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TV,eh? What's up in Canadian television
Mohawk Girls

APTN reveals exciting 2016 primetime fall programming

From a media release:

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) announced its fall 2016 schedule today, highlighting a slate of new original series, returning favorites and thought-provoking documentaries – launching on September 5.

Mohawk Girls, Season 4 – What does it mean to be a modern Mohawk women? Sashay with four young women on their comedic and drama filled adventures. Always light-hearted, sexy and fun!

Taken – An all new, hard-hitting, true crime documentary series focusing on solving the mysteries behind Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous woman and girls.

Moosemeat & Marmalade, Season 2 – Documentary series cooks up new ingredients that lead to new adventures. Explore contrasting culinary cultures and traditions with two very different hunter/chefs.

This upcoming fall, new and loyal fans of Mohawk Girls and The Other Side will have their viewing enhanced with new digital experiences.

Mohawk Girls returns with SSEX (Second Screen Experience) to entice users with entertaining show quotes, character profiles, polls and quizzes, as well as video clips and photo galleries online. Beyond The Other Side App, an interactive quiz with live, stunning imagery that will invite people to answer questions about their beliefs in the paranormal and afterlife.

French and Aboriginal language programming will also premiere on Canada’s only independent Aboriginal network. Clé du studio gathers guest musicians and gives them keys to a recording studio along with complete freedom of creation. From the North, Qanurli? launches into its fifth season filled with comedic charm and social/political issues broadcast in Inuktitut.

Be sure to tune in every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9:00 p.m. for the colossal APTN Movies lineup. See aptn.ca/movies for the star-studded details!

APTN’s fall 2016 season kicks off September 5. Discover the full programming lineup below, or visit aptn.ca/schedule!

APTN PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS FOR FALL 2016

NEW SEASONS

MOHAWK GIRLS, SEASON 4 (WORLD PREMIERE – DRAMEDY)
Mohawk Girls is light-hearted, sexy and fun. But it’s also honest, real and poignant — Mohawk style!

aptn e Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET premieres October 25
aptn w Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. MT premieres October 25
aptn n Sundays at 10:30 p.m. CT premieres October 30
aptn hd Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET premieres October 25

MOOSEMEAT & MARMALADE, SEASON 2 (WORLD PREMIERE – DOC SERIES)
From muskrat, porcupine and urchin to goose, join two very different hunter/chefs – one Canadian Cree and one Brit/European – to explore contrasting cultures and traditions through the way we access, cook and present our food.

aptn e Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 7
aptn w Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. MT premieres September 7
aptn hd Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 7
Back-to-back episodes
aptn n Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. CT premieres September 8

THE OTHER SIDE, SEASON 3 (WORLD PREMIERE – DOC SERIES)
Follow a team of paranormal investigators with the guidance of an Elder, who seek the truth behind Canada’s real life ghost stories.

aptn e Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET premieres October 27
aptn w Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. MT premieres October 27
aptn hd Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET premieres October 27
Back-to-back episodes
aptn n  Fridays at 12:30 p.m. & Saturdays 1:30 p.m. CT premieres October 28

NEW ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY SERIES

TAKEN (WORLD PREMIERE)
Riveting, spine-chilling, important television, Taken confronts, head-on, the national epidemic of Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. APTN will be co-broadcasting Taken with CBC.

aptn e Fridays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 9
aptn w Fridays at 7:00 p.m MT premieres September 9
aptn n Fridays at 7:00 p.m CT premieres September 9
apt hd Fridays at 7:00 p.m ET premieres September 9
Back-to-back episodes

MOHAWK IRONWORKERS (WORLD PREMIERE)
Come celebrate the steely determination of “the best ironworkers on the planet.” Mohawk Ironworkers uses a mixture of dramatic “high steel” footage, and archival material, as they face the reality of one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet.

aptn e Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 6
aptn w Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. MT premieres September 6
aptn n Wednesdays at 12:30 a.m. CT premieres September 7
aptn hd Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 6

WILD ARCHAEOLOGY (WORLD PREMIERE)
Exciting never-before-seen adventures into Canada’s ancient Aboriginal past that is scattered, fragmented and could be lost forever. Twelve thousand years of human inhabitation vividly brought to life.

aptn e Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. ET premieres September 6
aptn w Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. MT premieres September 6
aptn n Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. CT premieres September 10
aptn hd Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. ET premieres September 6

KONNECTED.TV (WORLD PREMIERE)
Follow Pakesso Mukash on his quest into Indigenous cultures across the Americas to find a young generation of “tradition keepers” who awaken others to find a place for themselves in a modern world.

aptn e Wednesday at 8:00 p.m ET premieres November 2
aptn w Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. MT premieres November 2
aptn n Fridays at 1:00 p.m. CT premieres November 4
aptn hd Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET premieres November 4
Back-to-back episodes

