Vancouver: Perhaps Canada’s first foray into edgier U.S. cable-style drama, Terminal City will go into production in Vancouver in September. The Crescent Entertainment project – made in partnership with Vancouver creator Angus Fraser (Big Dog Productions) – deals with the touchy subject of cancer.

In the 10 one-hour limited series, a woman becomes the host of a reality show that chronicles her battle with cancer – a journey that has her dealing with celebrity, family and her own demise.

Fraser, an executive producer with Jayme Pfahl and Christine Haebler, is writing all 10 episodes and three unnamed directors will share the piloting duties. No cast was attached at press time, though casting was underway for the lead, Katie.

‘We’re not mimicking those shows,’ says Pfahl, talking about landmark series such as Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, Oz and Sex and the City. ‘But we are attracted to that kind of storytelling. No one really talks about cancer, and that is something that needed to be dealt with. This series can be funny and dark and deal with the issues.’

Pay channels Movie Central and The Movie Network share the first window, while CHUM will air the series 18 months later as the second-window broadcaster. Pfahl says that while the producers are looking for an international presale, the $12-million budget is set so that the series can proceed without it.

The Canadian Television Fund, which greenlit only three new English-language drama series in 2004, recently contributed just over $5 million toward the production.

Crescent, which was a major supplier of television to Lions Gate Entertainment, has seen that work dwindle as LGE decentralizes production away from Vancouver and TV production volumes dwindle generally, says Pfahl. Terminal City will be the company’s main project this year.

Bleeding, Fraser’s dramatic feature that has been long in development limbo at Crescent, is still active, says Pfahl. As a U.K. coproduction, recent increases in the U.K. spend required for the U.K. sale-and-leaseback contribution have added extra challenges, he admits. The target date for production for Bleeding is now sometime in 2005.