Tag Archives: APTN

Little Bird

Links: Little Bird

From Cassandra Szklarski of the Toronto Star:

Link: ‘60s Scoop grief and Holocaust trauma entwine in limited series ‘Little Bird’
“These are extremely triggering stories to tell – not just for Indigenous people and not just for people who experienced the current reality of colonial violence in whatever form that is, which is an everyday reality for us as Indigenous people, but for non-Indigenous people who were realizing the gravity of the situation and feeling guilty.” Continue reading.

From Elisabetta Bianchini of Yahoo News:

Link: ‘Little Bird’ Crave, APTN drama follows Sixties Scoop survivor’s search for home
Famed Canadian producer and actor Jennifer Podemski has taken on the role of showrunner for the new Crave and APTN lumi drama series Little Bird, authentically and honestly telling the story of a Sixties Scoop survivor uncovering her family history, starring Darla Contois. Continue reading.

From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:

Link: They woke up with four kids. By the end of the day, they had one. Inside the devastating new ‘Sixties Scoop’ drama ‘Little Bird’
One morning, Patti and Morris Little Bird wake up with their four children. By the end of the day they have one child left, the other three having been shoved into a car and taken away, screaming for their mother. Continue reading.

From Ilana Zachon of The Canadian Jewish News:

Link: ‘Little Bird’ called on Jewish and Indigenous writers and actors to tell the story of a child caught in the Sixties Scoop
“I thought: how is it possible that I’ve lived all my life in Canada… and I didn’t know the story. When I read the script, I just thought this will illuminate a lot of things for a lot of people and it’s very important.” Continue reading.

From Matthew Simpson of That Shelf:

Link: Little Bird Review: A Must-Watch Canadian Story
It is Contois who is the star of this show. Her portrayal of Esther is nuanced and empathetic. The character’s journey in the first episode – from thinking she might have it all to realizing she will never belong – is masterfully performed, almost entirely with body language and tone as she navigates a party to celebrate her happiness. Continue reading.

From Julia Mastroianni for Streets of Toronto:

Link: Toronto showrunner is behind this powerful new Indigenous-led series
“Everything I’ve done as a producer has intersected with historical trauma and colonial violence. There is also a lot of joy, love, rich culture and teaching, but there are so many urgent stories that need to be told as a way to move forward and heal.” Continue reading.

From Crystal St. Pierre of Windspeaker:

Link: New series hits close to home for creator Jennifer Podemski
“It is really the closest thing to me that I have ever done. Even though I’m not adopted, those are my two worlds. Those are the exact worlds I grew up in. And it was the perfect way for me to dive into something in a very personal way because I’ve never really explored both of those sides of my family.” Continue reading.

From David Briggs of Toronto.com:

Link: Young Nipissing First Nation actor spreads his wings in Little Bird TV show
Tayton Mianskum recently starred in a soon-to-be-released series on CRAVE television. And, if that’s not remarkable enough, this was Tayton’s first time auditioning or acting, so his first role is in a major television production. Continue reading.

From Louise BigEagle of CBC News:

Link: New series tells story of Sixties Scoop survivor learning about her past
“I just hope people feel the love that was put into this, and I hope that non-Indigenous people feel connected to it because the stories are relatable, but also I guess unique, in the sense that nobody really knows very much about the Sixties Scoop.” Continue reading.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Rezolution Pictures announces greenlight for third season of GESPE’GEWA’GI: The Last Land on APTN

From a media release:

Rezolution Pictures is very proud to announce that APTN has greenlit the third season of GESPE’GEWA’GI: The Last Land for a 9-part, half-hour episode series. Principal photography is set to start in May 2023. It’s hot on the heels of Season 2 of GESPE’GEWA’GI: The Last Land, which has just finished post-production and will be broadcast on APTN in late 2023; the official broadcast date will be confirmed once available.

