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Summer at Accessible Media Inc. is heating up! AMI-tv announces exciting original series and documentaries

From a media release:

Summer at Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) is hotter than ever! Today, AMI-tv unveiled new original and acquired television series and documentary programming to entertain and inform Canadians of all abilities in the coming weeks.

Additionally, AMI is excited to announce Season three of Mind Set Go begins filming soon, and Anaïd Productions is casting new participants. The series—featuring Canadians transforming their lives physically, emotionally and mentally with help from Paralympians—seeks individuals of all ages and abilities to share their life-changing journey. Those who are interested, and live in the Vancouver and Lower Mainland area, can send a recent photo and paragraph about themselves to casting@anaid.com. Casting closes May 25.

In keeping with AMI’s mandate of making accessible media for all Canadians, AMI’s original series and documentaries utilize Integrated Described Video (IDV) so they are accessible to individuals who are blind or partially sighted.

Highlights of AMI-tv’s upcoming summer programming include:

Sea School Marine Science Camp (Friday, May 24, at 7 p.m. Eastern)
AMI This Week Bureau Reporter Grant Hardy joins a group of blind and partially sighted high school students as they travel to the remote village of Bamfield, B.C., to learn about the sea—and the world beneath its waves—at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre.

Level Playing Field (Friday, May 31, at 7 p.m. Eastern)
Hosted by Greg Westlake, Level Playing Field showcases and celebrates the power of sport by introducing audiences to the athletes, community groups, healthcare professionals and grassroots innovators who demonstrate a desire to help drive positive social change through sport. In Episode 2 of this AMI original, viewers meet Keely Shaw, who had a promising future in hockey until a brain injury almost robbed her of everything. Keely openly discusses dealing with partial paralysis and an eating disorder on the road to becoming one of the Top 5 Para-cyclists in the world.

The Systemic Effect (Saturday, June 1, at 8 p.m. Eastern)
How important is the link between oral health and general overall well-being? Interviews with accomplished oral health care practitioners reveal that treating the neglected oral health care of elderly residents brings both challenges and positive results. The findings uncovered in The Systemic Effect can set Canada’s course towards better, more economical health care and longer, healthier lives. The Systemic Effect is produced by Thomega Entertainment Inc. in association with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Saskatchewan Oral Health Coalition.

Accidental Activist (Friday, June 21, at 7 p.m. Eastern)
Accidental Activist is an in-depth and captivating look at the life of Paul Vienneau, one of Halifax’s most compelling and effective disability advocates. The original documentary charts Paul’s journey from injury to recovery and disability rights activism. Through intimate interviews with Paul, his friends, family and fellow activists, the documentary paints an unflinching portrait of a complicated man who unintentionally discovered his true calling and has had a huge impact on his community.

Sound Insight (Friday, June 28, at 7 p.m. Eastern)
Sound Insight explores the impact sound has on the lives of people with disabilities. Host Alex Smyth, alongside Mark Zillman and Daniel Kish, describes the different ways hearing has shaped their lives. Zillman, a piano tuner who is blind, shows how his exceptional hearing helps him keep notes perfectly accurate. Kish, who had his eyes removed in childhood, uses echolocation to “see” his surroundings. And Alex, a hearing aid user, shares growing up with hearing loss through visits to his audiologist and family.

Double Tap TV (Wednesday, July 31, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern)
Double Tap Canada is joining a new platform! Building on the popular AMI-audio brand, Double Tap TV brings the same cutting-edge discussions on everything tech, with news, reviews and interviews—all with an eye on accessibility—to television. Join hosts Steven Scott and Marc Aflalo, alongside contributors Shaun Preece, Joeita Gupta and Jennie Bovard, as they help viewers better understand how technology can help in everyday life. Produced by Marc Aflalo Communications.

The Achieveables (Friday, Aug. 16, at 7 p.m. Eastern)
In this project from Render Digital, a group of adventurers with disabilities challenge stereotypes through feats of courage. The group will spend three days on the Kootenay River—known for its wild rapids, changing weather and stunning scenery—to tell a story of tenacity, community, pain and triumph in the face of obstacles.

All AMI-tv originals are available post-broadcast on demand at AMI.ca or the free AMI-tv App.

Image courtesy of Accessible Media Inc.

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Albedo, Industry News

Entertainment One and Brad Peyton announce Albedo starring Evangeline Lilly for Bell Media and Vudu

From a media release:

Entertainment One (eOne), together with Brad Peyton and Bell Media, today announced an eight-episode series order for a mystery drama titled ALBEDO for Bell Media in Canada, in partnership with Vudu in the US. The show marks a return to television for Golden Globe®-nominated actress Evangeline Lilly who will star and executive produce. Writing duo Max and Adam Reid serve as series creators and executive producers. Brad Peyton is also set to direct and executive produce the straight-to-series project that will be internationally distributed by eOne.

One-hundred-fifty years in the future, detective Vivien Coleman is dispatched to the edge of our solar system to investigate a scientist’s mysterious death on board an isolated space station. She soon finds herself trapped and cut-off from Earth, along with the station’s small crew of brilliant scientists – all murder suspects – all harboring their own secrets… What begins as a classic murder mystery evolves into a fight for survival that may threaten the future of our species.

Evangeline Lilly won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2006 and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 2007 for her role in LOST. She most recently reprised her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with box office record-shattering AVENGERS: ENDGAME. Lilly’s extensive roster of work also includes the upcoming film DREAMLAND and past films such as LITTLE EVIL, THE HOBBIT and THE HURT LOCKER.

