Shaw Rocket Fund 2006 Annual Report message from the chair
2006 was another exciting year for the Shaw Rocket Fund. We expanded our investments in quality Canadian children’s programming to over $10.69 million dollars, and celebrated our second year of showcasing the industry’s best with the Shaw Rocket Prize. We want to thank our contributors who generously afford us the opportunity to impact the lives of Canadian children - Shaw Communications, Shaw Pay Per View Ltd., a division of Shaw Cablesystems GP, Star Choice Television Network Inc., EastLink Cablesystems, and Delta Cable Communications Ltd. And to all this year’s recipients of our ‘rocket fuel’, we have this to say – we are honoured to be associated with you!
Annabel Slaight
Shaw Rocket Fund Explore Annabel Slaight, Chair Founder of Owl Magazines, Books and Television, and now Chair of the Owl Children’s Trust, Annabel Slaight is the recipient of many awards including the Order of Ontario, Canadian Film and Television’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Royal Canadian Institute’s Sir Sanford Fleming Award. In addition to her dedication to the Shaw Rocket Fund and creative content for children, she is on a crusade to save and protect Lake Simcoe.
Gigi Boyd, Vice-Chair Former Manager of Business Affairs and Director of Telefilm’s Western Broadcast Unit, Gigi Boyd is a Gemini award nominated independent Producer (Cold Squad, Godiva’s). She is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre Producer Program and currently sits on the CFTPA - BC Branch Industrial Relations Committee and serves as a member of the Directors Guild of Canada Production Manager Caucus.
Ken Stein, Board Member Ken Stein, Senior Vice President of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs for Shaw Communications Inc., has broad public and private experience. He served two Prime Ministers extensively involved in broadcast and communication policy issues. He is past president of the Canadian Cable Association from 1990 to 1994 and Chairman of the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC).
Agnes Augustin, Executive Director and Board Treasurer An accomplished executive, Agnes Augustin held the position of Manager and Vice President of Business Affairs for various production and distribution companies. A former Financial Analyst for Telefilm Canada and industry consultant, she moved into broadcasting as Head of Production for Country Music Television and was an independent producer before assuming her role with the Shaw Rocket Fund. Agnes sits on the board for The Alliance for Children in Television (ACT).
2006 Annual Report a survey of the year
Across Canada
15% 7% 5% 2% 52% 13% British Columbia 6% $1,619,546 Alberta Nova Scotia $740,000 $605,000 Ontario Saskatchewan Quebec $5,534,283 $575,000 $1,424,974 Manitoba $200,000
Shaw Rocket Fund Explore The results speak for themselves as we uncover some of the statistics behind this year’s 10.69 million dollars in funding of independently produced programs for Canadian kids. North, South, East, West. The Rocket Fund supports the best! by genre Drama 85%
Variety 4%
Magazine 4% Documentary 7% by medium
Live Action 44%
Puppets 1%
Animation 39% Combination 16%
2006 Annual Report rocket fuelled projects
In eight years of operation the Shaw Rocket Fund has committed a total of 53.8 million dollars to 248 independently produced Canadian children’s programs for a total of 1,750 television hours. This funding contribution sparked $881 million in production for Canadian kids’ programs.
The following pages show a complete list of projects supported by the Shaw Rocket Fund in 2006. The project list is separated by target audience and provides the percentage of productions funded in each category.
Shaw Rocket Fund Explore The Doodlebops The Doodlebops encourages an understanding and appreciation of music, leading to creative development and gains in multiple other subject areas. On an episode by episode basis, Deedee, Roonie, Moe and their cohorts foster valuable learning along with a great deal of joy.
22% Preschool (under 5)
Production Production Company Broadcaster Big Comfy Couch (eps 79-100) Big Comfy Corp. YTV The Doodlebops (eps 53-65) Doodlebops III Productions Inc. CBC Dragon (eps 53-76) 4114531 Canada Inc. Treehouse Gofrette (eps 1-52) Subsequence Entertainment CBC, SRC The Jungle Room (eps 1101-1126) Sinking Ship (Day Care) Productions Inc. Access, Knowledge Network, SCN, TVO The Mighty Jungle (eps 1-9) Mighty Jungle Productions Inc. CBC POKO (eps 59-71) Poko III Productions Incorporated CBC, SRC Roll Play (eps 1-13) Sinking Ship (Roll Play) Productions Inc. SRC, Treehouse This Is Emily Yeung (eps 101-167) Young at Heart TV I Inc. Treehouse
2006 Annual Report Delilah and Julius Follows the adventures of two stylish and savvy teen spies as they travel the globe stopping covert plots for world domination while coping with their own family secrets and complex emotions of love and romance.
