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PM40011669 CANADIAN The Beaverton its national is ready for spotlight from fast-track to screen Tallboyz head at writerat head

graduates to to graduates 22 Minutes Brander Comedy The FILM | TELEVISION | RADIO | DIGITAL | RADIO TELEVISIONFILM | | MEDIA Meet the minds behind Meet theminds behind the funniest shows

in Canadian TV Issue $7 FALL 2019 VOL.22, NO.1 VOL.22, FALL 2019 $7 CANADA CANADIAN SCREENWRITER The journal of the Guild of Canada SPECIAL AWARDS Vol. 22 No. 1 Fall 2019 Contents ISSN 1481-6253 Publication Mail Agreement Number 400-11669 Cover DESERVE SPECIAL Publisher Maureen Parker From Pratfalls to Flatfalls 6 Editor Tom Villemaire [email protected] For our special comedy issue, we talk to 11 of the hottest writers of Canadian comedy about the scenes that made them laugh and Director of Communications the ones that got away. Their responses are, well, funny. Lana Castleman CANDIDATES! By Diane Wild Editorial Advisory Board Michael Amo Michael MacLennan Features Susin Nielsen Simon Racioppa Fake News. Real Laughs. 14 Rachel Langer NOMINATIONS OPEN JAN. 6, 2020 FOR: With so many voices clamouring to be heard, The Beaverton President Dennis Heaton (Pacific) has managed to capture an audience with its sharp and incisive Councillors brand of news parody as it moves to national broadcast on CTV. Michael Amo (Atlantic) Mark Ellis (Central) By Matthew Hays Marsha Greene (Central) Alex Levine (Central) Anne-Marie Perrotta (Quebec) Tallboyz Fast-Track to TV 18 ALEX BARRIS MENTORSHIP AWARD Andrew Wreggitt (Western) With Bruce McCulloch of Kids in the Hall fame on-board as Design Studio Ours , Tallboyz Guled Abdi, Vance Banzo, Tim Blair, Cover Photo: Dan Bannister and Franco Nguyen discuss their quick transition from writing for the stage to writing for the small screen. Printing Vibrant Graphics Canadian Screenwriter is By Li Robbins SONDRA KELLY AWARD published three times a year by the (WGC). 366 Adelaide Street West, Suite 401 The Graduate 22 , M5V 1R9 Heidi Brander’s recent promotion to head writer of Canadian TEL: (416) 979-7907 FAX: (416) 979-9273 satirical institution proves the WEBSITE: www.wgc.ca age-old comedy adage — timing really is everything. Subscriptions: WGC members receive a By Mark Dillon WGC SHOWRUNNER AWARD subscription as part of their membership. Non-member subscriptions: $20 for three issues. W-Files Advertising policy: Readers should not Kayla Lorette and Evany Rosen 24 assume that any products or services advertised in Canadian Screenwriter are By Cameron Archer Details and entry forms will be available endorsed by the WGC. Editorial Policy: The WGC neither implicitly nor explicitly endorses opinions or attitudes Columns at wgc.ca on Jan. 6, 2020 expressed in Canadian Screenwriter. From the Editor/Contributors 2 Submissions are subject to editing for Inside/Out — Dennis Heaton 3 length, style and content. Advertising Sales: Off Script — Penelope Laurence 32 Visit www.wgc.ca or contact Lana Castleman at [email protected] News Letters to the editor are subject to editing for length. Not all letters are published. Beat Sheet 4 The 24th Annual WGC Awards Spotlight 28 Money for Missing Writers 30 April 27, 2020 Koerner Hall Toronto New Members 31

WGC Special Awards Nominate Ad 2020.indd 1 11/1/19 10:39 AM FROM THE EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS INSIDE/OUT — FROM THE PRESIDENT

