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

INIS sets up new training program thanks to support from Netflix

From a media release:

INIS (L’institut national de l’image et du son) announced today that it has secured Netflix’s support to develop and implement, over the next three years, a brand-new film and television production apprenticeship program intended for participants from First Nations, Aboriginal communities and diverse cultural backgrounds in Quebec. This is Netflix’s first partnership agreement with a Quebec organization as part of its commitment to support industry development opportunities in Canada, with a focus on developing the next generation of Canadian creators and talent.

The creation of this intensive six-month program is a continuation of many actions carried out by INIS in recent years. These actions were all intended to encourage the arrival and accelerate the professional development of new creators in the audiovisual sector so that they can share their vision and reality through documentary and fiction. This new program will promote access to high quality training for talented and motivated individuals.

Offered at a low cost to its participants, the program will be developed with the collaboration of several partners who already work with targeted clientele. It aims to counter the exclusion often experienced by members of these communities. By taking the proven structure of INIS and its educational philosophy, the program will cover essentials, alternating theoretical workshops (always centred on the practice) as well as a series of concrete creative exercises, offering the possibility to apply the learnings in a tangible way.

INIS plans to recruit nine students – three scriptwriters, three directors and three producers – for each edition of the program to be offered in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

The agreement with Netflix also includes scholarships for emerging professionals from First Nations, Aboriginal communities and diverse cultural backgrounds to access other regular programs offered by the institution.

INIS contributes to the development of the professional environment of film, television and interactive media in Quebec and Canada by providing individuals and businesses with training and support programs that promote diversity of content and meet the needs of the public requirements and changes in the audiovisual, communications and entertainment markets. INIS is the recognized training mutual in the audiovisual sector. INIS is supported by the Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications and the Commission of Labor Market Partners; by its main partner, Corus Media; its major partners, the INIS Foundation, Technicolor, NBCUniversal, UDA, DGC and AQTIS as well as their respective members.

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Private Eyes

New episodes of Global’s hit original series Private Eyes return Sunday, May 27

2 Comments

From a media release:

Canada’s favourite detective duo – Matt Shade(Jason Priestley) and Angie Everett (Cindy Sampson) – are back on the job with new cases and new faces as Private Eyes returns with all-new episodes on Global, beginning Sunday, May 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. From Entertainment One (eOne), Season 2 picks up with Shade (Priestley) and Angie (Sampson) settling into personal relationships with their respective partners Mel (Bree Williamson) and Dr. Ken (Mark Ghanimé), while focusing on expanding their ever-evolving partnership and taking on bigger and better cases. From morning shows and microbreweries, to medieval knights and a missing octopus, no case is too outrageous for the dynamic pair. But will their undeniable attraction to each other get in the way of their ability to solve crimes?

The first new episode takes place in the fast-paced world of female professional boxing as Shade and Angie try to avoid being sucker-punched. Shade is hired by a boxer to prove a fight was fixed, but is blind-sided when he meets the boxer’s manager: none other than his ex-manager who made off with all of Shade’s pro-hockey money! Meanwhile, Angie brings in her mother, Nora (Mimi Kuzyk), as a gambling expert (and reformed gambling addict) to help crack the case before their client gets the knockout of her life. The episode guest stars include Canadian sports legend George Chuvalo as himself, plus on-screen cameos by “Fearless” Fred Kennedy of 102.1 The Edge and Q107 morning show host Ryan Parker.

Additional guest stars this season include ET Canada host Cheryl Hickey, Peter MacNeill (Call Me Fitz), Colin Ferguson (Eureka), Laura Vandervoort (Bitten), and Lucas Bryant (Haven).

Along with the Season 2 return of the series, production for Private Eyes Season 3 is now underway in Toronto. With a 12-episode order, the new season is set to return to Global in 2019, and will feature Shade and Everett as they become more intertwined into the antic adventures, taking on Toronto’s most difficult and unusual cases. Familiar faces including Jules (Jordyn Negri), Don (Barry Flatman), Zoe (Samantha Wan), Detective Mazhari (Ennis Esmer), Detective Nolan (Cle Bennett), and Becca (Nicole DeBoer) all return to Season 3, along with new characters Inspector Carson (Linda Kash) and Officer Danica Powers (cast to be announced). Season 3 also welcomes an impressive roster of guest stars, including multi-platinum, award-winning singer-songwriter Jann Arden, who will make a special cameo appearance in the first episode.

Leading up to and throughout the remainder of Season 2, GlobalTV.com delivers viewers exclusive Private Eyes content, including behind-the-scenes videos featuring the series stars, executive producers, and creative team. Also, in anticipation of Private Eyes‘ summer return, GlobalTV.com offers viewers the chance to catch up on the entire series as Season 1 and the first half of Season 2 beginning May 13. Plus starting May 28, new episodes from Season 2 will also be available following the broadcast premiere on GlobalTV.com Global GO (available on Apple TV), and on demand.

Private Eyes is produced by eOne in association with Corus Entertainment, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit and IPF’s Cogeco TV Production Program. The series is executive produced by Jocelyn Hamilton and Tecca Crosbyfor eOne, Shawn Piller and Lloyd Segan for Piller/Segan, Jason Priestley, Alan McCullough, James Thorpe and Tassie Cameron. McCullough and Piller are also showrunners.

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Web series

Link: Now on Facebook: Chateau Laurier is a 10-minute, perfect Canadian drama with familiar themes

From John Doyle of The Globe and Mail:

Link: Now on Facebook: Chateau Laurier is a 10-minute, perfect Canadian drama with familiar themes
Set in the famous Ottawa hotel, but filmed in Toronto – it looks like the Fairmont Royal York – events are set in or about 1912. A young woman, Hattie Bracebridge (Kate Ross) is brought to the hotel on the eve of her arranged marriage to one Vivian Mutchmor (Luke Humphrey). Her chaperone, Mrs. Bracebridge (Fiona Reid), tells Hattie to quit her complaining and face up to the marriage. Hattie wanders off and has a little romantic adventure. Then, there’s a twist. Continue reading.

 

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Industry News

Allarco emerges from creditor protection

From a media release:

Allarco Entertainment 2008 and Allarco Entertainment Limited Partnership (Allarco) announced today that it has successfully emerged from creditor protection, having been issued its Certificate of Plan Completion from the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta (the Court) on April 5, 2018.

In May 2016, the company sought creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) in an effort to facilitate a restructuring and refinancing of its business operations.  Since that time, Allarco has continued to operate under CCAA protection, supervised by the Court appointed monitor PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. (the Monitor). On December 13, 2017 a formal plan of arrangement or compromise (the Plan) was filed with the assistance of the Monitor.

A meeting of the affected creditors was held on January 24, 2018 where 78 creditors voted in favour for the Plan by a margin of 77-1. The Court approved and issued the sanction order to proceed with the Plan on February 16, 2018.

With the issuance of the Monitor’s Certificate of Plan Completion effective April 5, 2018, the CCAA proceedings have been completed in accordance with the Orders of the Court and under the supervision of the Monitor.

“I wish to thank our creditors sincerely for their patience and support as we worked through the CCAA process to achieve this goal,” said Don McDonald President & CEO of Super Channel. “We had to make some very difficult decisions to ensure survival of the business and for the company to remain an active participant in the Canadian broadcast industry.”

 

 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail