Posted on Tuesday, April 29, 2008.
News release: June 9, 2006
The National Screen Institute — Canada (NSI) today announced the latest participants for the NSI Totally Television training program which is designed to help writer/producer teams fine-tune their TV series idea and work towards landing a broadcast development deal.
The selected participants and their TV projects are:
- Producer Kirsten Newlands, writer Simon Davidson (Vancouver, BC) The Odds
- Producer/writer Mark Hand (Waterfield, QC) Arkham
- Producer Tim Tyler (Saskatoon, SK), writer Erin Erlendson (Regina, SK) June Beetle
- Producer Matthew Cervi (Vancouver, BC), writer Matt Holland (Montreal, QC) The Olyphant Forgets
- Producer/writer Cal Garingan (Vancouver, BC) Destiny Aisle
- Producer Michael-Andreas Kuttner (Halifax, NS), writer Hasmi Ferguson (Banff, AB) Second Coming
“The NSI Totally Television training program is helping to bring the work of talented professionals to a Canadian audience. These writers and producers are the ones to watch for over the coming months and years,” said Kit Redmond, NSI Totally Television Program Manager. Kit is the executive producer on From the Ground Up with Debbie Travis (airing on Global) and executive producer on Maxed Out (airing on the W network).
NSI Totally Television is a ten-month market-driven, rigourous and individualized training program designed to mentor and guide television writer/producer teams through the development of their television series concept. Participants connect with a team of experts who help them partner with an executive producer/mentor, prepare a pitch-of-a-lifetime for broadcasters and attend the Banff World Television Festival.
Since the inception of the NSI Totally Television program in 2002, seven out of eight NSI Totally Television graduating teams have landed development deals with broadcasters and so far, two have been produced and broadcast nationally.
Recent NSI Totally Television graduate successes include:
- This Space For Rent, a pilot by producer Jason James and writer Nick Citton (NSI Totally Television 2002-03) aired on CBC in January 2006. The series has been green-lit for more episodes.
- Producer Anand Ramayya and writer Dennis Jackson celebrated the broadcast of Wapos Bay – There’s No ‘I’ in Hockey (NSI Totally Television 2002-03) on APTN in May 2005. Further episodes are in development.
- Todd and the Book of Pure Evil (NSI Totally Television 2004-05) by producer Anthony Leo and writer Craig D. Wallace is in development with CHUM.
- Less Than Kind (NSI Totally Television 2004-05) by producer Chris Sheasgreen and writer Marvin Kaye is in development with CHUM.
- Kink in My Hair (NSI Totally Television 2004-05) by producer Damion Nurse and writer Trey Anthony is in development with Global Television.
- The Big Switch (NSI Totally Television 2002-03) by producer Laura James and writer Nicole Demerse is in development with YTV.
- rebound (NSI Totally Television 2003-04) by producer Nicole Hamilton and writer Karen McClellan was developed by CTV.
Media enquiries:
Glynis Corkal, Marketing and Communications Manager
Tel: 204-957-2995 | Email:
glynis.corkal@nsi-canada.ca