Montreal: With shooting on the 20th Century tv teen sitcom Student Bodies underway, Telescene Film Group has started a production schedule of half-hour series and tv movie/pilots which president and ceo Robin Spry says will culminate in the delivery of approximately 61 hours.

The action really heats up in August.

Analysts are projecting $59.4 million in new production from Telescene in ’98/99 including the delivery of 26 half-hours of Student Bodies; 13 half-hours of the Showtime anthology series The Hunger, slated to begin principal photography in early August; and 16 half-hours of Big Wolf on Campus and 16 half-hours of Misguided Angels, both for Fox Family Channel. Both shows are slated to start at the end of August.

The delivery slate also includes four two-hour tv movie/pilots for the Action Adventure Network and an adventure/game show pilot for Nickelodeon, Are You Game.

Telescene had production revenues of $41.3 million in fiscal ’98.

The balance of the ’99 slate will be delivered in fiscal 2000, which is already at the $43.9-million level in commitment terms, says executive vp Paul Painter.

‘That’s 18 months ahead and doesn’t include renewals of any of the series, only the overlap,’ says Painter.

Earlier this month, Telescene closed a private placement at $19 a share, raising $33.5 million in gross proceeds. Additional warrants representing just over $4 million were sold by senior management.

Telescene reported revenues increased 97% to $44.7 million for the 12-month period ending Feb. 28, compared to $22.7 million last year. Net earnings for the period increased 375% to $3.8 million, or $0.55 per share.

Production, characterized by a shift to higher margin tv series, as opposed to feature films and mows, made up 93% of all ’98 revenues, while library sales decreased 8% to $2.2 million.

Painter says at least one of the aan movie/pilots will be shot in Montreal.