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.

From a media release:

Award-winning global production company, marblemedia, and The Jim Henson Company, an established leader in innovative and iconic entertainment, are partnering once again, this time on the original scripted comedy series, Felix (10×30), which will break new ground by debunking the stereotypes and stigmatization around neurodiversity and mental health challenges among children.

Created by Miklos Perlus, and inspired by his neurodivergent son, Felix is a live action comedy about a boy, his family, and his “feels” – five original characters to be created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™ that manifest his larger-than-life emotions. They live in his house; they follow him to school; they eat all the good snacks; they’re like the worst pets ever. And now that Felix attends a school for neurodivergent kids like him, he’s finally learning how to live with his very real emotions.

“We could think of no better partner on this project than The Jim Henson Company to join us in creating a transformative family television series”, explains A.J. Trauth, VP Kids at marblemedia. “We share a desire to bring the much-needed conversation around children’s mental health directly to audiences across North America, and the world. Miklos has expertly crafted an authentic, optimistic, and hilarious story about this very important topic.”

“For generations, the art of puppetry has helped us process our thoughts and feelings. By authentically depicting the nuanced and complex ways that neurodivergent children experience the world, Felix will use comedy and a cast of original hilarious characters to introduce audiences to new ways of thinking, reducing the stigma around mental health and inspiring families to improve their own communication,” said Halle Stanford, President of Television for The Jim Henson Company.

marblemedia and The Jim Henson Company have partnered previously on live-action preschool series Hi Opie!, in 2014 and its spin-off Opie’s Home in 2016.

Essex County

Links: Essex County

March 19, 2023 Greg David 1 Comment

From Debra Yeo of the Toronto Star:

Link: TV version of Jeff Lemire’s ‘Essex County’ tells ‘beautiful, emotional, magical stories about ordinary people’
As the TV series “Essex County” begins, a boy in a red cape stands staring at a field of wheat. There’s a vulnerability in the sight of the back of his curly head and exposed neck, but he determinedly straps a black mask over his face, clenches his fists, closes his eyes and rises into the air while a woman in a white dress smiles at him. Continue reading.

From Barry Hertz of The Globe & Mail:

Link: Inside Essex County’s superheroic journey from Canadian comics breakthrough to CBC epic
A young boy stands out in the middle of a field, the crops reaching up to his knees. He’s wearing a slim black mask around his eyes, and a bright red cape is tied around his neck, fluttering in the wind. He takes a breath, concentrates and then smirks as his feet lift off the ground, the opening act of a superhero origin story yet to be fully written. Except that this Smallville-esque moment arrives in the first episode of Essex County, a new limited television series set in rural Ontario that has nothing to do with comic books. Well, almost nothing. Continue reading.

From Joe Belanger of the London Free Press:

Link: Young London teen stars in Essex County TV series
Essex County, based on the graphic novel by Jeff Lemire, stars London’s Finlay Wojtak-Hissong, a 13-year-old Grade 8 student at St. Michael Catholic elementary school. The show is on CBC at 9 p.m. and can be streamed on CBC Gem. Continue reading.

Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Saskatchewan’s award-winning Flat Out Food is back for a third season, March 15, on Citytv

March 15, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

The made-in-Saskatchewan docuseries that puts homegrown ingredients, farmers, chefs and food artisans in the spotlight is back for a third season. Flat Out Food premieres Wednesday, March 15 at 10pm CST on Citytv Saskatchewan.

Flat Out Food’s third season is an eight-episode documentary series that traces unique Saskatchewan ingredients from the field to the plate, hosted by journalist and author Jenn Sharp. Flat Out Food is inspired by the stories in her 2020 book, Flat Out Delicious: Your Definitive Guide to Saskatchewan’s Food Artisans.

