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, Murdoch Mysteries

Shaftesbury’s Christina Jennings honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award

From a media release:

Christina Jennings, Chairman and CEO of Shaftesbury, was honoured at the Content Innovation Awards gala last night with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award. Jennings, who founded the multi-platform content company in 1987, has been an industry leader not only in producing original TV and feature film content, but also for creating groundbreaking series for digital and social media platforms, mobile apps and VR experiences.

Shaftesbury’s award-winning television titles have been sold in 120 countries worldwide. One of the company’s best-known series, Murdoch Mysteries, is now in production on its 11th season. The series, Canada’s #1 drama, has been licensed to broadcasters in 110 countries and territories, including the U.S., the U.K., France, China, Australia and the Middle East. The company’s current television slate also includes Frankie Drake Mysteries for CBC and UKTV, and Slasher for Netflix.

As Shaftesbury continues to produce award-winning primetime television series, Jennings’ vision and willingness to explore new technologies, platforms and opportunities has led the company to successfully adapt to and address the rise of digital and changing viewership habits. In 2014, Shaftesbury launched the hugely successful digital series Carmilla on YouTube, a modern spin on the cult gothic vampire novella by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, fully funded by U by Kotex®. Carmilla has been viewed in 193 countries, translated in over 20 languages by fans and more than half the views across all its content come from outside North America. The Carmilla brand continues to grow – Carmilla the Movie is slated for release this fall, licensing deals are in place for publishing, apparel and accessories, and Shaftesbury is in development on a TV adaptation. The company also recently announced a partnership with Walmart Canada and Interac® for a new branded entertainment series Upstairs Amy.

Outside of Shaftesbury, Jennings serves as Chair of the Canadian Film Centre (CFC), Canada’s premiere training center for content creators. Named to top Canadian newsmagazine Maclean’s Power List of Canada’s 50 Most Powerful People, Jennings’ other recent awards and honors include Playback’s Producer of the Decade, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s prestigious Academy Achievement Award and the Innovative Producer Award at the Banff World Television Festival.

The Content Innovation Awards are presented by Digital TV Europe and TBI (Television Business International).

 

 

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Featured, Slasher

Slasher: Guilty Party tips the typical horror genre on its head

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It’s understandable if you’ve dismissed the Slasher horror anthology series as simply a gore-fest jam-packed with characters ripe for picking off. But you’d be totally wrong. Though the genre is bursting with projects like that, Slasher isn’t just about the scare and the gore; Aaron Martin has created intricate storylines and interesting, believable characters that you feel badly for as they’re being dispatched in horrible, awful ways.

Just in time for Halloween, the sophomore season Slasher: Guilty Party drops on Netflix in its entirety on Tuesday, with a some returning faces to augment newbies assembled for slaughter. Where Season 1 of Slasher followed murders committed in a small-town, Guilty Party boasts the classic horror movie setting: a summer camp. It’s there that a group of former summer camp counsellors who—while attempting to cover up a crime they committed years before—become the target of a murder spree. Is it revenge, or happenstance?

Martin has assembled an impressive all-Canadian cast for Season 2, including Degrassi‘s Melinda Shankar as Talvinder, Being Erica‘s Paula Brancati as Dawn, Alias Grace‘s Rebecca Liddiard as Andi, The Strain‘s Jim Watson as Noah, Heartland‘s Kaitlyn Leeb as Susan and Lost & Found’s Music Studios‘ Lovell Adams-Gray as Peter; the sextet portray the counsellors. The ensemble is rounded out with Season 1 performers Joanne Vannicola, Christopher Jacot and Jefferson Brown in new roles alongside Leslie Hope, Paulino Nunes, Ty Olsson, Sebastian Piggott and Madison Cheetatow.

Though there are plenty of scares, Guilty Party does have some sweet moments; one we watched during filming at a Scouts Canada camp just outside Orangeville, Ont., boasted Shankar’s Talvinder receiving a necklace from Brancati’s Dawn.

“It was a bonding scene between the two,” Shankar says. “Tal is being gifted a nice necklace, but of course whenever there is a nice, sweet moment there is always something to contrast that.”

For Brancati, who had worked with Martin on Being Erica, signing on to Slasher: Guilty Party was a no-brainer.

“Dawn is a character that I don’t always get to play,” Brancati says. “On the outside, she’s wealthy, privileged, with a crusty exterior and a bit bitchy at times. She comes from a divorced home and has a lot of vulnerabilities that she’s masking with her sarcastic humour. She definitely has no filter.” Brancati says none of the characters is an archetype; they’re layered and very flawed.

“Aaron is unafraid of being unfiltered,” Brancati says of her showrunner. “He’s got a really dark mind and isn’t afraid to push the envelope.” Brancati, who is new to acting in the genre, admits she’s had nightmares after reflecting on the scenes she and her co-stars have filmed after a day of production. The result? It’s not hard to play scared.

Brancati divulges a bit more of the plot of Guilty Party, explaining the counsellors return to the camp, which has since become a commune, creating conflict between the visitors and those who now call the place home. Weather also adds to the drama: a massive winter storm ensures everyone is kept in tight quarters and unable to escape.

“There is a lot of gore and a lot of horror, certainly, but the characters are really textured and the relationships are really interesting and complicated and messy,” Brancati says. “Character-driven stories are interesting TV to me.”

Slasher: Guilty Party‘s full season of eight episodes arrive Tuesday, Oct. 17, on Netflix.

Images courtesy of Shaftesbury.

 

 

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Preview: Murdoch Mysteries introduces its newest cast member

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It was just two weeks ago on Murdoch Mysteries that Rebecca James announced she was leaving Toronto for her own private practice in Chatham, Ont. And, after an excellent episode featuring a return appearance of Alexander Graham Bell and the introduction of Helen Keller and hotel detective Ralph Fellows, we’ve got a new face in the morgue. As previously announced on the Murdoch Mysteries Facebook page, Shanice Banton has joined the cast in a recurring role, capably filling the void left by Ms. James.

Here’s the official CBC episode synopsis for Monday’s new episode, “The Canadian Patient,” written by Simon McNabb and directed by Laurie Lynd:

Murdoch investigates a surgeon whose cutting-edge organ transplants wreak medical havoc and run afoul of Mary Baker Eddy and The Christian Science movement.

And here’s some non-spoilery info from us after watching a screener.

Meet Violet Hart
Shanice Banton portrays Violet Hart, who is introduced immediately after the opening credits, manning a booth at the Toronto Medical Exposition. Her easy smile and good humour make an immediate impression on George. Speaking of George, he has a hilarious speech in the morgue that fans will love.

Jayne Eastwood guest stars
The veteran actress plays Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Christian Science movement, who believes sickness can be cured by prayer.

George’s gift shines
We love it when George just misses coming up with the trademarked name for a real product. He’s up to his old tricks again on Monday when he just misses naming an invention Violet is promoting.

Julia and William’s Season 11 journey?
Showrunner Peter Mitchell teased a new domestic drama will consume Julia and William’s lives this season. We’re pretty sure we know what it is after watching Monday’s instalment thanks to a woman named Marilyn Clark.

Margaret returns!
Seriously, it has been too long since Mrs. Brackenreid was back in our lives. We’re still chuckling over her interactions with H.P. Lovecraft. When we catch up with her in this episode, she’s pretty upset with her husband, and for good reason.

Murdoch‘s crew comes through
I’ve always been impressed with the work the Murdoch Mysteries does to make everything as historically accurate as possible. Everyone involved in the operating theatre scene is to be congratulated for their work on set decoration, wardrobe, special effects, lighting and camera angles. It’s stunning.

Murdoch Mysteries airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

 

 

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Awards, Industry News

Mackenzie Gray and Veena Sood Receive Top Honours at the 6th Annual UBCP/ACTRA Awards Gala

From a media release:

The 6th annual UBCP/ACTRA awards gala will honour two of Canada’s top talent with distinguished lifetime achievement awards. Mackenzie Gray will be presented with the John Juliani Award of Excellence, and Veena Sood will receive the Lorena Gale Woman of Distinction Award.

The John Juliani Award of Excellence is presented each year to a performer for achievement as a performing artist and distinguished contribution to the film and television industry. The Lorena Gale Woman of Distinction Award is presented to a UBCP/ACTRA member whose work as a performer and/or beyond, embodies the type of accomplishments that advance the status of women in our society and encourage the continued growth and diversification of opportunities for women.

John Juliani Award of Excellence
Mackenzie Gray was born and raised in Toronto. A professional actor for over 40 years, he has appeared in over 170 films and television shows. Mackenzie has acted on stage in Canada, Britain and in the United States in hundreds of contemporary plays, musicals and cabarets and has extensive Shakespeare experience. He wrote for Sesame Street for 4 years and was He is currently a series regular on the Marvel/FX Series LEGION, playing “THE EYE” and is a recurring cast member on the TV Series RIVERDALE, and DC’s LEGENDS OF TOMORROW.

Mackenzie is a 16-time Leo Award “Best Actor” nominee, recently winning three Leos for his work on the TV series DIRK GENTLY’S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY, SPOOKSVILLE and BITTEN and has won or been nominated for many awards in his various disciplines.

Mackenzie has given his time to various charities over the years including “The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation”, “The Children’s Wish Foundation” and “The Actors Fund of Canada”. He was on the Board of Directors of The Academy of Canadian Cinema for several terms and is currently an adjunct professor at UBC and teaches on camera acting workshops at UBCP/ACTRA, the DGC, the Manitoba Film Training Centre, and across the country on a Freelance basis.

Lorena Gale Woman of Distinction Award
Veena Sood is an award-winning actress, & 30-year veteran of the industry. She’s known for her versatility as a performer in film, television, theatre, improv comedy, cartoon voices, teaching, and em-ceeing. Veena has been a series regular on 5 different TV series, co-hosted TV specials, her own CBC TV talk show, em-ceed gala awards events, & co-produced & performed radio podcasts.

She is a co-founder of Calgary’s Loose Moose Theatre Company (creators of Theatresports), as well as a co-founder & developer of the Vancouver Theatersports League.

A true veteran of stage, film and TV, Veena is a three-time Jessie Richardson nominee & winner, as well as a Leo Award winner for her work. Veena is currently is in development with new TV, theatre & film projects.

The UBCP/ACTRA Awards will be held on Saturday, November 18th at the Vancouver Playhouse with over 600 industry professionals including UBCP/ACTRA members, press and politicians in attendance.

The Union of British Columbia Performers (UBCP/ACTRA) is an autonomous branch of ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists), the national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 22,000 members across Canada – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.

 

 

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

W5 welcomes Avery Haines to Canada’s most-watched and longest-running documentary program

From a media release:

Wendy Freeman, President, CTV News announced today that veteran broadcast journalist Avery Haines joins CTV’s W5, Canada’s pre-eminent investigative series, as an investigative reporter. With nearly 20 years of experience in television and radio as a reporter, anchor, and host, Haines will leverage her vast journalistic experience to investigate and uncover significant emerging stories for W5.

With a lifelong passion for storytelling, Haines has investigated first-hand many significant issues unfolding around the world, most recently reporting on the battle against ISIS from a mosque-turned-hospital in Mosul, Iraq. She’s documented the stories of refugees fleeing the U.S. to seek asylum in Canada, and lived in the jungle of Costa Rica with her family for nearly two years.

Her work on the Discovery series HEALTH ON THE LINE and MEDICAL HOTSEAT earned her multiple nominations and two Gemini Awards (now Canadian Screen Awards) for Best Television Talk Series. She has also been honoured with RTNDA awards for Best Canadian Radio Newscaster and Best Spot Reporter.

 

 

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