TV & Film News – WGC and CMPA reach tentative production agreement

The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) announced early Tuesday that they’ve reached an agreement in principle for a new Independent Production Agreement, averting a potential strike. WGC members had been working without a contract since Dec. 31 and overwhelmingly voted to authorize job action late last month, a first in the guild’s 33-year history. Terms of the new three-year agreement, which establishes working conditions and rates for writers, story editors, and story consultants haven’t been disclosed and will be distributed by WGC for ratification. Read more here.

The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) has released Profile 2023: An Economic Report on the Screen-based Media Production Industry in Canada. Among its findings are that between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, the media production sector contributed $14.05 billion to Canada’s GDP, generating $12.19 billion in production volume, and creating nearly 240,000 jobs. The CMPA cautions that while the numbers reflect significant economic activity, those figures may represent a high-water mark for production activity in Canada that is now receding. It says during the period reflected in the report, domestic production volumes were influenced by a post-COVID “catch up” period, which saw Canadian broadcasters commissioning projects in order to meet regulatory obligations they were unable to achieve during the pandemic. Similarly, foreign production, consisting almost exclusively of American projects shooting in Canada, were also elevated following a pandemic lull. The report also isn’t reflective of the impact of strikes by American writers and actors last year, nor the significant reduction in commissioning of Canadian productions currently facing the domestic sector.

The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) has announced its inaugural Hair and Makeup Training Initiative, in partnership with CMU College of Makeup Art & Design. The program, which will start this fall, acknowledges the need for hair and makeup equity in the film and television industry. With financial support from NABET 700-M UNIFOR, Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada, and the Canadian Media Producers Association, it strives to accelerate the career paths of the next generation of hair and makeup professionals from Black, Indigenous and racialized communities and to expand the industry’s expertise in serving all hair textures and skin tones. CMU College will select early-career alumni for the six-week, hands-on program at no cost to participate.

Karena Evans is being recognized with the Breakthrough Award at the Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada event on May 30. The award recognizes rising stars in entertainment who are making waves with bold, innovative storytelling and a distinct artistic vision. The Canadian director and actress is best known for directing Drake’s videos for “God’s Plan,” “Nice for What” and “In My Feelings,” spurring her to win the 2018 MuchMusic Video Award for Best Director and become the first woman to receive the Prism Prize Lipsett Award for music video direction. She also won the Grand Prix at Cannes Lions in 2020 for interactive experience “Swipe Night” for Tinder.

Farhan Lalji has been inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. The Vancouver Bureau Chief for TSN, Lalji has been with the network since 1997, previously hosting Sportscentre from 1997-2000. He was also heard on the BC Lions’ radio broadcasts as pre and post-game host during its time on TSN 1040. He’s covered 21 Grey Cups, 15 Super Bowls and 11 College football championships.

Sportsnet continues its coverage of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, delivering Round 2 to fans on Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, CBC, and OMNI Television, and via live stream on Sportsnet+. Ron MacLean and David Amber host Hockey Central pre-game, intermission, and post-game alongside experts Kevin Bieksa, Elliotte Friedman, Kelly Hrudey, Jennifer Botterill, and Luke Gazdic. Select Saturday night games will also air on Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition on OMNI, featuring Randip Janda, Harpreet Pandher,  Gurpreet Sian, Amrit Gill, Mantar Bhandal, and Taqdeer Thindal.

TSN and TSN+ will deliver all 64 games of the 2024 IIHF Men’s World Championship, live from Prague and Ostrava, Czechia from May 10-26. Connor Bedard, Owen Power, and Team Canada begin their campaign against Great Britain on Saturday, May 11 at 6 a.m. ET. TSN play-by-play commentator Gord Miller leads coverage alongside game analyst and former Team Canada Men’s Worlds forward Mike Johnson. Miller and Johnson deliver the call on-site in Prague for all games in Group A. Bryan Mudryk calls Group B matchups in Ostrava, alongside game analyst and three-time Stanley Cup winner Brian Engblom. Lindsay Hamilton and Claire Hanna report live from Prague and Ostrava, providing updates and player interviews. 

CTV has announced a 16-episode order of Canadian Screen Award-nominated comedy Children Ruin Everything from New Metric Media. With production underway in Toronto and Hamilton, Meaghan Rath and Aaron Abrams return, alongside Logan Nicholson, Mikayla SwamiNathan, Ennis Esmer, Nazneen Contractor, Dmitry Chepovetsky, Veena Sood and Lisa Codrington. Part 1 of Season 4 is set to air during CTV’s 2024/25 schedule. 

Moosemeat & Marmalade, the Leo Award-winning food docuseries, has returned for a seventh and final season on APTN. The farewell season features 13 new episodes following Indigenous bush cook Art Napoleon and classically-trained chef Dan Hayes who explore charming small towns and beautiful cultures while sharing a fusion of Indigenous cooking styles with modern techniques. The final season includes adventures from ice-fishing near Whistler to canoe racing with the Malahat First Nation. 

Pluto TV has added six new streaming channels to the service from A+E Networks’ library of content, headlined by the Dance Moms Channel. Other dedicated channels include Ax Men, Duck Dynasty, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Modern Marvels, and Tiny House Nation.