Max and Adam Reid are best known for most recently producing and writing Amazon Prime Video series, SNEAKY PETE, and the eOne pilot for YouTube Premium, DARK CARGO, executive produced by Ben Stiller and Nicky Weinstock.

Brad Peyton’s work includes films such as RAMPAGE and  the Netflix and Discovery Canada series FRONTIER. 

In development at Bell Media since 2016 and expected to begin pre-production in May, ALBEDO is the latest international original drama from Canada’s leading content creation company. The series will be presented exclusively in Canada on Bell Media platforms.

Vudu is an ad-supported, Internet-based home entertainment service that provides access to a library of movies, images, television shows, artwork, and/or other episodic content. Its services can be accessed through computers, mobile devices, and Internet-capable televisions, as well as proprietary devices manufactured by the company and third-party devices. Vudu Inc. is a subsidiary of Walmart.

ALBEDO is produced by eOne in association with Bell Media, and the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit.

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Industry News

Saloon Media announces the greenlight of Witches of Salem for Travel Channel and T+E

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From a media release:

Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company, announces the greenlight by Travel Channel (US) and T+E (Canada) of The Witches of Salem, a new four-part docudrama series about America’s infamous 17th-century witch trials. The series will be produced by Saloon Media in association with Talos Films, Travel Channel, and T+E.

The Salem witch trials is one of the most gripping real-life dramas in history. It began in February 1692, after a group of young girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft. In just 220 days, 200 were accused and 20 were executed. It was a period of mass hysteria that opens a window into the darkest side of human nature.

The Witches of Salem (4 x 60’) draws on extensive historical documents and court records to bring this gripping drama to life. Sociologists, psychologists, and cultural historians also illustrate how communities are still susceptible to the same hysteria today.

The Witches of Salem is Executive Produced by Michael Kot, Julie Chang, Julian P. Hobbs and Elli Hakami. Executive in Charge for Travel Channel is Charles Nordlander and the Head of Original Content for T+E is Sam Linton. The series is produced by Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company, in association with Talos Films, Travel Channel (US), and T+E (Canada). International content distributor Blue Ant International Ltd has exclusive worldwide rights to the series.

Blue Ant Media is a privately held, international content producer, distributor and channel operator.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

History starts production on Canadian original docu-series Breaking Wild

From a media release:

Corus Entertainment’s HISTORY® in association with Breakthrough Entertainment and Bonterra Productions announce the start of production on the new Canadian-original series Breaking Wild (10×60). The doc-series follows the efforts of fearless indigenous cowboys in B.C.’s pristine Nemiah Valley as they fight together for the survival of wild Qayus horses who roam in their midst. Breaking Wild is currently slated to premiere in Winter 2020 on HISTORY.

Set in the sprawling and secluded paradise of the B.C. interior, the Nemiah Valley is part of the Xeni Gwet’in’s 1700 square kilometers of title lands and home to a growing herd of as many as 1,000 Qayus. These wild horses are among the smartest, strongest, and rarest on the planet. Under the direction of current Chief Jimmy Lulua, the Xeni Gwet’in cowboys continue to draw upon centuries of experience managing the Qayus. Elite competitive rodeo riders including Howard Lulua, Amanda Lulua and Emery Phillips work alongside trusted outsiders and legendary horse trainers Roy Mulvahill and Mike Hawkridge, as well as transplanted American Naval Officer Michael Lares. Together they work to protect the herd from over population, scarcity of resources, and natural predators. Through a multi-camera approach, production of the series provides access to the rarely seen, high-octane lives of modern cowboys. Capturing stories about the unbreakable bond between human and horse as they streak across sweeping plains and over snowcapped mountain peaks.

Breaking Wild is produced in accordance with the Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Government Filming Protocol. The Xeni Gwet’in have appointed community advisers who ensure the cultures, practices, and beliefs of the Xeni Gwet’in are accurately portrayed.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Brightlight Pictures’ hit series Quest Out West: Wild Food renewed at APTN

From a media release:

APTN has renewed the hit series Quest Out West: Wild Food from Brightlight Pictures for a third season. The new season of the B.C.-based series will air on APTN in early 2020. Viewers will be taken on a new adventure every week in this 13-episode season. It will be executive produced by Brightlight Pictures’ president, Shawn Williamson (The Good Doctor) and hosted, written and produced by Tracey Kim Bonneau (Quest Out West: Wild Food).

“To be renewed for a new season is always exciting, but this one feels extra special for our team because the show puts the spotlight on British Columbia and its beauty,” said Shawn Williamson, executive producer of Quest Out West: Wild Food. “Over the past two seasons, the series has helped redefine what a healthy and traditional meal looks like. We hope that this new chapter will continue inspiring viewers to challenge the status quo in their own kitchens.”

Quest Out West: Wild Food is the antidote to boring and unhealthy food. Viewers experience what it’s like to hunt for big game, fish for wild salmon, dig for little-known edible roots and berries, and then learn how to turn them into a spectacular meal. Host Tracey Kim Bonneau takes viewers out of their home and on an adventure for a truly healthy meal every week.

Production on the third season will begin in late spring in the interior of British Columbia. Producing alongside Williamson and Bonneau are Darlene Choo (Quest Out West: Wild Food) and Jordan Smysnuik. Brightlight Pictures produced the first two seasons in 2014 and 2017.

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