Everything about Industry News, eh?

CBC partners with Banijay International for new TV ventures

From a media release:

CBC announced today the launch of Format Incubator, a collaborative venture between CBC, distributor Banijay International and the independent production community, aimed at boosting the creation of original, exportable television formats.The hunt is on for new unscripted concepts that have strong domestic and international appeal, and break new ground in factual programming.

CBC and Banijay International are seeking unique concepts that resonate with audiences and have the potential to spark a national dialogue about a topic that matters to Canadians. Format Incubator will select a small number of format ideas to develop, ultimately narrowing down the selection to one to three formats to go to pilot.

Canadian producers are invited to submit their original, non-derivative prime time unscripted formats in the following programming areas:

  • Field-based factual. These formats take people on a journey of knowledge; have interesting characters, strong narrative, stylistic production and editing, and a unique point of view.
  • Studio-based entertainment. For adults 25-54 and families, a collective viewing experience that reaches out to the audience to participate in the program in many different ways.

Proposals are being accepted now, until August 3rd. Full guidelines and submission details can be found at CBC’s Independent Producer page.  Please visit:

http://www.cbc.ca/independentproducers/genres/factual_entertainment.

Format Incubator will support up to three new unscripted pilots through the development and production process, and broadcast the pilots in prime time on CBC Television in March 2016. Chosen pilots will benefit from development and creative editorial support from CBC and Banijay, and an expedited distribution process to bring their concept to the international market.

Pilots will be financed by CBC and Banijay International, along with provincial and federal tax credits. Canadian producers will retain copyright of the program, and the format will be owned equally and jointly by the production company, CBC and Banijay International.

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Buck Productions and Patrice Théroux partner for ReincarNATE

From a media release:

Sean Buckley, Owner and Executive Producer, Buck Productions announced today that industry heavyweight Patrice Théroux has joined ReincarNATE, a TV series based on the popular comic books by writer Michael Moreci and illustrator Keith Burns. The project is currently in development at Buck Productions. Théroux joins Buckley as Executive Producer, while up-and-comer James Cooper who directed Interview with a Time Traveler and Elijah the Prophet, developed the adaptation and wrote the pilot. ReincarNATE marks one of the first projects that Théroux has attached himself to since departing eOne.

Moreci is a megastar in the comic world, having penned ReincarNATE, Roche Limit, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, as well as Hoax Hunters, which is currently being developed into a feature film. Based on the popularity of Moreci’s outstanding body of work, Heavy Metal is re-releasing theReincarNATE trade paperback, including all four issues of the series, for fans in November 2015 and a brand new series of ReincarNATE comics is set for release next year.

ReincarNATE is a one hour crime drama focused on down-on-his-luck Private Eye Nate McCoy. After being shot in the head during an investigation, Nate gains the ability to interact with versions of himself from past lives; Jameson, a wild west lawman, and Alan, a contract killer from the 1960s. With their help, Nate takes on the dangerous underworld, crooked cops, and scumbags, including El Panda; a criminal heavyweight who may have been responsible for the murder of his father.

About Buck Productions
Buck Productions is a leading content creation company that has seen success in feature films, television, branded content, documentaries, and commercials. Considered one of the most diverse production houses in North America, owner and CEO Sean Buckley has cultivated a concept-first culture, where ideas and end-products are paramount. Buck is one of North America’s foremost production companies. Buck Productions has also been named on Realscreen Magazine’s Global 100 list of independent production companies for the past five years in a row.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Link: TV industry’s turmoil leaves big show production on the sidelines

From Simon Houpt of The Globe and Mail:

TV industry’s turmoil leaves big show production on the sidelines
It’s been an unusual upfront this year, with two of the three commercial Canadian broadcasters opting not to produce a big show, but rather host a series of meetings, fireside chats and dinners with separate constituencies in order to deliver tailored messages about the effectiveness of their offerings. Continue reading.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Project 10 lands comedic development deals with Bell Media

From a media release:

– Cobie Smulders & Paul Campbell partner on Beyond Repair –

– Stand-up comedian Darcy Michael pens series based on his life in Darcy –

Project 10 has inked development deals for two comedies at Bell Media, Andrew Barnsley (Schitt’s Creek) announced today. Creators Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Results; The Avengers) and Paul Campbell (Spun Out; Battlestar Galactica) are developing Beyond Repair while stand-up comedian Darcy Michael (Spun Out) and Carl Johann are collaborating on the family sitcom Darcy. Project 10 is currently looking for U.S. and international partners for both series.

Beyond Repair, a single camera comedy, tells the heartwarming and hilarious story of Nick Barrett, a charming and handsome but out-of-work actor, and Kevin, the son Nick never knew he had. When Kevin shows up on Nick’s doorstep in need of a place to live, perpetual man-child Nick must accept a position as the superintendent of the apartment building his father owns to make ends meet. Faced with “parenting” his nerdy, virgin son, Nick finally starts to grow up. In addition to co-writing the series, Paul Campbell is attached to play the role of Nick.

