Brunton and company

Over its 15 years of operation, Toronto’s Insight Productions has produced a staggering volume and variety of programming – over 100 films and tv shows in total – worked with every major network in the country and launched numerous careers. It has also retained a reputation of being fun, friendly, and truly passionate about its projects.

In 1976, John Brunton entered the offices of John Watson and Pen Densham’s Insight Productions. He had seen some of their work and was determined not to leave without a job. He started out as a combination carpenter/production assistant. In three years, Brunton worked his way up to assistant editor, did some writing and picked up some small directing jobs.

In 1979, Norman Jewison invited Insight to observe on the set of Fist, starring a young actor called Sylvester Stallone. They ended up producing a documentary, Stallone: The Million to One Shot. On the heels of that project, Stallone invited the company to l.a. to get involved in Paradise Alley and Rocky ii. Brunton, however, decided he would remain in Toronto and it was agreed that he would buy out Densham and Watson. Insight Productions, as we know it today, was born.

Brunton’s initial projects took him south after all, with a contract to work with Laugh-In creator George Schlatter on the nbc hit Real People. Brunton worked almost exclusively with Schlatter for the next few years on a number of projects, including investigative reports for nbc’s Speak Up America series.

Schlatter had an accessible, inclusive style – he would often invite Brunton to sit in on meetings with nbc executives – that helped give Brunton a strong grasp of the tv business.

When Brunton returned to Canada, it was to a great reception. ‘All of the sudden they were falling over themselves to talk to me,’ Brunton laughs, ‘whereas I was a bum before I went to the u.s.’

One of Insight’s first major projects in Canada was the Heart of Gold special for the cbc. When Brunton pitched the idea of a celebration and history of Canadian rock ‘n’ roll, one comment was, ‘That’ll make a good 15-minute show.’ The three-hour special, hosted by Donald Sutherland, drew huge ratings and began an association between Insight and the Canadian music scene that continues to this day. In addition to many live music specials, Brunton has produced the last two Juno awards and will produce next year’s 25th anniversary show.

Three one-hour dramas followed, including the award-winning The Truth About Alex for Global Television and hbo.

At this time, Barbara Bowlby joined the company to handle the financing and accounting end of things. She has been Brunton’s partner ever since. ‘We’re the balance between creative and business,’ she says. ‘We’re opposites,’ adds Brunton. ‘It’s made a fantastic partnership.’

In 1986, Insight produced the first broadcast of the Gemini Awards, hosted by sctv’s Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin and Dave Thomas. Director Joan Tosoni, who has worked with Insight and Brunton many times since, had her first contact with both on that project. Originally scheduled for the cbc, the threat of a strike there meant moving production to City-tv within days of the broadcast.

‘I remember the look on John’s face when I came out of the control room during the dress rehearsalÉhe had this look of semi-terror on his face,’ recalls Tosoni, adding that everything turned out fine in the end. ‘Every show we do has it’s share of hassles, but we have really fond memories, I have my best memories associated with Insight.’

A string of comedy programs followed. It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll, a Saturday Night Live-type music and sketch comedy show that aired on the cbc, was an early showcase for talents like Mike Myers and Dan Gallagher and musicians like Colin James and Blue Rodeo. The show also won a Gemini in 1987 for best comedy or variety series.

Test Pattern, a pop-culture trivia game show, ran on City’s MuchMusic. According to Jay Switzer, vice-president programming, Chum Group Television, it was City’s ‘implicit trust’ in Brunton that made the project the station’s first coproduction. He recalls it fondly. ‘It was a brilliant anti-game show,’ says Switzer. ‘I’m surprised we didn’t get sued, we kept changing the rules!’

Numerous projects followed: live music shows, specials, awards shows, dramas and documentaries.

This, Insight’s 15th year, Brunton calls, ‘our busiest and most eclectic year ever.’ It started with the wrap of Stolen Hearts, a documentary on child abuse for ytv, a Prairie Oyster music special for the CTV Television Network, and Brunton’s Kurt Browning: You Must Remember This, which aired to a whopping 2.8 million viewers on cbc this spring.

Insight’s two series, Pumped! and Ready or Not, have been renewed for 13 and 26 episodes, respectively. Series creators Dale Burshtein and Alyse Rosenberg are both first-time producers.

Rosenberg first came into contact with Insight as an extras co-ordinator on the shoot for The Truth About Alex. Over the years, she stayed in touch, and Brunton ended up her advisor and executive producer when she produced her script 32 Double A for Global’s new producer’s series. When the short drama became the series Ready or Not, Rosenberg and Brunton co-executive produced.

‘The best thing about Insight, and this has really contributed to their success, is that they take risks, and John lets you run with it,’ says Rosenberg. ‘John is an optimist, a creative adventurer.’ Ready or Not is now seen in more than 30 countries.

Pumped!, a sports show for kids that airs on tsn and espn, was the brainchild of Dale Burshtein, fresh out of Owl Communications’ National Search for Child Programs 10-month course.

‘John loves to give people their first break,’ says Bowlby. ‘He loves a project to have heart and soul, to be passionate about it.’

In fact, those who have worked with Insight in the past seem to have nothing but good to say. ‘There is such a community atmosphere at Insight,’ says Tosoni. ‘It’s a unique place in that way. People like to work there, it’s like a big family.’ Skater Kurt Browning describes his first meeting with Brunton (on Tall in the Saddle) as walking in to find a ‘very strangely dressed man’ he felt he had known all his life. ‘John knows people,’ he adds. ‘It doesn’t matter if it’s skating or lawn bowling, he’d make it work.’

Broadcasters agree: ‘The collaboration with Insight and John and Joan (Tosoni) has been delightful and has had extraordinary results for us,’ says Phyllis Platt, executive director, arts and entertainment at the cbc. ‘We love working with them.’

Loren Mawhinney, national director, Canadian production for CanWest Global, calls Brunton and Bowlby ‘consummate professionals.’

Jeffrey Elliott, director of programming at tsn, adds, ‘They’re a great group of people to work with.’

Coming up in the future, Insight’s plans are as eclectic as its history. Comedy Gold, the final part of a trilogy that began with Heart of Gold followed by Country Gold, will be a three-hour special on Canadian comedy and comedians. ‘Canada’s got an enormous influence on comedy,’ says Brunton. ‘This will be a tribute to that whole world.’ The program should air on cbc next February.

Also in the works is a weekly program that Brunton describes as ‘sort of the Entertainment Tonight of figure skating.’ He says that Canada, not only because of our talented skaters but also because of our experienced broadcasters, is the ‘center of the universe’ for showcasing and reporting on skating talent. The Prairie Oyster special was the first of a two-special deal Insight has with ctv; the second is currently in discussion mode.

‘We’re going to grow,’ says Bowlby. ‘We’ll stay private, grow bigger, but grow thoughtfully. And continue to have fun.’