FRENCH LANGUAGE SERIES

CLÉ DU STUDIO (FRENCH WORLD PREMIERE – MUSIC & VARIETY SERIES)
Guest musicians are given the keys to a recording studio for an informal jam. The intimate setting and freedom of creation give way to moving confidences and magical moments.

aptn e Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET premieres September 5
aptn hd Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET premieres September 5

MOTETAN MAMO (FRENCH WORLD PREMIERE – DOC SERIES)
The Atikamekw are relatively unknown nation to Canadians. The two live different realities but they face similar challenges and issues. Motetan Mamo (Walking Together) will take you on an unfamiliar journey to familiar places.

aptn e Mondays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 5
aptn hd Mondays at 7:00 p.m. ET premieres September 5

ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE SERIES

QANURLI?, SEASON 5 (INUKTITUT WORLD PREMIERE – YOUTH SERIES)
Unpredictable, hilarious and fun! This Inuktitut comedy show puts a playful and humorous spin on political, social and traditional issues relevant to the Inuit.

aptn n Mondays at 7:00 p.m. CT premieres September 5
Back-to-back episodes

URBAN NATIVE GIRL (DENE WORLD PREMIERE – LIFESTYLE SERIES)
Join Aboriginal fashionista, Lisa Charleyboy, as she follows her dream of transforming her online fashion blog into a glossy print magazine.

aptn e Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. ET premieres September 6
aptn w Mondays at 7:00 a.m. MT premieres September 12
aptn n Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. CT premieres September 6
aptn hd Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. ET premieres September 6
Back-to-back episodes

MOTETAN MAMO (ATIKAMEKW WORLD PREMIERE – DOC SERIES)
The Atikamekw are relatively unknown nation to Canadians. The two live different realities but they face similar challenges and issues. Motetan Mamo (Walking Together) will take you on an unfamiliar journey to familiar places.

aptn e Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. ET premieres September 8
aptn w Thursdays at 10:00 a.m MT premieres September 8
aptn n Thursdays at 10:00 a.m CT premieres September 8
aptn hd Thursdays at 10:00 a.m ET premieres September 8
Back-to-back episodes

LA VIE EST HOCKEY (ATIKAMEKW WORLD PREMIERE – DOC SERIES)
Follow eight minor hockey players from different Aboriginal communities in Quebec, on their ultimate quest: the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship.

aptn e Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. ET premieres September 8
aptn w Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. MT premieres September 8
aptn n Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. CT premieres September 8
aptn hd Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. ET premieres September 8
Back-to-back episodes

APTN KIDS

LOUIS SAYS, SEASON 2 (CREE WORLD PREMIERE – ANIMATED SERIES)
Follow the adventures of six-year-old boy Randy as he joins Louis, an Elder, on his mission to help people in his community. Completing meaningful tasks together, Louis reinforces important values while teaching Randy new words in Dene.

aptn e Sundays at 8:25 a.m. ET premieres September 11
aptn w Sundays at 8:25 a.m. MT premieres September 11
aptn n Sundays at 7:32 a.m. CT premieres September 11
aptn hd Sundays at 8:25 a.m. ET premieres September 11

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Industry News

CMF triggers $1.4B in production activity, says annual report

From a media release:

The Canada Media Fund(CMF) released today its bilingual annual report for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. The report outlines the CMF’s role in supporting Canada’s audiovisual industry, as a driver of Canada’s growing digital economy. Click here to access the 2015-2016 CMF Annual Report.

As detailed in the report, the CMF provided $371.7M in funding to Canadian television and digital media projects in 2015-2016. A total of 541 television and related digital media productions were supported through its Convergent Stream, and 104 innovative and interactive digital media projects through its Experimental Stream. This investment in Canada’s audiovisual content industry triggered a total of $1.4B of production activity, an 8.4 per cent increase from the previous year.

In 2015-2016, the CMF pursued with its objective of developing international opportunities for Canadian producers by renewing or developing new international incentives encouraging codevelopment and coproduction of content between Canadian and international producers. Agreements were renewed with Belgium, Brazil, and New Zealand, while new agreements were developed with Australia and Italy.

In addition to its financial support, the CMF continued to provide valuable industry intelligence to stakeholders. In 2015-2016, the CMF published 10 research reports, as well as 67 blog posts on CMF Trends.

The annual report also provides information on a number of CMF initiatives designed to promote the success of Canadian content, including national red carpet events throughout the country and international partnerships and participation at events in Brazil, Colombia, France, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The CMF, along with Telefilm Canada and the Canadian Media Producers Association, continued their support of the Eye on Canada initiative by building on the content available to Canadian and international audiences through Eyeoncanada.ca.

The online annual report has a feedback section, inviting visitors to the site to share their views and comments on the report. This valuable input will help shape the way the CMF reports on its activities.

