- Eight participants begin program on March 10 with broadcaster
internship at Bell Media headquarters in Toronto -
To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/1fkVqoj
OTTAWA, Feb. 21, 2014 /CNW/ - Bell Media announced today from the
Canadian Media Production Association's (CMPA) Prime Time in Ottawa
conference the inaugural group of participants in the Bell Media Producer Accelerator Lab program. The two-part program is targeted at mid-level Canadian
producers and aims to enhance their knowledge and experience at the
executive producer level. The Bell Media Producer Accelerator Lab is part of Bell Media's TV Skills Development Initiative, which invests
$1.8 million annually in a suite of national training programs.
The first-ever Bell Media Producer Accelerator Lab participants are:
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Trey Anthony (Toronto)
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Award-winning playwright, executive producer, actor, stand-up comedian,
and founder of Trey Anthony Studios whose credits include the
television and theatrical production of 'DA KINK IN MY HAIR.
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Rosalie Chilelli (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.)
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Owner and managing director of Edge Enterprises, which provides
facilitation, services, and consultation in the areas of financing,
scouting, casting, crew recruitment, and training.
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Shane Corkery (Originally from Saskatchewan, now residing in Toronto)
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Co-founder of Counterfeit Pictures and previously the Manager of
Development at WestWind Pictures, the production company best known for
LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE (CBC), on which he also served as producer
for two seasons.
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Lauren Grant (Originally from B.C., now residing in Toronto)
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Genie Award-winner and principal of Clique Pictures, a production
company focused on working with female creative talent both in front of
and behind the camera.
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Shaun Johnson (Originally from Winnipeg, now residing in Toronto)
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Head of Production at Aircraft Pictures with credits in the drama,
documentary, lifestyle, feature, live comedy, and interactive new media
genres; previously a producer at Frantic Films where he was involved in
several successful TV series, including TODD AND THE BOOK OF PURE EVIL
(Space) and GUINEA PIG (Discovery).
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Sally Karam (Toronto)
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Gemini-nominated producer currently developing her second feature film, Truck Stop; recently completed production on the breakthrough CGI series ALIEN
MYSTERIES (Discovery), an original Canadian series using
state-of-the-art CGI and green screen techniques.
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Tracey Mack (Vancouver)
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Film, television, and digital media producer who, through her production
company Urban Safari Entertainment, created the multi-platform property
KIDS' COOKHOUSE, which is currently in development and recently won the
TelusOptik TV Award at Merging Media 2013.
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Jennifer Pun (Toronto)
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Producer of more than 45 hours of live action television whose credits
include the award-winning tween live-action comedy series HOW TO BE
INDIE (YTV) and action/adventure series CONNOR UNDERCOVER (Family
Channel); currently developing several television projects through her
production company Courier Ink.
"I am pleased to welcome our newest team members to Bell Media!," said
Kevin Crull, President, Bell Media. "We created this initiative because
we know it is a solid investment in the future of Canadian programming
and the creative talent who help us make it. Congratulations to
everyone selected."
"We are very excited to welcome the first group of producers to the
inaugural Bell Media Producer Accelerator Lab," said Corrie Coe, Senior
Vice-President, Independent Production and a Bell Media Programming
Champion. "We've worked hard to ensure that this program enhances the
skill level of its participants who already have a wealth of experience
in the industry, and give them a unique perspective into a Canadian
broadcaster."
With participants from across the country, the program begins March 10
with the Broadcaster Internship, which is a six-week, group-based
curriculum where producers rotate with internal departments at Bell
Media, learning about the business models and economics of Canadian
broadcasting. They also attend an industry event or conference, as well
as participate in case studies and coaching sessions. After the
internship, two producers will be selected for the Production
Apprenticeship with a top independent Canadian production company or
Bell Media In-House Productions, in order for them to become more
familiar with Executive Producer roles and responsibilities.
About the Bell Media TV Skills Development Initiative
The $1.8 million Bell Media TV Skills Development Initiative is a suite
of national training programs, exclusively funded by Bell Media, which
ensure a comprehensive range of training for writers, producers,
directors, and showrunners in the Canadian television industry at
different stages of their careers. The Initiative supports the Bell Media Diverse Screenwriters Program (Writers Guild of Canada) for emerging and mid-career writers from
diverse backgrounds who intern in a writing room of a Bell Media TV
series; the Bell Media National Fellowship Program (Banff World Media Festival), which encourages professional development
in the television industry by enabling emerging producers, writers, and
directors to attend the festival and take part in mentorship
activities; the Bell Media Primetime TV Program (Canadian Film Centre), which provides series development for TV
writers; the Bell Media Producer Accelerator Lab, which provides immersive and experiential broadcast and production
experience for mid-level producers; the Bell Media Showrunner Bootcamp (Canadian Film Centre), which develops showrunner knowledge and
management for TV writers; the Media Leadership Program (Women in Film and Television - Toronto), a biennial program designed
for mid to senior-level women and men who want leading-edge academic
knowledge and contemporary business and leadership skills required in
the Canadian screen-based industry; and the Business Management for Media Professionals Program (Women in Film and Television - Toronto), a certificate program
essential for emerging media professionals who want to understand the
business of film, television, and interactive production.
About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and
most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian
independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings
success stories SAVING HOPE, THE LISTENER, MOTIVE, the #1 new Canadian
scripted series of the 2012/13 season, MASTERCHEF CANADA, and THE
AMAZING RACE CANADA, the record-breaking, Canadian-produced
complementary version of the hit international series. Also coming to
CTV in early 2014 is multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT. Among the
scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the
two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, leading Canadian Screen Award
nominee and internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK, BITTEN, 19-2, and
TRANSPORTER: THE SERIES, as well as upcoming dramas SENSITIVE SKIN and
KILLJOYS. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to reality series
such as BRAVE NEW GIRLS, game shows MATCH GAME and POP QUIZ, and
factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among
others. In 2013, Bell Media ordered 27 original Canadian series and
currently has 84 projects in various stages of development.
About Bell Media
With passion and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Bell Media
creates content and builds brands that entertain, inform, engage, and
inspire audiences through the platforms of their choice. Bell Media is
Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television,
radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media owns 30
local television stations led by CTV, Canada's #1 television network;
35 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, Canada's most-watched
specialty channels in English and French; four pay TV services,
including The Movie Network and Super Écran; and is managing
shareholder of premium pay-per-view service Viewers Choice Canada. Bell
Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 107 licensed
radio stations in 55 markets across Canada. Bell Media owns Astral
Out-of-Home, one of Canada's most dynamic and innovative out-of-home
advertising companies with a network of more than 9,500 advertising
faces in Québec, Ontario and British Columbia. Bell Media also operates
more than 200 websites, delivers TV Everywhere with its innovative GO
video streaming services, including CTV GO, TMN GO, and Bravo GO, and
owns Dome Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell
Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest
communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca
SOURCE Bell Media
