Everything about Diggstown, eh?

Marcie Diggs’ fight for justice to end in Season 4 of Diggstown

From a media release:

Season 4 of DIGGSTOWN will offer audiences a dramatic final chapter for titular character Marcie Diggs (Vinessa Antoine), starting on Wednesday, October 12 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem. The six-episode finale season will be a tumultuous ride filled with searing emotional battles and transitions driven by trauma, where even though the victories are few and hard fought, Marcie and her team continue to be relentless in their fight for justice right until the very end. The series finale will air on Wednesday, November 16.

“For four seasons we’ve had the pleasure of bringing Marcie Diggs and the beauty of the communities of Dartmouth, Halifax, Charlottetown, North Preston and East Preston into homes across Canada. We’re so grateful to have been able to walk this journey with our incredible cast led by the force, that is, Vinessa Antoine. It’s been a privilege to collaborate with the amazing team of production professionals in Nova Scotia, Ontario and PEI who brought Diggstown to life. Your commitment to making Diggstown its best will always be remembered,” said Floyd Kane, creator, showrunner and executive producer.

Diggstown has always been fearless in its portrayal of the inequities that still exist in the Canadian legal system and our country as a whole, through authentic storylines and powerful performances,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports, CBC. “We are honoured to have partnered with Diggstown through four compelling seasons. Thank you and congratulations to Floyd, Amos, Vinessa, the entire cast, crew and creative team and our production partners at Circle Blue Entertainment, Freddie Films Inc. and Waterstar Entertainment Inc for everything you’ve achieved with Diggstown.”

In the final season of DIGGSTOWN, Marcie is struggling mentally and physically after last season’s shooting, while she faces threats and defections from all sides. As she grapples with one crisis to the next, a former ally’s actions threaten to spell the end of Marcie Diggs & Associates. This season will zero in on mental health, the plight of migrant workers, the treatment of a pregnant trans man within the healthcare system, sterilization of Black women and Indian Day School abuse, among other true to life stories. 

Created by Floyd Kane (Across the Line), who serves as showrunner and executive producer, Season 4 of DIGGSTOWN stars Vinessa Antoine (Being Erica) as Marcie Diggs; Natasha Henstridge (Species) as Colleen; Antoinette Robertson (Dear White People) as Vivian; Brandon Oakes (Through Black Spruce) as Doug; C. David Johnson (Street Legal) as Reggie; Nicole Muñoz (Van Helsing) as Ellery; Shailene Garnett (Shadowhunters) as Iris; and Dwain Murphy (Degrassi: The Next Generation) as Avery. Cast regulars also include Arlene Duncan as Velma Diggs, Maurice Dean Wint as Austin Diggs, Matthew Bennett as Steve Conway, Jenny Brizard as Emily Diggs, and Kim Roberts as Ona Reeves. Mpho Koaho returns as Percy Lincoln, Crystle Lightning as Michelle Knockwood, Tim Rozon as Carson Myers, Karen Leblanc as Marcie’s aunt, Rolanda Diggs, along with Stacey Farber, who reprises her role as Pam MacLean.

Joining the cast this season as The Clawford family – a powerful farming family of the fictional Goldenview Fields in the Atlantic provinces – are John Maucere (No Ordinary Hero: The SuperDeafy Movie) as patriarch Ewan Clawford who communicates with his family and team using American Sign Language (ASL) throughout the six episodes; Fiona Highet (Rookie Blue) as Ewan’s wife Regina; with Rigo Sanchez, Donald Maclean Jr., Zahra Bentham, and Dorren Lee, in the roles of their children Brian, Walt, Kristin and Andrea, respectively. Keeya King (Yellowjackets) appears as Trudy Willis, the girlfriend of migrant worker Basil Allen who makes a plea to Marcie regarding allegations that workers are being mistreated at Goldenview Fields.

DIGGSTOWN is an authentic legal drama that highlights the very real inequities that exist in the Canadian legal system and has never shied away from delving into issues of class, race, and gender. After years of lobbying, last season’s birth alert storyline helped to call enough attention to the issue that a few weeks following the broadcast, the province of Nova Scotia dropped the controversial practice; one of the last Canadian provinces to do so.

A CBC original drama, DIGGSTOWN is co-produced by Circle Blue Entertainment, Freddie Films Inc. and Waterstar Entertainment Inc. Floyd Kane is creator, executive producer and showrunner and Amos Adetuyi (Jean of the Joneses) is executive producer along with Brenda Greenberg (Being Erica) and Karen Wentzell (Seed). Directors for the season are Cory Bowles (Black Cop), Rama Rau (Honey Bee), Shamim Sarif (SkyMed) and Floyd Kane. Ronald Gilbert (Quantico) is producer. Series writers are Kane, Lynn Coady (Burden of Truth), Ellen Vanstone (Departure), Lakna Edilama (Utopia Falls), Roxann Whitebean (SkyMed), Caleigh Bacchus (Murdoch Mysteries), James Battiston (Shoot the Messenger) and JP LaRocque (Coroner). Series cinematography by Ken Leblanc (Diggstown), production design by Krystyna Byers (Christmas in Toyland) and costume design by Claire Nadon (Three Pines).