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Travelers

Showcase releases first look at new Canadian original drama Travelers

Showcase delves into the extraordinary with compelling Canadian content, bold characters, and gripping new adventures this fall. Created by Brad Wright and starring Toronto’s Eric McCormack, the new Canadian original time-travelling drama, Travelers, makes its world premiere October 17 exclusively on Showcase. Then, from Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Todd’s Pearl Street Films, futuristic thriller Incorporated explores the consequences of corporate greed beginning November 30. Additionally, Season 2 of the critically-acclaimed hit Supergirl moves to its new home on Showcase, kicking off the fall season with action-packed drama and notable new cast  October 10.

Starring Eric McCormack (Perception, Will & Grace) and created by Brad Wright (Stargate franchise), Travelers is a brand new original contemporary drama with a futuristic twist. Hundreds of years from now, the last surviving humans discover how to send consciousness through time, directly into people in the 21st century.  The series follows these “travelers” as they assume the lives of seemingly random people, while secretly working to save humanity from a terrible future. The travelers are: FBI Special Agent Grant MacLaren (McCormack), the team’s leader; Marcy (Alberta-native Mackenzie Porter, Hell on Wheels), a young, intellectually disabled woman in the care of her social worker, David (Edmonton’s Patrick Gilmore, You Me Her); Trevor (Manitoba-native Jared Paul Abrahamson, Awkward.), a high school quarterback; Carly (Ontario-native Nesta Marlee Cooper,Heroes Reborn), a single mom in an abusive relationship; and Philip (Reilly Dolman, Supernatural), a heroin-addicted college student.

Armed only with their knowledge of history and an archive of social media profiles, the travelers discover that 21st century lives and relationships are as much of a challenge as their high-stakes missions. Produced by Peacock Alley Entertainment. Travelers airs Mondays at 9pm ET/6pm PT beginning October 17 exclusively on Showcase in Canada, and will stream on Netflix internationally later this year. Watch a first look promo for Travelers and visit Showcase’s Facebook and Twitter pages to meet the traveler.

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Four in the Morning

Link: The CBC explores places it previously didn’t seem to know existed with offbeat comedy Four in the Morning

From David Berry of the National Post:

Link: The CBC explores places it previously didn’t seem to know existed with offbeat comedy Four in the Morning
Ira Parker is as surprised as anyone that Four in the Morning ended up at the CBC.

The show, the pilot script he completed fairly fresh out of school is, as he admits something of an odd duck: a semi-surrealist look at the lives of four young friends, taking place in the wee hours of the morning, that time when hormones and intoxicants come together to create the kinds of experiences that are well outside your day-to-day life and all the more definitive for that. Continue reading. 

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Industry News

Canadian Culture at Risk: The Attack on Canadian Creators

1 Comment

It’s more than a regulatory change; it’s an attack on Canadian creators. The CRTC’s decision in the review of “Certified Independent Production Funds” (CIPFs), released Aug. 25, 2016, had insupportable news: the minimum CAVCO point requirements for CIPFs to fund a production were dropped from eight to six. One stated reason: “[It could] facilitate the hiring by production companies of non-Canadian actors or creators, who may increase a project’s attractiveness and visibility in international markets.”

“This is hugely disappointing,” says WGC Executive Director Maureen Parker. “That the CRTC, a public authority charged with regulating Canadian broadcasting, would effectively denigrate Canadian showrunners and screenwriters and suggest our country’s creators cannot deliver international success is shocking. It’s also verifiably untrue.”

The CRTC decision is not, however, an isolated instance of what the WGC views as an entirely misguided outlook. It’s an increasingly pervasive view that suggests Canadian tax dollars should not be put towards productions created by Canadians. This unfortunate notion — that reducing the presence of Canadian talent is the ticket to more international funding — is taking hold.

Earlier this summer, the Canada Media Producers Association (CMPA) released “An International Comparative Study,” (with funding from the Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, and the Ontario Media Development Corporation), comparing how national content is defined in Canada to “selected” non-English speaking countries. The study leans heavily on the notion that Canada needs more “flexibility” in its funding requirements. “Flexibility” is simply code for “elimination”: the elimination of Canadian creators. The study lays the groundwork for Canadian TV to be all about business affairs — who produces it — not who creates it. But the aim of creating Canadian TV should not be the financial gain of producers.

The “eat our own young” thinking goes back at least as far as the CRTC’s “Let’s Talk TV” decision of 2015. In it the Commission repeatedly emphasized increased international sales and markets as a primary goal. Of course Canadian screenwriters want their shows to be internationally successful — and they are. But this decision is not really about international success, it’s really about money, and more international financing in exchange for scrapping our talent.

The future of Canadian culture cannot lie in eliminating the Canadians who create it. Unless the goal is to have our highly experienced talent (and our young up-and-comers) respond in the way some are now saying they will, by leaving Canada. Our Liberal government needs to uphold the principles of the Broadcasting Act before all of our creative talent goes south. The government needs to wake up: now.

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