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Production has begun on Treaty Road for APTN

From a media release:

Saxon de Cocq, Hannah Hermanson and Ell McEachern of 3 Story Pictures, Doug Cuthand of Blue Hill Productions, and Candy Renae Fox are pleased to announce that principal photography has commenced on Season 1 of Treaty Road, the ground-breaking, long overdue 6-part docuseries (one hour each) that follows Dakota/Anishinaabekwe educator and researcher, Erin Goodpipe (RezX, The Other Side, Bathsheba: Search for Evil) and Métis writer, director and producer Saxon de Cocq (The Other Side, The Invincible Sergeant Bill (CBC) and Land Acknowledgement (CIFF)) on their personal and communal journey as they travel the old roads to uncover the truth about the signing of the Numbered Treaties, signed between 1871 and 1921, and ultimately themselves.

Treaty Road will be broadcast on APTN and produced with financial support from Canada Media Fund and Creative Saskatchewan.

Filming takes place across Treaty 1 through 6 territories in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.

Production commenced in October 2022 and will complete in March 2023. The series will go to air later this year.

While exploring his Métis ancestry, writer/director Saxon de Cocq discovered that his great grandfather (x4) was the Honorable James McKay, a prominent Métis from the Red River area. McKay was involved in many of the Numbered Treaty negotiations, eventually becoming a Treaty Commissioner. With mixed feelings, Saxon is driven to learn more… what was McKay’s involvement, his motivations for playing a pivotal role in this part of history? Saxon enlists the help of his friend Erin Goodpipe, a community educator and researcher with knowledge in treaty rights.

Treaty Road is directed by Candy Fox (The Other Side, Big Brother Canada, Zarqa), and hosted by Saxon de Cocq and Erin Goodpipe and produced by Saxon de Cocq, Candy Fox, Ell McEachern (Staying Wild, The Other Side, and the upcoming ZARQA S2) and Hannah Hermanson (Staying Wild, The Other Side, Dirt Farmers and the upcoming ZARQA S2). The series is written by Saxon de Cocq and story edited by Berkley Brady (Dark Nature, The Secret History of: The Wild West) with Doug Cuthand (Guardians: Evolution, Miywayawin, Big Bear) serving as executive producer.

Cinematography by Jeremy Ratzlaff (By Faith, Denis, Never Seen Again) and editing by Jen Prokop (Staying Wild, The Other Side).

Producer/Director Candy Fox says, “Indigenous nations have held up their end of the Treaty relationship. My hope is that this exploration is a tool for understanding and maybe even growth for those who are unaware of what the Treaty relationship was actually meant to be.”

Host Erin Goodpipe adds, “I didn’t have the privilege to avoid the impacts of treaty. And what I mean by that is that the broken promises of the treaty have impacted my family and so many Indigenous families, in such a way that you can’t ignore those impacts. So, it’s a privilege for those who benefit from treaty and yet, don’t have to learn about what the treaties are”.

ABOUT SAXON DE COCQ
Saxon de Cocq is a Métis writer, director and creative producer from Southern Alberta, Region 3 and is a citizen of The Métis Nation of Alberta. After 15 years of refining his storytelling craft, he’s perfectly at home in both the documentary and scripted worlds. He has been the creative force behind documentary series like APTN’s nationally broadcast The Other Side (writing and directing 18 episodes and creative producing the series) as well as writing, directing and producing 8 short films that were screened and broadcast across the country, including CBC. Saxon has a preternatural gift for bringing stories to life in a relatable way and is currently in development on his second documentary series, of his creation, with APTN. Saxon is also excited to be in development on three different scripted television series.

ABOUT ERIN GOODPIPE
Erin is a dakȟóta wíŋyaŋ/ anishinaabekwe from tatanka najin oyate (Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation) and is a multidisciplinary artist, educator and researcher. She is currently in the Master of Indigenous Education program and has taught at First Nations University of Canada. Alongside her education, she is involved in a number of media projects, notably as a television host on RezX , APTN’s The Other Side and is involved in Indigenous health and wellness research projects. Erin is passionate about wholistic artistic experiences and continues to work on community embedded theatre projects in a variety of ways. This can be seen in her involvement with the Globe Theatre in Regina, SK, on a number of projects including: Making Treaty 4, In Care, Where the Blood Mixes and Women of the Fur Trade. Erin has worked in various realms of community (from Indigenous youth to deputy ministers) using the arts to explore and transform personal and political narratives using story gathering and sharing practices through an Indigenous lens. Her professional work is rooted in her personal circles, where kinship, ceremony, land/sky/water based practices lead her learning and living.

