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Link: CBC’s The National and its evolution – still strangely unengaged

From John Doyle of The Globe and Mail:

Link: CBC’s The National and its evolution – still strangely unengaged
It is no longer the baffling, near-hallucinatory experience it was during its first week with multiple hosts and a new format. Still, it is sometimes hard to fathom its exact mandate and purpose as a nightly news program. The new format was off-putting to some of CBC TV’s loyal viewers and it’s possible they have never returned. If they do, they will find an improved program but one that can be excruciatingly unengaging. Continue reading.

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Industry News

CHCH and Motion Content Group launch drama development partnership

From a media release:

CHCH and Motion Content Group today announce a partnership to invest in the creation of original high-quality Canadian programming with international appeal.

The drama development partnership will see CHCH and Motion Content Group jointly select projects to be developed, produced and distributed worldwide. Together, the companies will work directly with writers as well as third-party producers to secure premium returnable series.

The creative sensibilities and domestic relationships of CHCH, together with Motion Content Group’s global relationships and interest in supporting quality content creation will allow the companies to build international co-productions speeding up the process to get original series from development to air.

The initiative is being led by Jennifer Chen, Vice President of Programming for CHCH, and Tony Moulsdale, Global Director of Programming for Motion Content Group.

“Motion is committed to developing new funding models which bring premium content to the international market and which support our broadcast partner’s programming ambitions,” said Tony Moulsdale. “This deal builds on the success of our previous deals with CHCH on THE PINKERTONS and WYNONNA EARP.”

“This collaboration will unlock great opportunities for Canadian content-creators, and we’re looking to work with new talent as well as world-leading established writers,” added Jennifer Chen.

 

 

 

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Buck Productions proud to support Little Bear Big Wolf Picture’s doc series Merchants of the Wild

From a media release:

Little Bear Big Wolf Pictures producer Daniel Fortin has announced the completion of principal photography of the unscripted series, Merchants of the Wild. Cameras rolled for the unique docu-series in the Constance Lake region of Northwestern Ontario.

Merchants of the Wild is a documentary series reconnecting six First Nations, Métis and Inuit adventurers with traditional skills and knowledge of the land. Mixing survival, culture, use of environment and adventure, Merchants of the Wild takes us back in time as the adventurers are pitted against the perils of the land, learning what it took to survive as they travel 16th-century fur trade routes used by Oji-Cree ancestors.

“I’m thrilled at the completion of the production. Everyone on the team feels a great honour and responsibility in sharing the beauty of the land and the cultural teachings taught by Oji-Cree Elders and Knowledge Keepers,” said director and producer Daniel Fortin. “This has truly been a unique and exciting journey that has deeply impacted all of those involved. On the production end, I couldn’t be happier to have a mentor in place like Sean Buckley. The experience Buck Productions brings has been irreplaceable.”

“Merchants of the Wild is about bravery, determination and understanding the beauty and importance of our environment,” said Sean Buckley, CEO, Buck Productions. “At Buck, we aim for involvement with engaging content that has a purpose, which is exactly what Daniel has brought with Merchants of the Wild. This was a special shoot for the team in Northern Canada, and we’re thrilled to help guide them forward and share it with the world.”

This announcement marks the inaugural series for Little Bear Big Wolf Pictures. For Buck Productions, this is the latest involvement in bringing to life over 30 originally created unscripted shows, including the five it created in-house in 2017.

Sean Buckley of Buck Productions is an executive producer and mentor for the docu-series. Merchants of the Wild was developed and produced by Little Bear Big Wolf Pictures for APTN, in partnership with the Canada Media Fund and Rogers Cable Network Fund. UK and Australian-based Beyond Distribution will handle international distribution.

Synopsis
Merchants of the Wild is a vivid reconnection to the land as six Indigenous women and men relive what survival was like on a fur trade expedition across the length and breadth of Northern Cree and Ojibway territories. Travelling in birch bark canoes, the brave group are taught by Elders and Knowledge Keepers, learning to make tools and use skills passed on orally through generations. These teachings are essential to their survival, as they take to the land with no modern technology on a 25-day voyage that will leave them forever changed. The series lets audiences experience what it took to endure perilous journeys, and gain not only cultural knowledge and appreciation, but discover ways in which they can better live harmoniously within their environment. The diverse group must use their collective knowledge and courage, alongside teachings from Oji-Cree Elders, to find food, make shelter, endure freezing nights, and overcome the entire emotional journey reconnecting them with the land.