Fall 2019 Welcome to the comedy issue Cameron Archer runs the The carrot and the stick Canadian TV and media site So, this is the comedy issue (our first!), in case the headline didn’t give it away. Gloryosky (www.gloryosky.ca) Remember how excited everyone was when George Lucas announced a What you might notice, however, is that two shows aren’t featured: and is also a freelance arts and series of Star Wars prequels? Remember our giddiness? Remember how and Schitt’s Creek. “How could we ignore these media writer. He currently lives two hugely successful comedy series?” you might ask. Well, I could say, “It in Eastern Ontario. confused we all were when the opening crawl for that first film started seemed the Canadian thing to do.” with these words: “Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The Of course, I’d be wrong. We tried to line up both shows for features Dan Bannister is an award- taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems is in dispute.” in this issue, but sadly, scheduling time with the creators of these hit winning portrait, fashion and shows in time to meet our production deadlines wasn’t possible. So, it was lifestyle photographer, who a success thing, not a Canadian one. And that’s a great thing. splits his time between Toronto If Star Wars: Episode One – are more expensive to produce provide a training ground for Thankfully, there is no shortage of excellent Canadian comedy to and New York. His work has The Phantom Menace taught us than American content is to buy. future generations of Canadian explore, which you’ll discover in the following pages. been featured in The Wall anything — besides the danger of We allegedly don’t generate nearly storytellers. It’s how we’ll find out And that made me think of the heritage the current kings, Street Journal, Forbes, The having two subtitles — it’s that no as much advertising revenue. And what sticks and what doesn’t. and baronesses of Canadian comedy have built on. I then thought it’d be New York Times and more. one, not even the most revered most importantly, so they contend, The CMF Early Stage fun to revisit some past successes, and so I offer my take on the top three space opera of all time, can make nobody likes us. Development Program is an moments from Canadian comedy’s past. Mark Dillon is a Toronto-based government policy exciting. But here’s the thing, that’s important step in the right No list would be complete without recognizing Kids in the Hall’s the freelance journalist and former But policy, specifically Cana- not true. I can guarantee the idea direction. Thanks to this program, Headcrusher. Mark McKinney’s recurring character, Mr. Tyzik, found editor of Playback magazine. dian cultural policy, is something that nobody likes us is just flat- pilot scripts that might never have a spot across the series’ five seasons and 100 episodes. He would sit and He is author of the award- we writers are always talking about, out wrong. You know how I know seen the light of day will get a chance watch as “flatheads” walked by on their way about their lives, peering winning Fifty Sides of the even if we don’t think we’re talking that? Schitt’s Creek. Orphan Black. to be developed into pitchable between his thumb and forefinger as he decided which ones deserved Beach Boys. about it. That’s because any show Letterkenny. Wynnona Earp. Anne projects. Will they all succeed? Of his signature move. He would then squeeze his fingers together as he that is considered “CanCon” — with an “E.” Slings & Arrows. All course not. And that’s the point. triumphantly exclaimed, “I crush your head.” It’s a move still copied Matthew Hays is a - series produced by privately owned of these shows — and many more There were complaints at today. (At least by this editor.) based writer, author and Canadian Broadcasters to fulfill — are national and international the outset that the market would Stepping back to the decade before that, the 1980s had Second City university and college their CRTC-mandated annual PNI successes, finding audiences and/or be flooded with scripts. Great! Television or SCTV. Like KITH, the show had dozens of hilarious recurring instructor. His articles have (Programs of