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Industry News

A March to remember: AMI announces must-see original and returning programming, including the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympic Games and 2022 Canadian Blind Hockey Tournament

From a media release:

Today, Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) unveiled its schedule for March—with a lineup of exciting new and returning programs available in described video for the blind and partially sighted community in Canada—highlighted by Paralympic coverage from CBC on AMI-tv and AMI-audio and the 2022 Canadian Blind Hockey Tournament on AMI-audio.

2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics 
Friday, March 4 to Sunday, March 13

Beginning with the Opening Ceremony on March 4, AMI will air over 40 hours of Paralympic coverage from CBC on AMI-tv and AMI-audio. All coverage will be accessible to audience members who are blind or partially sighted with live described video.

Dish with Mary: Destination Dining 
Debuts Tuesday, March 8, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

Join Mary Mammoliti, host of AMI-tv’s Dish with Mary and AMI-audio’s Kitchen Confession podcast, on Tuesday, March 8 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern, as she visits St. John’s, Newfoundland, to explore its culture and culinary delights. Then, on Tuesday, March 15, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern, Mary makes her way to our Nation’s Capital of Ottawa, Ontario, to discover some truly authentic cuisine. Dish with Mary: Destination Dining is an original AMI production.

Adaptable Animals 
Debuts Wednesday, March 23, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

AMI’s new series, Adaptable Animals, looks at the world of animals with disabilities and the advances in veterinary medicine that provide them with prosthetics, thanks to the specialized work of Janice Olynich. In the debut episode, the clock is ticking as Janice has to cast, create and fit a test brace from scratch, all in the span of a few hours. Meanwhile, a Smooth Fox Terrier’s mysterious issue continues to be a challenge and a post-surgical Goldendoodle finds out if his healing is on track. Adaptable Animals is produced by Mountain Road Productions.

#IGotThis 
Returns Wednesday, March 23, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

In the third season of #IGotThis, meet remarkable people who have discovered ways to cope with a physical disability or mental health challenges and move forward with their lives. In the Season three return, a fencing coach with limited mobility and his young student, who has cerebral palsy, realize being different doesn’t mean being less. #IGotThis is produced by Honey Cut Studios.

Site Unseen 
Debuts Wednesday, March 16, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

Eager to own their first house, AMI This Week Bureau Reporter Beth and her partner, Cody, bought a home sight unseen and were faced with a harsh reality once they stepped inside. Follow along as the two turn an unlivable house into the accessible home of their dreams. Site Unseen is an original AMI documentary.

2022 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament
Friday, March 25, and Sunday, March 27

Blind Hockey is back on AMI! AMI-audio will broadcast the 2022 Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament live from the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto. Members of the AMI-audio team, including Mike Ross, Claire Buchanan, Jeff Ryman, Brock Richardson, Cam Jenkins and ParaSport TV’s Nicco Cardarelli will be offering play-by-play and analysis throughout the event. Tune in on Friday, March 25, at 1 p.m. Eastern, for the 2022 Canadian Blind Hockey Tournament Opening Ceremonies and first-ever Women’s Blind Hockey Game. Then, listen on Sunday, March 27, at 11 a.m. Eastern for the Open Division: Bronze Medal Game, followed by the Open Division: Gold Medal Game at 1 p.m. Eastern. 

DarkVision 
Debuts Friday, March 25, at 7 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

Dungeons & Dragons is a truly accessible game. Learn more about this real-time role-playing game and the people that play it. DarkVision is produced by Flow Productions.

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Industry News

Link: Indigenous film/TV funding needs Indigenous-led application, review process: report

From Sadaf Ahsan of The Canadian Press:

Link: Indigenous film/TV funding needs Indigenous-led application, review process: report
A report examining how best to distribute film and television funding to Indigenous creators stresses the need for stronger application guidelines, a review process conducted by Indigenous Peoples and the potential for financial consequences or remedial action when false claims to Indigeneity are made. Continue reading.

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Industry News

Cineflix Productions options the Wakeland novels by award-winning Canadian author Sam Wiebe

From a media release:

Cineflix Productions has begun development on a gripping new crime series based on the Vancouver-born author Sam Wiebe’s critically acclaimed Wakeland Novels—Invisible Dead, Cut You Down, and Hell and Gone.

