From Michael Ahr of Den of Geek:
Dark Matter: What to Expect From Syfy’s New Space Opera
Earlier this year, we spoke with executive producers Joe Mallozzi and Paul Mullie on the set of their new science fiction show, Dark Matter, about what viewers can expect from their latest offering. Continue reading.
From Michael Idato of the Sydney Morning Herald:
‘Dark Matter’ shines a light on humanity
As the science fiction genre has become more earthbound, with shows such as Defiance and The 100 taking the traditional space opera framework and crashing it into the ground, the new series Dark Matter attempts, somewhat ambitiously, to relaunch the genre into orbit. The series, created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, explores the story of six individuals who wake up on a spacecraft with no memory of their past. Continue reading.
From network episode descriptions:
Bahama Blue, Love Nature network – “Open Water”
Open Water makes up nearly half of the area of the Bahamas, but houses its most elusive species. These creatures must be able to swim far or fast, to search for food, mates and shelter. These iconic species: Oceanic White Tip Sharks, Sperm Whales and even the reclusive Blainesville Beaked Whales are some of the deepest hunters on the planet. Schools of fish and flocks of birds exploit every advantage in this environment, whether a patch of seaweed or a rocky outcrop.
From a media release:
The eagerly-anticipated two-hour original movie Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables from Breakthrough Entertainment will debut on Corus Entertainment’s YTV in early 2016.
Now in production in several locations throughout Canada, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, based on the classic Anne series of novels, is beautifully reimagined by Breakthrough in association with the author’s granddaughter, Kate MacDonald Butler who serves as an Executive Producer. John Kent Harrison will direct the movie special based on a script by Susan Coyne.
True to the beloved tale that has enchanted fans for over a century, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables is the story of Anne Shirley, a fiercely imaginative little girl who touches the lives of everyone she meets. Taken from an orphanage to serve in the household of an older couple, Anne becomes the charge of strait-laced Marilla Cuthbert. Though Marilla is determined to bring discipline to the irrepressible Anne, neither has any idea as to the profound impact they will soon have on each other’s lives.
First published in 1908, Anne of Green Gables remains an iconic work of Canadian literature, which has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. The eight classic Anne of Green Gables novels set in P.E.I. have attracted generations of readers inspired by the adventures of the spirited redhead Anne Shirley, who comes to stay at Green Gables and wins the hearts of everyone she meets.
Taking the starring role as Anne Shirley is 13-year-old actress Ella Ballentine who started her film career in Hallmark TV movie starring Casper Van Dien (Baby’s First Christmas, 2012) and has since played leading and supporting roles alongside such distinguished actors as Susan Sarandon (The Calling, 2014), Ryan Reynolds and Rosario Dawson (The Captive, 2014), and Laurence Fishburne and Thomas Jane (Standoff, 2015). Addtionally, she recently completed filming one of the two starring roles in the feature film Against the Wild II: Surviving the Serengeti. Films in which Ballentine has appeared have been screened at a number of film festivals, including Cannes in 2014 and she has also appeared in television series including  the historical fantasy Reign and the medical drama series Saving Hope.
Highly regarded for his directorial work in the international miniseries format, John Kent Harrison’s television credits include the Emmy Award-winning The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler, The Lois Wilson Story, which received a SAG nomination for Winona Ryder, and William Faulkner’s Old Man, winner of two Emmy Awards, the Humanities Prize, the Christopher Medal and a Golden Reel. Celebrated as one of the co-creators and co-stars of the award-winning Slings and Arrows television series, script writer Susan Coyne has amassed a number of high-profile writing credits including series Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays and The Best Laid Plans. Executive Producers for Breakthrough Entertainment include Nat Abraham, Joan Lambur, Ira Levy, Michael McGuigan, and Peter Williamson with Ross Leslie acting as Producer and Lindsey Hermer-Bell as Production Designer.Â
Good news for binge watchers: Netflix Canada recently added CBC’s X Company and Strange Empire to their lineup, joining fellow CBC mates Murdoch Mysteries, Heartland, Republic of Doyle and more to the service’s ever-rotating and growing lineup.
The shows not only get exposure to a broader audience through browsing plus Netflix’s superior recommendation engine, but CBC gets an additional revenue stream from Netflix licensing on top of advertising, iTunes sales, and selling their kidneys.
World War II spy drama X Company is currently working on a second season, so a Netflix catch up may boost the future audience for the show. It will be interesting to see if there is a measurable effect, or if once a Netflix viewer always a Netflix viewer — if the audience simply waits for season two to appear on the service. Best case scenario for CBC is audiences find it so compelling they want to watch as it airs instead and binge watch later.
Dark, female-driven western Strange Empire was cancelled after one season, but other than some last-minute action that would have set up a second season, the first feels mostly like a satisfyingly complete mini series.
While CBC keeps most of their series available online, the Netflix user experience is vastly superior to the glitchy, repetitive-advertising-filled network website players. Netflix also captures an audience who may not watch CBC, search for CBC’s website, or even have heard of CBC’s shows.
Licensing agreements have expiration dates, so Netflix content comes and goes, but audiences should have plenty of time to discover X Company and Strange Empire and see what they’ve missed — for good or for bad — or relive the experience at their own pace.
Don’t look for Bell, Shaw or Rogers series on the streaming service any time soon — they want you to sign up for their own streaming services, CraveTV or shomi, instead.
