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.

Degrassi: Next Class’ Sarah Glinski to head up TSC’s Writing Room Intensive

From a media release:

Ever wondered what it might be like to work in the room with a leading Canadian Showrunner? This might be the opportunity for you!

First developed in 2015, the WGC Writing Room Intensive, puts emerging to mid-career writing professionals in a mock-writing room with a leading Canadian Showrunner. We have worked with Bruce Smith (19-2), Emily Andras (WYNONNA EARP), and Kevin White and Ins Choi (KIM’S CONVENIENCE).

Through this intensive participants learn more about the inner workings of the writing room including how a Showrunner fosters creativity, breaks story, works with notes, manages conflict (where necessary), and eventually gets the script to screen.

You must be registered to attend the Toronto Screenwriting Conference, and a member of the WGC in good standing in order to apply for the program.

Call for applications are now open to registered delegates of 2018 Toronto Screenwriting Conference. Applicants will have the opportunity to apply to join Sarah Glinski, Executive Producer/Showrunner (HOLLY HOBBIE, DEGRASSI: NEXT CLASS), in a Mock Writers Room Intensive on Friday, June 22, from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Get more details and find out how you can apply here.

Sarah Glinski is an Emmy-nominated TV writer/producer currently serving as Executive Producer and Showrunner on the Hulu/DHX/Universal Kids series HOLLY HOBBIE. Previously, she ran DEGRASSI for Netflix/DHX.  Over the last decade, Sarah’s produced over 200 episodes of television and 2 MOWs. She has also staffed on LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE, and BILLABLE HOURS.

Sarah’s been nominated for three Emmys, won three Canadian Screen Awards and was named one of Hollywood Reporter’s Next Generation. When Sarah’s not brainstorming ways to get characters in trouble, she’s keeping her two young daughters out of it.

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Comments and queries for the week of May 11

I think [Workin’ Moms] Kate would keep it secret at the beginning because she’s not sure what to do (or what she wants to happen). I don’t think she could even tell Anne, because then Anne would immediately get upset and fire the nanny and the secret would be out.

Kate (while sometimes reckless) is smart. She would surreptitiously try to determine the extent of the affair without tipping anyone off. I think she would test the waters to see if it was possible to salvage the marriage.

She would definitely try to thwart any further romantic contact between the nanny and her husband. And she would try to repair her relationship with her husband as though nothing had happened and make sure that she spent time with her husband during times when opportunities to see the nanny might otherwise arise. She would definitely not have any qualms about discussing her now-steamy sex life and improved marital relationship with her friend Anne (in front of the nanny). She’s a bit vindictive at times, so she would relish the nanny’s attempts to hide her jealousy and pain.

In the beginning, I don’t think she would tell her husband if she got pregnant, because she might want to keep the option of an abortion open. But she would definitely tell Anne about the pregnancy (in earshot of the nanny) and pretend to be happy about it. The nanny would be the one to break the news of the pregnancy to Nathan, and his smile would give away the fact that he’s actually happy about this new development.

As her business becomes more successful, Kate would bring on more help, cognizant of the fact that (1), she needs to keep her husband occupied and (2), she will need help with her business if she decides to go through with the pregnancy. As is often the case with businesses, picking the right people and delegating will help her become far more successful far more quickly than she might have become otherwise.

Later, with the pregnancy progressing, Kate would be trying to decide if she wants to go through with it (knowing that she might have to do it alone). At this point, she will talk to Anne, after swearing Anne to secrecy. Anne will tell her to leave Nathan. Kate will delay the decision.

Eventually, Anne will end up spilling the beans to Nathan somehow (perhaps in an overly emotional moment). Nathan had been starting to feel that he was making a mistake leaving Kate and had already broken off things with the nanny. However, with Anne’s secret-spilling, he will once again feel that Kate is making decisions without him and will tell her that he wants a separation. Kate, furious with Anne, will end their friendship. —Tara

Wow, I feel like Tara should be in the Workin’ Moms’ writing room!

 

Got a question or comment? Email greg.david@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.

 

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All hail Queen Paras, winner of Big Brother Canada Season 6

From a media release:

In an epic battle of good versus evil, it all came down to the last two women standing in the Big Brother Canada Season 6 finale, as Paras Atashnak of Vancouver, BC, claimed the final prize. Following a season that saw 16 houseguests face the depths of hell and the peaks of paradise, social gamer Paras and comp beast Kaela Grant faced off on BBCAN judgement day, with Paras winning in a landslide vote of six to one.

As the winner of #BBCAN6, Paras sits on cloud nine with a grand prize of $100,000, a European dream vacation for two courtesy of Air Transat, and a $30,000 home furnishing makeover from The Brick.