The rain and blood-soaked mysteries feature Wakeland, a 29-year-old ex-cop turned P.I. as a modern-day Marlowe, fighting for justice, his clients, and the soul of Vancouver.

“Sam is one of the most exciting writers in Canada, and the Vancouver-noir world he’s created is an incredible foundation for an original series. I believe Wakeland and the gritty world he inhabits is primed for a global audience,” said Jeff Vanderwal, Executive Producer, Cineflix Productions.

“Sam’s fast-paced novels are cinematic in scope with complex stories driven by strong characters whose deep flaws only make them more seductive. We’ve been fans of Sam’s work for years,” said Lisa Baylin, Director of Development, Cineflix Productions.

“I’m thrilled to partner with Cineflix Productions and I’m excited to bring my characters to the screen while also shining a light on one of the most dynamic cities in the world,” said Sam Wiebe.

Cineflix Productions’ slate of scripted crime content continues to expand with the recent addition of movies Stolen By Their Father with Sarah Drew and Left for Dead: The Ashley Reeves Story starring Jennie Garth and Anwen O’Driscoll, along with the critically acclaimed, award-winning Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey and I Was Lorena Bobbitt.

Cineflix Productions brokered the TV rights deal with Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists for Chris Casuccio.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Blue Ant Media greenlights two new original productions and orders four renewals for its Canadian TV platforms

From a media release:

Producer, distributor and channel operator Blue Ant Media announced today from Prime Time two new greenlights and four renewals set to debut in 2022 and 2023 across its Canadian specialty TV platforms: Cottage Life, T+E and Love Nature. The new additions reinforce Blue Ant Media’s commitment to create compelling, diverse and scalable series that offer a unique voice and perspective. Overseen by Sam Linton, VP, Head of Original Content, Canadian Media, Blue Ant Media, the originals lineup includes a mix of Canadian and world broadcast premieres with several series available for licensing globally by Blue Ant International.

To mark Cottage Life’s 35th anniversary this year, Blue Ant Media has greenlit the new documentary special Loons: A Cry from the Mist (wt)(World Broadcast Premiere), which chronicles a year in the life of the common loon. The beloved Canadian bird, synonymous with cottage country, has been the long-standing icon for the Cottage Life brand. Returning to Cottage Life is Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet (Season 2), a Blue Ant and APTN co-production that has been renewed for a second season. The series profiles rural Alberta-based veterinarian Dr. Savannah Howse-Smith as she rescues and rehabilitates animals while also exploring her newly-discovered Métis heritage.

On T+E, Canada’s home to paranormal programming, the horror anthology series Eli Roth Presents: A Ghost Ruined My Life (Season 2; Canadian Broadcast Premiere) has been renewed for a second season. Executive produced by the award-winning film director, producer, writer and actor Eli Roth (Inglourious Basterds, Hostel, The Last Exorcism) and Cream Productions, the Blue Ant Media and discovery+ co-production debuted to much success on T+E last October. To keep up with the paranormal demand, T+E’s original hit series, Haunted Hospitals (Season 4; Canadian Broadcast Premiere), returns for a fourth installment this fall 2022. The hit franchise saw Season 3 wrap as a top 10 primetime series on T+E. Finally, the all-new T+E eight-part docu-series Mission: Unexplained (Season 1; Canadian Broadcast Premiere) follows military veterans as they share the terrifying, unexplained events they witnessed on the front lines. The greenlight is part of the Blue Ant Media and Content Catalyst Fund (CCF) joint venture that backs women-led creatives in unscripted content, from development to production and distribution, for the Canadian and global marketplaces.

Returning to Love Nature, the 12-part documentary series Battle of the Alphas (Season 2; Canadian Broadcast Premiere) offers audiences an in-depth look at animal conflict, competition and the battle for supremacy. Season 2 of Battle of the Alphas is a Love Nature global commission, slated to air in Canada and roll out worldwide on Love Nature’s branded linear and streaming platforms in 2023.

