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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Jann

CTV’s new original comedy Jann begins production

From a media release:

CTV, in association with Project 10 Productions and Seven24 Films, announced today that production has begun on the inaugural season of its new original comedy series JANN. Starring multi-platinum award-winning Canadian singer, songwriter, broadcaster, and author Jann Arden as a fictionalized version of herself, the six-episode comedy series takes viewers on “Jann’s” quest for renewed fame in the wake of a waning career, while also dealing with the obligations and pressures of her real life.

A comedy series with heart that bridges fame and family, the supporting cast joining the series includes Zoie Palmer (SEX AFTER KIDS, DARK MATTER), Patrick Gilmore (TRAVELERS; YOU, ME, HER), Deborah Grover (ANNE WITH AN “E”), Alexa Rose Steele (DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION), Jason Blicker (F/X: THE SERIES), Sharon Taylor (BAD BLOOD), and Elena Juatco (OPEN HEART), with surprise celebrity cameos as well.

Produced by Project 10 (SPUN OUT, Spirit Unforgettable), and Seven24 Films (WYNONNA EARP, HEARTLAND) JANN shoots in Calgary until October 4, 2018, and is set to premiere as part of CTV’s 2018/19 schedule.

In JANN, Arden plays a fictionalized version of herself: a singer songwriter of a “certain age” dealing with the harsh reality that her former music career is now on a slow, relentless slide into obscurity. But it’s not just Jann’s career that’s on life support – she’s newly single, her sister may disown her, and her mother may be showing the early signs of dementia. Although Jann’s personal life is in shambles, she’s convinced that the cure-all is to rebrand her image in order to reclaim her celebrity status, so she embarks on a quest to return to greatness but gets tangled in the pressures of her ‘real’ life. Jann is at the crossroads between who she was and who she wants to be – if she can just figure out what’s really important.

Jann Arden is the celebrated multi-platinum award-winning artist who catapulted onto the Canadian music scene in 1993 with the release of her debut album Time For Mercy featuring the hit single, “I Would Die For You”. A year later with Living Under June, she would have her career breakout hit, “Insensitive,” that would solidify her position in the music world. In November 2017, Arden released the Canadian best seller Feeding My Mother – Comfort and Laughter in the Kitchen as My Mom Lives with Memory Loss, a book that shares insights, loss, irony, and yes humour, as mother and daughter face the journey together. Arden has released 14 albums with 19 Top 10 singles; her most recent album These Are the Days was released on March 16th, 2018. A proud recipient of a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, she has been inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and has been given the Vantage Women of Originality Award.

JANN was put into development in Spring 2017. The comedy series was co-developed by Bell Media and Project 10 Productions and is produced in association with Project 10 Productions and Seven24 Films.

JANN is executive produced by Andrew Barnsley and Ben Murray for Project 10 Productions and Tom Cox and Jordy Randall for Seven24 Films. Jann Arden, Leah Gauthier, and Jennica Harper are co-creators of the series and will also serve as Executive Producers.

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Industry News

CFC and Netflix announce new partnership

From a media release:

The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and Netflix proudly announced at the CFC Annual BBQ Fundraiser today the start of their new five-year partnership in support of Canadian talent. Using a model of three distinct program accelerators, the initiative will amplify these voices and stories so that they resonate globally, showcasing Canadian talent within and beyond its borders.

The Netflix-CFC Global Project partnership will foster and accelerate a broad scope of diverse Canadian creators and their film/TV projects, and will advance Canadian talent and opportunities in the international marketplace through one of three accelerators:

  • The Calling Card Accelerator: Expands opportunities for new creators to showcase their talent through a produced calling card and realize the potential of their feature film or TV series project through a produced proof of concept.
  • The Project Development Accelerator: Bolsters the international reach of dramatic feature films or TV series from mid-level diverse creators, by offering them enhanced and tailored access to development support and inspired global perspectives.
  • The Marketplace Accelerator: Strengthens the festival/market preparedness of diverse creators with exciting projects and/or produced content looking to attract and secure international attention and investment.

Each accelerator will adopt a bespoke approach based on the select creator’s needs and project.

