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TV
A three-year overnight success story
After a four-year roller-coaster ride and umpteen rejections for funding and distribution, the first-time docmakers behind the feature-length homage to 1980s directing phenom John Hughes, aptly titled Don’t You Forget About Me, finally got their just desserts.
Animating your pitch
Pitching is one of the most stressful parts of the creative process. And the most critical. Even the best idea remains only that until someone with the money and distribution to make it happen signs on.
From the Industry: De-institutionalizing mediocrity
Something may have sparked recently in Canadian film and television. That pervasive fog of mediocrity – the eternal stigma of the ‘Cancon’ label which has poisoned the minds of our audiences for decades – seems to be lifting.
Nickelodeon set to launch
A Canuck version of kids channel Nickelodeon is headed north via Corus Entertainment and MTV Networks, which have announced plans to launch the 24-hour digital channel on Nov. 2.
Produce local, think international
If there’s one word that comes to mind when talking about the state of Canada’s animation industry these days, it’s ‘ouch.’
Brits in for more Murdoch
UKTV and ITV have re-upped with Murdoch Mysteries, agreeing to co-fund a third season of the period crime drama from Shaftesbury Films. Shooting on the 13 x 60 is currently underway in Toronto and in the U.K.
Ramsay gets animated with Cuppa Coffee
Cuppa Coffee Studios will cook up a new primetime animated comedy series featuring Gordon Ramsay, following a recent deal with the U.K.-based celebrity chef. The Toronto company looks to produce 20 episodes of the show, titled Gordon Ramsay, At Your Service, and is likely to start production early next year for a January 2011 airdate. Details are still being worked out.
Heritage steps into fee battle
Ottawa says it wants final say over the contentious fee-for-carriage issue between conventional broadcasters and cable companies, which will play out in CRTC hearings now set for December.
Canwest exiting Australia
Canwest Global Communications has sold off its 50.6% stake in Australia’s Network Ten to raise around $634 million to pay down debt. Canwest sold its controlling stake in the Australian broadcaster via a block trade executed by Sydney-based Macquarie Capital Advisers. The sale ends months of speculation that Canwest Global would be forced by its U.S. bondholders and senior lenders to sell its controlling stake to pay down its $3.8 billion debt load and avoid bankruptcy protection.
CTV, Global premieres soar, thanks to PPM
CTV and Global are tickled over BBM Canada’s new Portable People Meters, which escalated their fall debuts to new highs as fresh and returning fare rolled out Sept. 21-27.
Bledel leads Affair melodrama
Former Gilmore Girls star plays troubled cop for writer/director Noël Mitrani
OMNI bows Mandarin drama
Once Upon a Time in Toronto marks rare copro between Canada and China
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