On her big win, Paras said: “I can’t put it into words! I’ve been a fan of the Big Brother franchise since I was 11 years old. I’ve been watching this show [Big Brother Canada] for five years. I dreamt of it every single day, and to be standing here is such a dream come true. Thank you Big Brother Canada for giving me a chance.”

Finale Recap
In the first of three gruelling HOH competitions, Paras, Kaela and Derek faced off in a battle of strength and precision as they collected and stacked three sets of 20 coins on a revolving altar. After multiple failed attempts by each houseguest, Paras defeated comp beasts Daela to take the first win.

Then, in the next round, Derek and Kaela had the ultimate showmance showdown in a challenge where they had to build a staircase of blocks by matching photos of houseguests with clues about their respective games. Kaela edged out Derek with a faster time and sealed her place in the final HOH challenge.

In the last round, Paras and Kaela competed for the last HOH of the season and a spot in the final two. After a heart-pounding trivia challenge, Paras beat Kaela in a sudden death match taking the all-important HOH. With the win in hand, Paras evicted Derek, cementing the first all-female final two in BBCAN history.

As their game came to a close, Paras and Kaela made their heated pleas to the seven-person jury, answering questions about their game play, strategy and why they each deserved to win. Following passionate speeches from both, the jury voted six to one, crowing Paras the winner of Big Brother Canada.

Viewers who want to catch up on this season prior to the finale can watch On Demand, and on GlobalTV.com and Global GO.

Commissioned by Corus Entertainment, Season 6 of Big Brother Canada is produced by Insight Productions in association with Corus Entertainment and Endemol Shine. Executive producers are John Brunton and Erin Brock.

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Link: Calgary’s supernatural modern western Wynonna Earp ramps up for Season 3

From Eric Volmers of the Calgary Herald:

Link: Calgary’s supernatural modern western Wynonna Earp ramps up for Season 3
“Season 3 does make it feel like you’ve really arrived. Season 1 feels like: ‘Oh my God, is anyone going to watch it?’ Season 2 feels like maybe you tricked them when they weren’t looking into giving you another season. Third season feels like it’s an actual thing. I think there’s a confidence to this season, and I mean that in the positive sense of the word. We really know what we are as a show.” Continue reading. 

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Toronto Screenwriting Conference announces winners of the Magee TV Diverse Screenwriters Award

From a media release:

The Toronto Screenwriting Conference (TSC) today announced the six winners of the second annual Magee TV Diverse Screenwriters Award, a mentorship and bursary program created to help emerging and mid-level screenwriters from diverse backgrounds to be mentored, to network with Canadian television professionals, and be exposed to leaders in the field of screen-based writing.

To achieve this objective, each of the six winners — Cara Lynn Branch, Elene Mekete, Ian Steaman, Murry Peeters, Rebecca Grenier, and Veronika Paz — will receive a complimentary registration for the highly anticipated two-day conference taking place in Toronto over the weekend of June 23-24. The winners will also join veteran Canadian producer/writer Al Magee (founder of Magee TV) for several networking events, with each receiving a one-on-one three-month mentorship with senior Canadian screenwriting professionals Alejandro Alcoba, Marsha Greene, Duana Taha, Pat Mills, Noelle Carbone and Eva Thomas.

The winners were chosen based on submissions that included the following four criteria: one concept for an original series or feature film, one writing sample, a letter of interest and intent, and a letter of reference. The TSC and Magee TV also recognize the Diverse Screenwriters Award’s seven finalists: Caitlin English, Fiona Clarke, Julia Skikavich, Kim Gonsalves, Michelle Yeo, Margaret Hoffman, and Maxine Grossman.

The Ninth Annual Toronto Screenwriting Conference (TSC) is a two-day weekend event that brings together screen-based industry professionals and offers them an advanced level of education and skills development unparalleled by any other screenwriting event on the continent. The conference takes place on June 23 and 24, 2018 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox (Conference) and Artscape Sandbox.

This year’s speakers Chip Johannessen (Homeland), Stacy Rukeyser (Unreal), and Ben Watkins (Hand of God) will present Masterclass Lectures at the conference. Returning (by popular demand) are story gurus Carole Kirshner & Corey Mandell, with more programming and speaker announcements to come. Previous conference speakers have included Andrew Stanton (Finding Dory), Moira Walley Beckett (Breaking Bad), Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3), David Webb Peoples (Blade Runner), Tim Long (The Simpsons), Leonard Dick (The Good Wife), Glen Mazzara (The Walking Dead), and Beau Willimon (House of Cards).

For more details and to register for this year’s conference, click here.

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