During season three, the docuseries visits places as diverse as a salt mine, a rural craft brewery, an orchard and even joins the wild rice harvest in northwestern Saskatchewan. Each episode focuses on one ingredient and shows viewers how it’s produced and how it can be used before ending with a stunning meal in one of the province’s most popular restaurants. Flat Out Food was filmed in several Saskatchewan locations during the summer of 2022.

“Our goal with Flat Out Food is to introduce people to the incredible food scene and hidden gems that we have here while also showcasing the immense beauty of the Prairies,” says Adrian Halter, the series’ producer and director.

“Saskatchewan is well-known as an agricultural hub and produces food for the commodity markets that is exported throughout the world. What many don’t realize is just how much food is produced locally and stays in the province. Sharing stories about our local food systems is what makes Flat Out Food unique,” says Sharp.

Flat Out Food airs Wednesday nights on Citytv Saskatchewan and streams online at citytv.com. Season three premieres March 15 at 10 pm CST. A new episode airs weekly until May 3 with the season finale.

Flat Out Food is produced by HalterMedia Inc. in association with Rogers Sports & Media, with assistance from the Canada Media Fund and is made possible through the Feature Film and Television Production Grant from Creative Saskatchewan.

Awards

Banff’s 2023 Rockie Awards International Program Competition nominees announced

March 14, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is pleased to announce the 2023 Rockie Awards International Program Competition Nominees, recognizing excellence in television and digital media from around the globe. The Rockie Awards ceremony will be held in-person as well as live-streamed during this year’s Festival on Monday, June 12th at 5:00pm MT (7pm ET, 4pm PT).

The Rockie Awards International Program Competition is one of the most prestigious awards programs in the world, juried by an esteemed panel of 150 senior international industry professionals and covering all major genres.

The Rockie Awards Grand Jury chooses the coveted Grand Jury Prize, selected from the top-scoring programs across the entire field of nominees. This year’s esteemed Grand Jury includes:

In addition to the Grand Jury Prize, the $25,000 Rogers Prize for Excellence in Canadian Content, awarded to the top Canadian production and the Prix Francophone for the top French language production will also be awarded as well as other special awards. In total, 27 awards will be bestowed in the category streams of Documentary & Factual, Arts & Entertainment, Children & Youth, Scripted, and Podcast, in addition to the presentation of several Rockies Gala Awards to be announced soon.

Leading nominations by company are:
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) – 21 nominations
• FX Networks – 5 nominations
• National Geographic / Disney Branded Television – 5 nominations
• Warner Bros. Discovery – 5 nominations

Leading nominations by country are:
• USA – 52 nominations
• UK – 41 nominations
• Canada – 37 nominations
• Germany – 8 nominations
• Australia – 6 nominations
• France – 6 nominations

FOR THE FULL LIST OF NOMINEES, PLEASE VISIT: https://rockies.playbackonline.ca/nominees

About the Rockie Awards:
With a 44-year legacy, the Rockie Awards International Program Competition is open to genres and platforms including drama, non-fiction, digital, kids, youth and podcasts. Timed in the heart of awards voting season, the prestigious Banff World Media Festival competition recognizes excellence in global television and digital content. Entries from more than 45 countries compete each year, and winners are selected by an international industry jury of 150+ senior entertainment and media professionals.

About the Banff World Media Festival
Now in its 44th year, and with 45+ countries participating, the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) and the Rockie Awards host one of the most important global conferences and content development marketplaces – gathering top creators, producers, showrunners, talent, networks, studios, streamers, press and media companies. BANFF’s intimate, retreat-style event serves as a leading destination for development, co-production and co-venture partners and offers an unparalleled opportunity for international decision-makers to connect, map the future of the industry, and execute new business deals. Summit Series keynotes, Master Classes and renowned Showrunner Superpanels feature the industry’s most inspiring creative and business leaders and give global profile to the most talked-about shows. The Rockie Awards International Program Competition and Rockies Gala recognize the best content and most influential entertainment industry executives, talent and creators in the world. BANFF continues to deliver important fellowships and initiatives including: the BANFF Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media, the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative, and the Indigenous Screen Summit and Pitch Forum. Together these programs have provided more than 700 opportunities for under-represented professionals in the Canadian media industry.