ABOUT CANDY RENAE FOX
Candy Renae Fox is a two-spirited, Plains Cree woman from the Piapot First Nation. Candy has been able to nurture her growth as a film director with over 20 years of involvement in the industry. Whether through her beginnings as an actor and eventual progression to directing, Candy is passionate about storytelling. Candy holds a BFA in film production. Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival named her short film Backroads as one of Canada’s Top Ten Student Shorts. She is an alumnus of the National Screen Institute’s IndigiDocs program where her film ahkâmêyimo nitânis / Keep Going, My Daughter premiered at Hot Docs. She was awarded Best Short and Audience Choice by the Saskatchewan Independent Film Awards for Keep Going. More recently, she has directed for broadcast television with Amplify (APTN), The Other Side (APTN), Big Brother Canada (Global), and ZARQA (CBC Gem). Candy is excited to be co-producing and directing the ground-breaking, six part docu-series Treaty Road which will air on APTN in fall 2023.

ABOUT DOUG CUTHAND
Doug Cuthand is an independent producer, writer, and journalist with over 30 years experience, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He is a member of the Little Pine First Nation, a Plains Cree community in Saskatchewan. Doug is the author of two books dealing with First Nations history and treaty issues – ASKIWINA: A Cree World and Tapwe: Selected Columns of Doug Cuthand and has written a weekly column for Post Media for 30 years. He was the Chair of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College Board of Directors, precursor of the First Nations University of Canada. Blue Hill Productions is owned by Doug Cuthand and produces documentaries, docudramas, and dramas for all markets.

ABOUT HANNAH HERMANSON
Hannah has over a decade of experience in the television and film industry. After earning her honors degree from Middlesex University in London, Hannah hit the ground running, making herself an indispensable part of any team she joined. From production manager to line producer, Hannah has taken on a wide range of roles and responsibilities, consistently executing projects with efficiency and grace. What sets Hannah apart is her unique combination of skills. She has a talent for bringing people together, encouraging collaboration and teamwork for the greater creative good. Her resourcefulness is unmatched, and she can turn even the most challenging of situations into a success. Her ability to lead with confidence and finesse has earned her a reputation as a problem-solver, and her contributions to the projects she works on have a lasting impact.

ABOUT ELL MCEACHERN
Ell has over twenty years’ experience in the Canadian Film and Television industry, and credits on 90+ hours of content. This journey has endowed her with a love of collaboration and the ability to foster it across diverse teams, helping projects coalesce from fragile dreams into powerful concepts. Ell’s first industry steps were taken on the accounting and finance side — and she keeps one foot firmly planted there as a CFA Charterholder. She maintains her membership in the DGC Accounting Caucus, as well as a noteworthy track record of project execution, delivery and successful audits. As a producer, Ell combines an exceptional eye for detail with big picture thinking. While she’s a gifted creative in her own right, her secret weapon is helping the team levitate over complex roadblocks to get the stories told.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Pamela Anderson’s journey continues with two new greenlights from Corus Studios

From a media release:

Corus Studios announced today the continuation of their partnership with famed Hollywood icon Pamela Anderson in two new greenlights. Pamela’s Garden of Eden is currently in production on Season 2 (8×60), continuing the renovation of her family’s legacy property on Vancouver Island. Pamela’s presence in the lifestyle space expands with the brand-new food-focused series, Pamela’s Cooking With Love (working title) (8×60), beginning production this summer and scheduled to premiere in 2024 on Food Network Canada. Produced by Fireworks Media Group, these two premium unscripted series spotlight Pamela’s open-book attitude, gift for design and entertaining, and savvy ability to create unique experiences. Corus Studios will distribute both series internationally.

“Corus Studios is proud to collaborate with Pamela Anderson on these two series as we work together to share her passion for food and entertaining with both a Canadian and international audience,” said Lisa Godfrey, Senior Vice President of Original Content and Corus Studios. “Pamela’s Cooking With Love is the perfect companion series to Pamela’s Garden of Eden, and services our commitment to authentic story-telling and building a premium library of content for the global market.”