Through their multi-year partnership, CFC and Netflix will deliver this suite of complementary, essential opportunities for these vibrant talent pools to flourish, shining a spotlight on their stories in an evolving global marketplace.

In recognition of Netflix’s generous commitment to our creative community, Netflix will become the Presenting Sponsor of CFC’s Annual Gala & Auction, CFC’s Annual BBQ Fundraiser, CFC’s Annual Garden Party and CFC’s Annual Reception in L.A. In addition, a restored cottage on the CFC campus will become the newly named Netflix House, enabling all the different groups of talent to mingle, connect and collaborate in a shared central hub of creative activity.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Preview: APTN’s First Contact challenges Canadians’ thoughts on Indigenous Peoples

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Growing up in Brantford, Ont., I was close to the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nations Reserve. I heard about being able to buy cheap cigarettes there, as well as stories of drunk Indigenous youth coming into the city, getting drunk and stealing a car to get back home. Those cars would be found, burned out, on the reserve. So yes, I had preconceived notions about who Indigenous peoples were.

But that was before I delved into Canadian and American history and educated myself. My beliefs have changed. But what about other everyday Canadians? Has the fact it’s 2018 changed the way most think of Indigenous peoples?

That’s the focus of First Contact, APTN’s three-night broadcast event—Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. ET—that explores Indigenous culture through the eyes of six Canadians. Narrated by George Stroumboulopoulos, First Contact follows the six on a 28-day adventure to Winnipeg, Nunavut, Alberta, Northern Ontario and the coast of B.C. to visit Indigenous communities to challenge their preconceived notions and prejudices. Animiki See Digital Productions, Nüman Films and Indios Productions have created something necessary and special with First Contact, an important, educational program that is the perfect companion piece to 1491: The Untold Story of the Americas before Columbus, which aired late last year on APTN.

As expected, the six go into the experience with the same thoughts I once had. (Check out the trailer below for a peek.)

But being immersed in Indigenous cultures for close to a month leads to some startling revelations and heartrending moments. It’s pretty tough, though, to watch the first few minutes of Episode 1, as the six arrive in Winnipeg’s notorious North End, where Michael Redhead Champagne (an award-winning community organizer, public speaker and Shamattawa Cree Nation member) welcomes them.

It doesn’t take long for participants like Ashley to utter the word “drunk” and Dallas to wonder aloud why money, education and housing are given to First Nations people and nothing is done with it. Ross goes one step further, describing run-down, burned out homes on reservations and defending residential schools as a system designed to help. It’s pretty embarrassing to watch but also representative of stories and assumptions made.

Day 1 immerses the six in the midst of Winnipeg’s 90,000 Indigenous population. One half of the group is trucked out to a well-to-do neighbourhood to live with an Indigenous family for 24 hours, shaking up their expectations that a reservation stay was in the cards. It’s over dinner that they discuss Indian status, assimilation and colonization. It’s a frank, honest and enriching conversation for all. Credit goes to the six participants for asking questions and to the First Nations people for answering. It all goes a long way to an understanding on both sides, and for viewers too.

 

First Contact airs Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on APTN.

Image courtesy of APTN.

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Killjoys

Links: Killjoys, “Its Takes a Pillage”

From Heather M. of TV Goodness:

Link: Derek Robertson talks Killjoys’ “It Takes a Pillage”
“[The idea came from] something my grandfather said to me once. He had an alcoholic father. He never got too deep into it but he told me once that his most important job was to be a better father to his kids than his dad was and my dad’s job was to be better than him, and if I ever had kids, I should be better than him, and then one day maybe some generation will have it all figured out.” Continue reading.

From Kelly Townsend of The TV Junkies:

Link: Killjoys: Derek Robertson talks “It Takes a Pillage”
“We’re all so close in the writing room that when I brought that initial idea into the room we all just started diving deep into each others feelings about becoming like our parents, or the worries you can carry as a parent inadvertently passing certain traits down to your child, and how those fears of falling into a cycle would manifest themselves in D’avin.” Continue reading.

Link: Killjoys: Kelly McCormack on being a hero and Zeph’s self-doubt
“The first four episodes were so science heavy, and it’s funny because even as I was reading them, I didn’t even interpret them as Zeph was saving the day.” Continue reading.

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