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CBC and BET+ greenlight The Porter (working title), an original drama about railway workers in Canada

CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster, and BET+, the preeminent streaming service for the Black audience, are partnering on original series THE PORTER (working title, 8×60) from Inferno Pictures and Sienna Films, which has been greenlit for 2021/22. Originated and created by Arnold Pinnock (Altered Carbon, Travelers) and Bruce Ramsay (19-2, Cardinal), with Annmarie Morais (Killjoys, Ransom, American Soul), Marsha Greene (Private Eyes, Ten Days In The Valley, Mary Kills People) and Aubrey Nealon (Snowpiercer, Cardinal), THE PORTER is set in the roar of the 1920s and follows the journeys of four ambitious souls who hustle, dream, cross borders and confront barriers in the fight for liberation – on and off the railways that crossed North America. Morais and Greene are writers/showrunners on the eight-part series, with Charles Officer (21 Thunder, Ransom, Coroner) and R.T. Thorne (Blindspot, Utopia Falls) set to executive produce and direct. Pinnock and Ramsay are co-executive producers.

The first season, set primarily in Montreal, Chicago and Detroit as the world rebuilds after the First World War, depicts another battle as it ripples through the Black community in Little Burgundy, Montreal – known, at the time, as the “Harlem of the North.” For the American and Canadian men working as railway porters, it’s a fight for equity and dignity. For the women in their lives, facing sexism and colorism, it’s a movement to claim their independence and identity. They’re young, gifted and Black, in an era that boasts anything is possible, and if change isn’t coming for them, they will come for it. By any means necessary.

Inspired by real events, THE PORTER is a gripping story of empowerment and idealism that highlights the moment when railway workers from both Canada and the United States joined together to give birth to the world’s first Black union.

A CBC and BET+ original series, THE PORTER is originated and created by Arnold Pinnock and Bruce Ramsay, with Annmarie Morais, Marsha Greene and Aubrey Nealon, and produced by Winnipeg-based Inferno Pictures Inc. and Sphere Media’s Sienna Films. Morais and Greene are showrunners and executive producers. Charles Officer and R.T. Thorne will direct the series, and are executive producers. Pinnock and Ramsay are co-executive producers. The series is written by Morais, Greene, Andrew Burrows-Trotman, Priscilla White, Pinnock and Ramsay, with R.T. Thorne participating in the writers’ room. The series is funded with the support of the Canada Media Fund and Manitoba Film & Music, and is distributed internationally by Abacus Media Rights (AMR) and Sphere Distribution. AMR and Sienna Films brokered the partnership with BET+.


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Children's Programming, Industry News

marblemedia goes into production on the third season of All-Round Champion

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From a media release:

marblemedia, one of the world’s leading entertainment companies, announces today the continued growth of their unscripted division with the early green light and start of production on the third season of the widely successful ultimate sports competition series, All-Round Champion (11×60).

Off the back of delivering season 2 to BYUtv/TVOkids/Knowledge, the award-winning production company has been commissioned for a third season of the adrenaline-filled sports competition series that sees ten of the best teen athletes compete against each other in a range of sports other than their own speciality. Production is underway in Toronto and will continue through to late December with broadcast set for late 2021.

Leaders in creating original competition series content, marblemedia’s unscripted team has had great success with the critically acclaimed glass-blowing competition hit Blown Away on Netflix, the cinematic travelogue series Restaurants on the Edge on Netflix; and their upcoming sand sculpting challenge series, Race Against the Tide on CBC.

Returning as host for the third season is Canadian Olympian and World Champion Hurdler, Perdita Felicien. This latest season will feature guest appearances from 4-time MLS Champion and 2011 League MVP, Dwayne De Rosario and the foremost doubles players in tennis history and Olympic Champion, Daniel Nestor.

