The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and NABET 700-M UNIFOR have announced a tentative deal establishing updated terms, conditions and rates for a number of technical crew members engaged in film, TV and digital media productions in Ontario, including construction, hair, makeup, props, transportation, lighting, sound and set dressing. Details of the new agreement in principle will be presented to the CMPA Board of Directors, and NABET 700-M UNIFOR membership for ratification in the coming weeks. The current Collective Agreement expires Dec. 31.
The National Directors Division (NDD) of the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) has launched the new National Director Observer Initiative, aimed at building a pathway for DGC Directors upwards through the industry and help advance careers. The initiative empowers Producers and Shooting Directors to discover new talent and invest in the future of the industry through on-set placement of a DGC Director as an Observer or “shadow.” Participating Producers and Shooting Directors will be provided a detailed listing of qualified DGC Directors poised to participate.
Rogers Communications has announced that Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen joins Bravo, further strengthening the channel’s lineup of unscripted franchises, including Below Deck, Summer House, Southern Charm, Top Chef, and Vanderpump Rules. Featuring guests like Meryl Streep, Cher, Oprah, Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Lawrence, Mariah Carey, Will Ferrell and Gwyneth Paltrow, Cohen continues to welcome some of the biggest celebrities to the late night series, which celebrated its 15th anniversary this year. Since returning to Canada this fall, Rogers says Bravo has reached more than 2M Canadians in its first month on television. Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen started airing on Bravo on Nov. 3 and is available to stream on Citytv+ through Amazon Prime Video Channels.
Boat Rocker has greenlit Dino Ranch: Island Explorers, a spinoff of its hit preschool animated series Dino Ranch, with CBC/Radio-Canada and Warner Bros. Discovery on board as broadcast partners. The new animated series (52 x 11 mins) will air on CBC, CBC Gem, CBC Kids YouTube, ICI TÉLÉ, ICI TOU.TV and Radio-Canada.ca in Canada and Warner Bros Discovery’s Cartoonito across Europe, Middle East, and Africa in 2026. Dino Ranch has seen international sales in more than 170 countries and 15 languages worldwide.
Canada’s Drag Race has been renewed by Crave for a sixth season, ahead of its Season 5 premiere on Nov. 21. Applications are now open for Canadian drag artists looking to flaunt their distinct brand of Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent.
Bob Odenkirk
Normal has begun production in Winnipeg, led by the same creative team who birthed and produced the international smash, Nobody. Continuing shooting through December, the action thriller follows Bob Odenkirk’s character, Ulysses, who is appointed substitute sheriff for the forgotten Minnesota town of Normal. When the local bank is robbed, Ulysses unknowingly uncovers something far more explosive than a simple bank robbery. Joining Odenkirk in the cast are Henry Winkler (Barry, Happy Days) and Lena Headey (Game of Thrones, 300). Ben Wheatley (Free Fire, Kill List) is directing the script, with shared story credit from Derek Kolstad (Nobody, John Wick) and Odenkirk (Nobody, Better Call Saul) with screenplay by Kolstad. Producers are Marc Provissiero (Nobody, No Hard Feelings), Odenkirk and Kolstad. The project comes off the heels of the recently wrapped Nobody 2. Repped by WME, Normal was one of the biggest pre-sales of 2024 at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin.
DAZN has inked a multi-year media rights agreement with boxing promoter Queensberry Promotions, founded by promoter Frank Warren, making the sports streamer the exclusive home of Queensberry’s elite boxing events. Starting in April, Queensberry’s stable, which includes heavyweight champions Daniel Dubois, Zhilei Zhang, Fabio Wardley and Moses Itauma, alongside middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz and leading female boxer Chantelle Cameron, will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN. Queensberry joins Matchroom, Golden Boy Promotions and Misfits on DAZN, where fans can enjoy over 150 premium fight nights every year.
Tennis Canada has confirmed that the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals and Davis Cup Final 8, held in Malaga, Spain, will be livestreamed by CBC Sports and broadcast live on TVA Sports in French. The Billie Jean King Cup Finals run from Nov. 13-20, followed by the Davis Cup Final 8 from Nov. 19-24. Viewers can watch free on CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app, and CBC Sports’ official YouTube channel. The ties will also be available in French, on TVA Sports and TVA Sports Direct.
Spark Animation, Western Canada’s largest celebration of animation, has recognized Oscar-winning animator Torill Kove with the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field, as well as this year’s Canadian Film Prize for her new short film, Maybe Elephants, co-produced by Mikrofilm and the National Film Board (NFB). The new honour for Maybe Elephants brings it to a total of four awards and mentions to date, including the Short Film – Audience Prize at South Korea’s Bucheon International Animation Festival and Best Nordic-Baltic Animated Youth Film at Norway’s Fredrikstad Animation Festival.
TheWhistler Film Festival (WFF) is gearing up for its 24th edition, with a lineup of over 100 films, Dec. 4-8 in Whistler, BC. This year’s opening night film is The Last Showgirl, starring Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dave Bautista, a portrait of a seasoned Vegas performer suddenly facing uncertainty when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run. The moody feature film is directed by Gia Coppola. WFF’s closing film is Better Man, directed by Michael Gracey, based on the true story of the meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and resurgence of British pop superstar Robbie Williams. Music is a prominent theme this year at WFF with the festival adding new program, Play It Loud!, launching Thursday, Dec. 5 with the world premiere of Blue Rodeo: Lost Together. Band founders Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy will be in attendance.
