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Featured, The Squeaky Wheel: Canada

AMI and Hitsby Entertainment announce casting, writing and producing teams for The Squeaky Wheel: Canada

From a media release:

Be Loud. Be Disabled. Be Squeaky. AMI is pleased to announce the cast, writing and producing teams for The Squeaky Wheel: Canada.

Based on Steven Verdile’s popular web publication The Squeaky Wheel and produced by Hitsby Entertainment, The Squeaky Wheel: Canada is a satirical, half-hour news format which pokes fun at the ableist society people with disabilities face every day.

Presented by Canada’s top writers and performers from the disability community, The Squeaky Wheel: Canada‘s irreverent perspective flips tropes and clichés upside down by showcasing disability in a humorous way. Its clever blend of social commentary and provocative humour will leave audiences laughing hysterically and feeling pleasurably guilty about it.

The eight-episode series introduces a fresh perspective to the entertainment landscape with its disability-led creative team, fronted by series producer Michelle Asgarali.

Directed by Lucy Belgum and Tobi Abdul, production is slated to begin filming in Hamilton, Ontario, in December. The series stars Graham Kent and Gaitrie Persaud as its lead anchors, and an ensemble cast featuring Margaret Rose, Samantha Wyss, Sivert Gorachand Das, Wesley Magee-Saxton and Yousef Abdullah Kadoura. The writing team includes D. Cole, Daniel Barra-Berger, Jenny Lee-Gilmore and Sierra Haynes, and many story contributors with diverse perspectives across the disability community.

“I am honoured that AMI and Hitsby Entertainment are taking The Squeaky Wheel in this exciting new direction,” says Steven Verdile. “I look forward to seeing where this talented group of performers, writers and producers from the disability community takes us.”

“I look forward to bringing my directing skills to this unique show,” says director Lucy Belgum. “It’s rare to get such a well-written comedy about disabilities, and I am proud to be one of the first trans women to direct Canadian TV.” 

“Being on a disabled-led project is a dream,” says director Tobi Abdul. “I’m thrilled to bring a disruptive internet publication to life and shake up the media landscape.”

The first season of The Squeaky Wheel: Canada will be broadcast on AMI-tv in 2024 and available for streaming on AMI+.

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Featured, Industry News

Paramount+ in Canada adds two projects to its development slate from Boat Rocker

From a media release:

Paramount+ announced today two new, Canadian original comedy titles to their expanding development slate from Boat Rocker. BENSEN, created and written by Clara Altimas, and ELECTED, created and written by Michael McGowan, have been added to the growing list of Canadian content backed by the global streaming service. In June, Paramount+ in Canada revealed its first set of projects in the development stage consisting of Paramount+ Original documentary, 500 DAYS IN THE WILD from Dianne Whelan and four other projects from a variety of Canadian creatives.

New Titles in Development

BENSEN
A scripted dramedy about a struggling limo driver who tries to maintain fun dad status after the death of his wife and with the help of his dysfunctional family. BENSEN is a story about the impossibility of grieving the right way. Created and Written by Clara Altimas. For Boat Rocker Executive Producers are: Clara Altimas, David Fortier (Slip, Beacon 23), Ivan Schneeberg (Slip, Beacon 23), and Kerry Appleyard (Orphan Black: Echoes, Robyn Hood).

ELECTED
When an A-list actor unexpectedly has an opportunity to become the Prime Minister of Canada, he accepts what could turn out to be the worst decision he’s ever made or, improbably, the role of a lifetime. A premium comedy series created by Michael McGowan (All My Puny Sorrows, Still Mine), Creative consultant is Sherry White (Pretty Hard Cases, Rookie Blue). For Boat Rocker Executive Producers are: Michael McGowan, David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg and Kerry Appleyard.

Additionally, Paramount+’s first Original documentary, 500 DAYS IN THE WILD will premiere at the Whistler International Film Festival this Friday, December 1. The project will have a limited theatrical run in early 2024, followed by its premiere on Paramount+. 500 DAYS IN THE WILD is produced by Betsy Carson with Executive Producers Christine Haebler and Dianne Whelan for Rebel Sisters Productions and distributed in Canada by Elevation Pictures.

Previously announced Series in Development with Paramount+ in Canada include; HATE THE PLAYER: THE BEN JOHNSON STORY from writer Anthony Q Farrell (The Office U.S.) and award-winning producers New Metric Media (Letterkenny), LEN & CUB from writer Lynne Kamm and producers Muse Entertainment and Elliot Page’s Page Boy Productions, CARPE DEMON from award-winning showrunner Emily Andras (Wynonna Earp, Lost Girl) and producers December Films, Cineflix Studios, Gina Marcheschi and Jon Brown and THEY DRIVE AT NIGHT written by Emmy Award winner Craig Wallace (Murdoch Mysteries, Todd & The Book of Pure Evil) and producers Black Birds Entertainment.

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Featured, Industry News

Crave announces new short-form original comedy series, My Dead Mom

From a media release:

Crave announced today, the new, six-part short-form comedy series, MY DEAD MOM. From LoCo Motion Pictures, creator Wendy Litner, and executive producer Lauren Corber, the Crave Original series is currently in production in Toronto, and stars Megan Follows (ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, REIGN) and Lauren Collins (DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION, SLIP).

Emmy wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail after her mother died, she was just really busy. But three years on now, her grief is catching up with her. As she questions her lipstick and life choices, her dead mother, Fern, pops into her life to voice her opinions and tell her red really isn’t her colour. Even death hasn’t stopped Fern from being fabulous. Emmy is trying to live her best life, but how do you let go of something that is so present? With sharp wit and aching tenderness, MY DEAD MOM explores the complicated nature of grief through mothers and daughters, and death.

Rounding out the cast for MY DEAD MOM are Rainbow Sun Francks (HIGH FIDELITY), David Reale (THE BOYS), Daniel Maslany (MURDOCH MYSTERIES), Daniel Kash (SLASHER), and guest star Matt Murray (IN THE DARK).

MY DEAD MOM is produced by LoCo Motion Pictures, in association with Bell Media, with the participation of Independent Production Fund, Ontario Creates, and the Bell Fund. The series is distributed internationally by Blue Ant Media. Wendy Litner (HOW TO BUY A BABY) is creator and executive producer, alongside executive producer Lauren Corber (DETENTION ADVENTURE) of LoCo Motion Pictures. Chandler Levack directs (I Like Movies), Palmer Baranek is supervising producer, and co-producer is Moe Rai.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Crave orders a fifth season of its hit original series, Canada’s Drag Race

From a media release:

A week from the premiere of a new season of CANADA’S DRAG RACE, Crave today announced that it has ordered a fifth season of the wildly-popular series. CANADA’S DRAG RACE, the #1 most streamed Canadian Reality show on Crave this year, is available to audiences in Canada, in both English and French. The series is produced by Blue Ant Studios in association with Crave and World of Wonder.

Canadian drag artists looking to flaunt their distinct brand of Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent can submit their applications now at https://www.canadasdragracecasting.com/. Applicants must be 19 years of age as of Nov. 1, 2023, and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

CANADA’S DRAG RACE is set to premiere its fourth season on Crave on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 9 p.m. ET, and is also available on World of Wonder’s SVOD platform WOW Presents Plus in the U.S., and in more than 160 countries around the world, and coming soon to BBC Three and iPlayer in the U.K. Crave recently announced the new series and format, SLAYCATION, in partnership with Blue Ant Studios and World of Wonder, with CANADA’S DRAG RACE: CANADA VS: THE WORLD set to return for a second season next year.

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Allegiance, Featured, Industry News

Supinder Wraich and Enrico Colantoni to star in the new CBC original drama Allegiance

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From a media release:

CBC and Lark Productions today announced casting and production details for Anar Ali’s (Transplant) character-driven police procedural ALLEGIANCE (10×60), now in production in Vancouver and BC’s lower mainland. A CBC Original series from the award-winning team at Lark Productions in association with Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group, the series features an ensemble cast led by Supinder Wraich (Sort Of), Enrico Colantoni (Station Eleven), Stephen Lobo (Continuum), Adolyn H. Dar (Superman & Lois), Brian Markinson (A Million Little Things) and David Cubitt (Virgin River); with showrunners Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern (Flashpoint, X Company) at the helm. Greenlit by CBC in early 2023, ALLEGIANCE will premiere on the free CBC Gem streaming service and CBC TV in winter 2024.

ALLEGIANCE focuses on identity and belonging, policing and politics, and finding truth within the heart of a flawed justice system. The drama stars Wraich as Sabrina Sohal, a star rookie police officer who must grapple with the limits of the justice system as she fights to exonerate her politician father Ajeet Sohal (Lobo). Sohal serves her diverse hometown of Surrey alongside Vince Brambilla (Colantoni), a veteran training officer who sees her potential but doesn’t always agree with her forward-thinking methods. ALLEGIANCE is the story of a young woman caught between her allegiance to her flag, to her badge, and to her family.

A CBC Original Series ALLEGIANCE is produced by Lark Productions in association with CBC, with NBCUniversal Global Distribution handling the distribution of the series globally. Showrunners Stephanie Morgenstern and Mark Ellis also serve as Executive Producers with Series Creator Anar Ali, alongside Lark Productions’ Erin Haskett, Nicole Mendes, David Valleau and Tex Antonucci.

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