“Creating elegant and inviting spaces that inspire a compassionate, calm and healthy environment has always been important to me and comes naturally,” said Pamela Anderson. “Corus Studios and I have set mutual goals with good intentions. It’s been a learning curve – and I am confident they will be a positive partner in helping bring my true vision to life.”

In Season 2 of Pamela’s Garden of Eden, Pamela’s quest to transform her grandmother’s six-acre legacy property on Vancouver Island continues, resolving renovation issues from Season 1 and tackling a long list of new projects. Simultaneously, Pamela travels back and forth to Los Angeles to help her son Brandon Lee renovate his newly purchased house. As a first-time homeowner, Brandon depends on his mother’s keen eye for design and renovation to help turn his new house into a home he can truly call his own. The new season follows the successful Canadian launch of the series, which ranked within the Top 10 of Canadian original series across specialty television last fall, and was the #1 entertainment specialty program when it premiered on HGTV Canada.*

Pamela sets the table for a one-of-a-kind dining experience in Pamela’s Cooking With Love (working title). In this new Corus Studios distributed series, Pamela is fueled by a craving to learn more about cooking and how she can use food to take entertaining to the next level. She works with a variety of influential chefs to develop delicious plant-based menus, gather the diverse ingredients, and prepare incredible meals and moments for her friends and family. Whether it is a casual afternoon cocktail party in the garden, an intimate dinner with family, or breakfast following a night around the campfire – Pamela shines as a host and sous-chef.

Pamela’s Garden of Eden and Pamela’s Cooking With Love (working title) are produced by Fireworks Media Group with Jesse Fawcett, Brandon Thomas Lee, and Robert Hardy serving as executive producers for both projects. Pamela Anderson serves as executive producer for Cooking With Pamela (working title).

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

AMI announces the debut of Ness Murby: Transcending, March 8 on AMI-tv

From a media release:

AMI, in partnership with Anaïd Productions (Mind Set Go), is excited to announce the debut of Ness Murby: Transcending.

Debuting Wednesday, March 8, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv and on demand at AMI.ca and on the AMI-tv App, the six-part documentary series Ness Murby: Transcending (6 x 30), follows groundbreaking Paralympian Ness Murby as he trains and vies to become the world’s first openly trans man to compete at a Paralympic Games.

This intimate and unflinching series follows Ness and his family as they navigate the emotional and physical challenges of gender transition, juggle the stresses of first-time parenthood and break down barriers in the world of sport. Since completely losing his sight as a teenager, Ness is no stranger to adversity, but in this series, he will be pushed to his limit. Battling social stigma, discrimination and the physical limitations of his transitioning body, Ness bravely attempts to carve a new space for himself in the Men’s discus division on the national team and pave the way for trans acceptance in elite sport. But is the world and sport system ready to embrace this change?

Additionally, behind-the-scenes clips—available at AMI.ca and on the AMI-tv App—give viewers exclusive peeks into Ness’ life. From conversations about fertility inclusivity, misgendering and penile prostheses to struggling with a petulant lawnmower, they spotlight personal moments and conversations.

“We are proud to present Ness Murby: Transcending to Canadians,” said John Melville, Vice-President, Content Development & Operations, AMI-audio/AMI-tv. “Ness’ story is one of acceptance, perseverance and being true to yourself. We look forward to this series furthering the conversation about inclusion for all.”

Synopses for the first two episodes are below:

Episode 1 – “Stepping Into the Arena”
Debuting Wednesday, March 8, at 8 p.m. Eastern
In the debut episode, viewers watch Ness prepare for the lead-up to the Canadian Athletics Championships, his first national competition as an openly trans man. The pressure is on as Ness makes history in the men’s division, but right before the competition, he receives an email that jeopardizes his entire athletics career.

Episode 2 – “Comfortable in My Skin”
Debuting Wednesday, March 15, at 8 p.m. Eastern
Every Tuesday, Ness makes the life-affirming decision to inject his body with testosterone. We hear from Ness how this life-saving medicine has transformed his body, changing his appearance, strength and mindset. On a family walk, Ness has a hard conversation with his partner, Eva, about parenting, and a trip to the vet with Ness’ guide dog, Lexington, doesn’t go as expected.

About Ness Murby
Ness Murby (he/him) is a JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) Brand Strategist and Counselor, Paralympian and the co-founder of TougherThan. Lived experience and common humanity fuel his passion for diversity and inclusion and, with intersecting marginalized identities, he has long been led to push against prejudices, drive for systemic change and challenge the status quo.

