an actor in a featured supporting role, Best Performance by an actress in a featured supporting role, and Best Editing at the Canadian screen awards. Their most recent feature film HOME AGAIN won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Festival Choice Award at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival, as well as garnering multiple nominations at the Canadian Screen and Director’s Guild Awards.

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Auction, Featured

Thank you! Kids Help Phone auction raised more than $8400

KHPThe auction has ended, the winners have paid, items are being shipped out, and the donation has been made. With the help of our prize donors, bidders, and those who helped spread the word, we raised more than $8400 for Kids Help Phone — a free, anonymous and confidential phone and on-line professional counselling service for youth. If you’d still like to contribute, please go directly to their website to make a donation.

All bidders, winning or not, helped raise that money. Everyone who shared our posts on Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere helped. And of course our prize donors helped. Special thank yous for the wonderful items and experiences up for bid to:

Thanks again to the Canadian television community for supporting such a great cause.

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Uncategorized

Daniel Morton’s The Traveller travels to Victoria and Vancouver (sponsored post)

Biopic When TV, eh? staged our Indiegogo-funded revival last year, one of the perks was a sponsored post in the form of a “Starring You” interview about the donor’s pet project, career, or organization. The following interview is with donor Daniel Morton about his upcoming Vancouver/Victoria Fringe play The Traveller.

Tell me about The Traveller: what do you hope audiences get from it and why was it something you wanted to write?

The Traveller is important both as a piece of entertainment (which it is, the harmonica and guitar accompaniment are wonderful and the performance is strong and engaging) but also as a real life cautionary tale of the sort we don’t see as much of any more. I wanted to write it after having settled down a little from travelling myself, and reflecting on many people I’ve known (both travellers and not) who seem obsessed with finding something “real” while neglecting what is right in front of them. So audiences who go check out the show will hopefully see something that is dark, but at the same time life affirming (it’s also quite funny in places).

How can people see it?

People in Vancouver or Victoria can see The Traveller when it comes to town as part of the Fringe Festivals. It’s at The Roxy Theatre in Victoria and Havana Theatre in Vancouver’s wonderful Commercial Drive area. Victoria runs from August 27 to September 6 and Vancouver from September 10 to 20. Everyone can find more information on either http://intrepidtheatre.com/shows/the-traveller/  (Victoria) or http://www.vancouverfringe.com.

What is it like collaborating on a piece with your fiancee as director?

Whew! That’s a bit of a tough one. We’ve had to figure out how to work together on this project, and it hasn’t always been easy. I think it is always tough for a writer (especially one like me who writes from a very strong visual place) to let go and accept some of the choices being made by a director, but when that director is someone really close to you it can be tough. That being said, I’ve been happy with everything Cecilia has done. She’s wildly talented and has made this piece so much stronger. We just have to make sure to take time out to ride bikes and go hiking and just be a normal couple as well.

What does actor/instrumentalist Max Kashetsky bring to the role?

Max has brought so much. First of all, he’s an amazing musician and the addition of music to the show was one that brought the most returns. Every time I hear him play guitar in certain parts of the show, I get goose bumps. Aside from that, Max is also very quick on his feet, and incredibly committed. I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing The Traveller.

Are you an “extreme traveller” yourself? 

Looking back, I’d say I probably was for a while. I got competitive and got into dividing people into “Travellers” and “Tourists”. I think it’s only after gaining a certain amount of maturity (and I’m far from completely there) that I can see that we are all just one people and we all want to see one world. People who want to get competitive about travel, or want to see things that are more dangerous or more dark … well, they are just missing the point. It’s life, man.

What are some of your works that you’re most proud of?

This piece. That’s all I have to say. I’m extremely proud of this play and seeing it up on stage was the biggest trip of my life. Aside from this, I’m also very happy with a play of mine called The Shoebox Philosopher which I made the choice to pull after one night (long story). In retrospect, I think it’s extremely funny and well done. Oh well.

What’s next for you?

Rest. Recuperation. Then I think I’m going to start work on a novel, which will be pretty go-go-go I would imagine. Also, Cecilia and I will be getting married.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Support Canadian TV! Tv, eh? is doing such a great service for Canadians. Keep it up!

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Featured, Less Than Kind, Podcast

TV Eh B Cs podcast 30 – Marvin Kaye Looking for Kind’s Kin

MarvinKayeHaving started with a career acting on stage, Marvin Kaye moved to the screen appearing early on shows like Earth: Final Conflict, Due South, and La Femme Nikita. He was the voice of Mort in the animated series Quads!

He was the creator and Executive Producer of the City-TV/HBO critically-acclaimed Less Than Kind which, over four seasons, won numerous Canadian Comedy, Canadian Screen, and Gemini Awards before wrapping up in 2013.

Most recently he’s written a couple of episodes for CBC’s Mr. D. and we wrangled some discussion about relaunching oneself from the plateau of past success.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

Want to become a Patron of the Podcast? We’ve got a Patreon page where you can donate a small amount per podcast and get a sneak peek of each release.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Auction, Featured

Last chance to bid in the TV, eh? charity auction for Kids Help Phone

KHPThis is it — bidders have until 5pm PT/8pm ET today to bid in our charity auction in support of Kids Help Phone.

We have some incredible experiences and show merchandise available, including a set visit and walk on role from Murdoch Mysteries, a set visit to Bitten, autographed scripts from Heartland and Saving Hope, baseballs signed by the company of X Company, Some Assembly Required tshirts and playing cards, a chat with Jonathan Torrens, and the Phantom of Crowley High mask from Todd and the Book of Pure Evil. For writers, producers, teachers, even fans, we have experiences such as pick a writers brain, notes on a script and beers with showrunners in Toronto.  There are books, DVDs, Blurays, tshirts, and so much more. Check it out and spread the word!

On August 5, 2014, this site came back from the dead thanks to contributions to our Indiegogo campaign. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of TV, eh?‘s rebirth, we’re reviving our charity auction, with all proceeds to Kids Help Phone — a free, anonymous and confidential phone and on-line professional counselling service for youth. If you’d like to contribute but don’t want to bid, please go directly to their website to make a donation. (Note tax receipts are not available for auction bids.)

This auction uses simple bidding and ends August 28, 2015 at 5 pm PT. Payment will be due by end of day September 1, 2015 and shipping costs will be added to physical items as required. International bidders, please note that any additional taxes and duties charged by customs will be your responsibility.

Please email Diane at canadiantv@gmail.com with any issues or questions.

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