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Industry News

Link: Women Behind Canadian TV: Sorcha Vasey

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Link: Women Behind Canadian TV: Sorcha Vasey
“I am a little bit lucky in that I’ve been fortunate enough to choose jobs based on content. I did work with Stephanie Morgenstern on Flashpoint, but she and Mark [Ellis] are a real partnership and that’s a great thing about working with them. It’s so genderfluid on their sets, and you’re not forced to think about the gender because they are both represented. I love Michelle [Lovretta] and Karen [Troubetzkoy] on Killjoys and working with them.” Continue reading.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Nish Media announces brand new TV series on APTN Skindigenous debuting Feb. 20

From a media release:

Nish Media debuts its brand new 13-episode series SKINDIGENOUS, which explores Indigenous tattooing traditions around the world, on Tuesday, February 20th at 7:30 p.m. ET on APTN HD and APTN E and at 7:30 p.m. MT on APTN W. The APTN N broadcast begins on Friday, February 23 at 5:00 p.m. CT.

The art of tattooing is much more than simply a method of decorating one’s body. At its origins among ancient cultures, tattooing was only practiced by those with special standing in the community. Today, modern-day tattoo artists use their art to re-connect with the heritage of their ancestors and to ensure that their stories are not lost. They do this by maintaining the traditions of their forebears and teaching a new generation about both the ancient and modern techniques they’ve learned.

SKINDIGENOUS takes us on a scintillating journey around the world, from the Philippines and Indonesia to Samoa, Hawaii, New Zealand and Mexico, by way of North America via British Columbia, Alberta, Toronto, Alaska and Newfoundland.

Each episode takes the viewer into the lives of the different practitioners and their unique culture to discover the tools and techniques, the symbols and traditions that shape their tattooing art. The art of tattooing is the lens for exploring some of the planet’s oldest perspectives on life, identity, and the natural world.

In Indonesia, a shaman named Aman Jepri gives an apprentice the markings that will complete his initiation into Mentawai shamanism. In Alberta, Amy Malbeuf practices the skin stitch technique with needle and thread; 100-year-old Philippine Wang Od Oggay and Samoan Peter Sulua’pe continue the traditions of their ancient customs; in BC, Alaska, Newfoundland, Toronto, Mexico, Hawaii and New Zealand, Dion Kaszas (BC), Nakkita Trimble (BC), Marjorie Tahbone (AL), Jordan Bennett (NL), Jay Soule (TO), Samuel Olman (MX), Keone Nunes (HI) and Gordon Toi (NZ) are reviving the forgotten art of their ancestors; and in Seattle, artist Nahaan sees tattoo as a political act and a form of resistance.

The accompanying Skindigenous app on the series website will give Indigenous tattoo artists from around the world a forum to record and view their tattoo art. This initiative marks a unique opportunity for a community to build around these artists.

The series was directed by Nish Media producer Jason Brennan and four other directors. Jason, a member of the First Nations community of Kitigan Zibi, has produced shows for APTN, CBC, Radio-Canada, Ici ArtTV, Canal D, TV5 and CBC Docs, including the sixth season of the Indigenous youth hockey show Hit The Ice. The series’ remaining directors are: Award-winning Mohawk filmmaker Sonia Bonspille Boileau (feature film Le Dep, Gémeaux-winning Last Call Indian, Yorkton Film Festival Golden Sheaf winner The Oka Legacy); award-winning film and television director, editor and cameraman Randy Kelly; filmmaker, content creator, director, author Jean-François Martel (the Gémeaux-nominated Radio-Canada documentary Véronique Dicaire : Grand V, La Fosse aux tigres) and Kim O’Bomsawin (La ligne rouge, APTN/Canal D’s Je ne veux pas mourir and the APTN series Motetan Mamo/Marchons Ensemble).

About Nish Media
The series is produced by Nish Media, a multi-award-winning production company based in the Ottawa-Gatineau area. Over the past ten years, producer Jason Brennan has produced over 200 hours of television for various networks such as APTN, CBC, Radio-Canada, Ici ArtTV, Canal D, TV5 and CBC Docs, including Mouki, Wapikoni, La Fosse aux tigres and six seasons of Hit The Ice, nominated in prestigious television festivals including the Banff World Media Festival and Italy’s FICTS. Its first feature film, “Le Dep”, was selected to play in several film festivals including the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Czech Republic, the Vancouver Film Festival, the Raindance Film Festival, ImagineNative and the American Indian Film Festival. Nish Media is currently adapting Marc Séguin’s novel Nord Alice for film, as well as producing Sonia Bonspille Boileau’s next feature film Rustic Oracle.

 

 

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