NSI Features First adds Magee
The National Screen Institute’s Features First program has added veteran Canadian producer/showrunner Al Magee as program advisor. Magee, who wrote Roadkill (1989) and Highway 61 (1991) and recently served as a creative consultant on Trailer Park Boys, will mentor producer/writer teams looking to create their first feature. Teams meet with industry experts throughout the program and receive $7,500 towards the final development and packaging of their feature film. Past features created through the program include Kirsten Carthew’s The Sun at Midnight, Jeffrey St. Jules’ Bang Bang Baby, and Maureen Bradley’s Two 4 One. Magee replaces outgoing advisor Melissa Kajpust, director of programming, international distributors and Canadian pre-sales at Super Channel. Applications for the program are now open.

Nelvana launches Mysticons YouTube 
Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana has launched a Mysticon‘s YouTube channel in advance of its August premiere on Nickelodeon in the U.S. and on YTV in Canada. The Toronto-based producer and distributor has also launched a number of social media pages—including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram—for the property. Mysticons‘ online push is part of a larger social and digital media content strategy involving more than 80 pieces of original short-form content. For example, live-action content and DIY videos for character costumes will be made available throughout the show’s first season. An adventure role-playing app-based game will also bow this fall, along with a number of web games. Mysticons is co-produced by Nelvana Studio and Topps Company, and targets kids ages six to 11.

Boxen joins Imposters
Canadian writer and producer Jeremy Boxen (Orphan Black, Killjoys) has joined season two of Universal Cable Production’s Imposters as co-showrunner. The dark comedy, which airs on U.S. cable net Bravo, was created by Paul Adelstein (Girlfriend’s Guide To Divorce, Prison Break) and Adam Brooks (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason). The deal was brokered by agent Jeff Alpern of The Alpern Group, manager Dave Brown of Echo Lake Management and attorney Ryan Nord of Hirsch Wallerstein Matlof & Fishman LLP.

With files from Kidscreen