Tag Archives: Haven

Featured, Haven, Industry News, Wild Cards

Blink49 Studios and Piller/Segan ink multi-year joint venture to develop and produce premium content across all genres

Leave a comment

From a media release:

Piller/Segan and Blink49 Studios, have entered into a multi-year joint venture agreement that will see both companies contribute financial and creative resources for the development and production of a slate of premium scripted and unscripted content.

The partnership builds on a long-standing creative relationship between Blink49 Studios CEO John Morayniss and Piller/Segan partners Lloyd Segan and Shawn Piller, who previously collaborated on hit series Private Eyes and fan-favorite Haven during Morayniss’ tenure at eOne. The companies are currently producing Season 3 of Wild Cards (CBC/The CW), which has also been ordered for Season 4.

Designed as a hub for bold new projects, the joint venture will take an open-door approach to building long-term IP and franchises across genres, encouraging crossover opportunities for concepts that can thrive in multiple formats. Building on the strength of its existing creative team, Piller/Segan will expand its development capacity with the addition of a seasoned executive dedicated to sourcing and shepherding projects under the joint venture, working closely with Blink49 Studios leadership.

“This joint venture is a natural evolution of the trust and creative synergy we’ve built over many years,” said Morayniss. “With our combined financial commitment and infrastructure, Blink49 Studios and Piller/Segan are well-positioned to deliver globally resonant storytelling and provide creators with the resources they need to succeed.”

“We’re thrilled to formalize this next chapter with John and the incredible team at Blink49 Studios,” added Segan. “This venture gives us the reach and flexibility to champion a wide range of projects — from supporting established voices to cultivating fresh talent. Together, we’re building a dynamic environment where creators can take risks and bring ambitious ideas to life.”

The venture reflects both companies’ shared mission to empower creators, invest in innovative storytelling, and deliver high-quality programming to a global marketplace.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Private Eyes

Preview: Private Eyes goes on a “Getaway with Murder”

5 Comments

I’ve been excited about Sunday’s episode of Private Eyes since May of 2017 when Cindy Sampson teased that Matt, Angie, Dr. Ken and Melanie were spending a weekend together.

Now that weekend is here and there’s, of course, murder afoot. And laughs. Here’s what Global has revealed regarding “Getaway with Murder.”

Shade and Angie are hired by the owner of a luxurious rustic lodge to investigate an infidelity case. Thinking it’ll be a breeze and a good opportunity for a mini-vacation, they invite Ken and Mel along to join them. But when their client ends up dead and the local sheriff proves to be out of his depth, they ditch their dates to solve the case – ultimately leaving them out in the cold.

And here is more info I can divulge of the instalment, written by Marcus Robinson and directed by James Genn, after watching a screener.

Ken has big plans for the weekend
It may be work for Angie, but Ken (Mark Ghanimé) has plotted some fun stuff for the couple, as well as a surprise for his lady love.

Kris Lemche guests
The veteran Canadian actor from such series as Emily of New Moon, Joan of Arcadia and a standout performance on Haven as Seth Byrne is unforgettable on Sunday as Deputy Conroy, who proves to be a tad inept when it comes to solving a grisly crime. Luckily, Angie, Shade, Mel and Ken are there to help in the investigation.

The Dream Team indeed
I’m not-so-secretly hoping there is a reason for Ken and Mel to join Shade and Angie on more cases. The quartet works really well together on this case and has a great chemistry. Fingers crossed the producers noticed this too.

Maz and Zoe together again
An escape room scenario allows the pair some quality time, leading to hilarity.

Private Eyes airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global.Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Featured, Frankie Drake Mysteries

Preview: Frankie Drake Mysteries flies high with Lucas Bryant and Laurence Fox

This week on Frankie Drake Mysteries are two truly high-profile guest stars. I’ve been excited for this episode ever since I saw a short video of Lucas Bryant and Laurence Fox fooling around in the Drake makeup trailer where they were on location.

“The Pilot,” written by co-creators Michelle Ricci and Carol Hay and directed by Leslie Hope, finds Bryant playing Phillip Anderson, an aviator whose son is kidnapped. I’ve been a fan of Bryant since Season 1 of Haven (serious Stephen King fan over here) and was furthered in CBC’s excellent miniseries Shoot the Messenger, which bows on WGN in the U.S. on Feb. 26. As for Fox, he’s been on my radar for over 40 episodes of the PBS series Inspector Lewis, where he played DS James Hathaway. Anyway, enough of me being a fanboy; here’s what the CBC has revealed as the synopsis for Monday’s episode:

A day off turns into a day at the office for Frankie and Trudy when the son of an aviator is kidnapped.

And here is more information I gleaned from watching a screener.

Airplanes aplenty
I love airplanes. I love history. I was, therefore, giddy to see “The Pilot” involved both as stunning old aircraft zipped around the sky in Guelph, Ont. for the episode. (Read Bill Brioux’s set visit piece for more details.) Interestingly, this was the first episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries to be filmed but airs as Episode 7. Ah, the magic of television. And meetings.

Charlotte Sullivan guest-stars
Hold onto your hats Rookie Blue and Mary Kills People fans! Charlotte Sullivan, who also appears in CBC’s Caught next month, is Meara, wife of Phillip Anderson and mother to Charlie, the missing child.

Cheeky Fox
When we first meet Laurence Fox, he’s an unnamed gent who sidles up to Frankie and begins some major flirting. Who is he, and why does he seem to have bad will towards Phillip Anderson? They have a history, but what is it? Like I’ve already said, this was the first episode of Frankie to be filmed, but it doesn’t feel like it. Frankie’s sass, strong character and love of motorcycles and planes are firmly in place, as well as her relationship with Trudy. As a matter of fact, we learn some key backstory about Frankie thanks to her motorcycle and the conversation she has about it.

A storyline never revisited
Kris Holden-Ried appears at the end of Monday’s episode as a someone Frankie turns to for support. What’s interesting is that it’s tied to the backstory we’ve already mentioned but is never referred to, so far at least, in Season 1. Again, this was the first episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries so things change, but it would have been interesting to see this storyline fleshed out more.

A very special guest star
On top of the folks we’ve already mentioned, a certain someone drops by to escort Frankie into a building where women aren’t allowed. I kind of wish their name had been left out of the credits because it’s a major spoiler. I’ve already said too much.

Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

 

 Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail

Featured, Podcast

TV Eh B Cs podcast 70 — The Lieberman Directives

Robert Lieberman has been a prominent director in film, television and commercials over multiple decades. A highlight from his expansive career in television was directing the pilot and executive producing the CBS series Gabriel’s Fire, which starred James Earl Jones and garnered three Emmy Awards. In recent years Mr. Lieberman’s television directing assignments have included multiple episodes of The Expanse, Eyewitness, Art of More, Rogue, Criminal Minds, Dexter, The X-Files, Brothers & Sisters and eight episodes of Haven.

Listen or download below, or subscribe via iTunes or any other podcast catcher with the TV, eh? podcast feed.

Want to support TV, eh?’s work? Become a Patreon!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail