Tag Archives: Architect Films

AMI announces production is underway on new documentary series Fashion Dis, hosted by Ardra Shephard

From a media release:

AMI, in partnership with Nikki Ray Media Agency (Fire Masters, Home to Win), is pleased to announce that principal photography has started on six Season One episodes of AMI-tv’s Fashion Dis in Toronto.

Fashion Dis promises to be a game-changer in the makeover space, challenging traditional norms that lack inclusion. Each episode of Fashion Dis celebrates the head-to-toe overhaul of a frustrated style seeker discouraged by an industry that lacks adaptive options.

From innovative clothing design to transformative beauty techniques, our expert team reveals the latest in fashion-forward thinking and shows those ready to rock their best body exactly how to do it.

“We’re thrilled cameras are rolling on Fashion Dis,” says John Melville, Vice-President, Content Development & Programming, AMI-audio/AMI-tv. “A program like this is long overdue and we’re proud to bring it to our viewers.”

Meet the experts

Ardra Shephard, host
Ardra is an influential Canadian blogger, speaker and leader in the Multiple Sclerosis community.

Bella Strange, makeup artist
Bella is a makeup artist catering to the LGBTQ+, disability and special effects communities.

Susan Shipley, hair stylist
Susan is a master stylist with extensive experience in accessible hair care services.

Izzy Camilleri, style expert
Izzy is one of Canada’s leading fashion designers and a pioneer in adaptive clothing.

Melonie Lawrence, art director
Melonie is a fashion stylist who believes great style can be achieved regardless of size, colour, creed or cash flow.

KC Armstrong, photographer
KC is an award-winning advertising, editorial and portrait photographer.

In keeping with AMI’s mandate of making accessible media for all Canadians, Season one of Fashion Is features Integrated Described Video (IDV) making it accessible to individuals who are blind or partially sighted.

Season One of Fashion Dis is being filmed under strict local COVID-19 protocols.

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Food Network Canada’s Fire Masters returns April 16

From a media release:

Food Network Canada heats up spring with the sizzling return of Corus Studios’ original series, Fire Masters (15x60min). Professional chef Dylan Benoit returns as host, joined by a rotating panel of expert judges and notable culinary personalities. Each episode will challenge three chefs to show off their grilling talents and creativity in two culinary challenges, cooking up mouth-watering dishes that will be assessed by the judges. Two chefs will be eliminated, and the last one standing will go head-to-head with a renowned judge in the third and final round, vying for a $10,000 cash prize and the title of Fire Masters Champion. Fire Masters returns Thursday, April 16 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada.

Hailing from across North America including Toronto, Ont. to Miami, Fla., Kelowna, B.C. to New York City, NY. and beyond, Fire Masters’ competitors represent the continent’s most talented grill masters and chefs. In the premiere episode “Let the Flames Begin,” the “Wildfire” round heats up fast with three executive chefs, each looking to smoke out the competition with their signature dishes that are judged on presentation, creativity and taste. In the “Crossfire” round, the chefs bring the heat, competing for a spot in the final round. Finally, in the “Feast of Fire” round, the final competitor remaining goes head-to-head against a Fire Masters judge and must showcase their culinary skills across a whole menu. Both chefs have a sous-chef to help them grill up a ‘Breakfast for Dinner’ feast that will determine the winner. For the full list of competitors, please visit foodnetwork.ca.

Host and chef Dylan Benoit returns to oversee the fiery battles and brings with him some serious credentials: extensive culinary experience working in prestigious restaurants and vast world travel and culinary tourism. Dylan is joined by a rotating panel of renowned, flame-fanatic judges, who will determine which competitors have what it takes to earn the title of Fire Masters Champion.

A roster of new and returning sponsors enter the Fire Masters arena this season. In every episode the competitors will have top-of-the-line grilling stations provided by returning sponsor, Napoleon. As the series’ exclusive provider of grilling appliances and equipment, the fully outfitted Fire Masters arena boasts the latest, cutting-edge tools from Napoleon. Additionally, as the competition heats up, the winner of each second round is awarded a Napoleon Travel portable grill. Certified Angus Beef ® brand returns as the exclusive beef provider for the series, stocking the fridge with their premium high-quality beef. The Certified Angus Beef ® brand is also showcased a “Crossfire” challenge, where competitors feature a dry-aged bone-in ribeye or short ribs as the star ingredient in their dish, as well as during a “Feast of Fire” challenge, where the chefs must elevate the tried-and-true meat and potatoes dinner. Tourism PEI comes on board for an integrated “Feast of Fire” challenge, where the chefs will create a “Down East Feast”, celebrating the beauty and bounty of Prince Edward Island and using ingredients sourced from the area. Miller Lite joins for an integrated “Feast of Fire” challenge, tasking the chefs to create a family-style spread of flame-kissed dishes perfect for game day. Host Dylan Benoit will also appear in Miller Lite’s digital calendar, sharing his favourite Campfire Queso Fundito recipe.

Fire Masters is produced by Architect Films in association with Corus Studios for Food Network Canada. For Architect Films, Tanya Linton and Mike Sheerin are Executive Producers and Jennifer Pratt is Series Producer.Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Preview: HGTV’s Hot Market showcases the GTA’s loftiest properties

Back in 2016, I did a write up on Buying the View, W Network’s documentary peek into high-end homes being purchased in the Toronto area and across Canada.

Now Corus Entertainment is back with a new series along the same vein. Debuting Monday at 11 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada, Hot Market spotlights buying and selling expensive abodes in Southern Ontario. What sets Hot Market apart from its fellow Corus creation?

