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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Children's Programming

Season 5 of The Next Step set for May 26 on Family

From a media release:

Get ready for a season filled with friendly rivalries and fierce competition with the return of Family Channel’s hit series The Next Step. Debuting Friday, May 26 at 4:30 p.m. ET/PT, season five represents a new chapter for the studio as the dancers are divided into two separate teams, led by fan-favourites Victoria Baldesarra (Michelle) and Alexandra Beaton (Emily). Fans who can’t wait for the new season to begin, can check out the new short series The Next Step: The Off Season, on The Family Channel App, to find out what A-Troupe has been up to since their Regionals loss. Following the premiere, new episodes of The Next Step will air regularly Fridays at 4:30 p.m. ET/PT with encore presentations at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Season five of The Next Step brings about a lot of changes for the studio. Since losing at Regionals, A-Troupe is once again the underdog, but that won’t deter them from getting back to the top. As many dancers leave to pursue their goals and dreams, former dance captain Emily (Beaton) steps in to take control of the studio. But her strict regime isn’t welcomed by everyone and the studio quickly divides into two: Emily’s classically trained dancers, and the self-trained/hip-hop crew led by veteran Michelle (Baldesarra). In the end, only one team can make it to Regionals and it’s a full out battle between East vs. West.

New dancers joining the cast for season five include: Dylan Ratzlaff as Jacquie; Jessica Lord as Lola; Milaina Robinson as Zara; Julian Lombardi as Ozzy; Hanna Miller as Heather; Noah Zulfikar as Kingston; Dawson Handy as Josh; and Julian Elia as Elliot. In addition to Beaton and Baldesarra, returning familiar faces include: Myles Erlick as Noah; Briar Nolet as Richelle; Alexandra Chaves as Piper; Isaiah Peck as Henry; Shelby Bain as Amy; Brennan Clost as Daniel; Lamar Johnson as West; and Akiel Julien as LaTroy. Fan-favourites Brittany Raymond (Riley), Trevor Tordjman (James), Taveeta Szymanowicz (Thalia) and Isaac Lupien (Eldon) will make guest appearances throughout the season.

The Next Step is produced by Radical Sheep Productions, a division of Boat Rocker Studios in association with Family Channel and is executive produced by Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (Lost & Found Music Studios, Wingin’ It); Michelle Melanson Cuperus (The Bagel and Becky Show, Fangbone!); Rachael Schaefer (The Next Step, Wingin’ It) and Karen McClellan (The Other Kingdom, Being Erica). The Next Step was created by Frank van Keeken. The Next Step is also produced with the participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund, the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and CBBC. BBC Worldwide handles the international rights to the series.

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Industry News

New original digital series takes a kaleidoscopic look at Canada’s brand

From a media release:

Big Cedar Films, founded by award-winning filmmaker Geoff Morrison, launched their original digital series, Brand Canada, on the CBC TV app and at CBC.ca/brandcanada today. Part of CBC’s 2017 programming, Brand Canada is a kaleidoscopic exploration of Canada the ‘brand’ – from the artwork and images that first symbolized Canada, through the building and appropriation of a collective identity, to how the country is viewed today. With 10 episodes varying in length from two to six minutes, this unique series covers a broad spectrum of stories relating to Canada’s brand.

Each episode is directed by a notable emerging or mid-career Canadian filmmaker, including shorts from Josh Raskin (I Met the Walrus), Aleysa Young (Baroness Von Sketch Show) and Tess Girard, whose contribution Canada the Good? premiered at Hot Docs this year. The filmmakers incorporated their own unique style, offering varied perspectives as well as creative approaches. Directors were encouraged to choose a filmmaking form that best suited their subject, rather than follow a prescribed series construct. This process fostered creative exploration and experimentation in a highly contemporary format.

Episode list:

Canada the Good?
Directed by Tess Girard
Official Selection: Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, 2017
Simon Anholt, the renowned policy analyst behind the Good Country Index, assesses the international perception of Canada — and whether or not we’re as ‘good’ as we think we are.

America’s Canada
Directed by Aleysa Young
A pop culture-fuelled audit of how American TV influences Canada’s brand — through the perspective of the denizens of Mexico City.

Rant & Rave
Directed by Daniel Roher
How a marketing guru inhaled Canadian identity and exhaled a new Canadian pride in Molson’s seminal TV ad, “The Rant.”

The Canadian Dream
Directed by Haya Waseem
A poetic exploration of Canada through the eyes of immigrants, as early impressions of their new home evolve into everyday experience.

Design is a Process
Directed by Randall Okita
An illustrated exploration of the power of Canadian design through iconic images of branding and culture.

