Foreign location shooting in B.C. may have taken a major hit last year, but that was partially offset by skyrocketing domestic production.

Sadly, Fugitive Pieces has a happy ending.

WINNIPEG: Call in the paparazzi.

Toronto’s Access Motion Pictures has signed Halle Berry to star in and produce Frankie and Alice, a psychological thriller with the Oscar alum playing a case of split personality. The story follows a young black woman struggling with a white and racist alter ego. Access Motion (Phantom Punch) produces in association with Reality Pictures in Motion (Some Things That Stay).

Global Television and NBC have greenlighted an unscripted comedy series starring Howie Mandel, host of the hit game show Deal or No Deal. The series, known for now as Howie Do It, will be filmed in Canada and simulcast by both networks in 2008/09.

Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures has found a home on The Movie Network and Movie Central, both of which have ordered the 8 x 60 series, which is slated to begin production later this year through Shaftesbury Films.

Shooting La Cité des Ombres entirely in Tunisia raised a few problems, says producer Yves Fortin, not the least of which was the sandstorm.

Looming actors strike puts U.S. features on hold

Rainmaker Entertainment hopes its newly forged relationship with comic-book legend Stan Lee will further the company’s transition from service provider to content creator – a process that began with the purchase of Mainframe Entertainment in 2006.

Against all odds, jPod fans are still hoping to convince CBC to revive the one-hour drama series through the website, Save jPod! – Say No to Steve (savejpod.ca), and a Facebook club, Facebook | jPod, the latter of which has more than 4,300 members.