Gespe’gewa’gi: The Last Land is a fun and engaging television series that is, at its core, character-driven, featuring people who do sometimes volatile, dangerous, yet exciting jobs. The series is a celebration of Indigenous people of Atlantic Canada and the fisheries that sustain them, both culturally and economically. We laugh with them, share their successes and frustrations, and get a glimpse of their life in communities that national audiences rarely get to see.

GESPE’GEWA’GI: The Last Land Season 2 – the 10-part, half-hour documentary series is about the men and women of Mi’kma’ki whose work is connected to the fishing industry. Following larger-than-life characters, we experience the fun and excitement of their lives on and off the water. We also get an inside perspective on how First Nations commercial fishing industries – that were born out of violence and defiance – grew to be a key economic and cultural support for the communities, with conservation at the forefront. The second season takes us to Pictou Landing First Nation and Sipekne’katik in Nova Scotia, as well as Listuguj and Gesgapegiag in Quebec where we meet new characters who will take us harvesting for kelp, fishing for lobster, snow crab, and shrimp, as well as introducing new and exciting species like eel and tuna. This season features a higher proportion of women characters in the industries of commercial fisheries and science.

Season 3 will expand the coverage of Mi’kma’ki, bringing us to different communities in Unama’ki, the Land of the Fog (Cape Breton) and Epekwitk (meaning lying in the water), also known as P.E.I., where we’ll meet captivating people who love their jobs and want to share their stories. They’ll also take us fishing for lobster, snow crab, tuna, trout, eel, and oysters. We’ll continue to learn about the science and conservation efforts surrounding the fisheries, the triumphs and challenges that come with running them, whether it be commercial, Food-Social-Ceremonial or Mi’kmaq Treaty Fishing and the rich cultural and political histories in the context of both modern and traditional Mi’kma’ki.

The first season of the documentary series about the Mi’gmaq fishers of Listuguj, Que., who fish in the breath-taking Gaspé region for salmon, crab, lobster and shrimp, was first broadcast in Winter 2021 and the entire season is available on APTN lumi and CBC Gem.
Upon its premiere in the winter of 2021, of the series received support from major media during its first season, including coverage by the Globe and Mail and CTV’s midday talk show, The Social. Over three months, the trailer garnered over 54,000 views. Watch the Season 1 TRAILER HERE.

GESPE’GEWA’GI: The Last Land Season 2 with English and Mi’kmaq versions, is co-executive produced by Ernest Webb (Cree) and Greg Lawrence, produced by Lisa M. Roth. Season 2 combines the directing talent of Ernest Webb, Greg Lawrence, and Courtney Montour (Mohawk). Heather Condo (Mi’gmaq) returns as Director Trainee and April Maloney (Mi’kmaq) came on board as director of photography trainee.

GESPE’GEWA’GI: The Last Land Season 3 in English and Mi’kmaq is directed by Ernest Webb (Cree) and Greg Lawrence, Heather Condo (Mi’gmaq), Eliza Knockwood (Mi’kmaq); produced by Lisa M. Roth. with Production Supervisor Denis McCready; Production Manager Brittany LeBorgne (Mohawk), and production coordinator Shantae Gibson (Kainai)

About Rezolution Pictures
Rezolution Pictures is an award-winning production company that’s changing the narrative when it comes to diversity and representation in the entertainment landscape. They have established original Indigenous content within mainstream media and sold programming around the world in major markets to broadcasters including GEM, APTN, Superchannel, OMNI, TVO, CBC, RDI, ARTV, Télé-Québec, FNX, Vision Maker and internationally with PBS, Peacock +, ARTE. The Emmy-nominated Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World has won awards at Sundance, Hot Docs and the CSAs and the Gemini- and Peabody-winning Reel Injun has been inducted into the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Museum. The much-anticipated original limited series Little Bird produced with Crave, APTN, OP Little Bird and in partnership with Fremantle premieres on Crave & APTN lumi on May 26 and won the Audience Award Prize at the Séries Mania festival in Lille, France this spring.