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CBC announces fall 2022 premiere dates for new and returning series

From a media release:

CBC today announced broadcast and streaming premiere dates for its fall 2022 slate of new and returning programming, including 26 original series and specials from Canadian creators, producers, and storytellers reflecting people, places and perspectives from across the country. The new fall primetime schedule launches Monday, September 12 on CBC TV and CBC Gem.

CBC and CBC Gem Fall 2022 Primetime Schedule launching Monday, September 12:
All following times are local. For Newfoundland and Labrador, please add half an hour to all times.

MONDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET (continuing weekdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m. beginning September 16)
7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA Season 4 (104×30) Mondays to Thursdays; premieres the week of September 12
8 PM – MURDOCH MYSTERIES Season 16 (24×60) premieres September 12
9 PM – THE NORTH WATER (6×60) premieres September 12
9 PM – RIDLEY ROAD (4×60) premieres October 24
10 PM – THE NATIONAL

TUESDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET (continuing weekdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m. beginning September 16)
7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA Season 4 (104×30) Mondays to Thursdays; premieres the week of September 12
8 PM – THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES Season 30 (24×30) premieres September 13
8:30 PM – STRAYS Season 2 (10×30) premieres September 13
9 PM – COMEDY NIGHT WITH RICK MERCER (8×60) premieres September 13
9 PM – SORT OF Season 2 (8×30) premieres November 15 with back-to-back episodes
10 PM – THE NATIONAL

WEDNESDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET (continuing weekdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m. beginning September 16)
7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA Season 4 (104×30) Mondays to Thursdays; premieres the week of September 12
8 PM – SUMMIT ‘72 (4×60) premieres September 14
8 PM – DIGGSTOWN Season 4 (6×60) premieres October 12
9 PM – WAR OF THE WORLDS Season 3 (8×60) premieres September 14
10 PM – THE NATIONAL

THURSDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET (continuing weekdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m. beginning September 16)
7:30 PM – FAMILY FEUD CANADA Season 4 (104×30) Mondays to Thursdays; premieres the week of September 12
8 PM – DRAGONS’ DEN Season 17 (10×60) premieres September 15
9 PM – THE FIFTH ESTATE Season 48 (16×60) premieres September 29
10 PM – THE NATIONAL

FRIDAYS
7 PM – CORONATION STREET (continuing weekdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m. beginning September 16)
7:30 PM – CORONATION STREET (weekdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m.)
8 PM – THE PASSIONATE EYE (9×60, 1×120) premieres September 16 with Jennifer Baichwal’s INTO THE WEEDS before moving to its regular 9 PM timeslot
8 PM – MARKETPLACE Season 50 (16×30, 1×60) premieres October 7 with a one-hour 50th anniversary special
8:30 PM – TRAVEL MAN: 48 HOURS IN… (8×30) premieres October 14
9 PM – THE PASSIONATE EYE (9×60, 1×120) continues September 23 in its regular 9 PM timeslot
10 PM – THE NATIONAL

SATURDAYS
Afternoons – CBC SPORTS
Evenings – Canadian feature films continue
Evenings – HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA beginning in October

SUNDAYS
7 PM – HEARTLAND Season 16 (15×60) premieres October 2
8 PM – THE GREAT CANADIAN BAKING SHOW Season 6 (9×60) premieres October 2
9 PM – MOONSHINE Season 2 (8×60) premieres October 2
10 PM – THE NATIONAL

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Screen Nova Scotia announces 2021 award nominees

From a media release:

Screen Nova Scotia is pleased to officially announce the nominees for the 7th annual Screen Nova Scotia Awards Gala, which will take place virtually on Thursday, November 25th, at 8:30 PM. The awards recognize and celebrate the incredible talent, creativity, and passion that are the trademarks of Nova Scotia’s film, television and animation industry. There will be a limited in-person live screening party for the virtual awards taking place at the Marquee Club in Halifax for nominees and VIP guests, adhering to all current COVID-19 restrictions. The awards gala will return to a full-capacity live event in May 2022.

The individual video packages for each award category will go live on November 25th at 8:30 PM on Screen Nova Scotia’s Vimeo page (HERE) and will also be shared across social media. The videos will be easily accessible and free to watch (for reference, you can watch last year’s awards videos HERE).

Notable awards include the ACTRA Maritimes Awards for Outstanding Performances, the Film Crew Excellence Award, the Women in Film & Television Atlantic Award, and the Community Recognition Award, along with the Screen Nova Scotia Awards for best television, film, and animation.

New this year, ACTRA simplified their awards to remove categorization based on gender, type of role, and format. There are now four awards for “Outstanding Performance,” determined by a jury of their peers.