Ness has an extensive background and credentials that include anatomy and physiology, applied psychology, business management, education and pedagogy, design, inclusive design, marketing and organizational strategy.

He has represented three countries in three Parasports—Australia, Japan and Canada in Goalball, Powerlifting and Para Athletics —and holds world records as well as world, continental and national titles. In 2020, Ness came out as trans. As the first openly trans Paralympian, Ness is carving out space for future generations. He currently competes in Men’s F11 discus and is aiming for the 2024 Paralympics. An advocate and public figure, Ness is a passionate contributor. His niche is asking “better questions,” he believes “everything is mentionable and from there manageable,” and he advocates “there is enough space for all of us.”

Ness Murby: Transcending airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv and on demand at AMI.ca and on the AMI-tv App.

Ness Murby: Transcending is developed and produced by Anaïd Productions in association with Accessible Media Inc. and produced with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund, Rogers Telefund, the Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC, and Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.

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Industry News, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Blue Ant Media unveils three new greenlights for its Canadian specialty TV and global free streaming platforms

From a media release:

International producer, distributor and channel operator, Blue Ant Media, announced today from Prime Time three new greenlights set to air in 2023 across its Canadian specialty TV networks: T+E and Cottage Life, and its global free streaming (FAST) channels: HauntTV and Total Crime. The announcement underpins Blue Ant Media’s commitment to create premium, returnable and scalable series that offer superior storytelling and universal appeal. Overseen by Sam Linton, VP, Production and Development, Global Media, the latest originals lineup includes two world broadcast premieres on Blue Ant Media’s Canadian specialty TV channels. Blue Ant International will handle pre-sales and licensing opportunities worldwide for two new original series in the slate.

Following the ratings success of the two-part original documentary, Haunted Gold Rush, Blue Ant Media has ordered the new six-part series, Haunted by History (w/t)(6×60’; HD). The series sees the return of paranormal investigators, Corine Carey, Leanne Sallenback and Kelly Ireland, as they travel across North America and meet with real people who recount their intense, terrifying and emotional ghost experiences. Seeking the deeper meaning behind these hauntings and their ties to historic locations, the trio will undergo full-blown investigations to uncover the truth and give closure to both the witnesses and the spirits. Haunted Gold Rush launched on T+E in Canada and HauntTV in the US in October 2022. The documentary saw T+E perform 140% higher in its premiere time slot. The world broadcast premiere of Haunted by History is slated for spring 2023 on T+E in Canada during the channel’s nationwide free preview event. The series will also air on Blue Ant Media’s free streaming channel HauntTV in the US, UK and Australia in 2023.

Also commissioned is the Blue Ant Studios new original documentary, A Secret to Die For (2×60’; HD), which investigates how a person’s secret life can end up costing them their own. A Secret to Die For follows a suspenseful story arc that will keep viewers guessing who the murderer is until the very end. With emotional interviews from family and friends, the documentary weaves together a story of a seemingly successful and happy individual who’s dark past made them the perfect murder victim. The first two pilot episodes of the true crime documentary series will make its world broadcast debut on T+E in Canada this summer 2023. The series will also air in 2023 on the free streaming channel Total Crime in the US.

Finally, the new original series Secrets in the Sand (6×60’; HD) examines extraordinary curiosities that were once concealed in the deserts of the planet. From lost ancient cities to mysterious geological formations, each episode comprises four stories from different regions of the world and uses CGI, stock and archival footage, along with expert testimony to expose their secrets. The six-part series is slated to premiere in summer 2023 on Cottage Life in Canada.

For more information on Blue Ant Media’s original greenlights, please see below.

T+E/HauntTV

Haunted by History (w/t) (6×60’; HD)
Producer: Small Army Entertainment
World broadcast premiere scheduled for spring 2023 on T+E
Scheduled to air on HauntTV in the US, UK and Australia in 2023
Haunted by History (w/t) follows paranormal experts Corine Carey, Leanne Sallenback and Kelly Ireland as they travel across North America meeting with those who have come face-to-face with the unknown. The trio are on a mission to unlock a deeper understanding of the hauntings that take place in the world-famous locations they visit. Featuring stylized, cinematic dramatizations of eyewitness accounts, coupled with rich context provided by experts, historians and locals, Corine, Leanne and Kelly will bridge the gap between past and present in a fresh new way. The documentary series shows how paranormal investigations can enrich people’s understanding of history by giving voices to the spirits of those who lived it. Blue Ant International handles pre-sales and licensing opportunities worldwide.