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Industry News

CBC, Netflix and APTN greenlight new arctic comedy series

From a media release:

  • Netflix, CBC and APTN have announced they are commissioning a new untitled comedy series that will film in Nunavut (UNTITLED ARCTIC COMEDY).
  • The show was created and will be written by Inuit film and television writer and producer Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Inuit filmmaker Alethea Arnaquq-Baril.
  • Logline: A young Inuk mother wants to build a new future for herself, but it won’t be easy in her small Arctic town where everyone knows your business. 
    • Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril:  “This series is full of stories that come straight from our hearts and our funny bones. We’ve drawn from our experiences as Inuit women living, laughing, crying and living together while Native. We are so excited to work with all our incredible partners at CBC, Netflix and APTN, and we can’t wait to start filming!”
    • Miranda de Pencier: “I’m thrilled to be teaming up with Stacey and Alethea for our third project together and excited for audiences to see this hilarious, unexpected and essential series that Stacey and Alethea have created.”
    • Susan Coyne: “Stacey and Alethea have created a story that is very funny and clearly comes from the heart. I can’t wait to work with Stacey and Alethea to explore the lives, relationships, and emotional journeys of their amazing cast of characters.”
    • Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports, CBC: “This vibrant comedy delivers an authentic perspective on personal journeys, friendship and community in the Arctic. We are excited to partner with Netflix and APTN to film in Nunavut and bring Stacey and Alethea’s deeply personal storytelling to audiences across Canada.” 
    • Danielle Woodrow Director, Content – Canada and Tara Woodbury, Director, Content – Canada, Netflix: “As soon as we heard about this show, we knew we wanted to share it with our members around the world. Stacey and Alethea have created a very relatable and funny story that showcases the unique experience of living in Canada’s Arctic regions. We’re thrilled to be partnering with them and working with Miranda and the teams at CBC and APTN.”
    • APTN Spokesperson: “This show is a brilliant and heartfelt gem of a comedy from two of Canada’s most exciting creators. A very short time ago, it would have been impossible to imagine an Indigenous comedy shot in the Arctic, with massive national and international reach,” says Adam Garnet Jones, director of TV content and special events at APTN. “It’s a dream come true for APTN to help bring this story to audiences across Turtle Island and around the world. We know audiences are going to fall in love with the show’s characters, and the production industry in Nunavut is going to receive a huge boost in a way it never has before.”
  • Executive Producers: Stacey Aglok MacDonald (Qanurli, Grizzlies), Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Angry Inuk, Grizzlies), Miranda de Pencier (Anne With an E, Beginners, The Grizzlies), Susan Coyne (Mozart In the Jungle, Daisy Jones & The Six, Slings & Arrows), Garry Campbell (The Kids in the Hall, Less Than Kind)
  • Production Companies: Northwood Entertainment, Red Marrow Media
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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Production has begun on Treaty Road for APTN

From a media release:

Saxon de Cocq, Hannah Hermanson and Ell McEachern of 3 Story Pictures, Doug Cuthand of Blue Hill Productions, and Candy Renae Fox are pleased to announce that principal photography has commenced on Season 1 of Treaty Road, the ground-breaking, long overdue 6-part docuseries (one hour each) that follows Dakota/Anishinaabekwe educator and researcher, Erin Goodpipe (RezX, The Other Side, Bathsheba: Search for Evil) and Métis writer, director and producer Saxon de Cocq (The Other Side, The Invincible Sergeant Bill (CBC) and Land Acknowledgement (CIFF)) on their personal and communal journey as they travel the old roads to uncover the truth about the signing of the Numbered Treaties, signed between 1871 and 1921, and ultimately themselves.

Treaty Road will be broadcast on APTN and produced with financial support from Canada Media Fund and Creative Saskatchewan.

Filming takes place across Treaty 1 through 6 territories in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Production commenced in October 2022 and will complete in March 2023. The series will go to air later this year.

While exploring his Métis ancestry, writer/director Saxon de Cocq discovered that his great grandfather (x4) was the Honorable James McKay, a prominent Métis from the Red River area. McKay was involved in many of the Numbered Treaty negotiations, eventually becoming a Treaty Commissioner. With mixed feelings, Saxon is driven to learn more… what was McKay’s involvement, his motivations for playing a pivotal role in this part of history? Saxon enlists the help of his friend Erin Goodpipe, a community educator and researcher with knowledge in treaty rights.

