Here is a roundup of bits and bobs of news for Playback‘s readership to come over the transom this week.
Canucks get Critic’s Choice nods
Lionsgate’s B.C.-shot theatrical feature, Cabin in the Woods (pictured) has been nominated in the best sci-fi/horror movie category in the Critics’ Choice Awards, unveiled Wednesday. The film, which was written and produced by Josh Whedon, is up against Looper and Prometheus.
Also as previously reported, Canadian composer Mychael Danna received a Critics’ Choice nomination for his scoring of Life of Pi. The awards will be handed out Jan. 10.
Two Canadians received Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for their ensemble work earlier this week. Jessica Pare was nominated along with her colleagues on Mad Man in the best drama series category, while Cory Monteith (pictured) was nominated along with his fellow thesps on Glee in the best comedy series category. The SAG Awards are telecast live Jan. 27.
Liquidator up
OLN has ordered a third season of the the original personality-driven non-fiction series The Liquidator. It follows fast-talking liquidator Jeff Schwarz as he haggles with Canadian characters over their collectible gold. The first season has been picked up by Discovery Networks International for carriage across its properties in Europe.
It is an OLN original series produced by Anaid Productions. Margaret Mardirossian and Helen Schmidt (X-Weighted) serve as executive producers, and Candice Tipton is the supervising producer. Claire Freeland is Director of Original Programming, Rogers Media and Marni Goldman is Production Executive for Rogers Original Programming.
Corus Entertainment this week unveiled an interactive driving tie-in game as part of its January rollout of Transporter: The Series (pictured). The game will go live Jan. 4, the same day the show begins its linear broadcasts on HBO Canada. It’s touted as being an interactive, three dimensional game that will immerses users into the action-filled world of main character Frank Martin, the ex-SAS trooper who drives the series.
The game allows players to unlock new clips each week from upcoming episodes and share their success on social networks like Facebook and Twitter.
Renewals
Canada’s Greatest Know-it-All returns to Discovery Channel Canada for a second season starting Jan. 14. An original series from Toronto-based factual prodco Boxing Cats Productions, and its second package consists of eight episodes plus a “bonus” competition episode Survival Guide to Canada’s Greatest Know-it-All in which the 10 profiled characters compete to be the ultimate winner.
Original program premiere
Mother of The Bride, produced by Toronto-based RTR Media and Los Angeles-based Citizen Skull Productions, is an original factual series on the dressing-for-the-big-day theme that will premiere on Slice Jan. 4. It follows the travails of dress consultants at T.Carolyn Fashions navigate the front lines of family conflict – helping moms look great while satisfying the bride’s often strident opinions.
Mother of The Bride is narrated by Canadian television host and journalist Adrian Mainella.
Historical wrongdoings, government apologies and one Canadian’s journey into his family’s past are the focus of the new documentary A Sorry State, a TVO commission making its world broadcast premiere Jan. 9. A film by Mitch Miyagawa (pictured), it tells the complex story of Canada’s uncomfortable approach to its past dealings with not only its aboriginal community but its Asian-Canadian community as well. Co-produced by Alberta-based Panacea Entertainment and Yukon-based Up and Away Productions in association with TVO, it is based on an essay by Miyagawa by the same name published in 2009.
Gaming Playboy
Montreal-based Amaya Gaming Group, a maker of technology for the regulated gaming industry, has entered into a global licensing agreement with Playboy Enterprises which sees the companies developing online gaming products in poker and lottery that feature the iconic Playboy brand.
The results of the deal will be available in territories where online gambling is permitted. The companies said they expected to begin rolling out games by early 2013.
Film Nova Scotia overhaul
The Nova Scotia government quietly unveiled a plan Nov. 30 to update Film Nova Scotia, to bring the commission up to date with developments in the screen-entertainment industry. Specific plans include changing the Film Nova Scotia Act to expand the agency’s mandate and renaming the body Film and Creative Industries Nova Scotia (FCINS). It is to become a so-called one-stop shop for Nova Scotia’s creative businesses.
“Nova Scotia’s artists are translating their ideas, skills, and talents into innovation, jobs, exportable products and services,” said Leonard Preyra, minister of communities, culture and heritage, in a statement. “While the province will continue to support artists through initiatives like the Status of the Artist legislation, this new agency will give them better access to funding that will help them grow Nova Scotia’s economy.”
FICNS will need to produce a five-year strategic plan by Sept. 30, 2013, after consultations with the industry.
As part of the announcement, the province said it would extend its digital media tax credit by one year, to Dec. 31, 2013.