Posted on Monday, September 21, 2009.
News release: September 21, 2009
Canadian TV writers and producers hoping to be the next big thing in Canadian TV are gathering in Toronto for a week of specialized professional development training through the
NSI Totally Television program.
NSI Totally Television, run by the
National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI), gives writer/producer teams the tools needed to successfully develop and pitch their TV series ideas and work towards landing a broadcast development deal.
NSI Totally Television series on TV this past season include
Less Than Kind (Citytv) which is currently in post on the 2nd season,
'da Kink in my Hair which aired its second season on Global, and
Wapos Bay which starts season 4 this fall on APTN.
The new crop of TV projects and teams this year are:
- Barrels & Spurs by Jason Margolis (producer) and Robert Wenzek (writer) – Vancouver, BC
- Bush League by Ken Proulx (producer) and Daniel Trotta (writer) - Montreal, QC & Toronto, ON
- Intelligent Men by Heather Lindsay (producer) and Bruce James (writer) – Vancouver & Port Coquitlam, BC
- Reality Business by Shannon Foerter (producer) and Sean Robb (writer) – Toronto, ON
- Summer of My Amazing Luck by Vonnie Von Helmolt (producer) and Tricia Cooper (writer) – Winnipeg, MB
"The applications this year were overwhelming in their quality and in their numbers," said NSI Totally Television Program Manager Brandice Vivier. "While it was an incredibly tough decision, we feel we have chosen the five strongest concepts and teams. These writers and producers are the ones to watch for in the coming months and years."
Brandice Vivier - Program Manager
As Manager, Programs and Development, Brandice is involved in developing and delivering many NSI training programs. In addition to managing NSI Totally Television, she is currently working with the NSI Online Short Film Festival and Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program. Previous programs of which she was part include NSI Drama Prize, NSI Storytellers, NSI Pitch to Win!, NSI Global Marketing, Telefilm Canada Spark Plug, and DiverseTV. Brandice has worked in the film and television industry for 15 years, including at CTV and MANITOBA FILM & MUSIC.
Samantha Linton - Program Advisor
Award winning producer and director Sam Linton currently works as Head of Factual Programming at Cineflix with Simon Lloyd to oversee the company’s complete slate of factual programmes including Mayday, Cold Blood, Austin Stevens, Eaten Alive, Cooler Facts, Final 24, Mad Labs and Trapped. Previously Sam worked as Head of Development for RTR Media and as Head of Original Production for Discovery Channel Canada.
NSI Totally Television is made possible by Presenting Sponsor CTV and the CTV/CHUM Benefits; Strategic Sponsors Rogers and Women in Media Foundation (WIMF); and Provincial Sponsor MANITOBA FILM & MUSIC.
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