National Interest) critical acclaim. Flood the market! Give producers character sketches. But my all-time favourite is Tex and Edna Boyle’s Curio appeared in , spend and retain their broadcast li- I can already hear some of you and broadcasters a whole swath of and Organ Emporium (or Prairie Warehouse). They rolled out as a series The New York Times, Maclean’s, censes — exists because of Canadian saying, “Sure, Dennis, those are the projects to choose from. Then flood of cheesy faux commercials featuring Andrea Martin and and many others. cultural and broadcast policy. hits, but what about the misses we’ve the airwaves with shows. And when as the title characters. Tex and Edna were awesome in cowboy hats and His book, The View from Here: (Now, keep in mind that when produced? Don’t you see that we’ve the audience decides which shows western suits and dresses. “We’ll put the song back in your heart and a Conversations with Gay and I refer to broadcasters, here, it’s the produced more misses than hits?” they want to invest their time in, we budgie in your cage,” Edna would say. And of course, she was referring to Lesbian Filmmakers (Arsenal corporate entity and not the creative To that point, I have only keep making them and go back to the Shetland budgies, the strongest budgies in the world, so you can ride Pulp), won a 2008 Lambda executives who writers engage with one response: “Uh, yeah.” There the drawing board for new ones. them. (SCTV ran in varying formats for 135 episodes from 1976 until 1984.) Literary Award. to ultimately produce a TV series.) is a formula to making successful We need cultural policy that Finally and more recently, there’s . Rush’s Alex To put it bluntly, the television, and it’s actually really encourages increased development Lifeson ends up wearing Ricky’s clothes at one point, which is really the Li Robbins is a freelance writer broadcasters in our country don’t simple. It’s volume — that’s it. and production. Maybe it’s only thing you need, if you know the characters. Ricky’s shirts are pretty and editor whose work has like making CanCon. How can I Quantity creates quality. That’s with longer license terms for amazing considering he can’t afford rent at the trailer park and rarely has appeared in the Globe and say that? Because the broadcasters why the cream rises to the top. That’s broadcasters that promise to spend a real job. Even so, Lifeson wants his own clothes back and works out a Mail, Toronto Star, The Walrus, say that implicitly every time their why we have to look for the diamonds more than their required PNI, or deal where he gets them, and Bubbles not only gets to be Lifeson’s guitar Toronto Life and on CBC.ca licenses are up for renewal and in the rough. No one knows which will make more airtime available tech, but has a jam session with Lifeson as well. It’s grand. among other publications and they ask for reductions in their PNI show is going to hit and which is going to CanCon in their primetime The great thing is, that if I did this list next week, it might be websites. spend. In fact, as far as they are to miss. It’s all luck-of-the-draw, windows. That’s for to sort completely different.SCTV ’s 5 Neat Guys, Bob and Doug McKenzie, concerned, producing series based timing, and every other “hindsight is out with industry stakeholder input. Monster Horror Chiller Theatre and others could easily be in there. And Diane Wild is a - on your beautifully nuanced pilot 20/20” explanation for why a show But one thing’s for certain. then there’s KITH’s King of Empty Promises, Chicken Lady, Dr. Seuss based writer, editor and script is an obligation. It’s a cost finds its people. We need Canadian cultural policy Bible… Yeah. We may lack heat in winter, but I could argue Canada’s health care communicator of doing business that they would Our Canadian cultural that makes CanCon the carrot, not comedy talent keeps us warm through laughter. who founded TV-? website rather do without. policy needs to encourage the stick. and gallivants to work on the To the Canadian private volume production. It’s how — Tom Villemaire Olympics every couple of years. broadcaster, we are the stick. We we’ll make enough programs to — Dennis Heaton