The winners of the Community Recognition Award and the Film Crew Excellence Award will be announced during the event. Please see a full list of all award nominees below.

Best Feature Film
-Bone Cage (Afro Viking Pictures, Bone Cage Productions)
-Tin Can (Cut/Off/Tail Pictures)
-Under the Weather (Picture Plant)

Best Documentary Film
-Bread in the Bones (Gorgeous Mistake Productions)
-The Killing of Phillip Boudreau (Tell Tale Productions)
-Good Earth (Ubuntu Media)
-Rare Bird Alert (Dream Street Pictures)

Best Short Film
-Deadstick John (Good Yawn Pictures)
-Disco Apocalypse (Blurry Logo Productions)
-Here to Help (Donair Film Productions) Inceldom (Afro Viking Pictures)

Best Television Series
-Diggstown, Season 2 (Freddie Films / Circle Blue Entertainment)
-I Am Syd Stone (Rebel Road Films)
-Spirit Talker (Tell Tale Productions)
-This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Season 28 (IoM Media Ventures)

Best Animated Series
-Curious George (Copernicus Studios)
-Love, Diana (Huminah Animation) Dennis and Me (Cartoon Conrad)
-Onyx Monster Mysteries (Huminah Animation)

ACTRA Maritimes Awards for Outstanding Performances (Group 1)
-Amy Trefry (Tin Can)
-Calem MacDonald (The Umbrella Academy)
-Stephanie MacDonald (Disco Apocalypse) Taylor Olson (Inceldom)
-Vinessa Antoine (Diggstown, Season 2)

ACTRA Maritimes Awards for Outstanding Performances (Group 2)
-Francine Deschepper (I Am Syd Stone)
-Kathryn McCormack (Disco Apocalypse)
-Sam Vigneault (Bone Cage)
-Simon Mutabazi (Tin Can) Taylor Olson (Bone Cage)

ACTRA Maritimes Awards for Outstanding Performances (Group 3)
-Amy Groening (Bone Cage)
-Billy MacLellan (Diggstown, Season 2)
-Calem MacDonald (The Detectives)
-Josh MacDonald (Diggstown, Season 2)
-Ursula Calder (Bone Cage)

ACTRA Maritimes Awards for Outstanding Performances (Group 4)
-Shelley Thompson (I Am Syd Stone)
-Allister MacDonald (Liar)
-Kevin Kincaid (I Am Syd Stone)
-Peter Sarty (Inceldom)
-Shelley Thompson (Disco Apocalypse)

WIFT-AT — Best Nova Scotia Director Award:
-Megan Wennberg (The Killing of Phillip Boudreau)
-Rachel Bower (I Am Skylar)
-Lara Cassidy (Tracy and Martina’s Cape Breton Christmas)
-Koumbie (The Sooner We Do #1)

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Links: Diggstown, Season 3

From Melissa Hank of Postmedia:

Link: Legal drama Diggstown tackles difficult topics head-on
The truth, it’s uncomfortable. It’s messy, beautiful and bleak. Diggstown, the CBC legal drama now in its third season, embraces those facts — and audiences are arguably better for it. Continue reading.

From Charles Trapunski of Brief Take:

Link: Interview: Diggstown’s Natasha Henstridge and Crystal Lightning
Gemini Award winner Natasha Henstridge has plenty of experience in dramatic roles and has settled into her performance on the Floyd Kane Nova Scotia-set series Diggstown, especially during this pandemic season. Continue reading.

From Jordan Parker of Halifax Today:

Link: ‘Diggstown’ unafraid to uncover uncomfortable truths
The latest season of Diggstown offers a nuanced, in-depth method of exploring the hard-hitting topics creator Floyd Kane has never shied away from. Continue reading.

From Morgan Mullin of Chatelaine:

Link: 5 Reasons We Love Diggstown (If You Haven’t Been Watching, Start!)
Nova Scotia lawyer Marcie Diggs doesn’t care what you think. Instead, the anchor of the deeply watchable legal drama Diggstown spends her time figuring out what success and justice mean to her. Continue reading.

From Elisabetta Bianchini of Yahoo! News:

Link: ‘Diggstown’ gets honest about COVID-19, long-term care homes and inequities in Canada’s legal system
“One of the things that we’ve been talking about, in terms of the pandemic, across the country, has been the deplorable state of long-term care homes across the country, and the way in which we treat and care for our elderly.” Continue reading.

From Stephen Cooke of Saltwire:

Link: Season 3 of Halifax-shot Diggstown gives dramatic life to current issues
Diggstown is about to undergo a seismic shakeup. Continue reading.

From Jennifer Cox of The Suburban:

Link: Pierrefonds’ Shailene Garnett of CBC’s Diggstown talks about Season 3
The hard-hitting Canadian legal drama Diggstown on CBC is back for Season 3 and premieres on October 6th. Continue reading.

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