Everything about Book of Negroes, eh?

Book of Negroes

Link: Blood and belonging in the Book of Negroes

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From Brian Bethune of Maclean’s Magazine:

Blood and belonging in the Book of Negroes
For a historical artifact essentially forgotten for more than two centuries, the Book of Negroes has taken on a remarkable contemporary life since it inspired Lawrence Hill’s award-winning and much-loved novel of the same name in 2007. Even its very title became a bone of politically charged contention. Now, both document and novel resonate more than ever, during yet another fraught period in American race relations, as Hill’s epic tale of freedom for some and slavery for others comes to TV in an exquisite six-part series showing on CBC in Canada and Black Entertainment Television in the United States. Continue reading.

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Book of Negroes

Link: An unknown Canadian story brings Book of Negroes to TV

From Jane Taber:

On a bitterly raw day last April, with the cold north wind whipping up the seas along the Atlantic coast of Cape Breton, Lawrence Hill watched his story, The Book of Negroes, come to life.

This was no Hollywood soundstage – Hill was bundled up against the almost hurricane-like winds blowing through the Fortress of Louisbourg, a national historic site and tourist destination in the summer, which on this day was dressed up to look like lower Manhattan in the late 18th century, when the victorious rebel Americans vanquished the occupying British. Continue reading.

 

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Book of Negroes

Video: An exclusive look at The Book of Negroes

From CBC:

A look at CBC TV’s highly-anticipated adaptation of The Book of Negroes, based on Lawrence Hill’s award-winning novel. The six-part miniseries tells the epic journey of an African woman named Aminata Diallo, who is kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery in the southern U.S. The star-studded cast includes Oscar winners Louis Gossett Jr. and Cuba Gooding Jr., Aunjanue Ellis (The Help), Lyriq Bent (Rookie Blue), Jane Alexander (The Cider House Rules), Ben Chaplin (Dorian Gray) and Allan Hawco (Republic of Doyle).

 

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Ascension, Book of Negroes, X Company

CBC unveils winter schedule; sets debut date for X Company

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GemCBC

From a media release:

This winter, find the best in Canadian programming on CBC Television with a roster of returning hit series and seven new titles. Featuring Donald Sutherland’s animated coming of age tale PIRATE’S PASSAGE on Jan. 4, the gripping adaptation of Lawrence Hill’s novel THE BOOK OF NEGROES premiering Jan. 7, BBC’s LIFE STORY, a compelling nature series by David Attenborough on Jan. 11  and the hilarious stand-up  comedy specials from the WINNIPEG COMEDY FESTIVAL beginning Jan. 11. The CBC is also proud to present the highly-anticipated comedy series SCHITT’S CREEK which debuts with back-to-back episodes Jan. 13 , the critically acclaimed sci-fi drama ASCENSION that launches Feb. 9,  World War II spy thriller X COMPANY premiering Feb. 18 and the four-part crime drama CHASING SHADOWS starting on Mar. 23.

Plus, catch all-new episodes of returning prime-time hit series MR.D, MURDOCH MYSTERIES, DRAGONS’ DEN, HEARTLAND, 22 MINUTES, THE RICK MERCER REPORT, STRANGE EMPIRE, MARKETPLACE, the fifth estate, THE NATURE OF THINGS, DOC ZONE, JUST FOR LAUGHS GAGS: 15 YEARS and CBC’s flagship daytime series STEVEN AND CHRIS returns with all-new episodes Monday –Friday at 2 p.m. (2:30NT) starting January 5.

Please see broadcast schedule below:

SUNDAY
7 p.m. (7:30 NT) – HEARTLAND (returns with new episodes Jan.11)
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – LIFE STORY (premieres Jan.11)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – WINNIPEG COMEDY (premieres Jan.11)
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – THE NATIONAL

*PIRATE’S PASSAGE airs January 4 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT)
*JUST FOR LAUGHS Gags: 15 YEARS airs January 6 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT)

MONDAY
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – MURDOCH MYSTERIES (returns with new episodes Jan.12)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – STRANGE EMPIRE (returns with new episodes Jan.12)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – ASCENSION (premieres Feb.9)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – CHASING SHADOWS (premieres Mar.23)
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – THE NATIONAL

TUESDAY
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – THE RICK MERCER REPORT (returns with new episodes Jan. 6)
8:30 p.m. (9 NT) – 22 MINUTES (returns with new episodes Jan. 6)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – SCHITT’S CREEK (premieres Jan.13)
9:30 p.m. (10 NT) – MR.D (premieres Jan.20)
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – THE NATIONAL

WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – DRAGONS’ DEN (returns with new episodes Jan.7)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – BOOK OF NEGROES (premieres Jan.7)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – X COMPANY (premieres Feb.18)
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – THE NATIONAL

THURSDAY
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – THE NATURE OF THINGS (returns with new episodes Jan.8)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – DOC ZONE (returns with new episodes Jan.8)
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – THE NATIONAL

FRIDAY
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) – MARKETPLACE (returns with new episodes Jan.9)
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) – the fifth estate (returns with new episodes Jan.9)
10 p.m. (10:30 NT) – THE NATIONAL

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Book of Negroes

Book of Negroes to premiere at Canadian International Television Festival

From a media release:

  • Cuba Gooding Jr., Aunjanue Ellis, Lyriq Bent, Allan Hawco, and Lou Gossett Jr., author Lawrence Hill and director Clement Virgo to attend
  • Follows prestigious Mipcom world premiere screening

The 2nd annual Canadian International Television Festival (CITF) is proud to make its first programming announcement: the exclusive North American preview of CBC and BET’s highly anticipated event mini-series of The Book of Negroes from Conquering Lion Pictures, Out of Africa Entertainment, Entertainment One (eOne), and Idlewild Films on November 18. The CITF is an independent new social enterprise with the mission to showcase television content and talent from Canada and around the world via a dynamic festival experience. CITF will take place November 14 to 23, 2014 with most events happening at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Lead actress Aunjanue Ellis (The Help, Ray), Oscar® winner Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire, A Few Good Men), Lyriq Bent (Rookie Blue, Saw), Allan Hawco (Republic of Doyle), and Oscar® and Emmy® winner Lou Gossett Jr. (A Raisin in the Sun, Boardwalk Empire) are scheduled to appear at the screening, along with The Book of Negroes author and series co-writer Lawrence Hill, multi-award winning director and co-writer Clement Virgo (The Wire), and executive producer Damon D’Oliveira (What We Have). The star-studded miniseries also features Jane Alexander (The Cider House Rules) and Ben Chaplin (The Thin Red Line).

“We are thrilled to present this advanced look at The Book of Negroes at one of the television world’s newest events. Made for two of North America’s most compelling TV networks, Canada’s CBC and Viacom’s BET Networks in the US, the series is a sweeping historical drama. It has an international scope and an international cast that features some of the finest Canadian talent in front of and behind the camera,” said David Heath, board member of the non-profit Canadian International Television Festival.

Executive producer Damon D’Oliveira from Conquering Lion Pictures said: “In addition to bringing this North American premiere to television fans, the CITF will feature an industry-oriented panel discussion about the making of The Book of Negroes.”

The Book of Negroes is produced by Conquering Lion Pictures, Out of Africa Entertainment, eOne and Idlewild Films.

The CITF is made possible with the support of partners, sponsors, and supporters including the City of Toronto, Bell Media, Directors Guild of Canada (DGC), DGC Ontario, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Canada Media Fund (CMF), and the Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA). In addition, new sponsors and partners include the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), ACTRA Toronto, and the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC).

Additional programming, schedule and ticket information will be announced soon.

 

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