Alongside the new original commissions, Blue Ant Media announced from Prime Time two current projects in development for Blue Ant Media’s Canadian broadcast channels, with the potential for licensing both series to other content companies via Blue Ant International. The projects, Haunted Goldrush (working title) and Expedition Great White, are unscripted, original documentaries that span the paranormal, wildlife and nature genres. Haunted Goldrush, executive produced by Sean De Vries, follows paranormal investigators Corine Carey, Leanne Sallenback and Kelly Ireland as they make their way up British Columbia’s historic and mysterious Gold Rush Trail. The route which runs through the famed Fraser Canyon up to the gold rush town of Barkerville was a bustling, wild and often violent place in the 1800s. But as soon as the gold was gone, so were the people. However, many locals believe some never left. On the east coast, Expedition Great White examines the dramatic rise of great white sharks spotted in Nova Scotia waters during the fall and summer months. The documentary is produced by Edward Peill, Tell Tale Productions (The Curse of Oak Island) and Ken MacDonald, former Vice President and General Manager for Discovery Channel in Canada. Overseen by Sam Linton, both development projects underpin Blue Ant Media’s commitment to work with regional producers across Canada and invest in high-quality, distinctive programming that resonate with audiences coast to coast.

For a full list of original programming highlights, please see below.

COTTAGE LIFE

Loons: A Cry from the Mist (wt) (1×60’; HD)
Scheduled for fall 2022 • World Broadcast Premiere
Producer: Yap Films
Loons: A Cry from the Mist (wt) chronicles a year in the life of Canada’s iconic bird, the common loon. Through the lens of cottagers, citizen scientists and bird experts, the documentary special examines the perils impacting the loon population—from global warming to boat traffic and big wakes disturbing their habitat. The special spotlights how Canada’s beloved loon is under threat. Distributed by Blue Ant International.

Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet, Season 2 (13×30’; HD)
Scheduled for spring 2023
A Blue Ant Media and APTN Co-production • Producer: Wapanatahk Media in partnership with Great Pacific Media
The series picks right back up at Alberta’s Rocky Rapids Veterinary Service, where mixed animal practitioner, Dr. Savannah Howse-Smith, rescues and rehabilitates a wide range of household pets and exotic wildlife. Dr. Savannah oversees new animal emergencies everyday at work, while also trying to learn more about her recently-discovered Métis heritage in her personal life.

T+E

Eli Roth Presents: A Ghost Ruined My Life, Season 2 (8×60’; HD)
Scheduled for fall 2022 • Canadian Broadcast Premiere
A Blue Ant Media and discovery+ Co-production • Producer: Cream Productions
Executive produced by award-winning film director, producer, writer and actor Eli Roth, the original horror anthology series unveils shocking stories of real-life hauntings that have left emotional (and sometimes physical) scars on those unlucky enough to have experienced them. Horrific and evocative, each hour-long episode exposes viewers to the stories of survivors who have been dragged through hell and back and now struggle to rebuild their shattered lives.

Haunted Hospitals, Season 4 (10×60’; HD)
Scheduled for fall 2022 • Canadian Broadcast Premiere
Producer: BGM Inc., a Sphere Media company
Haunted Hospitals recounts the chilling stories of paranormal activity inside hospitals, nursing homes and morgues. In each episode, nurses, medical support workers and patients give first-hand accounts of the supernatural, such as deceased patients who return from the grave, ghost children who stalk medical staff and territorial spirits who lay claim to hospital hallways. As these personal testimonies unfold, the mysteries behind the troubled souls and hauntings become more alive than ever.

Mission: Unexplained, Season 1 (8×60’; HD)
Scheduled for spring 2023 • Canadian Broadcast Premiere
Blue Ant Media and Content Catalyst Fund (CCF) joint venture • Producer: Blue Ant Studios
Mission: Unexplained follows military veterans as they share the terrifying, unexplained events they witnessed on the front lines. From mystifying lights to vanishing civilians, frightful apparitions to mechanical mysteries and more, the series gives audiences a front row seat to the action as veterans recount their harrowing experiences. Distributed by Blue Ant International.