The cast. Whereas Buying the View featured more buttoned-down agents letting the properties be the star, Hot Market—from Architect Films, the folks behind Custom Built, Fire Masters and Home to Win—celebrates the agent as much as it does the properties. Rana, for instance, has become a successful real estate agent as her second career. Rizwan, meanwhile, is the youngest senior vice-president of sales at his luxury real estate company. And Odeen is a real estate agent and real estate developer.

After driving home that the Greater Toronto Area is chockfull of buyers and a dearth of sellers, we follow Odeen as she shows off a 2,000 square foot home in the Roncesvalles area. It’s unique, modern, sun-drenched … and $3 million. She meets up with Brittney and Luke, a young couple with a $3.5 million budget. A hideaway kitchen and 23-foot ceilings appear to have hooked the pair, but will a skinny lot size scare them off?

Listen, Hot Market isn’t for everyone. I’m moving out of the city because, among other reasons, it’s getting too expensive to live here. And seeing people swan around a place I’ll never be invited to for dinner, let alone own, can be a put-off. But if you like seeing how the other half lives and want to plan ahead for that dream home when your lottery numbers come up, give Hot Market a shot.

Hot Market airs Mondays at 11 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada.

Image courtesy of Corus Entertainment.Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Food Network Canada’s Great Chocolate Showdown debuts February 4

From a media release:

Get lost in the indulgent world of chocolate with Great Chocolate Showdown, a new serialized dessert competition series that puts 10 home bakers to the test. Each week the bakers will be tasked with a range of exciting chocolate-based challenges to create sweet treats that must tantalize the taste buds of esteemed judges: television personality and best-selling cookbook author Anna Olson, award-winning British cake designer Cynthia Stroud and renowned pastry chef and chocolatier Steven Hodge. Great Chocolate Showdown makes its decadent debut February 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada.

Following a North America-wide search, 10 home bakers have earned a ticket to the Great Chocolate Showdown, representing from coast to coast, including Los Angeles, Calif., Vancouver, B.C., Dallas, Texas, Saskatoon Sask., New York City, N.Y., Montreal, Que. and more. The 10 competitors confirmed to compete for the title of Great Chocolate Showdown champion are:

  • Trinity Andrew, 27 – Los Angeles, Calif.
  • Kathy Choffe, 49 – Aurora, Ont.
  • Casey Hallen, 32 – New York City, N.Y.
  • Andrew Keen, 37 – Falls Church, Va.
  • T Lawrence-Simon, 31 – Somerville, Mass.
  • Venessa Liang, 27 –Saskatoon, Sask.
  • Renu Matthew, 44 – Olds, Alta.
  • Fadi Odeh, 36 – Dallas, Texas
  • Katie Rochin, 21– Montreal, Que.
  • Craig Taylor, 47 – Vancouver, B.C.

Each week the talented batch of bakers will face with a range of creative and exciting chocolate-based competitions that will test their sweet imaginations and put their baking skills to the test. These challenges include everything from creating an out-of-this-world chocolate creation with a galactic mirror finish and baking an over-the-top spectacle cake, to reimagining a classic campfire treat and creating a chocolate confection with a spicy kick. Some of the bakers may melt under the pressure and only one will taste sweet victory by claiming the title of Great Chocolate Showdown champion and the $50,000 grand prize.

Purdys Chocolatier joins as the official chocolate sponsor for Great Chocolate Showdown. Throughout all eight episodes the pantry will be stocked with Purdys products crafted from sustainable cocoa. The brand is also featured in four integrated episode challenges where the competitors will use some of the most popular Purdys items to make their own ooey-gooey, yummy and chewy creations.

On foodnetwork.ca, viewers can learn more about the series and its cast and competitors, see exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, recipes and delicious how-tos with the judges after the episodes air. Fans can also watch full episodes online after broadcast at foodnetwork.ca/shows/great-chocolate-showdown.

Great Chocolate Showdown is produced by Architect Films in association with Corus Studios for Food Network Canada. For Architect Films, Tanya Linton and Mike Sheerin are Executive Producers and Jennifer Pratt is Supervising Producer.Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Blue Ant Media brings Colin and Justin back to Cottage Life channel in new series, Great Canadian Cottages

From a media release:

Blue Ant Media, an international content producer, distributor and channel operator, today announced that it has greenlit production on Great Canadian Cottages (working title), a brand new original 8×30-minute documentary series, produced by Architect Films for the company’s Canadian television channel, Cottage Life. Presented by renowned design experts Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan, the series will delve into the fascinating stories of Canadians who live in extraordinary cottages and cabins built in the Canadian wilderness. Great Canadian Cottages is set to premiere exclusively this fall on the Cottage Life channel. The series will be available for international licensing through Blue Ant Media’s distribution arm, Blue Ant International.

In each episode, Colin and Justin will travel to unique cottage country locations across Canada, giving viewers a personal tour of distinctive cottages with architectural flair. With the design duo’s trademark humour and wit, audiences will meet the owners and architects to analyse each home’s significant design features, while learning more about specific cottage country regions in Canada. The series will have a 360-degree presence across Cottage Life’s television, online and print platforms. In addition to the television debut, 16 digital videos featuring cottage-friendly tips, will roll out on Cottagelife.com. Additionally, Colin and Justin will be on hand at the Fall Cottage Life Show, taking place in Toronto from October 19 to 21, 2018, to celebrate the series and meet with fans personally.

Great Canadian Cottages is produced by Architect Films with Mike Sheerin serving as Executive Producer and Joanne Virgo serving as Series Producer. Sam Linton, Head of Original Content, Canadian Media, Blue Ant Media is overseeing the series.Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail