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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Viceland to explore wrestling and skateboarding subcultures in The Wrestlers and Post Radical

From a media release:

VICE Studio Canada and Rogers Media announced today two new, original, documentary series: The Wrestlers, an examination of the wrestling world’s underground, and Post Radical, an exploration of skate culture and its many sub-cultures. Both series are slated to premiere early next year, with additional broadcast details to be announced at a later date.

The Wrestlers follows long-time VICE host, legendary Toronto punk band F*cked Up front man, and wrestling fanatic, Damian Abraham, as he explores the modern day manifestations of the world’s oldest combat sport. Each episode looks beyond the polished pro wrestling scene to the gritty, often dangerous, world of unscripted wrestling. From the grueling “Death Tour” across First Nations communities in rural Manitoba to Juarez Mexico’s Lucha Libre scene, Abraham travels across North America to examine the religious zeal of wrestling participants and fans.

Hosted by pro-skater and amateur anthropologist Rick McCrank, Post Radical will explore skate culture in all of its various forms in the signature aesthetic style of VICELAND’s break-out success Abandoned. Each episode will focus on the groups and individuals that make up a specific skateboarding sub-culture, ranging from the best female skaters in the world to those at the intersection of skate and religion. Post Radical looks at the differences between each group as well as their connections to the wider skate community.

 

 

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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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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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Children's Programming, Industry News

Blue Ant Media launches new animation studio Look Mom! Productions

From a media release:

Blue Ant Media, an international content producer, distributor and channel operator, announced today the launch of its new animation studio, Look Mom! Productions. The Toronto-based unit produces compelling creator-driven animated content for kids (6-11), teens and adults (18-34) and is led by Creative Director, Joshua Bowen, who joined Blue Ant Media in 2013 to launch Bite on Mondo.

Look Mom! Productions is currently in active development on two new animated, action-comedy series for the kids 6-11 category: Toy Hunters (26×11) which follows two brothers who move to Smalls Hollow after their grandfather leaves their parents his mansion as an inheritance. After meeting Bob Munson, owner of Munson’s Toys and Collectibles and his daughter Kaylee, the boys learn that their eccentric grandfather led a secret life traveling the world hunting down haunted toys; and Cloudface (26×11) which is about a character who desperately wants to be a person with his dapper suits and desire to help others, but is more like a big kid with his fun-loving ways and short attention span. While fiercely loyal to his friends, he often forgets to honour commitments and will drop whatever he’s doing in the moment if something shinier catches his eye. Look Mom! Productions will be seeking co-production opportunities for these two series at MIPCOM 2017.

Blue Ant Media will be showcasing Look Mom! Productions content and more at MIPCOM 2017 at booth R8.D7.

Blue Ant Media is a privately held, international content producer, distributor and channel operator. From our production houses around the world, we create content for multiple genres including factual, factual entertainment, short-form digital series and kids programming. Our distribution business, Blue Ant International, offers a catalogue of 3,000+ hours of content, including the largest 4K natural history offering on the market. Blue Ant Media’s international channel business offers a portfolio of media brands such as Love Nature (International), ZooMoo Networks (International), Smithsonian Channel Canada, BBC Earth (Canada) and HGTV (New Zealand). Blue Ant Media is headquartered in Toronto, with operations in Los Angeles, Singapore, Auckland, Dunedin, London, Sydney, Beijing and Taipei.

 

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