Tag Archives: History

Industry News

History announces production on original First World War docudrama 100 Days to Victory

From a media release:

The gripping story of the Allies’ collaborative efforts to end the First World War and Canada’s crucial role within those victories is coming to HISTORY® Fall 2018, as production begins on the new original docudrama, 100 Days to Victory (2×60). The two-part series is set to air during HISTORY’s annual Days of Remembrance programming, timed to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the First World War’s conclusion.

Through cinematic recreations of crucial battles and insights with top historians, the series tells the story of the courageous contributions in the final days of the First World War, including Canada’s pivotal role. Commissioned by Corus Entertainment’s HISTORY, this international co-production is produced by Canada’s Bristow Global Media and Australia’s Electric Pictures.

The last 100 days of the First World War were triumphant thanks in many ways to visionary leadership, revolutionary tactics, and the tenacious resolve of Canadian and Allied forces. This marked a major turning point in the four-year struggle to defeat Germany. Often overshadowed by earlier battles, 100 Days to Victory highlights the untold coming together of five leaders from five countries including General Arthur Currie (Canada), General John Monash (Australia), Marshal Ferdinand Foch (France), Field Marshal Douglas Haig (Britain) and General John J. Pershing (United States).

The dramatic First World War retelling will be shot in Canada and is produced by Bristow Global Media and Electric Pictures in association with Corus Entertainment’s HISTORY.

 

 

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Vikings

History greenlights Vikings for epic sixth season

From a media release:

HISTORY® announced today that it has renewed a 20-episode, sixth season of its hit, original drama series, Vikings. Production is slated to begin in Ireland this fall, ahead of the highly-anticipated two-hour season five premiere on Wednesday, November 29 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HISTORY. Additionally, Canadian Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha) is set to make her directorial debut for one episode in season six.

Over the past five successful seasons, Canadian talent – both behind and in front of the camera – have propelled Vikings to the critically-acclaimed series that it is today. The winner of eight Canadian Screen Awards including “Best International Drama,” Vikings is co-produced by celebrated Canadian company Take 5 Productions and primarily helmed by industry-leading Canadian directors including David Wellington, Daniel Grou, Kari Skogland, Helen Shaver, Ken Girotti, and Jeff Woolnough to name a few. Since its premiere in 2013, an outstanding roster of Canadian actors alongside Winnick, including Alexander Ludwig, Jessalyn Gilsig, Donal Logue, and season five new comers, Adam Copeland and Kris Holden-Ried, have brought their exceptional talents to the Vikings tribe. Additionally, Toronto’s visual effects company Mr. X and Tattersall Sound and Picture have been nominated for a combined seven Emmy® Awards for their work on Vikings to date.

As previously announced, Corus Entertainment also launched VIKINGS VR – a wholly original virtual reality app that offers an immersive, in-world, 360° experience where users are enveloped into thrilling scenes filmed on the set of Vikings and starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Alex Høgh Andersen, Peter Franzén, and many more key cast members.

Vikings is the critically acclaimed series from creator and sole writer Michael Hirst (Elizabeth, The Tudors) and is a family saga that tells the remarkable tales of the lives and epic adventures of the raiders and explorers of the Dark Ages. Hirst serves as executive producer along with Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000 (The Count of Monte Cristo, The Tudors), Sheila Hockin (The Tudors, Penny Dreadful), John Weber of Take 5 Productions (Reign, The Handmaid’s Tale), Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer and James Flynn (The Tudors, The Borgias).

Vikings is an international Canada/Ireland co-production by Take 5 Productions and TM Productions Limited. HISTORY broadcasts both domestically in Canada and the U.S. MGM Television is the worldwide distributor outside of Ireland and Canada. Vikings is produced in association with Corus Entertainment.