LOVE NATURE

Battle of the Alphas, Season 2 (12×30’; HD)
Scheduled for 2023 • Canadian Broadcast Premiere
Producer: Yap Films
The battle of the alphas happens across the planet every day: babies compete for their mother’s milk, adolescents play-fight and adults become aggressive when their leadership is challenged or when they’re in search of a mate. From friendly competition to territorial battles, the all new season delves into the science behind animal conflict. Distributed by Blue Ant International.

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Industry News

Blink Studios acquires the rights to Canadian author Charlene Carr’s upcoming novel ‘Hold My Girl’ for television series adaptation

From a media release:

In a competitive situation with multiple bidders, BLINK STUDIOS, the recently launched content venture backed by global film and TV studio Endeavor Content, has acquired the rights to “Hold My Girl”, the upcoming novel from emerging Canadian author Charlene Carr. BLINK STUDIOS will serve as the studio for the television adaption, which marks the company’s first project since launching in November 2021. Academy Award® and Emmy® nominated producer Michael London and Shannon Gaulding of Groundswell Productions (Snowfall, The Magicians) will executive produce the series together with Carolyn Newman and Virginia Rankin for BLINK STUDIOS.

“Hold My Girl” is a heart-wrenching, dual narrative women’s fiction novel about two women whose eggs are switched during IVF, only to be revealed over a year later when one of them has been raising the wrong daughter, and the other has been grieving a stillborn child that wasn’t hers. Centred around a moral question, the emotional story features themes of motherhood, racial identity, betrayal and ultimately hope and healing. The premise of the novel was very much inspired by Charlene’s own life – a Black woman who gave birth to a visibly white child via IVF – and stemmed from her own fears of a mix-up, that one day she too would receive a call to say her daughter wasn’t hers. “Hold My Girl” will be published by Welbeck Publishing in the UK and Harper Collins in Canada, set to release in 2023.

“We are committed to working with and discovering great Canadian voices which is why we are delighted to partner with an emerging and brilliant talent like Charlene to help bring her novel to television. Her exceptional storytelling is authentic and universal, while also embracing her Canadian roots,” commented Carolyn Newman, Executive Vice President, Global Scripted and Virginia Rankin, Executive Producer, BLINK STUDIOS. “We’re thrilled to team with Michael and Shannon, who are truly passionate about this material.”

“I am beyond thrilled to have Blink Studios and Groundswell Productions working on the screen adaptation of ‘Hold My Girl’,” commented Carr. “I was blown away by their enthusiasm, emotional connection to the story, and clear desire to keep as true to the book as possible. It is an honour to have such vastly experienced, skilled and passionate producers championing this story!”

“Charlene Carr has written the rare novel that is both a page-turning ride and a moving piece of literature that explores issues of motherhood and race in a hugely relevant way. We’re thrilled that Blink shared our passion for the material and moved so quickly and aggressively on our behalf,” Michael London, Founder/CEO Groundswell Productions.

Charlene Carr is a lover of stories. Pursuing this life-long obsession, she studied literature at university, attaining both a BA and MA in English, including a study program at Oxford. Still craving more, she attained a degree in Journalism. A bit of a nomad, she’s lived in four countries and seven Canadian provinces. After travelling the globe for several years and working as a freelance writer, editor, facilitator, and running her own Communications business, she decided the time had come to focus exclusively on her true love – novel writing. She currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, where she splits her time between writing, building relationships with her readers, and trying to keep up with the energy and antics of her young daughter. Recently awarded a writing grant by Arts Nova Scotia, “Hold My Girl” is Carr’s first agented novel.

BLINK STUDIOS is a newly launched content venture with Endeavor Content as its anchor investor and lead strategic partner. Focusing heavily on a creative-first approach, BLINK STUDIOS is dedicated to partnering with best-in-class writers, creators and producers, as well as aggressively pursuing IP in Canada and throughout the world. The indie studio is committed to applying significant resources to support new and diverse Canadian voices.

Charlene Carr is represented by Hayley Steed and the deal was brokered by Hannah Ladds, Dramatic Rights Agent at the Madeleine Milburn, Literary, TV & Film Agency.

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