All posts by Greg David

Prior to becoming a television critic and owner of TV, Eh?, Greg David was a critic for TV Guide Canada, the country's most trusted source for TV news. He has interviewed television actors, actresses and behind-the-scenes folks from hundreds of television series from Canada, the U.S. and internationally. He is a podcaster, public speaker, weekly radio guest and educator, and past member of the Television Critics Association.
Industry News

WarnerMedia and the Canadian Academy join forces to provide opportunity for experienced Canadian writers from underrepresented communities

From a media release:

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (the Canadian Academy) and WarnerMedia announced today that the WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Writers Program, a talent activation initiative focused on experienced Canadian writers from underrepresented communities, is now open for submissions through Friday, December 18, 2020 on Academy.ca/WMAccess_Writers.

The WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Writers Program is offered in English and French to storytellers of all genders, abilities and identities from underrepresented communities in Canada, including members of Indigenous, Black, racialized groups, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2+ and Francophone minority communities. These creators are experts in their craft but may not have had the opportunity to reach their full industry potential, and whose individual voices and perspectives need to be heard and amplified. Over a period of roughly nine months, the eight to 12 applicants selected will have the opportunity to hone their artistry; gain deeper industry knowledge; and experience invaluable exposure to WarnerMedia executives, creators and established industry professionals, as well as workshop an unfinished script into a viable draft.

Following the closure of submissions on Friday, December 18, 2020, WarnerMedia and the Canadian Academy will conduct internal, peer, and juried reviews to determine the eight to 12 participants of the program. The inaugural class of the WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Writers Program will begin in June 2021.

WarnerMedia and the Canadian Academy are jointly committed to elevating the voices of underrepresented Canadian creators on their path to achieving global success and exposure. Following the announcement of a multi-year partnership earlier this year, the WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Writers Program is the first in a pair of programs focused on increasing representation and building a more inclusive and innovative industry both in front of and behind the camera. WarnerMedia will be launching several initiatives over the next several months for above and below-the-line talent across the country. The initiatives aim to nurture a sustainable pipeline of Canadian talent as the global demand for unique voices and authentic content grows.

The WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Writers Program is a multi-year initiative sponsored by WarnerMedia and administered by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, in collaboration with Telefilm Canada.

Learn more about the WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Writers Program and submit your application at Academy.ca/WMAccess_Writers.

For announcements and program details, subscribe to the Canadian Academy’s newsletter at Academy.ca.

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Industry News

Brightlight Pictures and Pier 21 Films in development on Fort Puleyne

From a media release:

Brightlight Pictures, a leading Canadian film and television production company, announced today the development of a new comedy series called Fort Puleyne. Toronto-based production company, Pier 21 Films, will join Brightlight in the development process, along with writer Evany Rosen (New Eden) and Bell Media.

Written and created by Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley, B Positive) and Humphrey Ker (Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet), Fort Puleyne follows the foppishly optimistic young officer, Major Fitzwilliam “Fitz” Gower, as he leaves behind the life he knows for Upper Canada to lead the most misfit militia that ever served in the British Army during the War of 1812. With the help of his men (or more often in spite of them), Fitz must find a way to survive in this backwater garrison, earn his stripes, and finally gain the respect of his superiors – who have all but forgotten they stationed him there in the first place.

Middleditch, who just finished a six-season run on Silicon Valley and is currently starring in Chuck Lorre’s B Positive, is repped by WME and Kirsten Ames Management. Humphrey Ker, who is writing and appearing on season 2 of Mythic Quest is repped by ICM Partners and Kirsten Ames Management.

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Letterkenny

Seeins’ it’s traditions, Letterkenny Season 9 streams Christmas Day on Crave

From a media release:

It’s pertnear the most wondrous time of the year, even with everyone stuck inside. Season 9 of Crave’s acclaimed original comedy series, LETTERKENNY, starts streaming Christmas Day, with seven all-new episodes dropping at once. Click here to check out the trailer for an all-new season.

Created by and starring Jared Keeso, and produced by New Metric Media, in partnership with WildBrain and Play Fun Games, Season 9 of LETTERKENNY kicks off with the Hicks, Skids, and Hockey Players attending an American Buck and Doe following the fight with Dierks (Tyler Hynes). Katy takes her scorched earth dating strategy back to Letterkenny and Gail (Lisa Codrington) gets some action of her own. Meanwhile, the Hockey Players learn about Judaism and the whole town gets really into sleepover activities like movies, board games, and girl talk. Then, a “breastaurant” opens in Letterkenny and Tanis (Tiio Horn) starts her own energy drink.