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Vikings

Season 5 of Vikings raids History with two-hour premiere on Nov. 29

From a media release:

The corruption, revenge, and bloodshed are imminent. Announced tonight from San Diego Comic-Con International, the two-hour, season five premiere of the year’s #1 Specialty Entertainment program* Vikings airs Wednesday, November 29 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HISTORY. Unveiled during the Vikings cast panel this evening, an exclusive trailer of the new season is now available on HISTORY Canada’s Facebook page.

In support of the new season, Corus Entertainment also announced VIKINGS VR – a wholly original virtual reality app that will transport viewers inside the drama for the first time. Launching in conjunction with Fan Expo Canada (August 31-September 3), the app offers an immersive, in-world 360° experience where users are enveloped into thrilling scenes filmed on the set of Vikings and starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Alex Høgh Andersen, Peter Franzén, and many more key cast members. The exclusive VR scenes include: an intense battle in Kattegat; an argument about war strategy between Ragnar’s sons; a prophecy from the mystical Seer; and a vow of vengeance by Bishop Heahmund (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) – plus behind-the-scenes content.

Fans can visit the eye-catching and expansive HISTORY booth at Fan Expo Canada to experience VIKINGS VR and receive a collectible Vikings-branded Cardboard VR viewer. The app is free and available beginning August 31 exclusively in Canada on the iTunes App Store and on Google Play with multiple ways to enjoy the 360° experience, including Cardboard VR viewers, VR headsets, YouTube, Facebook, and Littlstar. Corus has developed and commissioned VIKINGS VR in association with Vikings producers Take 5 Productions and Thinkingbox, a leading agency that specializes in digital VR content.

Season five of the multiple Emmy® Award-nominated series begins with Ivar the Boneless (Alex Høgh Andersen) asserting his leadership over the Great Heathen Army, while Lagertha (Canadian Katheryn Winnick) reigns as Queen of Kattegat. Ivar’s murder of his brother Sigurd (David Lindström) sets the stage for vicious battles to come as Ragnar’s (Travis Fimmel) sons plot their next moves after avenging their father’s death. Bjorn (B.C.-native Alexander Ludwig) follows his destiny into the Mediterranean Sea and Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård) who is suffering from the loss of his wife Helga (Maude Hirst), takes to the seas submitting himself to the will of the gods. This season is full of startling alliances and unbelievable betrayals as the Vikings fight to rule the world.

As previously announced, Golden Globe® Award-winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers joins the cast as the pivotal character, Heahmund, a warrior bishop. Ontario-native Kris Holden-Ried (Lost Girl) will appear throughout the season as the character Eyvind, an important warrior in Kattegat who decides to travel and settle his family in a new land.  Canadian Adam Copeland (Haven) plays Kietill Flatnose, a fierce and brave warrior chosen to be one of the leaders of the Viking party intent on travelling to Iceland. Canadian directors this season include David Wellington (Rookie Blue), Daniel Grou (19-2), and Jeff Woolnough (The Expanse).

In advance of the premiere, ET Canada heads to Ireland and takes viewers behind-the-scenes of Vikings with an in-depth special featuring exclusive, on-set interviews with the cast, and sneak peeks of what’s to come this season. Broadcast details will be announced at a later date.

Vikings is the critically acclaimed series from creator and sole writer Michael Hirst (Elizabeth, The Tudors) and is a family saga that tells the remarkable tales of the lives and epic adventures of the raiders and explorers of the Dark Ages. Hirst serves as executive producer along with Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000 (The Count of Monte Cristo, The Tudors), Sheila Hockin (The Tudors, The Borgias), John Weber of Take 5 Productions (The Tudors, The Borgias), Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer and James Flynn (The Tudors, The Borgias).

Vikings is an international Canada/Ireland co-production by Take 5 Productions and TM Productions Limited. HISTORY broadcasts both domestically in Canada and the U.S. MGM Television is the worldwide distributor outside of Ireland and Canada. Vikings is produced in association with Corus Entertainment.

