The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has extended some of the deadlines in the implementation proceedings surrounding the adoption of Bill C-11, a.k.a. the Online Streaming Act.

The Commission has agreed to provide more time for the submission of interventions and of replies for The Path Forward consultations concerning a modernized regulatory framework for contributions to support Canadian and Indigenous content, according to a CRTC release issued Friday (June 9). The new deadline for submission of interventions is July 11, while the new deadline for the submission of replies is July 26.

The change comes after a dozen organizations asked the CRTC to extend the deadline in the implementation proceedings, saying more time is needed to consult, develop positions and undertake research.

“Given the large number of questions and issues set out in the notice and the wide scope of this proceeding, along with the resourcing constraints of smaller organizations that would like to participate in this proceeding, the commission finds that extending the deadlines for the submission of interventions and of replies would be in the public interest,” said the CRTC release.

“However, the Commission also finds that an extension shorter than that requested by the co-applicants would help to avoid any significant delays to the proceeding initiated by the notice. In the Commission’s view, a two-week extension for both the submission of interventions and the submission of replies would be appropriate.”

SODEC announces projects for TV assistance program

The Société de développement des entreprises culturelle (SODEC) has selected 10 projects for its television production assistance program, which aims to boost the market value of Quebec-owned IP.

Series selected for funding under the program include three from TVA Group: La collecte (Groupe Fair-Play), written by Ludovic Huot and Charles-Étienne Brassard and directed by Daniel Grou (aka Podz); Les armes (Aetios Productions) written by Pierre-Marc Drouin with Fabienne Larouche as script editor; and Sorcières (Amalga Créations Médias), which is penned by Germain Larochelle, Marie-Josée Ouellet, David Leblanc, Marie-Hélène Lapierre, Marie-Chantal Bisson and directed by Myriam Verreault and Ian Lagarde.

The list also has three projects from Bell Media, including: Inspirez Expirez (Les Productions Avanti-Toast), written by Sonia Cordeau and directed by Jean-François Chagnon; In Memoriam (Les Productions Passez Go) by screenwriters Pierre-Marc Drouin and Pascale Renaud-Hébert and directors Marie-Claude Blouin and Félix Tétreault; and Complètement Lycée – cycle III (Productions J), which is written by Charles-Alex Durand and Sandrine Viger-Beaulieu, and directed by Marc-Olivier Valiquette.

Also selected are L’air d’aller – cycle II (Urbania TV), directed by Sarah Pellerin and written by Jean-Christophe Réhel; Comme des têtes pas de poule – cycle III (Téléfiction Productions) by writers Pierre-Yves Bernard, Vincent Bolduc, Martin Doyon, Jessica Veillet Loblaw, Emmanuelle Gilbert, Fred Simard and Fred Lafleur and directors Pierre Théorêt, Yan Tanguay and Eza Paventi. Both series will air on Télé-Québec, while Club Illico is also attached as broadcaster for Comme des têtes pas de poule – cycle III. Completing the lineup are FEM (UGO Média), directed by Marianne Farley and written by Maxime Beauchamp, Anne-Hélène Prévost, William S. Messier, Joëlle Bond and Camille Trudel for Unis TV; and the animated Mini-Jean et Mini-Bulle – cycle III (Happy Camper Média) directed by Olivier Brisson and written by Robin Balzano and Rébécca Potvin-Gravel for Radio-Canada.

Newfoundland and Labrador film commission names CEO

Laura Churchill has been appointed as CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation (NLFDC).

Churchill, formerly an industry development officer for the NLFDC, stepped into the role effective June 1. She has worked at the organization for the last 13 years, according to a news release, and has “a deep understanding of the local creative landscape.”

AS CEO, Churchill will help further develop and implement the NLFDC’s policies and initiatives for the region’s screen sector, and will foster collaboration with government officials, funding agencies, and members of the film and TV industry, working closely with the NLFDC’s board of directors.

The NLFDC is the film commission for the province and administers two tax credits, the Newfoundland and Labrador Film and Video Tax Credit and the All Spend Film and Video Production Tax Credit, in addition to other initiatives to support the local screen industry.

Radical Point Media expands senior team

Toronto-based motion graphic and 3D animation studio Radical Point Media has promoted director of content Kristen Colle to the position of director of operations, and hired former Warner Bros. Discovery executive Micheal McCray as director of creative innovation.

In her new role, Colle will shepherd client relations, budgets, team and project management. A member of Radical Point Media since 2018, she has worked for two decades in unscripted television production, with credits across such genres as nature documentaries, real estate formats and food competition series.

McCray will spearhead the studio’s creative content innovation and expansion efforts, including identifying and implementing new, bespoke tech solutions. He previously worked as art director at Warner Bros. Discovery, overseeing motion design and 3D animation for show titles and episode graphics across networks such as HGTV, Food Network, Science Channel, Discovery Channel and Magnolia, and has 20 years of experience working in 3D animation, art direction and client relations.

Tyson Media doubles labour pledge

Tyson Media, the Vancouver-based production company behind Discovery docuseries Pets & Pickers, has doubled its annual commitment for the Tyson Media Pledge for Diversity. The program offers up to three individuals from a diverse background the opportunity to get hands-on training on TV production without a formal education in film and television.

The prodco has increased its annual pledge to $10,000, up from $5,000 in the 2022 program that saw three participants receive training on the Pets & Pickers set. Opportunities for the 2023 program are open for camera assisting and post-production, as well in development.

With files from Realscreen

Written by Kelly Townsend, Taimur Sikander Mirza and Victoria Ahearn

Image: Unsplash