All posts by Greg David

Prior to becoming a television critic and owner of TV, Eh?, Greg David was a critic for TV Guide Canada, the country's most trusted source for TV news. He has interviewed television actors, actresses and behind-the-scenes folks from hundreds of television series from Canada, the U.S. and internationally. He is a podcaster, public speaker, weekly radio guest and educator, and past member of the Television Critics Association.
Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Discovery Teams Up Simcha Jacobovici and James Cameron in Original Documentary ATLANTIS RISING

From a media release:

Award-winning Israeli-Canadian director, producer, and investigative journalist Simcha Jacobovici along with Oscar®-winning Canadian filmmaker and deep sea explorer James Cameron join forces with Discovery to solve the mystery of the lost city of Atlantis in the new original Canadian documentary ATLANTIS RISING, premiering March 12 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT on Discovery.

Searching for answers about one of the world’s most impactful literary mysteries that has captured imaginations for millennia, the one-hour special asks: where was the port city located that Greek philosopher Plato wrote about in 4th century BC? Was there really an advanced civilization there? Who were the true Atlanteans? And what disaster wiped them from the face of the earth?

In a follow-up to Discovery’s hit 2011 film FINDING ATLANTIS, the new special takes viewers on a journey of exploration to ancient sites across the Mediterranean. Scouring land and sea in search of clues, the investigation discovers new evidence suggesting the legend of Atlantis is much more than an ancient myth.

This epic search across the Mediterranean moves from the islands of Santorini, Malta, and Sardinia to the plains in Southern Spain and the Azores of Portugal, comparing theories based on literature.

ATLANTIS RISING is shot in stunning 4K UHD on land and in 6K resolution underwater, often using an advanced camera movement system for a steadicam effect. The combination of the camera movement system, underwater footage, and aerial drone photography results in a breathtaking and unique viewing experience.

ATLANTIS RISING is produced by Associated Producers, in association with Discovery and National Geographic Channel. Executive Producers are James Cameron and Yaron Niski. Producers are Simcha Jacobovici and Felix Golubev.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

True North Calling offers unflinching look at lives of northern Canadians

I’m fascinated with the Canadian north. Perhaps it’s because my father’s side of the family is in Cochrane, Ont., a place I visited as a child and remember snow and sub-zero temperatures with glee. I devour history books devoted to the English navy attempting to map and navigate the land and sea long ago. And while the north holds me in thrall, I’m not sure I’m of the steely stuff necessary to call the area my home, especially after watching the first episode of True North Calling.

Debuting Friday at 8:30 p.m. on CBC and from Proper Television—the company behind MasterChef Canada, Canada’s Worst Driver and Yukon For Sale—each half-hour episode of True North Calling spends time with Canadians who call the North home. In the first, viewers are introduced to Franco Buscemi, general manager of a fuel plant in Iqaluit. One of Franco’s responsibilities is to make sure the fuel needed to keep the city running—especially during the winter months—is not only flowing but there’s plenty of it to flow. The fuel is used to power generators that create the electricity and keep water running needed for citizens to survive. Additionally, supplies are flown into Iqaluit and planes need fuel. Suffice it to say, fuel is the lifeblood of Iqaluit. It’s easy to forget, living in Southern Ontario, that not everyone has pipes sending natural gas and water and wires supplying electricity with a mere flick of the switch. Aside from outlining Franco’s job, True North Calling visits his home to spotlight family life. It’s there viewers are given access to Franco’s culture, beliefs and love of his community, and the sacrifice he’s willing to make to address issues like substance abuse and suicide.

Then it’s off to Inuvik, NWT, to catch up with Kylik Kisoun Taylor. After being raised in Ontario by parents who were born in Inuvik, Kylik hopped on a plane at 16 and moved to their hometown. “I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be,” he says. And who can blame him? Shots of Kylik mountain biking in the snow or straddling a snowmobile are interspersed with him describing a day job as a tour guide operator portrays a man in his element. Sadly, an important part of his life is still back in Ontario and Kylik is struggling to keep things together financially and emotionally.

True North Calling isn’t a glowing triptych of the area. Yes, there are glorious views of frozen land, drifts of snow and eyelashes dusted with frost. But to live in this area of Canada is a struggle to survive, literally, and the program successfully presents that too. It takes a special kind of person to want to call this part of Canada home. These folks do.

My only complaint? I wish each episode was 60 minutes instead of 30.

True North Calling airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Mary Kills People

Link: Women Behind Canadian TV: Tara Armstrong

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Women Behind Canadian TV: Tara Armstrong
“For me, as a woman, I am drawn to stories that have female characters at the heart of the story and all of my projects do. That’s personally what I’m most interested in and want to work on. For the character of Mary, I did want to write a really complex character who is ultimately compassionate, but she also makes really questionable decisions that we don’t always understand. I think it’s important to show female characters in a way that is not straightforward and we don’t always have to like them. The more representations of women, and everything that comes with being a woman, that we can put out there, the more helpful that is for us.” Continue reading. 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Heartland

Link: Chatting with Heartland’s Jade

From Carol Hansson of Horse Canada:

Link: Chatting with Heartland’s Jade
“When I first came on the show Jade was 16, and just so lost, and had a lot of anger, and confusion about herself and just, no real path. And now in season 10, I mean she is by no means perfect or even close to it, but she has goals, she has a place where she really thrives and belongs (the rodeo), and she has at least one real friend (Georgie).” Continue reading. 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, The Nature of Things

The Nature of Things decodes the fascinating world of body language

I know body language can give you away. The way someone sits, leans, turns their head or fidgets can betray what one really thinks despite what words are said. If a picture can say 1,000 words, what can body language tell you? A heck of a lot more than I first assumed.

That’s what I came away with after watching a screener for “Body Language Decoded.” Broadcast as part of this Thursday’s The Nature of Things, written and directed by Geoff D’Eon and created and produced by Edward Peill, “Body Language Decoded” is a fascinating peek into how our bodies communicate in the most subtle of ways.

The instalment begins with the face and 43 muscles capable of creating thousands of intricate expressions that are hardwired into the brain. Why? Facial expressions were the key component to communication between early humans. Those automatic reactions have served FBI agent Joe Navarro well; he spent 25 years reading body language for the Bureau, earning the nickname “The Spy Catcher.” And while Navarro did read faces in order to gauge what was really going on with someone, he found an unlikely source for reading body language: the feet. Part of the limbic system, our feet and bodies tell the true tale of how we’re reacting to the world and each other.

Knowledge of the limbic system comes into play for Dr. Jillian Glass, who heads to the Santa Monica Pier to do one of my favourite pastimes: people watching. It’s there she can see how a young woman’s body shows her devotion to a man, and how his posture betrays his aloofness. Toes turned towards your mate? There’s a good chance the relationship is solid.

One of the most interesting segments of “Body Language Decoded” spends time covering the art of deception and the physical signs we give off when trying to lie. Footage of former U.S. president Bill Clinton is shown denying relations with Monica Lewinsky, and Nova Scotia mother Penny Boudreau who pleaded for the return of her missing daughter, Karissa. In the former case, lies were effectively told; in the latter, Boudreau was found guilty of murdering Karissa, showcasing how the body can hide or reveal a lie.

The Nature of Things airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Image courtesy of Tell Tale Productions.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail