Tag Archives: Covid-19

Battle of the Blades Season 6 premiere postponed

From a media release:

As a precautionary measure in response to an individual on the Battle of the Blades production team testing positive for COVID-19, Insight Productions has temporarily halted all training and pre-production on the upcoming season to ensure the health and safety of the entire cast and crew. CBC fully supports this decision and, as a result, is postponing the October 15th live premiere of Battle of the Blades Season 6. CBC will provide additional scheduling updates as soon as possible.

A CBC original series, Battle of the Blades is produced by Insight Productions. The series is executive produced by Insight’s John Brunton, Lindsay Cox, Erin Brock, and Mark Lysakowski and is co-created and executive produced by Olympian and World & Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Famer Sandra Bezic.

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Link: COVID-19 hits Newfoundland set of TV show ‘Hudson & Rex’

From the Canadian Press:

Link: COVID-19 hits Newfoundland set of TV show ‘Hudson & Rex’
The canine-cop TV series “Hudson & Rex” has been hit by COVID-19, forcing it to shut down production for at least a day.

Show producer Paul Pope said Friday a woman involved in the Newfoundland-shot series had tested positive for the disease and was isolating. Continue reading.

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Cristina Rosato and Greyston Holt among first to film during pandemic

While many cities and provinces are still mapping out how, exactly, television and feature films will resume production during COVID-19, Cristina Rosato and Greyston Holt are already back at work.

The real-life couple is among the first of North America’s actors to re-start filming, starring in the TV-movie For Better or Worse, in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley. And while Rosato and Holt didn’t have to worry about social distancing when it came to working with each other—they are a couple after all—not so the case with the rest of the cast and crew.

“We originally thought we might be back filming For Better or Worse, very conservatively, in August, September or October,” Holt says, on the line from Vancouver alongside Rosato. “When we got the call that we would potentially be filming on June 8 as a start date, it was surreal. It didn’t make sense that something was coming back that early.” But, with pandemic cases in B.C. holding steady, the project went to camera with guidelines to keep everyone safe.

Rosato describes the taking and recording of daily temperature checks for everyone on the cast and crew, with the stipulation that anyone having a fever would be immediately tested and would not return to set until the testing was complete; no one had a fever or became sick. Everyone reported to a sanitization station and put on masks. Champlain Media, the production company behind For Better or Worse, had everyone involved in the project stay in the same resort during filming.

“We just always wore a mask,” Rosato says. “And then when we were rolling, we would take them off.” Because of the way the script was written, day players and extras were kept to a minimum and only a very small, core cast interacted with each other.

For Better or Worse stars Rosato as Olivia Owens the owner of a community garden centre. Holt portrays Brian Wolf, a property developer for low-cost housing. Brian’s aim is to tear down Olivia’s garden in favour of subsidized housing. There is, of course, friction between the pair that only grows when they’re paired up for a friends’ wedding. It’s the light-hearted TV-movie fare we’ve come to expect from projects like Holt’s previous work in A Very Country Wedding, A Puppy for Christmas and Love is a Piece of Cake. Holt believes that, with the world being such a crazy place, viewers like to watch people falling in love and jump at the chance for some light escapism.

With pandemic fears continuing, For Better or Worse couldn’t be more timely, content-wise. And, with production ramping back up, Rosato and Holt realize For Better or Worse could serve as the template for TV and film.

“We felt a real responsibility to do it right and not mess it up for everyone else,” Rosato says. “We were very, very aware of playing by the rules and we hope that other people can get back to work because of it.”

Image courtesy of Shawn Goldberg/Shutterstock.

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Canada’s public broadcaster launches the CBC Creative Relief Fund

From a media release:

In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, CBC has launched THE CBC CREATIVE RELIEF FUND to provide immediate, urgent support to Canadian creators. The unprecedented new Fund will provide $2 million in development and production funding for a diverse range of innovative, original Canadian storytelling, including scripted comedies and dramas, unscripted entertainment, kids and young adult programming, podcasts, play adaptations and short documentaries.

Spanning three different streams detailed below, THE CBC CREATIVE RELIEF FUND will support innovative original projects with compelling perspectives and unique voices that also reflect contemporary Canada, and follow the recommended local and national COVID-19 safety guidelines. Canadian creators can apply immediately starting today until 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, April 24, and eligible applicants will be notified of their project’s status starting on May 8. More information and full application requirements can be found at cbc.ca/creativerelief.

The new Fund expands CBC’s ongoing efforts to find new ways to support Canadian creators in response to the COVID-19 crisis. On Wednesday, April 15, CBC Podcasts is launching THE SHOW MUST GO ON, a new PlayME original series featuring audio adaptations from Canadian playwrights whose plays have been postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic. In support of documentary filmmakers, CBC and Hot Docs are launching HOT DOCS AT HOME ON CBC on Thursday, April 16, offering exclusive, first-run documentary premieres from the postponed 2020 Hot Docs Festival to Canadian audiences on CBC TV, CBC Gem and documentary Channel.

THE CBC CREATIVE RELIEF FUND

INNOVATION STREAM 
The Innovation Stream offers support of big, bold ideas that are innovative and take creative risks, to be considered for multiple development and production opportunities on all platforms. Both established and emerging creators are invited to apply; applicants must have one television, audio or digital credit, or be partnered with an experienced existing production company. Genres include the following:

  • Scripted – Comedy and Drama

  • Unscripted – Factual Entertainment

  • Kids & Tweens; Youth & Young Adult

  • Podcasts – Multiple Genres

PLAYWRIGHT PILOT STREAM
The Playwright Pilot Stream is open to playwrights with at least one produced play to submit either new concepts or existing plays for adaptation on all platforms. CBC is looking for concepts that are a natural fit for either limited or ongoing series in the comedy or drama genres, episodic or serialized, and will fund the writing of a pilot script with an intended broadcast duration of either 30 or 60 minutes.

CBC SHORT DOCS STREAM
CBC Short Docs is inviting documentary filmmakers from across Canada to showcase their unique perspectives on what’s happening in the world during this time of COVID-19. Productions must be produced and delivered within three months or less, with filmmakers adhering to all local and national COVID-19 safety guidelines. CBC Short Docs is looking for standalone, immersive documentaries under 40 minutes in length, intended for a digital audience.

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CBC launches What’re You At? With Tom Power on April 5

From a media release:

CBC today announced a new, one-hour weekly primetime show, WHAT’RE YOU AT? WITH TOM POWER, premiering this Sunday, April 5 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem. Welcoming audiences into his home for a weekly national catch up during these unprecedented times, award-winning host Tom Power will share an uplifting and inspiring mix of interviews, storytelling, musical performances and perspectives as he checks in with Canadians across the country.

Each Sunday, Power will connect virtually with Canadians on the frontlines and from all walks of life, including artists and storytellers, musicians offering intimate performances from their homes, and everyday heroes helping their families and communities. Each show will incorporate a mix of live and pre-taped segments. This Sunday’s debut episode will feature an interview with Schitt’s Creek co-creator, showrunner and star Daniel Levy ahead of the hit comedy’s finale; a performance by groundbreaking JUNO Award-winning singer and songwriter Jessie Reyez, and conversations with Canadians in their communities sharing how they are navigating this challenging time, including three first responders.

“Back home in Newfoundland when you see someone you ask ‘What’re you at?’ There is a debate on the spelling but it generally means ‘How are you?’ or ‘How are you holding up?’,” said Power. “At a time when we’re all searching for meaning and connection, I am honoured to have this opportunity to check in with how Canadians are doing each week and celebrate those who are making a difference in their communities.”

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