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Winter 2017
Playback’s Indie List: the year in review
This year's Indie List offers a snapshot of some of Canada's biggest production companies firing on all cylinders before the domestic screen...
What’s next in…drama?
To help producers stand out in a crowed market, experts weigh in on what trends will be hot in 2018.
Programming profile: FX
EVP of series development Gina Balian on the net's anthology-heavy strategy and how it is tapping creators from outside the traditional TV m...
The world according to David Rocco
Long before exporting Cancon was government purview, Toronto-based Rockhead Entertainment made its Dolce series an authentic global...
Breaking barriers: Diversity needs ‘margin for failure’
In part two of Playback's roundtable, execs talk international biases against diverse casting, the need for a higher risk tolerance a...
A safer workplace manifesto
The industry has a problem. It's time to address it. Here's how we can start.
Breaking barriers: The ‘risk’ of diversity
When it comes to reaching a growing audience that's chronically under-represented on screen, the real risk is being averse to change. Execs ...
Les Films Seville’s sequel successes
A pair of police comedies helped Playback's Distributor of the Year thrive in an increasingly challenging exhibition market.
An Anne for our times
A darker, contemporary twist on a classic helped this CBC/Netflix series, and Playback's TV show of the year, resonate globally dur...
Letterkenny has it all ‘figgered’ out
A story of media, merch and microbrews: Letterkenny is Playback's best-marketed TV brand of 2017.
Sienna Films flexes its creative muscles
With two shows travelling the world, more projects in the wings, and Kew Media's recent endorsement, Playback's Prodco of the Year ...
Obomsawin’s 2017: ‘I feel that Canadians are listening now’
Playback's Filmmaker of the Year completed her 50th film in as many years and spearheaded the NFB's plan to bring about representat...
Tassie Cameron’s prolific strategy
Seven shows in 18 months, international acclaim for her killer ideas and a budding prodco - what can't Playback's Person of the Yea...
Hitting a high note at Bell Media
Playback's annual Best of the Year issue kicks off with Randy Lennox, the new president of Bell Media bringing a "Bat Out of Hell" ...
Playback Winter 2017
From Playback winter issue, interim editor Megan Haynes on speaking up to shift the balance of power.
The ’10s: The era of SVODs and Let’s Talk TV
We're wrapping up our birthday throwback series with a dive into the recent past: Netflix, the CRTC and the Corus/Shaw deal will shape the i...
Playback’s 2016 Canadian Film & TV Hall of Fame: Phillip Borsos
The savvy Vancouver filmmaker was on-trend, chasing big budgets, big stories and commercial success.
The ’00s: What defined the turn of the century?
We're diving into a decade of unprecedented tech disruption, big-time mergers and acquisitions and era-defining Cancon.
The ’90s: The era of Due South, going public and budget reductions
We're looking back on the shows, mergers, regulatory curveballs and tech innovations that defined the Canadian media landscape in the 1990s....
Thirty years of industry evolution
It's our birthday, we'll throwback if we want to! Playback is celebrating its anniversary, so we're counting down the major industry ...
One step forward, one step back
Original Playback editor Mark Smyka reflects back on how the industry has changed...and how it's stayed the same.
Playback’s 2016 Hall of Fame: Michael MacMillan
For his work raising the bar of political discourse by encouraging everyone to get involved, the Blue Ant CEO is awarded the Humanitarian HO...
Check out Playback’s Best of the Year winners
What did it take to make this year's list? Killer growth strategies, diversification and strong partnerships, for starters.
Best of the Year: Home To Win
Canada's newest specialty reality series took a cue from superheroes - packing stars into one show - and watched the viewers and sponsors po...
Best of the Year: Take 5 Productions/Whizbang Films
How the Toronto companies are bringing U.S. drama series (and dollars) north of the border.
Best of the Year: Jason Priestley
While best known for his on-screen presence, the Private Eyes EP snags the honour for his behind-the-scenes work.
Best of the Year: Secret Location
After spending seven years as a predominantly service-based company, the digital content studio is putting its eggs in the original-IP baske...
Best of the Year: Sinking Ship
The prodco's bold (and necessary) diversity initiative is helping grow its huge success at home and internationally.
Inside Baroness von Sketch Show’s digital domination
How the all-female sketch comedy TV series has capitalized on social buzz.
Best of the Year: CBC
Following budget cuts and revenue losses, the pubcaster had to refocus its efforts. Today it's a lean, mean, fighting machine. And its commi...
Best of the Year: eOne
After refusing a takeover offer, the Toronto media company is looking to double the size of its business by 2020.
Programming profile: Gusto vs. Food Network/Cooking Channel
Playback magazine catches up with programming execs from both channels to find out who's serving what - and why they think their ch...
Can a computer write the next indie hit?
Algorithm-generated storytelling: the pros and cons of taking some of the risk out of filmmaking.
React. Adapt. Evolve. Repeat: Playback Winter 2017
Playback interim editor Megan Haynes on why discoverability is only half the battle.
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