A total of 10 sport stars will coach and encourage this season’s cohort of teen athletes as they overcome challenges and conquer their fears in sports including Track Cycling, Gymnastics, Inline Skating, Soccer, Tennis, Trampoline, Pole Vault, Competitive Dance, Sport Climbing, and Boxing.

The concept for All-Round Champion was originally conceived from Norwegian public broadcaster NRK’s International Emmy® Kids award-winning series, Best I Mest before marblemedia was granted formal rights to create a North American version from Beta Film.

Executive Producers for the series include Matt Hornburg, Mark J.W. Bishop, Steve Sloan, and Co-Executive Producer Donna Luke (marblemedia); Executive Producers for BYU Michael Dunn, Andra Johnson Duke, Melissa Puente and Jim Bell; and Executive Producer for TVO Marney Malabar.

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Industry News

WarnerMedia and the Canadian Academy join forces to provide opportunity for experienced Canadian writers from underrepresented communities

From a media release:

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (the Canadian Academy) and WarnerMedia announced today that the WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Writers Program, a talent activation initiative focused on experienced Canadian writers from underrepresented communities, is now open for submissions through Friday, December 18, 2020 on Academy.ca/WMAccess_Writers.

The WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Writers Program is offered in English and French to storytellers of all genders, abilities and identities from underrepresented communities in Canada, including members of Indigenous, Black, racialized groups, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2+ and Francophone minority communities. These creators are experts in their craft but may not have had the opportunity to reach their full industry potential, and whose individual voices and perspectives need to be heard and amplified. Over a period of roughly nine months, the eight to 12 applicants selected will have the opportunity to hone their artistry; gain deeper industry knowledge; and experience invaluable exposure to WarnerMedia executives, creators and established industry professionals, as well as workshop an unfinished script into a viable draft.

Following the closure of submissions on Friday, December 18, 2020, WarnerMedia and the Canadian Academy will conduct internal, peer, and juried reviews to determine the eight to 12 participants of the program. The inaugural class of the WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Writers Program will begin in June 2021.

WarnerMedia and the Canadian Academy are jointly committed to elevating the voices of underrepresented Canadian creators on their path to achieving global success and exposure. Following the announcement of a multi-year partnership earlier this year, the WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Writers Program is the first in a pair of programs focused on increasing representation and building a more inclusive and innovative industry both in front of and behind the camera. WarnerMedia will be launching several initiatives over the next several months for above and below-the-line talent across the country. The initiatives aim to nurture a sustainable pipeline of Canadian talent as the global demand for unique voices and authentic content grows.

The WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Writers Program is a multi-year initiative sponsored by WarnerMedia and administered by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, in collaboration with Telefilm Canada.

Learn more about the WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Writers Program and submit your application at Academy.ca/WMAccess_Writers.

For announcements and program details, subscribe to the Canadian Academy’s newsletter at Academy.ca.

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Industry News

Brightlight Pictures and Pier 21 Films in development on Fort Puleyne

From a media release:

Brightlight Pictures, a leading Canadian film and television production company, announced today the development of a new comedy series called Fort Puleyne. Toronto-based production company, Pier 21 Films, will join Brightlight in the development process, along with writer Evany Rosen (New Eden) and Bell Media.

Written and created by Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley, B Positive) and Humphrey Ker (Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet), Fort Puleyne follows the foppishly optimistic young officer, Major Fitzwilliam “Fitz” Gower, as he leaves behind the life he knows for Upper Canada to lead the most misfit militia that ever served in the British Army during the War of 1812. With the help of his men (or more often in spite of them), Fitz must find a way to survive in this backwater garrison, earn his stripes, and finally gain the respect of his superiors – who have all but forgotten they stationed him there in the first place.

Middleditch, who just finished a six-season run on Silicon Valley and is currently starring in Chuck Lorre’s B Positive, is repped by WME and Kirsten Ames Management. Humphrey Ker, who is writing and appearing on season 2 of Mythic Quest is repped by ICM Partners and Kirsten Ames Management.

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