You will not see any melodramatic vocal performances to prerecorded instrumentals on the latest music talent search production from Halifax-based Collideascope Digital Productions. These kids are actual musicians, playing real instruments and performing live gigs as they vie for a $5,000 cash prize and the chance to record a single with an EMI producer.

Collideascope’s Rock Camp, a 14-ep half-hour doc series directed by John Marshall that flies in the face of the glitzy star-search shows like the Idol franchise, premiers on CBC April 5. Created and executive produced by Suzanne Chapman, founder of Prospero Entertainment, the series follows 18 aspiring musicians through Summer Rock, a program run by the Canadian Conservatory of Music in Halifax for the last 18 years, in which contestants are given three weeks to form a band and show their stuff. Allison Outhit produces with executive producer Steven Comeau of Collideascope. The series is distributed internationally by Toronto’s Decode Entertainment.

Chapman is also producing another season of the animated children’s series Olliver’s Adventures with director Ron Doucet. After the success of the first 13 episodes, currently airing, Teletoon has ordered another 26 eps, which will wrap in spring 2005. Coproduced by Decode and Collideascope, the upcoming season of Olliver’s Adventures stars Joanne Miller as the voice of Oli and Brian Heighton as the voice of the arch villain. Tara Doyle also stars and writes along with Jackie Torrens and Michael Best. The series is being produced in Collideascope’s Flash studio.

In addition, Chapman is developing Delilah and Julius, another animated children’s series for Teletoon, which follows the adventures of two international spies who rove around the world fighting crimes of conformity.

Also in the works is Chapman’s PG.TV, a live-action dramatic series and online project currently in development at Family Channel.