4 5 BEAT SHEET

WGC Members Take the Stage Diversity Script of the Month

WGC members have had a busy few And in October, the Guild spon- 2019 Finalists months enjoying the spotlight, starting sored a ReelWorld Film Festival panel with our very own Writers Talking TV that featured members Aaron Bala Created in 2018, the WGC Diversity series. Mary Kills People co- (Cardinal), Vivian Lin (Hudson & Rex) Script of the Month initiative is Tassie Cameron and Marsha Greene re- and Alejandro Alcoba (Another Life) designed to help emerging screenwriter flected on the final season of the ground- dishing on “How Writers & Agents members from diverse backgrounds breaking series with moderator Noelle Build A Strong Relationship” along move forward in their careers. Carbone in front of a sold-out crowd. with agent Sohrab Merchant. Here are our remaining five finalists At Fan Expo Canada in August, Finally, in November the WGC of 2019. Congratulations everyone! “Creating hair-raising horror” was is sponsoring a script reading and the name of the game as moderator conversation around member Yung James Hurst led Slasher creator Aaron Chang’s feature film,Eggplant . Vivian Martin, Van Helsing EP Jackie May and Lin will be joining him as moderator August Slasher writer JP Larocque through a to lead a discussion about the script- Noelle Carbone (L), talks Service Ethan Banville TV with Tassie Cameron frighteningly good discussion for more writing process of the film along with a and Marsha Greene (R) Production Ethan’s one-hour historical drama than 150 fans. live script reading. Lady Luciano, about a young mother vs. True CanCon who takes a second job on a cross-bor- der train to earn money for her son’s Writers, Buyers Mix it Up A few weeks ago, several Canadi- medical treatments, won the commit- an media outlets were reporting tee over for August. New IPA The Guild held a Writer-Buyer Mixer Ship Entertainment, Sphere Media Plus that Netflix said it had exceeded Available Online at the end of September in downtown and Temple Street — met with 16 WGC its promised $500-million spend Toronto, the first initiative of its kind members who self-identify as diverse. on production in this country in The Guild closed a successful put together by the WGC Diversity In all, 91 eight-minute pitch just two years. It may be the case round of bargaining with the Committee. Broadcasting and produc- meetings were held in just over 72 that Netflix has spent that money June CMPA at the end of May. Our tion executives from various compa- minutes, with pitchees and pitchers earmarked for productions in Sara Beth Edwards members voted to ratify the new nies — including , CBC, CBC expressing how valuable they found Canada. But we need to under- Her winning one-hour drama IPA that went into effect July 1 and Gem, Corus Entertainment, eOne, the experience. A success by all score the fact that a significant impregnation focuses on a young social will expire on June 30, 2022. To Fresh TV, New Metric Media, Sinking accounts! portion of that content spend has worker who doesn’t want kids, but is recap, among the most significant been on “foreign location and pulled into an all-consuming case. changes to the agreement is the service” productions creatively removal of the digital section in driven from Hollywood that don’t September favour of platform neutrality — tell Canadian stories and rarely, if Richard Young & Vas Saranga there is no longer a distinction in ever, put Canadian The pair’s half-hour comedy Kandu the agreement between high- and directors in the top jobs. Attitude finds American-born Arun budget digital series produced Shows that dress up the Kandu begrudgingly recruiting his by SVODs (like Netflix) and streets of Toronto to look like Indian immigrant parents to help him similar series made for traditional Anytown U.S.A. just don’t qualify run his new artist talent agency. broadcasters. Live action script as true — as fees will also see a 3% increase much as it’s implied that they do. each year, for the next three years, Service production is thriv- while animation script fees get a ing, thanks to healthy Canadian 4% bump this year and a 5% one tax credits and a low dollar. What for each of the two following years. we’re missing are opportunities July Our freshly updated IPA for our world-class talent to tell Carmine Pierre-Dufour (2019-2022) has all of these details our stories. And now that the fed- The committee selected Carmine’s and more. It is now available in the eral election is over, with parties one-hour family drama Privileged Collective Agreements section of holding the balance of power that for July. She is currently working our website (wgc.ca), along with have pledged to make OTTs con- as a on new CTV drama updated rate sheets. If you want tribute to the system from which Transplant. November an old-school printed copy, please they benefit, we’ll be advocating Brier Sanderson A whole lot of meet-and-greets took place as attendees send an email request to like (L-R) Jinder Oujla-Chalmers, Vivian Lin, CBC’s Karen for those changes to be made Her feature film script,One Night, [email protected]. Tsang & Nicole Mendes and Marsha Greene mingled sooner rather than later. closes out our list of finalists for 2019.

6 7 FEATURE

From Pratfalls In honour of our all-comedy issue, CSW lined up some of Canada’s most successful comedy writers to identify the funniest scenes they’ve created and why they worked. And because comedy is the flipside of tragedy, we also got them to talk about the ones that fell flat or just never made it to the screen. So, read on. You’ll laugh. You may even cry. But you’ll definitely gain some great insights into the craft of making ’em laugh.

to Flat Falls By Diane Wild

Our panel of comedy writers includes (from L to R) Jen Goodhue, Nelu Handa, Kevin White and Jeremy Woodcock

