CBC has picked up Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich’s filmed production of late theatre legend Martha Henry’s final role. Avrich directed the filmed version of the Stratford Festival’s 2021 production of Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women, featuring Henry (pictured middle) in her final performance. She died on Oct. 21, 2021 — just 12 days after the production closed.

Avrich’s Melbar Entertainment Group produced the film, which will premiere on CBC and CBC Gem on Oct. 16, when it will also become available on the Stratford Festival’s streamer, Stratfest@Home. Diana Leblanc directed the stage production, which was captured live on Sept. 16, 2021.

Support for the filming of Three Tall Women was provided by Sandra and Jim Pitblado. Production support for the stage production was provided by Sylvia D. Chrominska, Dr. Desta Leavine in memory of Pauline Leavine, Sylvia Soyka, The Westaway Charitable Foundation, and Jack Whiteside.

ComediHa!

Dark comedy series Snowball Effect, produced by ComediHa! in collaboration with Bell Media, has sold in international markets. The series will launch on Playzer in France and Pickx+ for Belgium this fall. It will also be adapted for the U.S. later this year, according to a news release, which said an official announcement will follow shortly.

ComediHa! came up with the original idea for Snowball Effect in collaboration with Daniel Gagnon and Eric Belley, who are also the show’s script editors. Guillaume Lonergan directs the scripts by Kristine Metz, Philippe Gendron and Julien Tapp.

The 13 x 30-minute first season, about a man who gets caught up in a criminal organization behind a Quebec City winter festival, launched on Noovo in January and is available on Crave. Filming for the second season will begin at the end of October and will be broadcast on Noovo in January.

Passez Go

France tv distribution has acquired international distribution rights to the Noovo series Sweetheart (original title: Chouchou), produced by Montreal’s Passez Go. The drama will be launched during MIPCOM in France, according to a news release.

The 8 x 45-minute series, announced as part of Bell Media’s 2022/23 slate in June, was written by Simon Boulerice and directed by Félix Tétreault and Marie-Claude Blouin. It stars Evelyne Brochu and Lévi Doré in the story of a teacher and mother of two who gets too close to a 17-year-old student.

AMPD Virtual Studio

Tippett Studio has selected Vancouver-headquartered AMPD Virtual Studio to help power its growth and expansion into the North American market.

Tippett Studio has signed a deal to use the cloud-based digital content creation platform for remote rendering as it makes inroads in Canada, after expanding to this side of the border in May with its first satellite office, Tippett Canada, in Toronto.

Tippett’s Toronto operation will house a fully functioning, post-production studio and will be headed by Tippet Canada president Gary Mundell, who is also COO of Tippett Studio. Tippett Canada will be servicing clients including Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Disney, Showtime, New Line Cinema, AMC, Amazon, and Legendary Pictures.

Photo credit, L-R: Mamie Zwettler, Martha Henry and Lucy Peacock in Three Tall Women. Photography by V. Tony Hauser