TV, eh? | What's up in Canadian television | Page 1745
TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television

Production starts on Rookie Blue season 4

From a media release:

GLOBAL’S ORIGINAL DRAMA ROOKIE BLUE STARTS PRODUCTION ON SEASON 4

  • New Season to Premiere on Global and ABC in 2013 as 15 Division Welcomes Two New Members

Principal photography has begun on the fourth season of Global’s hit Canadian original series Rookie Blue. Currently filming in Toronto, the upcoming season deals with changes at 15 Division. Following the death of Detective Jerry Barber in Season 3, the rookies will have to continue adapting to change and face it head on. The hugely anticipated Season 3 finale, which airs tonight – 10pm ET/PT, will have fans on the edge of their seats. 

“Rookie Blue is Global’s biggest TV success story to date, and we are ecstatic to have season 4 now in the works,” said Barb Williams, SVP, Content, Shaw Media. “The first three seasons of Rookie Blue have kept audiences tuning in week after week, and for that we owe a debt of gratitude to the incredible production team. With the addition of new characters and developing storylines for our favourite rookies, there is a lot more to tell, and we’re so excited to see where this new season will take us.”  

New and old romantic ties come to light as new rookie recruits Chloe Price (Priscilla Faia – True Justice) and Senior Uniformed Officer Marlo Cruz (Rachel Ancheril – The Listener) join the team. Andy McNally (Missy Peregrym), Dov Epstein (Gregory Smith), Chris Diaz (Travis Milne), Traci Nash (Enuka Okuma), Gail Peck (Charlotte Sullivan) and Nick Collins (Peter Mooney) all return for Season 4. 

“We’re thrilled to be starting production on season 4,” said Tassie Cameron, Executive Producer and Showrunner. “We’re making some bold choices this year.  We’re adding some exciting new characters into the mix, and putting our young officers into new situations, so that we can watch them continue to grow and change – both personally and on the job.” 

Currently, Rookie Blue is the *most watched program in its timeslot since its return on May 24 – with over 1.6 million loyal fans tuning in for the Season 3 debut episode. South of the border on ABC, Rookie Blue ranks #1 Thursday nights in the 10pm hour in Total Viewers this summer. Rookie Blue is also broadcast internationally on Universal Networks International’s pay-TV channels. Rookie Blue is executive produced by award-winning Tassie Cameron (Flashpoint), Ilana Frank (The Eleventh Hour, Would Be Kings), David Wellington (The Eleventh Hour, Would Be Kings) and John Morayniss (The Firm, Haven). Rookie Blue is a production of IFC Film Inc. and leading indie studio and distributor Entertainment One. 

*Source: BBM Canada PPM Confirmed and Overnight Data – 5/21/12 – 9/2/12, Total Canada, AMA(000) Ind2+, excludes Hockey Playoff & Olympics.

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New tonight: Rookie Blue season finale, Saving Hope

image005Rookie Blue, Global – “I Never”
When a violent child abductor escapes from an emergency hospital visit,15 Division goes on a hunt for the criminal, only to discover that he’s taken another young victim. Meanwhile, Chris contemplates transferring to another division, and Gail makes a big decision about her career.

Saving Hope, CTV – “Ride Hard or Go Home”
Alex (Erica Durance) and Shahir (Huse Madhavji) bring Charlie (Michael Shanks) to the O.R. for a dangerous experimental procedure. Charlie must first face his past before he can wake up. Meanwhile, Gavin (Kristopher Turner) gets too close to a patient and offers his personal phone number. But when he gets called over to their house after a domestic dispute, Gavin finds that he may have let himself get too close to a patient.(Encore episode airs Saturday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV)

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Vancouver Film School offers $2500 screenwriting scholarship

The Vancouver Film School is offering the $2500 Kat Montagu Screenwriting Scholarship to a new student in the Writing for Film & Television program. The 2013 scholarship is open to all incoming students registered in the Writing for Film & Television Class 42 (starting January 2, 2013), provided they have not previously taken any professional program at Vancouver Film School, have an undergraduate or graduate degree, and can provide a reference letter and one page of script. The deadline to apply for the Kat Montagu Scholarship is 16:30 PDT October 15, 2012. Download the application form or speak to an advisor today to learn more.

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West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thomson premieres Oct. 7 on Bravo

From a media release:

Canadian Phenomenon Turned Mystery: Original Documentary WEST WIND: THE VISION OF TOM THOMSON Premieres October 7 on Bravo

  • Directed by Award-winners Peter Raymont and Michèle Hozer
  • Features the voices of Eric Peterson (CORNER GAS) and Gordon Pinsent (THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH) 

The journey of Tom Thomson, one of Canada’s most beloved painters, is presented in the world television premiere of the Bravo Original Documentary, WEST WIND: THE VISION OF TOM THOMSON, Sunday, Oct. 7 at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo (visit bravo.ca for local broadcast times). Filmed on location in Leith, Seattle, Toronto, Georgian Bay and Algonquin Park, this 95-minute feature documentary explores many of the mysteries circulating Tom Thomson’s life, art, and unexpected death. 