Awards

2023 CAFTCAD Award winners announced

March 10, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

The live gala presentation of the 2023 CAFTCAD Awards took place at the grandiose, but still intimate Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, on Sunday, March 5th, 2023.

With extremely well-dressed attendees from across Canada, CAFTCAD was honoured to announce our winners for 2023, as well as our International Costume Design for Film & Television Awards and our Nobis Industry Icon Award Winner.

And the Winners for the 2023 CAFTCAD Awards are:

Excellence in Crafts – Textiles

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1
Key Textile Artist: Anna Pantcheva
Costume Designer: Bernadette Croft, Assistant Textile Artists: Sarah Alfred, Heather Campbell, Beverly Law, Assistant Costume Designers: Sarah Goodwin, Heather English, Emily Jasper,Costume Supervisor: Karen Lee

Excellence in Crafts – Building

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1
Cutters: Sue Furlong, Susan Dicks, Geoff Hughes, Olena Fedorenko
Costume Designer: Bernadette Croft, Assistant Costume Designers: Sarah Goodwin, Heather English, Emily Jasper, Costume Supervisor: Karen Lee, Sewers: Karen Hancock, Alyssa Nasvadi, Anna, Claude Biron, Madison Watson, Cindy Brown, Ashley Gennuso, Stephanie St. Jacques, Victor Atekha, Michelle Pinochet, Tony (Qing Bin Xue)

Excellence in Crafts – Costume Illustration

Station Eleven
Illustrator: Keith Lau
Costume Designer: Helen Huang, Assistant Costume Designers: Austin Wittick, Gillian Steinhard, Scott Penner, Costume Supervisors: Richard Krogh, Mary Partridge , Costume Coordinator: Sheila Fitzpatrick, Costume Buyers: Elle Wells, Jo Jin, Tara Sugar, William Ng, Megan Rogers, Costume Trackers: Laurie Munday/Odin Francis-Arduh, Costume Assistants: Marileina Pearson, Shila Rashid, Costume PAs: Davin Dmitruk-Cook, Matthew Van Allen, Siobhan Sleath, BG Coordinators: Sydney Sprule, Jennifer Goodman, BG Costume Assistants: Erin Gerofsky Graham McMaster, BG Supervisor: Cayley Jensen, Set Supervisor: Robin White/Dilaney Hicock, Truck Supervisor: Nicole Lynn Pearson, Key Breakdown Artist/Key Specialty Builder: Tamara Rigby-Funke, Breakdown Artist/Specialty Builder: Sarah Blostein, Cutter: Lela Stairs Murphy, Cutter: Michael Legouffe, Tanya Batanau-Chuiko, 1st Hand Cutter Assistant: Lise St. Germain, Sewers: Johanna Edwards, Meghan Stepka, Natasha Atkinson

Excellence in Crafts – SPFX Building

Station Eleven
Key Speciality Builder: Tamara Rigby-Funke, Specialty Builder: Sarah Blostein Costume Designers: Helen Huang and Austin Wittick

Costume Design in Web Series

Les Liaisons dangereuses: correspondances inédites 101/108
Costume Designer: Beatriz Arevalo
Assistant Costume Designer: Camille Sandham, Seamstress: Kendra Doman

Costume Design in Short Film

Eli Roth’s Haunted House: Trick-VR-Treat
Costume Designer: John Dunnett
Costume Supervisor: Clare Lehto, Assistant Costume Designer: Shelli Oh, Costume Concept Artist: Samantha Washington, Cutter: Sylvia Petiquan, Sewer: Monique Wiebe, Breakdown Artists: Sarah Blostein, Luke D’Ath, Bridgit Lanni, Set Supervisor: Christopher Bruno, Truck Supervisor: Sam Graziani, Costume PA: Lisa Yinxu Wang