9% Primary (6 – 9)
Production Production Company Broadcaster Captain Flamingo (eps 27-39) Flamingo 2 Productions Inc. YTV L’Ile A Lili (eps 1-26) Les Productions Tooncan XXVII Inc. SRC Miss BG (eps 27-52) Miss BG2 Productions Inc. TFO, TVO Wapos Bay-The Series (eps 7-13) Wapos Bay Productions Inc. APTN, SCN
34% Elementary (9 – 12)
Production Production Company Broadcaster Anash and the Legacy of the Sun-Rock Productions 1-6 (AB) Inc. APTN Sun Rock (eps 1-6) Atomic Betty (eps 53-78) Breakthrough Films & Television Inc. Teletoon Carl Squared (eps 27-39) Carl Squared Productions II Inc. Teletoon APTN, Discovery Kids Canada, CG Kids (eps 601-613) Geokids Productions Inc. Knowledge Network, SCN Class of the Titans (eps 27-52) Studio B (Titans II) Productions Inc. Teletoon Delilah & Julius (eps 27-52) Decode/Delilah Productions 2 Inc. Teletoon Ghost Trackers (eps 201-213) CCI Productions Inc. YTV Jibber Jabber (eps 1-13) (2) Jibber Jabber Entertainment Inc. YTV Monster Warriors (eps 27-52) Even Bigger Bug Movies Ltd. BBC Kids Canada, YTV Monstories (eps 27-52) Facelift Enterprises Inc. SRC Naturally Sadie (eps 53-65) Decode/Sadie Productions 3 Inc. The Family Channel, SRC Prank Patrol (eps 27-52) MWW Enterprises Inc. YTV
Shaw Rocket Fund Explore 24% Youth
Production Production Company Broadcaster APTN, CHUM, Movie Central, 45 RPM 45 RPM Productions Inc. SCN, TMN Degrassi: The Next Generation Epitome Pictures Inc. CTV (eps 607-619) Get Outta Town! (eps 14-26) Get Outta Town Season Two Ltd. Book TV, SCN Instant Star (eps 301-313) Epitome Pictures Inc. CTV La Quete (eps 1-26) Instinct Films La Quete Productions Inc. TFO Life with Derek (eps 14-26) Life with Derek II Inc. The Family Channel Life with Derek (eps 27-52) Life with Derek III Inc. The Family Channel Mauvais 1/4 d’heure! (eps 1-13) Novem Jeunesse Inc. VRAK TV Prom Wars Prom Wars Inc. CHUM, Movie Central, TMN renegadepress.com (eps 32-44) Renegade Press Productions IV Inc. APTN, Canwest Media, SCN, TFO
11% Family
Production Production Company Broadcaster Beyond Words (eps 79-91) Wone Woman Works Productions Ltd. APTN Hank Williams First Nation – Peace Country Films Ltd. APTN The Series (eps 1-6) How The Gimquat Found Her Song Gimquat Productions Inc. TVO Mainland Productions Limited / Iron Road (eps 1-2) CBC CCI Entertainment Luna: The Way Home Kaka’win Productions Inc. APTN, CTV Such A Pretty Face Such A Pretty Production Ltd. CBC Tears and Triumphs (eps 1-13) Brenco Media Inc. APTN Venturing Forth (eps 66-78) Brenco Media Inc. APTN
Instant Star Jude Harrison, a feisty rock girl with a lifelong passion for music wins a singer / songwriter contest and is thrust into the spotlight. Instant Star is a show for would-be guitar stars, secret songwriters… and anyone else who has ever dreamed about suddenly becoming famous.
2006 Annual Report uncharted territory
This is Emily Yeung This is Emily Yeung (part of the Daniel Cook franchise) launched with the largest multiplatform release for a preschool property in Canadian history. The broadcast was preceded by a launch on VOD, mobile and online through an interactive website.
renegadepress.com A new edition of renegadepress.com ‘ezine’ is published via the Internet to coincide with each episode of the television broadcast. This online extension to the series allows both the television and web audience to share their opinions on the stories they see.
10 Shaw Rocket Fund Explore The world of broadcast entertainment is rapidly evolving. Production companies continue to explore new uses of technology, creating exciting enhancements to their programs. In 2006, many of the projects fuelled by the Shaw Rocket Fund incorporated innovative new media formatting, setting the course for the future.
Atomic Betty Fans can download the flashy platform action game that has created an exciting synergy with the show. Released in December 2005, the game has been launched by over 30 carrier networks in 22 countries worldwide and has been successful at sending players new to the franchise back to watch the TV show.
Life with Derek Life with Derek podcasts provides audiences with a more candid, behind-the-scenes look at the TV series. Created outside of the drama, the podcasts include characters critiquing their performances, sharing stories about their lives, their favourite foods and how they approach their profession.
2006 Annual Report 11 shaw rocket prize
1 International Jury
The Shaw Rocket Fund appoints an International Jury to select the finalist programs for the Shaw Rocket Prize. The 2006 jury is among the best when it comes to leaders in children’s programming and represents a range of global views and perspectives.
Deirdre Brennan, ABC Kids Programmer, ABC, Australia how the prize works Jennifer Canham, Publisher, Owlkids, Canada Dea Conneck Perez, Vice President of Programming and Operations, Discovery Kids, USA Frank Dietz, Head Acquisitions & Co-productions, Super RTL, Germany Theresa Plummer–Andrews, Managing Director, Plum Trees TV, UK
2 Five Finalists Being Ian, Studio B (Being Ian) Productions Inc., Vancouver – YTV Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs, CCI Entertainment Ltd., Toronto – Teletoon Heads Up!, Soapbox Productions Inc., North Vancouver – TVOntario, Knowledge Network Naturally, Sadie, Decode Entertainment Inc., Toronto – Family Channel POKO Season II, Halifax Film Company, Halifax – CBC
3 Student Jury Those finalists then go up against a national student jury who vote for the winner. Students from across the country learn how to critically assess the finalists programs as part of a classroom-based adjudication process through the Learning Through The Arts program (LTTA). The LTTA is the most extensive arts- based initiative in the world, operating in almost 500 schools across Canada and 12 countries around the world.
12 Shaw Rocket Fund Explore The Shaw Rocket Prize is the largest prize of its kind awarding $50,000 to the best independent Canadian children’s television program. 2006 was the second year for the prize designed to boost and heighten the profile of the Canadian children’s production industry.
2006 Annual Report 13 The 2006 Shaw Rocket Prize was awarded to Being Ian, Studio B Productions.
Drawing by Crystal, grade 5 student juror
The winning program is Being Ian because it has everything that a winning program would have, it has very good camera angles and shots and lots of humour. The characters looked great. They had ‘their own look’ and the voices fit the characters really good “and the visual effects were great.” – Grade 5 student juror
Chris Bartleman and Blair Peters of Studio B Productions accepting the 2006 Rocket Prize from members of the student jury.
14 Shaw Rocket Fund Explore our contributors
The Shaw Rocket Fund continues to push the frontier of Canadian children’s television to meet the expanding imagination of the children in this great country of ours. Our contribution to children’s programming began in 1994 with my father, JR Shaw, who strongly believes in high quality Canadian children’s programming. Since that time, Shaw Communications has contributed over $80 million dollars in financing making us the largest private funder of independent children’s television production. We are very proud of what the Shaw Rocket Fund has accomplished over the years and we look forward to discovering what lies ahead.
Jim Shaw, CEO, Shaw Communications
Star Choice Delta Cable Communications EastLink Cablesystems Star Choice has supported the Shaw Delta Cable supports the development A proud contributor to the Shaw Rocket Fund since 1998. Their support of quality children’s programming – Rocket Fund since 1998, EastLink also is part of their commitment back to the programming that educates, contributes to a number of different communities they service, ensuring empowers and encourages as it groups and organizations each and that quality programming for children entertains. They are pleased to support every day in cities and towns across is always available. rocket-fuelled productions. the Maritimes.
2006 Annual Report 15 contact the shaw rocket fund
Agnes Augustin, President Suite 900, 630 - 3rd Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta T2P 4L4 T 403 750 4517 F 403 750 4635 E [email protected] www.rocketfund.ca