Screened at the 2011 Vancouver International Film Festival and the 2012 London Film Festival, WEST WIND: THE VISION OF TOM THOMSON stars Christian Golec (LIFE WITH BOYS) as a young Tom, James VanDerKleyn as an older Tom, and features the voices of Eric Peterson (CORNER GAS), Gordon Pinsent (THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH), and Susan Coyne (SLINGS AND ARROWS). The documentary is directed by award-winning Canadian filmmaker Peter Raymont (A Promise To The Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman) and two-time Gemini award-winning documentary editor Michèle Hozer. 

Considered the artist who discovered a nation through his vibrant interpretations of the northern Ontario landscape, WEST WIND: THE VISION OF TOM THOMSON reveals the story of Tom Thomson, Canada’s “greatest colourist” and “Canada’s Van Gogh”. Raised on a farm in Leith, Ontario, with nine brothers and sisters, Thomson then followed his eldest brother to Seattle where he first dipped into oil painting and started establishing himself in the world of commercial art. Four years later, he returned to Canada and took a position at a series of photo engraving firms in Toronto. His colleagues – future members of the Group of Seven – were highly trained artists who saw great potential in this humble and generous man. They encouraged him to paint full-time, and in turn, Thomson led them north, to Algonquin Park, where the rivers, lakes, trees, and skies were interpreted into art in a daring new way, with raw and vibrant colours.  On July 8, 1917, just as he was reaching ascendancy in his craft, Tom Thomson paddled across Canoe Lake and disappeared. His body was found floating in the lake eight days later. The cause of his death remains a mystery to this day.

Additionally, WEST WIND Interactive (www.TomThomsonArt.com), which offers Canadians an opportunity to explore in more detail the life, times and work of Tom Thomson, launches on Sept. 24. Original artwork on WEST WIND Interactive is provided by the Art Gallery of Ontario, The National Gallery of Ontario, The McMichael Gallery and The Tom Thomson Gallery. The website is produced by White Pine Pictures, with the participation of the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund, Bell Media, and the Art Gallery of Ontario. WEST WIND: THE VISION OF TOM THOMSON is produced by White Pine Pictures in association with Bravo, Knowledge Network Corporation, TVOntario, Saskatchewan Communications Network, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and the Rogers Documentary and Cable Network Funds.

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Hail Mary premieres September 15 on Citytv

From a media release:

Citytv Original Documentary Series Hail Mary Touches Down September 15

  • New 11-part, half-hour series exposes the triumphs and tribulations of football players aspiring to turn pro
  • Hail Mary follows the journey of six CFL hopefuls from Canada and the United States

Adding even more original programming to its robust fall lineup, Citytv announced today broadcast details for an all-new original Canadian documentary series, Hail Mary.  Premiering Saturday, Sept. 15 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, the 11-episode, 30-minute football series follows Edmonton Eskimos GM Eric Tillman, assistant GM Paul Jones, and head coach Kavis Reed as they scout, train, and groom a group of football players vying for a spot in the starting lineup of the CFL team.  Commissioned by Citytv and produced by Anaïd Productions (The Liquidator), Hail Mary was filmed on location in Canada and the United States.  

“Hail Mary gives viewers a rare look at the challenges athletes face in pursuit of a career in professional sports,” said Claire Freeland, Director of Original Programming, Rogers Media Broadcasting.  “With a distinctly Canadian angle, the series delves into the stories of regular men battling against all odds to achieve their dream.”

Hail Mary reveals the human side of football by portraying the heart-warming – but often heartbreaking – journey players experience on and off the field.  With their dreams on the line, the CFL hopefuls fight to avoid the chopping block and secure a position on the team.  After trading their star quarterback and losing their all-Canadian running back to the NFL, Tillman, Jones, and Reed set out to rebuild the Eskimos roster, and restore football glory to Edmonton. 

“This series is going to be a great opportunity to give not only our current fans, but new fans as well, a really unique behind-the-scenes look at the team,” says Len Rhodes, President and CEO of the Edmonton Eskimos.  “The insight that the show will provide is going to be real, it’s going to be authentic, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.”

In the series premiere, “Open Tryouts Cincinnati,” Eskimos assistant GM Jones holds an open tryout in Cincinnati, Ohio – the same town where he found star running back John Goebel last year.  Although Goebel is going up to Edmonton for training camp, will anybody else from this year’s tryouts impress Jones enough to get the call?  Now, Goebel must juggle the demands and pressures of camp with planning his wedding. 

“Hail Mary will move audiences regardless of whether or not they love football,” said Margaret Mardirossian, Executive Producer, Anaïd Productions.  “That’s because we’re telling the underdog’s story.  The moment these players step out on the field, everything is stacked against them, and it’s up to them to fight for their dreams.”

Citytv original series Hail Mary is produced by Anaïd Productions in association with Rogers Broadcasting Limited, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and assistance of the Alberta Multimedia Development Fund and the Canadian Film and Video Production Tax Credit Program.  Margaret Mardirossian (The Liquidator, Anaïd Productions) and Helen Schmidt (The Liquidator, Anaïd Productions) serve as executive producers, and David Benson (The Rig, Anaïd Productions) is the producer.  Claire Freeland is director of original programming, Rogers Media Broadcasting, and Carol Commisso is production executive for Rogers original programming.  Hail Mary joins the growing roster of high-profile original series currently in production for Citytv, including The Bachelor Canada, Seed, Package Deal, and the recently announced Saskatchewan documentary The Sky is the Limit.

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