Costume Design in Indie Feature

Rosie
Costume Designer: Ginger Martini
Set Supervisor: Liam Marcolini, Truck Supervisor: Theresa Stevenson

Costume Design in TV West – Contemporary, Sponsored by IATSE 873

Snowpiercer 302, The Last to Go
Costume Designer: Caroline Cranstoun
Assistant Designers: Maria Tyson, Talia Bargero, Coordinator: Kyla Robinson, Assistant Coordinator: Jenn Mills, BG Coordinator: Sierra Kretlow, BG Costumer: Tahnee Trousdell, BG Prep Costumer: Cecilia Ignacio, BG Set Costumer: Jia Mela, Buyers: Jojo MacDowell, Shab Sootoodeh, Annie Garnett, Prep/Buyer: Nakita Star, Shelley Zabel, Breakdown: Christina Leeson, Chance Lovett, Allisa Luxford, Andrea Urra, Cutters: Tracey Carlisle, Lazlo Marton, Stitchers: Karen McVey, Debra Kroeker, Inna Tokareva, Set Supervisors: Thomas Pankiewich, Sanchia Wong, Truck Costumer: Emily Bennett

Costume Design in TV East – Contemporary, Sponsored by IATSE 873

Cabinet of Curiosities 104, the Outside
Costume Designer: Luis Sequeira
Assistant Costume Designer: Ann Steel, Costume Supervisor: Heather Crepp, Costume Coordinator: Miles Caswell, Key Costume Assistant: Emily McHugh, Costume On-Set Supervisor: Christina Cattle, Costume Truck Supervisor: Susan Nycz, BG Set Supervisor: Michelle Bohn, BG Assistant Supervisor: Jennifer Goodman, Buyers: Anita Bacic, Sara Schilt, Hanne Whitfield, Key Cutter: Tamiyo Tomihiro, Cutter/Tailor: Philip Atfield, Cutter/Milliner: Loreen Lightfoot, Cutter: Ahmad Zargaran, Sewers: Sylvie Bonniere, Nicole Vezina, Gulay Cokgezen, Kateryna Maryevych, Wei Su, Tamara Tarazi, Ying Zhao, BG Sewers: Teresa Artibello, Key Breakdown Artist: Meghan Ancheta, Breakdown Artists: Eryn Reid, Aimee Tobolka, Debbie Williams, Costume Assistants: Tess Barbieri, Kimberly Douglas, Cristiana Lobo, Charlotte Robertson, Shila Rashid, Costume PA’s: Odin Paris-Francis Arduh, Jacqueline Rossini

Costume Design in TV – Period, Sponsored by IATSE 873

Cabinet of Curiosities 106, Dreams in the Witch House
Costume Designer: Luis Sequeira
Assistant Costume Designer: Ann Steel, Costume Supervisor: Heather Crepp, Costume Coordinator: Miles Caswell, Key Costume Assistant: Emily McHugh, Costume On-Set Supervisor: Christina Cattle, Costume Truck Supervisor: Susan Nycz, BG Set Supervisor: Michelle Bohn, BG Assistant Supervisor: Jennifer Goodman, Buyers: Anita Bacic, Sara Schilt, Hanne Whitfield, Key Cutter: Tamiyo Tomihiro, Cutter/Tailor: Philip Atfield, Cutter/Milliner: Loreen Lightfoot, Cutter: Ahmad Zargaran, Sewers: Sylvie Bonniere, Nicole Vezina, Gulay Cokgezen, Kateryna Maryevych, Wei Su, Tamara Tarazi, Ying Zhao, BG Sewers: Teresa Artibello, Key Breakdown Artist: Meghan Ancheta, Breakdown Artists: Eryn Reid, Aimee Tobolka, Debbie Williams, Costume Assistants: Tess Barbieri, Kimberly Douglas, Cristiana Lobo, Charlotte Robertson, Shila Rashid, Costume PA’s: Odin Paris-Francis Arduh, Jacqueline Rossini, Specialty Builder Key (KezIah/iWtch): Karen Rodd, Assistant Builder: James Bolton