T+E/Total Crime

A Secret to Die For (2×60’; HD)
Producer: Blue Ant Studio
World broadcast premiere scheduled for spring 2023 on T+E
Scheduled to air on Total Crime in the US in 2023
The documentary series, A Secret to Die For, investigates how a person’s secret life can end up costing them their own. The two-part documentary peels back the layers of the victim’s seemingly happy life to reveal new, dark secrets that family and friends would never have believed. As the missing pieces of the victim’s life come together, new interviewees offer an entirely fresh perspective, concluding with the dramatic revelation of a secret explaining why the victim was killed and identifying the murderer. Blue Ant International handles pre-sales and licensing opportunities worldwide.

Cottage Life

Secrets in the Sand (6×60’; HD)
Producer: Shark Teeth Films
Canadian broadcast premiere scheduled for summer 2023 on Cottage Life
Deserts are often an afterthought when it comes to climate change, but as global temperatures increase, they are among the most vulnerable places on the planet. Violent sandstorms and erosion are increasingly reshaping the arid regions of the Earth and as they do, astounding discoveries are being exposed. The series examines incredible curiosities that were once concealed for thousands of years, including the Egyptian Stonehenge, a lost ancient city and a tomb of an unknown soldier.

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Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Scott McGillivray and Bryan Baemler join forces in Renovation Resort

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From a media release:

Two of HGTV Canada’s biggest stars, Scott McGillivray and Bryan Baeumler, reunite in Renovation Resort (7×60), a one-of-a-kind vacation rental renovation competition series premiering Sunday, March 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada and STACKTV. In this brand-new series distributed by Corus Studios, Scott’s recently purchased lakeside vacation resort needs a complete overhaul, so he enlists friendly rival and expert builder Bryan to help get his rundown property into shape. To transform the resort into a modern-day vacation destination, they bring in four professional designer-contractor duos who are up for the challenge. Each week, the pairs battle against each other in a riveting renovation showdown to impress Scott, Bryan, and the expert guest judges. In the end, the team with the best cabin wins the title of Renovation Resort Champions and a reward of $100,000.

At the start of the competition, the duos are assigned to one of four identical cabins that will be entirely renovated over the course of seven weeks. In each episode, they are tasked with remodeling a new space in the cabin, bringing their skills to transform the interior and exterior of the cabins into stunning retreats ahead of the peak rental season. Armed with their signature banter and keen observations, Scott and Bryan will check in regularly to evaluate the teams’ work and guide them through each cabin challenge. Facing off in this unique competition is dynamic husband-and-wife duo Rotem and Troy from Toronto, Ont., entrepreneurs April and Arnold from Chicago, Ill., business partners Jena and Sean from Toronto, Ont., and partners in life and work, Savannah and Kyle, hailing from Phoenix, Ariz. To learn more about the professional duos, visit hgtv.ca.

Throughout the season, Scott and Bryan are joined by expert guest judges, including Debra Salmoni (designer, Scott’s Vacation House Rules), Heather Greenwood Davis (travel writer and lifestyle host), Sarah Keenleyside (designer, Backyard Builds), Christine Tizzard (cookbook author and food stylist), Natalie Preddie (travel expert and writer), and Carson Arthur (landscape designer and television personality). Alongside Scott and Bryan, the judges will evaluate the renovations by assessing the quality, creativity, and functionality to determine the winning vacation cabin. In the first episode, the competitors’ mission is to tackle the primary bedroom and main-floor bathroom in one week. As these super-skilled teams work against the clock and under pressure, they will have to deliver exceptional designs if they want to be the best.

Renovation Resort welcomes series sponsor Tim Hortons, offering the competitors a well-deserved lunch of loaded wraps and bowls, plus an assortment of treats, coffee, and cold beverages throughout the season. In several episodes, SICO paint, available at RONA, highlights the brand’s line of Endurance and Prestige paint options to create inviting spaces. The curb appeal of the property is transformed with Techo-Bloc’s modern paving stones and landscaping products, allowing the competitors to extend their designs outside.

Renovation Resort is produced by M.E.M, Scott McGillivray is CEO, Angela Jennings is President, Nanci MacLean is COO, Jeff Baker is Head of Production and Kelly Wray is Executive Producer.

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