Origin Story
Directed by Ryan J. Noth
How the Canadian Pacific Railroad Company created the first vision of Canada as a branded nation.

Meanwhile in Canada
Directed by Josh Raskin and Justin Broadbent
We meet the person responsible for the “Meanwhile in Canada” memes. All of them.

Brand Ambassadors: Drake & Shania
Directed by Geoff Morrison
Canada has a grand tradition of producing global pop superstars, but few of them rep their home country quite like Drake and Shania Twain.

Trudeaumania Redux
Directed by Ramon Perez and Mike Valiquette
As Trudeaumania returns, can a social media superhero survive the reality of 21st century leadership?

O Canada (Karaoke Video)
Directed by Josh Raskin and Justin Broadbent
A karaoke video of O Canada, featuring ketchup chips.

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Hard Rock Medical

Link: Hard Rock Medical great news for local actors

1 Comment

From Chris Dawson of Bay Today:

Link: Hard Rock Medical great news for local actors
“I’ve grown to like my son, who is played by Jamie Spilchuk (North Bay native). I guess I’m going to have to say good-bye to him now as we close out our relationship on Wednesday and it’s our last scene together so, it’s been a fun four years.” Continue reading.

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Killjoys

Killjoys announces Viktoria Modesta cast in guest role, plus first-look photos

From a media release:

Space, Syfy, and Temple Street announced today the casting of international bionic pop artist Viktoria Modesta in a guest role in Season 3 of KILLJOYS. Modesta, whose cutting-edge work explores modern identity and diversity through performance, fashion, avant-garde visuals, technology, and science, has been cast as Niko, a lethal Hackmod surgeon with killer legs and a secret crusade. Modesta’s viral hit song, Prototype, will also be featured in the episode. Season 3 of Space most-watched original series premieres Friday, June 30 at 8 p.m. ET, with catch-up on Space.ca and Space GO.

Also joining the Hackmod world is Tommie-Amber Pirie (BITTEN) as Ollie, and Emily Piggford (HEMLOCK GROVE) as Yoki, who both have a connection to Clara, who was last seen helping Johnny flee the Quad; Prince Amponsah (The Entertainer) as Havigan, a respected owner of the “Hacksaw Bar” in RAT CITY; Sean Fowler as Cutter, a hackmodding technician by trade, and Michael Potter as The Enforcer.

Introduced in Season 2, the Hackmods are humans with cybernetic implants who were enslaved and modded in a black market workshop known as The Factory and sold to the highest bidder. Some Hackmods have managed to escape their owners and eke out a life of their own in RAT CITY, a neutral zone situated at the far end of the J Star System, where Hackmods have one another’s backs and ‘Basics’ (unmodded humans), dare not tread.

Also revealed today are eight official first-look photos of KILLJOYS’ upcoming third season. Each episodic image offers clues to what unfolds in the much-anticipated return of Space’s most-watched original series.

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Featured, Murdoch Mysteries

Comments and queries for the week of May 12

My sister and I just saw the Season 10 finale. Wow! Goes a mile a minute, a great ride! Have a very low opinion of Crabtree’s now former girlfriend; never diss William or Julia! We are very happy that he went back to his dancer lady and apologized. Really looking forward to Season 11 to find out how things end up! —Ann-Marie

I sincerely hope that all of the characters return for Season 11 and that a bit of humour is added back into the show. I love this show and hate that in the U.S. we have to wait until January to see it. Long live Murdoch and company. —Donald

Please no more deaths, let Constable Jackson or Higgins be in a coma and let Crabtree be a brilliant cop to help Chief Brackenreid with Murdoch’s case and Dr. Ogden kicks the man’s ass and she gets away and joins Murdoch and together they are fugitives, and Crabtree’s girlfriend realizes she messed up and wants him back but Crabtree wants his old girlfriend back and they will work together. —Shirley

Too many twists and turns! Hope George lives and goes on to find true love in the end! —Roy

Where is Episode 8 [of Anne]? That wasn’t a series end. Not tantalizing, and not consistent with either the book but still rewarding alternative Anne of the rest of the series. I felt they bottled it in reaching for tired old sensationalist tropes. —Jonah

This is such a great adaptation of one of my favourite childhood stories. Amybeths’ portrayal of Anne is outstanding! Of course, each and everyone involved in the making of this show should be commended. It is fantastic! I hope Season 2 is right around the corner. Can’t wait! —CJ

I was sceptical, but this is a good show and the perfect Anne. During the pilot when she cries out of despair on the ground, I knew they’d picked the right child actress. Not everyone could pull off that scene as so genuine. —Kristi

 

Got a question or comment about Canadian TV? Email greg.david@tv-eh.com or via Twitter @tv_eh.

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