In brief: NSI launches production program for COVID age
Plus, Just For Laughs moves online for its 38th year, BIPOC TV & Film launches a new short film initiative, and WFF sets the lineup for its Adventure Film series.
WildBrain Spark tests AR for the first time
Teletubbies, In the Night Garden and Dragon & Boy are joining AR app AnibeaR, following US$17 million in new financing being earmarked for the AVOD to grow.
Talent House launches boutique agency for drag queens
Founded by Daniel Birnbaum, the drag performance agency represents Canadian drag queens, including stars from Canada’s Drag Race and CBC’s Queens.
Tanya Green to lead preschool push at Mainframe Studios
The veteran animation exec will oversee all new preschool content at the Wow! Unlimited Media subsidiary, including IP, coproductions and global partnerships.
Live sports cancellations sink Rogers’ media revenues by 50%
The division saw the biggest drop across all of Rogers’ segments and follows the company’s recent rebrand to reflect the powerful role sports play within its ecosystem.
Telefilm ‘confident’ in investigation firm
“We continue to listen to our industry partners as the organization moves forward in delivering our Equity and Representation Action Plan as part of its continuous evolution,” said the organization in a statement.
Netflix, CMF back Being Black in Canada program expansion
The program will expand to help a total of 90 Black filmmakers between 2020 and 2022 access mentorship and training to film a short documentary on Black lives.
Showrunners on creative concerns for production in a pandemic
U.S. and Canadian showrunners joined the Banff World Media Festival to discuss COVID-19 challenges for the creative team and systemic racism in the industry.
Hot Sheet: Top 30 TV programs, July 6 to 12, 2020
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. comes in at #4, while Blue Bloods and The Titan Games land at #6 and #8, respectively.
Diggstown, Burden of Truth renewed at CBC
The Floyd Kane-created series will return to Halifax early next year to film its third season, while new episodes of Burden will shoot in Winnipeg later this summer.
CTV promotes Auntie Jillian to a primetime slot
The unscripted series starring YouTube personality Jillian Danford will hit CTV later this month, after initially airing on Bell Fibe’s TV1 in 2019.
David Byrne’s American Utopia to open TIFF 2020
The concert film directed by Spike Lee will have its world premiere on Sept. 10 at the festival, which plans to run with a hybrid model format of virtual and physical screenings.
Buttignol to continue as Knowledge Network head
The B.C. pubcaster’s board of directors has extended the long-time president and CEO’s contract to October 2024.
Hot Sheet: Top 5 Canadian films for July 10 to 16, 2020
Target Number One leads, followed by 14 Jours, 12 Nuits at #2 and Mafia Inc. at #3.
Hot Sheet: Top 10 films for July 10 to 16, 2020
Target Number One claims the #1 spot, while Bloodshot comes in at #3 and 14 Jours, 12 Nuits lands at #9.
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