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Industry News

History announces production on original docu-series Bud Dynasty

From a media release:

Green is the new gold. HISTORY, the #1 Specialty Entertainment Network*, announced today the start of production on the new Canadian original docu-series, Bud Dynasty (7×30). With filming underway today at the 4/20 event in Vancouver celebrating cannabis culture, the series follows intrepid entrepreneurs as they navigate Canada’s thriving and controversial marijuana industry at a time when the dubious plant is emerging from the shadows of prohibition and into the grow lights of legalization. Bud Dynasty is produced by Screen Siren Pictures Inc. and Henry Less (HL) Ontario Inc. in association with HISTORY. Broadcast details will be announced at a later date.

With the recent news of the federal government’s bill to legalize marijuana by July 2018, Canada may be the first industrialized nation to end pot prohibition. Canadians are experiencing a historic shift in the perspective on the product, and the potential impact of legalization is being deliberated across the country. In B.C. specifically, the marijuana industry is worth an estimated $2-7 billion annually, and produces 40% of all Canadian cannabis, making it some of the most valuable cash in the province.

Bud Dynasty chronicles this burgeoning green rush by following Canada’s most charismatic and uncompromising marijuana trailblazers who risk it all and bravely face serious obstacles in this uncharted territory. Pot pioneer Bob Kay is a burly biker and father of four who dreams of franchising on a massive scale, but also recognizes the volatility of the business. As Bob seeks out investment opportunities, he turns to Joe Le, a young entrepreneur and dispensary owner from Vancouver. Joe is making his mark on the cannabis industry and is intrigued by the possibilities of partnering with Bob and capitalizing on his grow license – which happens to be one of the largest in Canada.

However, the competition is fierce as franchise operators, large-scale growers, licensed producers, publicly traded companies, and other dispensaries each battle for a slice of the market and control over supply, distribution, and retail sales – all while facing local officials threatening to shut down all retail sales until regulations are in place. Bud Dynasty provides an all-access look into the frontier of the legalized pot business, its big players, the obstacles they face, and the epic journey of building a groundbreaking industry from the leaf up.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

History’s Yukon Gold digs into Season 5

Somehow I totally missed covering Season 4 of Yukon Gold. No matter, the guys and gals who seek out the shiny precious metal in the most inhospitable of places—the Yukon—have stuck with it and return on Wednesday with Season 5 of the History program.

“Strike While the Iron is Hot” kicks off the new season at 10 p.m. ET/PT with a quick recap of what’s happened since we last visited the hardscrabble territory. And while folks like Big Al McGregor and Nika Guilbault and Chris St. Jean are back for this bunch of storylines, Karl Knutson, Bernie Kreft and Ken Foy and Guillaume Brodeur are no longer a part of Yukon Gold. No matter, there are more than enough interesting people sluicing. And with gold at a five-year high—$1,700 an ounce—there’s urgency to find the stuff and fast before the 16-week season ends.

Big Al has set himself a lofty goal, aiming to dig up 1,000 ounces (over $1.7 million). But Al’s infectious laugh and positive attitude hides his two-year struggle, first with the death of his wife, Colleen, and then cancer that caused him to lose feeling in his hands and legs. The result? He’s walking with the aid of canes and soldiering on in Colleen’s memory. You can’t help but hope he’ll get those ounces he’s dreaming of.

Meanwhile, young Whitehorse prospectors Ed and Riley are getting into the big game for the first time. Their first task? Transporting their $250,000 sluice plant through the mountains to their claim on Rabbit Creek. A rookie mistake shuts down their convoy for a bit, cutting into precious work hours but providing viewers with awesome, sweeping camera shots of the rugged Yukon terrain.

They may come from different backgrounds and have different levels of success mining, but everyone featured on Yukon Gold agrees on one thing: they deeply love where they are. The allure of living in the wilderness, eking out a living with the bare minimum and removed from the issues a big city presents is an intoxicating cocktail they simply can’t pass up. And having a little bit of gold is just gravy.

Yukon Gold airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on History.

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