It would have been easier to sprint through molasses. Rush hour one evening last December and Toronto was trapped under a blanket of heavy, wet snow. the highways were clogged for miles. CFTO senior cameraman Tom Rupple had reason to worry….

When it came time to relaunch its newly acquired specialty services, Corus Premium Television called on Toronto F/X and animation house Spin Productions.
Last year, CPT did some dealing with WIC, purchasing the latter’s Superchannel, which runs recent-release movies, and MovieMax!, which features old and new film ‘classics.’ (The stations operate out of Edmonton and are broadcast to audiences from Manitoba to B.C. and in the territories.) CPT decided to revise its new properties, changing the name of Superchannel to Movie Central and serving up four new networks in the action, mystery, comedy and romance genres.

Twister/GFX recently did packaging for the Jan. 29 CBC 2001 Genie Awards broadcast as well as the 13-part documentary series TSN Profiles….

Soho staffers are walking with their heads just a little higher after taking home five awards at the Tellys, the Ohio-based showcase for non-network and cable commercials.
The Toronto post-production and graphics studio won one statuette for an on-air design package for Turner South in Atlanta, one for a title sequence for a Broadcast Design Association show, and three for a pair of spots for Humpty Dumpty snacks.

The Yokomites are coming! From Feb. 26 to March 16, YTV will unleash these animated glowing green bugs that will attack the kids network’s show credits and on-air promotions. YTV even secured permission to have the Yokomites storm its programs, and…

In the world of broadcast design, Toronto-based Tango Media Group puts the emphasis on talent….

Front thinks beyond national borders, which is what sets it apart from the competition. "2001 is the year we’re ready to take on the world," proclaims Jeff Rustia, president and head of creative at the Toronto-based design and production house….

Big Studios, formerly Big Animation, has amassed an impressive array of design credits for U.S. networks and shows including ABC News, ABC’s Wide World of Sports, Good Morning America, HBO Boxing, ESPN and MTV. The Toronto 2D and 3D studio also…

One reality show using the Internet to best advantage is Pioneer Quest.
The current site for Pioneer Quest – which puts two couples in the shoes of pioneers on the Manitoba prairie and tracks them for a year – was launched to coincide with the show’s initial air date in November 2000. Features and functions have been phased in since, with input from Winnipeg prodco Credo Entertainment and broadcaster Alliance Atlantis as well as Web company Ecentricarts.

Technology is integral to the presentation of reality programming, which producers maintain is different from the ‘reality’ game shows hogging so much limelight.
A child can’t seem to sleep through the night and wanders around the house, driving his parents to distraction. It looks like a case for Dr. Michael Weiss and the crew from Real Families.

Vancouver: Fans of Paul Newman’s 1979 hockey classic Slapshot can stop holding their breath.
Slapshot II Breaking the Ice goes into a month of production at Vancouver rinks March 12. And yes, the notorious Hanson Brothers from the original film return, although 20-odd years older. Other major casting was still underway at press time.

Principal photography is almost wrapped and editing is well underway on Winnipeg-based Credo Entertainment’s 13-part, half-hour doc series Head Over Wheels, detailing the relationship between women and their cars.
‘We’re beginning to rough cut episodes and they’re looking fun,’ says Credo executive producer Andrew Koster, producer of the series.