Treaty Road is directed by Candy Fox (The Other Side, Big Brother Canada, Zarqa), and hosted by Saxon de Cocq and Erin Goodpipe and produced by Saxon de Cocq, Candy Fox, Ell McEachern (Staying Wild, The Other Side, and the upcoming ZARQA S2) and Hannah Hermanson (Staying Wild, The Other Side, Dirt Farmers and the upcoming ZARQA S2). The series is written by Saxon de Cocq and story edited by Berkley Brady (Dark Nature, The Secret History of: The Wild West) with Doug Cuthand (Guardians: Evolution, Miywayawin, Big Bear) serving as executive producer.

Cinematography by Jeremy Ratzlaff (By Faith, Denis, Never Seen Again) and editing by Jen Prokop (Staying Wild, The Other Side).

Producer/Director Candy Fox says, “Indigenous nations have held up their end of the Treaty relationship. My hope is that this exploration is a tool for understanding and maybe even growth for those who are unaware of what the Treaty relationship was actually meant to be.”

Host Erin Goodpipe adds, “I didn’t have the privilege to avoid the impacts of treaty. And what I mean by that is that the broken promises of the treaty have impacted my family and so many Indigenous families, in such a way that you can’t ignore those impacts. So, it’s a privilege for those who benefit from treaty and yet, don’t have to learn about what the treaties are”.

ABOUT SAXON DE COCQ
Saxon de Cocq is a Métis writer, director and creative producer from Southern Alberta, Region 3 and is a citizen of The Métis Nation of Alberta. After 15 years of refining his storytelling craft, he’s perfectly at home in both the documentary and scripted worlds. He has been the creative force behind documentary series like APTN’s nationally broadcast The Other Side (writing and directing 18 episodes and creative producing the series) as well as writing, directing and producing 8 short films that were screened and broadcast across the country, including CBC. Saxon has a preternatural gift for bringing stories to life in a relatable way and is currently in development on his second documentary series, of his creation, with APTN. Saxon is also excited to be in development on three different scripted television series.

ABOUT ERIN GOODPIPE
Erin is a dakȟóta wíŋyaŋ/ anishinaabekwe from tatanka najin oyate (Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation) and is a multidisciplinary artist, educator and researcher. She is currently in the Master of Indigenous Education program and has taught at First Nations University of Canada. Alongside her education, she is involved in a number of media projects, notably as a television host on RezX , APTN’s The Other Side and is involved in Indigenous health and wellness research projects. Erin is passionate about wholistic artistic experiences and continues to work on community embedded theatre projects in a variety of ways. This can be seen in her involvement with the Globe Theatre in Regina, SK, on a number of projects including: Making Treaty 4, In Care, Where the Blood Mixes and Women of the Fur Trade. Erin has worked in various realms of community (from Indigenous youth to deputy ministers) using the arts to explore and transform personal and political narratives using story gathering and sharing practices through an Indigenous lens. Her professional work is rooted in her personal circles, where kinship, ceremony, land/sky/water based practices lead her learning and living.

ABOUT CANDY RENAE FOX
Candy Renae Fox is a two-spirited, Plains Cree woman from the Piapot First Nation. Candy has been able to nurture her growth as a film director with over 20 years of involvement in the industry. Whether through her beginnings as an actor and eventual progression to directing, Candy is passionate about storytelling. Candy holds a BFA in film production. Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival named her short film Backroads as one of Canada’s Top Ten Student Shorts. She is an alumnus of the National Screen Institute’s IndigiDocs program where her film ahkâmêyimo nitânis / Keep Going, My Daughter premiered at Hot Docs. She was awarded Best Short and Audience Choice by the Saskatchewan Independent Film Awards for Keep Going. More recently, she has directed for broadcast television with Amplify (APTN), The Other Side (APTN), Big Brother Canada (Global), and ZARQA (CBC Gem). Candy is excited to be co-producing and directing the ground-breaking, six part docu-series Treaty Road which will air on APTN in fall 2023.