Darcy is a multi-cam family sitcom that follows two working class dads as they struggle with marriage, children, and money problems. Based on the sidesplitting stand up comedy and real life of comedian Darcy Michael, the series centres on the Mason Family – husbands Darcy and Jeremy, their 15 year-old daughter Grace, six year-old son Bruno, and their extended (sometimes uninvited) family Jane and Carl. Michael is attached to play the lead.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Where Are They Now (wonk version)?

So a few weeks ago I tweeted that I had gotten lost on Google for a couple of hours because it had been suggested to me that ‘someone’ should report on where former CRTC Commissioners are now.   It’s like a wonky version of Zap2It’s ‘Degrassi: TNG Season 1 Cast – Where Are They Now?’ post. So here’s my Zap2It/Buzzfeed style update on more recent former CRTC Commissioners. As you can see, some leveraged their CRTC experience to move on to interesting new positions, some went back to what they had been doing before and many are consultants (a very honourable profession in my opinion). Some are consulting more than others. The further back you get the harder it is to find info online so I called it quits at Charles Dalfen. [Note – if anyone, including a former Commissioner, would like to update their listing, please feel free to contact me and I will edit.]

Louise Poirier (2008 – 2013)

Poirier continues as Chair of the Gatineau Sport Development Board (Conseil de Dévelopment du Sport de Gatineau) http://www.sportgatineau.ca She had been a Gatineau city councilor before the Commission.

Suzanne Lamarre (2008 – 2013)

Prior to the Commission Lamarre had a long career at the CBC as an engineer and a lawyer. She has now shifted to the consulting world as a Strategy and Regulatory Affairs Advisor. According to her LinkedIn page she is keeping very busy advising and teaching telecommunications and broadcasting regulation.

Timothy Denton (2008 – 2013)

Prior to his stint at the Commission, Denton was a consultant and executive focused on all things Internet and he has returned to that focus as Chair of the Internet Society of Canada and Principal of The Windermere Group (telecomm, broadcasting and internet law and policy consulting practice). He is also blogging at www.tmdenton.com

Marc Patrone (2008 – 2013)

Prior to the Commission, Patrone had a long career as a reporter at CTV Atlantic. He returned to the news first at Sun News Network as director of news for Western Operations until it folded and now freelance, writing articles and posting videos for Ezra Levant’s Rebel Media blog and YouTube channel.

Len Katz (2007 – 2012)

Katz appears to be fully retired after he left the Commission due to health issues after a short term as interim Chair of the Commission and four years as Vice-Chair of Telecommunications.

Michel Morin (2007- 2012)

Morin was a journalist and news executive with Radio-Canada prior to the Commission. He has returned to the news as a Journalist for TVA Nouvelles.

Konrad von Finckenstein (2007 – 2012)

After a distinguished career as a Federal Court Judge and before that Chair of the Competition Bureau, von Finckenstein spent a term as the Chair of the Commission. He is now an independent arbitrator for commercial disputes at JAMS, a global provider of commercial arbitrators and a Senior Fellow at the independent think tank C.D. Howe Institute.

Helen Ray Del Val (2005 – 2008)

Ray Del Val was a commercial and telecommunications lawyer prior to her three year term as the BC Regional Commissioner. She is now Chair of BC’s Financial Institutions Commission and of the Community Care and Assisted Living Appeal Board.

Michel Arpin (2005 – 2010)

After a lengthy career primarily in radio broadcasting, Arpin was the Commission’s Vice-Chair Broadcasting for five years. After his term he spent one year as a lecturer at Université de Montréal and is now consulting.

Elizabeth Duncan (2005 – 2014)

Duncan served two terms as Commissioner after a career in regional cable. She appears to now be retired.

Rita Cugini (2005 – 2012)

Cugini also served two terms on the Commission. She currently is active as a strategic planning and media consultant with clients like APTN, Blue Ant, the Competition Bureau and the Ontario Ministry of Culture and Tourism. In 2013, along with Trina McQueen, Cugini conducted an independent review of the game Pipe Trouble commissioned by TVO, to see if it complied with TVO’s Programming Standards.

Richard French (2005 – 2007)

After two years as Vice-Chair Telecommunications, French left the CRTC and now holds the CN Paul M. Tellier Chair on Business and Public Policy at University of Ottawa.

Joan Pennefather (1998 – 2007)

After two terms with the CRTC, Pennefather is now a mediator with the Mediation Centre of Southern Ontario and a senior associate with the Institute on Governance.   She also sits on a number of boards.

Stuart Langford (1998-2007)

Langford spent two terms at the CRTC but seems to have fallen off the map at least as far as Google is concerned. Prior to the CRTC he practiced law, worked as a political staffer and wrote crime novels.

Andrée Noel (1998-2007)

Prior to her nine years with the CRTC, Noel was an executive with a telecommunications company and a publishing company. Noel is now a broadcast and telecommunications consultant and the National Chair of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.

Charles Dalfen (2002-2006)

After his term as Chair of the CRTC, Dalfen was counsel at Tory’s, the firm he practiced with prior to his term at the CRTC. Dalfen died May 26, 2009 from a heart attack.

Thank you to Bram Abramson for being way better than a hive mind and directing me to the Privy Council Office page that aggregates Commissioner appointments.

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail