From Tony Wong of the Toronto Star:
Link: After 110 years, Avonlea has its first Black resident
“It puts a huge smile on my face and I’m absolutely honoured to see a role like this, where there is more and more inclusion and possibility for actors of different ethnicities,†says Abuzeid in an interview. “This story is such a part of Canadian culture and to be a part of that is something I can’t even begin to understand.†Continue reading.
It’s the news many of us have been waiting for. Season 2 of Anne with an E will return to CBC this fall. Sunday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m., to be precise Plus, two brand-new, exclusive images have been released as well as the trailer.
As per the CBC:
Inspired by the timeless Canadian novel â€Anne of Green Gables†by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the second season continues to chart bold new territory, adding new characters and storylines while further exploring themes of identity, prejudice, feminism, bullying, gender parity and empowerment through the lens of its fierce, starry-eyed, irrepressible 14-year-old protagonist.
A coming-of-age story, reimagined by creator Moira Walley-Beckett, Anne with an E stars returning fan favorites Amybeth McNulty (Anne Shirley-Cuthbert), Geraldine James (Marilla Cuthbert), R.H. Thomson (Matthew Cuthbert), Corrine Koslo (Rachel Lynde), Dalila Bela (Diana Barry), Aymeric Jett Montaz (Jerry Baynard), Lucas Zumann (Gilbert Blythe) and Kyla Matthews (Ruby Gillis). This season introduces audiences to new characters including Dalmar Abuzeid (Sebastian Lacroix) and Cory Grüter-Andrew (Cole MacKenzie) conceived by Moira Walley-Beckett and an all-female writers’ room.
A CBC and Netflix original series, Anne with an E is produced by Northwood Entertainment and created by Moira Walley-Beckett. The executive producers are Miranda de Pencier, Moira Walley-Beckett, Debra Hayward, Alison Owen and Ken Girotti. John Calvert serves as producer.
Are you excited for Season 2 of Anne with an E? Let me know below!
Images courtesy of Chris Reardon for CBC.
Writers for Spiral, Anne, Letterkenny and Cardinal were among the winners at the 22nd Annual Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Awards in Toronto on Monday night.
The event, held at the Telus Centre for Performance and Learning’s Koerner Hall, celebrated the country’s screenwriting talent in television, web series and film. Spiral writer Karen McClellan (pictured above) won in the Shorts & Webseries category for her script “The Girl in the Dream.”
“Writers don’t get here on their own,” McClellan said. “I want to say a special shout-out to some writers who have taken a chance on me in the past: Susin Nielsen, Shelley Eriksen, Bruce Smith and a dear friend who is not here tonight but always in my heart, Denis McGrath.”
Letterkenny‘s Jared Keeso and Jacob Tierney won the TV Comedy category for their Season 2 script, “Relationships,” while Cardinal‘s Aubrey Nealon took home the TV Drama trophy for the Season 1 episode, “John Cardinal.”
Gavin Crawford, comedian, writer and host of CBC Radio’s Because News hosted, starting the night off with a surprise appearance by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne a.k.a. Crawford. As Wynne, Crawford extolled the virtues of Canadian television and film writers while taking a jab at recent adaptations of Anne of Green Gables and Alias Grace.
“I’m particularly excited about Kale & Prune, a six-hour CBC miniseries adapted from a Margaret Atwood’s Whole Foods receipt,” he joked.
Alison Lea Bingeman, Marsha Greene, Rachel Langer, Joseph Kay, Cynthia Knight, Adriana Maggs, Elize Morgan, Jiro Okada and Sugith Varughese presented the night’s categories.
Mark Ellis was the recipient of The Denis McGrath Award for his service to the Writers Guild of Canada, Michael MacLennan was given The WGC Showrunner Award, Sarah Dodd the Sondra Kelly Award and Sherry White the Alex Barris Mentorship Award. WGC president Jill Golick, whose term has ended after eight years, had the final say of the night with an impassioned plea to the group’s members.
“Stories are the best way to change hearts and minds,” Golick said. “Keep writing my friends. Keep finding ways to bring truth to light. ”
The category winners are:
Shorts & Webseries
Spiral, Episode 101 “The Girl in the Dream,” written by Karen McClellan
Children’s
Mysticons, Season 1 “Sisters in Arms,” written by Sean Jara
Movie of the Week & Miniseries
Alias Grace, written by Sarah Polley
Best Script from Season 1
Anne, Season 1 “I Am No Bird, And No Net Ensnares Me,” written by Moira Walley-Beckett
TV Comedy
Letterkenny, Season 2 “Relationships,” written by Jared Keeso and Jacob Tierney
TV Drama
Cardinal, Season 1 “John Cardinal,” written by Aubrey Nealon
Tweens & Teens
The Stanley Dynamic, Season 2 “The Stanley Cheer,” written by Matt Kippen
Feature Film
Entanglement, written by Jason Filiatrault
Documentary
The Hundred-Year-Old Whale, written by Mark Leiren-Young
Alias Grace, Baroness von Sketch Show, Anne, Schitt’s Creek‘s Catherine O’Hara, Orphan Black‘s Tatiana Maslany, Cardinal‘s Billy Campbell, Kim’s Convenience‘s Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and the series itself were among the winners at this year’s Canadian Screen Awards gala on Sunday night at Toronto’s Sony Centre for the Performing Arts.
Meanwhile, Murdoch Mysteries executive producer Christina Jennings made the fans’ night by revealing that Season 12 of the top-rated series had been ordered by CBC. Production starts soon.
The Academy Icon Award was delivered to Rick Mercer Report, Peter Mansbridge was given the Lifetime Achievement Award and Clark Johnson received the Earle Grey Award. Carmilla‘s Elise Bauman captured the Audience Choice Award.
The pre-broadcast winners were:
Golden Screen Award for TV Drama or Comedy
Murdoch Mysteries, CBC
Golden Screen Award for TV Reality Show
The Amazing Race Canada, CTV
Best Reality/Competition Program or Series
The Amazing Race Canada, CTV
The main television category winners were:
Best Lead Actress, Comedy
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Best Lead Actor, Comedy
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Kim’s Convenience
Best Performance, Sketch Comedy (Individual or Ensemble)
Baroness von Sketch Show, CBC
Best Lead Actress, Drama Series
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Best Lead Actor, Drama Series
Alexander Ludwig, Vikings
Best Drama Series
Anne, CBC
Best Comedy Series
Kim’s Convenience, CBC
Best Lead Actor, Drama Program or Limited Series
Billy Campbell, Cardinal
Best Lead Actress, Drama Program or Limited Series
Sarah Gadon, Alias Grace
Audience Choice Award
Elise Bauman, Carmilla
Best Limited Series or Program
Alias Grace, CBC
Here’s a list of the winners from Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday‘s industry awards.
What did you think of last night’s awards? Did your favourite television show, actor or actress win? Let me know in the comments below.
From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:
Link: Women Behind Canadian TV: Lainie Knox
“Every job and set is different, but I feel my main role is that of a communicator. I’m always trying to make the best shot for those two people sitting at the monitors. It really is a ballet and when it works it is truly magic. I’ve been very blessed with great teams — people who care and have great temperaments. True professionals.” Continue reading.