Costume Design in TV – Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Sponsored by IATSE 873

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 108, The Elysian Kingdom
Costume Designer: Bernadette Croft
Supervisor: Karen Lee, Assistant Costume Designers: Sarah Goodwin, Heather English, Emily Jasper, Costume Coordinator: Jazlyn Dow, Money Tracker: Shelley Lewis, Buyers: Jennifer Choy, Shelli Oh, Natassia Brunato, Digital Costumer: Jen Bowen, Costume Assistants: Kathy Marsh, Katherine Flanagan, BG Coordinators: Trish Murray, Gillian “Fidge” Fletcher, Cutters: Sue Furlong, Geoff Hughes, Susan Dicks, Olena Fedorenko, Sewers: Karen Hancock, Alyssa Nasvadi, Anna Claude Biron, Madison Watson, Cindy Brown, Ashley Gennuso, Stephanie St. Jacques, Victor Atekha, Michelle Pinochet, Tony (Qing Bin Xue), FX Key Builder: Jennifer M Johnson, FX Builders: Mervin Perez, FX Key Sculptor: Alex Silberberg, Key Textile Artist: Anna Pantcheva, Textile Artists: Sarah Alfred, Heather Campbell, Set Supervisor: Alan Chau, Wayne Godfrey, Truck Supervisor: Christie Del Monte, Set Swing: Adrian Arnieri, BG Set Supervisor: Amelia Berzins, Textile Artist: Bev Law

Costume Design in Film- Contemporary

Violent Night
Costume Designer: Laura DeLuca
Assistant Costume Designer: Taryn Smith, Costume Coordinator: Cheryl Green, Costume Set Supervisor: Tess Furtado, Costume Set Assistant: Sandra Medd, Costume Truck Supervisor: Amanda Isaak, Key Breakdown Artist: Grant MacDonald, Costume Buyer/Breakdown Artist: Ted Whetter, Costume Buyers: Pieter Jongbloed, Ariel Boroff, Costume Expense Tracker: Casey Downes, Cutters: Claire Sparling, Suman Faulkner, Costume Trainee: Kiara DeLuca, Costume Illustrators: Emily Campbell Baker, Keith Lau, Maggie Chan, Jenn Hancock

Costume Design in Film – Period

Bones of Crows
Costume Designers: Jessica Kalan, Carmen Thompson
Assistant Designer: Yolonda Skelton, Costume Supervisor: Tinthi Tembo, Truck Costumer: Shannon Tauber, Set Supervisors: Emma Irvine, Madison Douglas, Background Coordinator: Jared Lim, Indigenous Consultant: Joleen Mitton, Costumers: Aline Gilmore, Jason Pillay, Isabel Poulin, Fiona Raavita, Alejandro Rojas, Annie Shelestynski, Anna Haebler, Singer Valerie Smith, Erika Watchhorn, Alison Yanota, Shannon Wilson, Valentin Moulias, Mackenzie Dunham, Ash Lorraine, Joshua Langston, Michelle O’Reilly, Varya Olyunina, Ashandra Block, Courtney Bone, Sophia Dishaw, Aurora Cyr, Juan Duarte, Janessa Guliker, Sydney Richards, Sara Perrier, Mitch Meeker, Sran Mardookhi

Costume Design in Film – Sci/Fi

Slash/Back
Costume Designer: Emma Doyle
Set Supervisor: Reilly Kizer, Nunavut Costume Assistant: Julie Alivaktuk, Toronto Costume Assistant: Ashley Magwood, Toronto Daily: Evely Escobar

And the Winners of International Costume Design for Film & Television are:

International Costume Design in Film, Sponsored by IATSE 891

The Woman King
Costume Designer: Gersha Phillips
Costume Supervisor: Lynn Paulsen, Assistant Costume Designer: Carly Nicodemo, Jr. Assistant Costume Designer: Lieze Van Tonder, Costume Coordinator: Tova Harrison, Costume Assistants: Pia Van Zyl, Sino Guwa, Ghana Supervisor: Afriya Frimpong, Buyers: Gizelle Baumgart, Warren Joseph, Truck Supervisor: Thabisa Mkonto, Viola Davis Personal Dresser: Nolothando Mathe, John Boyega Personal Dresser: Vrishny Pillay, Key Stand Bys: Marijka Nel, Portia Mavityo, Lovemore George, Jodi Bowers, Terence Norman, Alex-Ann Keppie, Kelly Watson, Extras Supervisor: Jayne Forbes, Extras Assistants: Monica Mase, Abdul Nguimbi, Molika Botha, Craig Challis, Kahrl Oelman, Pakama Qwazi, Tristan Makka, Pamela Machinga, Carol Isaacs, Rose Kannemeyer, Farooq Petersen, Mieska Maniers, Ferial Davids, Nduzuko Zwane, Stunt Supervisor: Mankoe Ngamlama, Stunt Assistant: Clinton Scott, Chief Cutter: Fagrie Nasiep, Workroom Supervisor: Farzannah Allie, Cutters: Mukuli Dukuza, Lusapo Nkopo, Tailor: Beverly Harris, Miriam Williams, Seamstresses: Nasreen Nasiep, Mymoena Abrahams, Honnekar Kankolongo, Jasmine Jules, Hajiera Nasiep, Kamiela Maniers, Sandra Jacobs, Kennedy Banda, Moenessa Majiet, Constance Kundani, Rafeeqa Daniels, Zille Swartz, Breakdown and Dye HOD: Juanita Petronio, Key Textile Artists: Hayley Pieterse, Unati Godlo, Textile Artists: Daniel Lister, Normet Peter, Brownyn Whitehead, Alex Marais, Zolani Heleni, Redson Khombedza, Christina Koch, Key Fabricator: Sivuyile Gxalaba, Shoe Maker: Masixole France, Fabricators: Andre Van Schalkwyk, Kim Cloete, Zola Gwaqu, Zolani Oniwe, Alice Phiri, Kingstix Faku, 2nd Unit Key: Jillian Johnson, 2nd Unit Standbys: Jerri Nomnganga, Ncebakazi Bala, Nompilo Paris Ann Peter, Illustrators: Christian Cordella, Ciara Brennan, Maggie Chan, Luis Du Preez, Trainees: Sithle Sityi, Andiswa Makaula, Yolanda Mkohli, Driver: Frank Soko, Waseem Abrahams, Kelvin Watson, Sisa Binta, Jack

International Costume Design in TV, Sponsored by IATSE 891

Monarch, 106, The Night Of
Costume Designer: Mandi Line
Assistant Costume Designer: Sylvia Furken, Supervisor: Yana Syrkin, Buyers: Robin Whatley, Alexandria Scott, Key: Shandra Beri

And last but not least, the fifth annual Nobis Industry Icon Award Winner is…

Louise Jobin, prolific French Canadian costume and production designer.

ABOUT CAFTCAD and the CAFTCAD Awards
The Canadian Alliance of Film and Television Costume Arts and Design (CAFTCAD) has brought together Canadian costume professionals from all corners of the industry. CAFTCAD has succeeded in creating a thriving environment within which members can share, learn and advance their craft, while simultaneously raising the awareness of the contributions these designers and artisans have made in the international industry of film, television, video, and commercials.

The CAFTCAD Awards, which held its inaugural event in 2019, is the culmination of these efforts to unite the Canadian costume community, while recognizing and rewarding their skills and talent.