on Canadian series

After weeks of back-room negotiations and general anticipation, news on the Cancon series for Canadian networks is out. On the live-action front, TekWar is gone from the CTV Television Network’s schedule, the future of Due South is pending but hopeful, Destiny Ridge has disappeared from CanWest Global’s schedule but may be headed for WIC Western International Communications, and cbc has two new Canadian series – The Rez and Talk 16 – both of which are set to start airing mid-season.

The Rez producer Brian Dennis (Dance Me Outside) says he doesn’t see the January startup ‘as a tremendous disadvantage.’ Plans are to air the Bruce Macdonald-helmed feature film Dance Me Outside on cbc – which inspired the series – in December.

The concept for The Rez was initiated in the summer of 1993, at the same time cbc stepped in to prebuy the feature, which was then in the last stages of prep. The development deal for six episodes was signed in March 1994, ‘with plans to have it open up from there,’ says Dennis.

Part of the rationale behind a half-season run is likely connected to the budget, which Dennis says is an ‘issue’ because of location-related expenses. The series is set on a reservation and will be shot in Northern Ontario.

Back from the feature are actors Jennifer Podemski and Ryan Black. Plans are to start shooting Sept. 18. John Frizzell is supervising producer and executive story editor, Jordan Wheeler and Anna Bourque wrote episodes. Dennis says whether Macdonald will direct depends on his availability.

New approach

cbc has faced some criticism for starting its two new Canadian drama series mid-season while launching two new American series, Central Park West and Can’t Hurry Love, in the fall. But cbc executive director of arts and entertainment, Phyllis Platt, says look to Liberty Street; it started mid-season last year and has been renewed. With funds limited, the Corp is trying out this new approach, says Platt. ‘We’re looking to try to see if we can produce high-class drama at prices we can afford.’

Talk 16

Adrienne Mitchell and Janis Lundman, creators and producers with Alliance Communications on Talk 16 (working title), have had the project in development for almost three years.

cbc got involved in development in the fall of ’93. The initial development deal followed a distribution deal with Alliance for the feature documentary Talk 16, created by Mitchell and Lundman. Both producers admit they were going for a 13-episode order but are happy with six.

Mitchell explains the concept came out of the feature but is a far cry from the frank film journal of five 16-year-old girls. It’s a drama with a daisy-chain narrative structure. Writer on all scripts is Andrew Rai Berzins (Blood ‘n’ Donuts) and Allan Magee is story editor. Gerry Ciccoritti (Paris, France) is directing the six-pack, which Lundman says will be shot more like an mow than a series. Production starts Aug. 21 on location in Toronto for 24 days.

Also on the cbc slates is Howie Mandel’s Sunny Skies, an Atlantis production with u.s. cabler Showtime. Other new fall offerings from Atlantis are The Outer Limits and Traders for CanWest Global, and Mysterious Island for Family Channel, with a second window for Global.

As for the future of the Atlantis/ Lemli Productions’ TekWar series, Jeremy Katz, vp production publicity at Atlantis, says: ‘There is a slim chance we can find a new home for the series, and we are looking into it. For now, we have nothing to report.’

Due South, Alliance’s crowning tv glory of 1994, may be saved through a new configuration of backers that includes the Cable Production Fund along with Alliance, Telefilm Canada, ctv and international licensing fees (season one has sold to 47 countries). Also rumored to be in the mix is a deal pending with u.s. Family Channel.

If season two is born, production will start up in Toronto in August with star Paul Gross back in the limelight. Paul Haggis has a couple of development deals going in the u.s. and says if he’s not back to run the show, producer Kathy Slevin will be in charge.

Bill Mustos, head of the cpf, says while he hasn’t received a formal application yet, talks with Alliance and ctv indicate the network has upped the licence fee substantially in order to make the series a go.

ctv begins airing the new Alliance series Taking the Falls this fall. Arthur Weinthal, vp entertainment programming, says the network is waiting to see how Due South is going to be financed before deciding whether to order more episodes of Taking the Falls.

Paragon starts up production on 22 episodes of Forever Knight for Baton this summer, and continues creating the 50 episodes of Kratt’s Creatures for pbs.

Nelvana’s new series for fall include 13 half-hours of Little Bear for cbc and 13 hours of Jake and the Kid (pending Telefilm commitment) for Global. For mid-season startup, 26 half-hours of Stickin’ Around are on the slates for ytv, 26 episodes of Never Ending Story for Family Channel, with a second window for Global, and 13 episodes each of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys for chch-tv and WIC Western international Communications. Also, 13 new episodes of Rupert are slotted for ytv.

More on the cbc front: the series Ear to the Ground was canceled.

Also of production interest is word that the cbc arts series, Sunday Arts and Entertainment, has lost its budget for acquiring original production. Instead, the show will run archival and repeat material from the cbc vaults. Says Platt: ‘The sad part concerning Sunday Arts is the audience support simply wasn’t there.’