ABOUT DOUG CUTHAND
Doug Cuthand is an independent producer, writer, and journalist with over 30 years experience, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He is a member of the Little Pine First Nation, a Plains Cree community in Saskatchewan. Doug is the author of two books dealing with First Nations history and treaty issues – ASKIWINA: A Cree World and Tapwe: Selected Columns of Doug Cuthand and has written a weekly column for Post Media for 30 years. He was the Chair of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College Board of Directors, precursor of the First Nations University of Canada. Blue Hill Productions is owned by Doug Cuthand and produces documentaries, docudramas, and dramas for all markets.

ABOUT HANNAH HERMANSON
Hannah has over a decade of experience in the television and film industry. After earning her honors degree from Middlesex University in London, Hannah hit the ground running, making herself an indispensable part of any team she joined. From production manager to line producer, Hannah has taken on a wide range of roles and responsibilities, consistently executing projects with efficiency and grace. What sets Hannah apart is her unique combination of skills. She has a talent for bringing people together, encouraging collaboration and teamwork for the greater creative good. Her resourcefulness is unmatched, and she can turn even the most challenging of situations into a success. Her ability to lead with confidence and finesse has earned her a reputation as a problem-solver, and her contributions to the projects she works on have a lasting impact.

ABOUT ELL MCEACHERN
Ell has over twenty years’ experience in the Canadian Film and Television industry, and credits on 90+ hours of content. This journey has endowed her with a love of collaboration and the ability to foster it across diverse teams, helping projects coalesce from fragile dreams into powerful concepts. Ell’s first industry steps were taken on the accounting and finance side — and she keeps one foot firmly planted there as a CFA Charterholder. She maintains her membership in the DGC Accounting Caucus, as well as a noteworthy track record of project execution, delivery and successful audits. As a producer, Ell combines an exceptional eye for detail with big picture thinking. While she’s a gifted creative in her own right, her secret weapon is helping the team levitate over complex roadblocks to get the stories told.

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Industry News

Tales from the Rez heads into production for APTN Lumi

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From a media release:

Blackfoot Nation Films announced today that their latest project Tales from the Rez from writer/director Trevor Solway (Kaatohkitopii: The Horse He Never Rode, CBC Gem), has gone to camera in Siksika, Alberta.

Tales from the Rez is a horror-comedy anthology series which adapts popular Blackfoot traditional tales and urban legends to the screen. The film stars a remarkable cast of Indigenous talent including Eugene Brave Rock (Dark Winds, Wonder Woman), actor and experimental pop/rock band Ghostkeeper frontman Shane Ghostkeeper (Parallel Minds), Shayla Stonechild (Siren), Michelle Thrush (Prey), Joel Oulette (Trickster), Nathan Alexis (Trickster), Cody Lightning (Echo, Four Sheets to the Wind) and introducing Charles Duck Chief.

Each episode features Blackfoot urban legends and twisted traditional tales. Uncle Randalf, an Elder with one foot in the living world and one foot in the spirit world will introduce the story to unfold in each episode. He speaks directly to the audience with dark humour and a lust for good stories. The initial season takes place in the traditional territories of the Blackfoot confederacy also known as Southern Alberta, Treaty 7. Subsequent seasons will travel to other Indigenous communities around the globe.

Tales from the Rez is written and directed by Trevor Solway (Kaatohkitopii: The Horse He Never Rode), Produced by Colin Van Loon (Blackfoot Nation Films), executive produced by Julian Black Antelope (Secret History of the Wild West) and associate produced by Jessica Matten (Dark Winds), Director of Photography is Aaron Bernakevitch (True West: The John Scott Story).

Tales from the Rez was made possible with the support of the Bell Fund, Indigenious Screen Office and APTN Lumi. The series is currently in production and will air on APTN Lumi.

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