The acclaimed Canadian series has been a hit with Canadian and U.S. media alike, and has received high praise from Hollywood heavyweights, including Academy Award® winner Brad Pitt and Golden Globe® winner Edward Norton, who called the series “brilliant,” and “a Canadian national treasure.”

Viewers looking to get into the yuletide mood before the big day can catch A LETTERKENNY CHRISTMAS: THE THREE WISE MEN, currently streaming on Crave, along with the first eight seasons, special episodes like “The Haunting of MoDean’s II,” “St. Perfect’s Day,” “Super Hard Easter,” and “Valentimes Day,” and the original web series, Letterkenny Problems.

The award-winning half-hour comedy revolves around the dustups Wayne (Keeso) and his buds Daryl (Nathan Dales) and Dan (K Trevor Wilson), as well as Wayne’s free-spirited younger sister Katy (Michelle Mylett), get into with their small-town rivals. Dylan Playfair and Andrew Herr reprise their roles as hotshot Hockey Players “Jonesy” and “Reilly”. Tyler Johnston and Evan Stern return as Skids Stewart and Roald. Mark Forward returns as the temperamental Coach. Jacob Tierney returns to direct all episodes and reprise his role as fan-favourite Christian leader, Glen. Tiio Horn returns as The Natives’ badass leader, Tanis, and Clark Backo is back as Wayne’s love interest, Rosie. Dan Petronijevic, Melanie Scrofano, and Kamilla Kowal return as McMurray, Mrs. McMurray, and Bonnie McMurray.

LETTERKENNY is produced by New Metric Media, in partnership with WildBrain and Playfun Games in association with Bell Media, with the participation of Canadian Media Fund, OMDC Tax Credits, and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, and is distributed by WildBrain. Jared Keeso is executive producer, co-writer, star, and creator. Jacob Tierney is executive producer, director, and co-writer. Mark Montefiore is executive producer for New Metric Media.

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Bitten, Industry News, Orphan Black

Will Pascoe announced as showrunner in residence for the Pacific Screenwriting Program’s 2021 Scripted Series Lab

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From a media release:

The Pacific Screenwriting Program (PSP) is excited to announce that award-winning Writer/Producer/Director Will Pascoe will serve as Showrunner-in-Residence for the 2021 Scripted Series Lab. Pascoe will mentor six up-and-coming BC-based screenwriters selected to participate in the program. He will lead the Writer’s Room as they develop his original series in the PSP’s flagship training program starting in January.

Going into its third year, the lab will implement a hybrid-style Writer’s Room combining in-person and virtual meetings that reflect the current production protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will still get the full PSP experience including mentoring on their original pilot, additional workshops and information sessions with other industry leaders to equip them with the skills, experience and connections necessary to help establish a sustainable career in the province’s dynamic screen industry. The Pacific Screenwriting Program is a collaboration between Netflix, CMPA, the Writer’s Guild of Canada and Creative BC.

Will Pascoe most recently wrapped Showrunning the third season of Amazon’s hit series, Absentia. Previous to that, he wrote for Fox’s The Finder, Bell/SyFy Channel’s, Bitten; NBC’s drama series Chicago Med; BBC Worldwide/Starz’s Da Vinci’s Demons and Hulu’s Shut Eye starring Jeffrey Donovan and Isabella Rossellini. While working as writer and co-producer on Bell/BBC America’s Orphan Black, his episode “Variations Under Domestication” earned Pascoe a Canadian Writer’s Guild Award and nominations for an Edgar Allan Poe Award and a Hugo Award. A graduate of the Writer’s Guild of America’s prestigious Showrunner Training Program, Will has also developed television series for Twentieth-Century Fox, Playtone, and Universal Studios.

The Scripted Series Lab is a 15-week intensive training program providing support and career-advancement opportunities for active and aspiring screenwriters from across British Columbia, where they receive the necessary support to expand their portfolio and pursue opportunities in the evolving TV marketplace. Throughout the program, participants hone their craft, strengthen their collaboration and presentation skills, and obtain a deeper understanding of the global television industry and how to market themselves within it. As the Scripted Series Lab showrunner, Pascoe will mentor the six selected participants within a real-world story room over 10 weeks, breaking stories and writing scripts for the original project he brings to the room and will subsequently be pitching to streamers and networks around the world.

For more information, please visit the Pacific Screenwriting Program website.

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