Tag Archives: APTN

Blackstone

CBC acquires broadcast rights to Seasons 3-5 of Blackstone

From a media release:

Prairie Dog Film + Television announced today that CBC has acquired the broadcast rights to air seasons three, four, and five of the hit drama, Blackstone. CBC previously broadcast seasons one and two as part of the network’s 2015 National Aboriginal History Month programming. Broadcast and digital platform details for the remaining seasons will be announced at a later date.

Known for its “ripped from the headlines” approach to storytelling, the Blackstoneseries is a fictional yet authentic drama series that explores the raw and real dynamics of family, power and politics on a First Nation reserve. Told through the entertaining and all-too-real storyworld of Blackstone, the series delves into prevalent and present day issues affecting Aboriginal communities, including: the missing and murdered Aboriginal women epidemic in Canada, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, oil and gas exploration on reserves and the devastating effects of the residential schools. While the portrayal can be dark, Blackstone is both the story of a community plagued by corruption, violence and injustice, and the inspiring story of the undying hope and resilience of people fighting for a better life in the midst of adversity.

Blackstone’s award-winning, predominantly Aboriginal cast includes: Carmen Moore, Eric Schweig, Michelle Thrush, Nathaniel Arcand, Steven Cree Molison, Tantoo Cardinal, Andrea Menard, Glen Gould, Justin Rain, Cheri Maracle, Jessica Matten, Ray G. Thunderchild, and Georgina Lightning, with appearance by Jennifer Podemski, Garry Chalk, and John Cassini.

Blackstone is produced by Prairie Dog Film + Television, with Ron E. Scott as Showrunner & Director, Jesse Szymanski as Co-Executive Producer, and Damon Vignale as Writer/Producer. The series currently broadcasts in Canada on APTN, in the United States on Hulu and HuluPlus, in New Zealand on Maori Television, and in Australia on SBS/NITV.  Blackstone has been nominated for 86 awards, including its most recent nomination for Best Dramatic Series in the 2016 Canadian Screen Awards.

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Uncategorized

Link: Edmonton’s Delmer and Marta premiere their own comedy on APTN

From Fish Griwkowsky of the Edmonton Journal:

Edmonton’s Delmer and Marta premiere their own comedy on APTN
It’s wisely said indigenous people’s issues are everyone’s issues, especially when it comes to taking care of our planet.

OK, but what about struggling to buy a bra — can that be anyone’s problem, too? According to the brand-new sitcom Delmer & Marta, it sure can. Especially if you’re a hoser named Delmer, exploring the uncharted land of cup sizes and straps in a hot panic. The comedy about a small-town TV station, shot in and around Edmonton, premieres at 10 p.m. Wednesday on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN 119). Continue reading. 

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Uncategorized

Link: Is TV Becoming A Drag?

From Jim Bawden:

Is TV Becoming A Drag?
Is it just me or has TV become a drag? No, I’m perfectly serious about this after sampling the new series Delmer & Marta.

I mean every week I’m watching Mrs. Brown’s Boys (starring Brendan O’Connor) on BBC Canada. And there’s Dame Edna from times back who keeps making farewell tours.

And now it’s APTN’s Delmer & Marta which premieres Wednesday night at 10 p.m. Continue reading. 

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Mohawk Girls

Link: Women Behind Canadian TV: Cynthia Knight and Tracey Deer

From Bridget Liszewski of The TV Junkies:

Women Behind Canadian TV: Cynthia Knight and Tracey Deer
The importance of telling diverse stories about underrepresented communities is nothing new to the women behind APTN’s Mohawk Girls. Cynthia Knight and Tracey Deer are going into their fourth season on the comedy series that features four twenty-something Mohawk women trying to find their place in the world. Deer, who was named one of Playback Magazine’s rising stars in Canadian Entertainment in 2008, was born and raised in the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory near Montreal where the show is set, and the documentary filmmaker directs all of the show’s episodes. Knight is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre’s TV Writers’ Program and serves as principal writer and showrunner. Continue reading.

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Industry News

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) Announces U.S. Sister Network

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From a media release:

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), a Canadian based cable channel dedicated exclusively to indigenous content, has committed to launching All Nations Network (ANN) in the U.S. ANN will be the first network to bring both native and non-native audiences in the U.S. a 24-hour network providing native news, sports, scripted, lifestyle, feature-length movies and children’s programming written, produced, and directed by Native Americans, among others. Network distribution in the U.S. is being represented by Castalia Communications.

In the midst of the discourse over the lack of diversity in Hollywood, some of entertainment’s top stars and creators have joined to endorse ANN’s U.S. entrance. From Robert Redford to Oscar nominated actor Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves), Robbie Robertson (The Band) and acclaimed director Jim Jarmusch they have joined in endorsing the network. Their voices echo the Golden Globes speech by actor Leonardo Dicaprio who thanked the First Nations people in his acceptance speech for his award for “The Revenant.”

For more than 15 years, APTN’s award-winning programming in Canada has reached a staggering 92% of Canadian households and commercial establishments, and has strong traction with both First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples and non-Aboriginal communities. Over 80% of Aboriginal men and women in Canada find content on APTN a source of pride. ANN will provide an opportunity to bring reflective, contemporary, compelling, and original content to consumers of all cultures in the U.S.

The network will be headquartered in New Mexico. Native American filmmaker Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals and NBC’s “Friday Night Lights”), is a Sundance Film Festival and Director’s Guild of America award-winner who will be working closely with All Nations Network to launch in the United States.

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