8 9 FEATURE

Jen Goodhue Dan Redican (Baroness von Sketch Show, (Four on the Floor, Sunnyside, Little Mosque This Hour Has 22 Minutes) on the Prairie, Kids in the Hall) Catherine Reitman (Creator/showrunner, Workin’ Moms) Funniest scene: I wrote a sketch where a character Funniest scene: In a scene from Four on the Floor, I insists that her guests relax at the cottage, but also played a character who has been going into the same Funniest scene: I wrote a scene based on an gives them a set of rules that make it impossible to restaurant for years, always ordering the same meal, experience I had in a Mommy & Me group in which relax at any given time. It works because the premise but when he asks to be served his ‘regular,’ no one there was great confusion over what words were is simple, brilliantly executed by the Baronesses, knows what he’s talking about. This scene worked acceptable to say in front of your child. The mothers and it’s based on how I behave at my own cottage. (The Gavin Crawford Show, as something we can all relate to — the desire to be said you couldn’t use the c-word. They meant ‘can’t.’ It’s relatable. We’ve all met a controlling person who This Hour Has 22 Minutes) remembered — but this small desire is elevated to a I misunderstood and said practically the same word wants to be seen as easy going and fun. (If you’ve met life-and-death obsession and becomes funny when with one different vowel. In real life, everybody me, this is especially true.) Funniest scene: During The Gavin Crawford Show, we realize the absurdity of anyone demanding that moved on. In the scene I wrote, the characters we found this awful bowl-cut wig, so Kyle Tingley and people remember him. continued to confuse words such as the n-word (no) The one that fell flat: I’d just finished Second City I wrote a sketch about this unfortunate but plucky and so on. I believe the scene works because it is not and one character I enjoyed performing was a sweet teenager running for class president solely because The one that fell flat:I wrote a scene where a only relatable, but also has an inherent game set-up in little seal. I’d pull a turtleneck over my head and his mom told him to. It was just the right mix of husband is shocked that his wife doesn’t like her its premise. myself around the stage. So, when I pitched the painful and funny. My favourite line, delivered from birthday gift, which is a soggy cardboard box filled character for a TV show, I kept telling them, ‘Trust inside a locker after he’s been dragged away by bullies, with mouldering coal. ‘You didn’t like the bag of ants The one that fell flat: Scenes that make us scream me. This kills on stage!’ After my costume-fitting was ‘You never know, I could win. I mean, like, this is I gave you last year or the dry rot in a jar the year with laughter in the writer’s room on the day will fall I knew I was in trouble. I had failed to understand politics; it’s not, like, a popularity contest.’ before. There’s just no making you happy.’ In my flat. What cracks you up when you’re sitting around a how a live performance doesn’t always translate to mind, the husband was the brunt of the comedy, but I conference room table doesn’t always have legs once TV. What’s worse is, I was so confident it was going to The one that fell flat: I wrote a monologue of this suspect the audience thought I was making fun of the grounded in the real-life world of the characters. The work, I didn’t listen to anyone’s advice. Hubris! young gay character talking about Gwyneth Paltrow’s wife. Of course, the problem could also have been that comedy should always come from the truth of the privilege while ordering increasingly expensive the husband was too absurd for the audience to follow. characters’ reality. The one that got away: I wrote a horror genre cocktails. It came across as bitter and audiences were sketch about a person who brings donuts into the not on board, although that was in 2000 and I feel The one that got away: I wrote a scene for The one that got away: Every season I flirt with a office. A woman refuses to eat one because she’s off somewhat vindicated as I suspect it might work better Sunnyside about a middle-aged woman who doesn’t few ideas that excite me. Sometimes those ideas push sugar and the donuts start following her from room now. Timing really is everything. get service at a restaurant because of ageist waiters. the envelope in the right way. And sometimes those to room, stalking her, taunting her. I liked it, but it’s She realizes she’s completely invisible and ends ideas are simply indulgent and an opportunity to flex A LOT of production. Like, a lot. I think I’d written The one that got away: More than one episode up walking up to the cash register and robbing the as a writer. I’ve been lucky enough to not only have that donuts came out of the photocopier? Honestly, it of Gavin Crawford’s Wild Wild West, which never restaurant. But a sketch designed to show the curse been protected from the indulgent moments, but also was a short film. And it’s definitely the most expensive happened due to a combo of budget cuts and risk- of ageism was nixed because the network refused to

encouraged to explore the envelope. sketch I’ve ever written. PHOTO 6 & 7 AND ON P. PHOTO OF JEN GOODHUE: DAN BANNISTER averse executives. hire older actors.

10 11 FEATURE

“I once performed a monologue I wrote as Malala Yousafzai to the wrong crowd.” - Nelu Handa

Monica Heisey (Schitt’s Creek, Baroness von Sketch Show)

Kevin White Funniest scene: I think ‘Private Vagina’, a sketch for (Co-creator/Co-showrunner Kim’s Convenience, Baroness von Sketch Show that I wrote with Meredith Dan For Mayor, ) Mark De Angelis MacNeill, works largely because of factors beyond my (Bill & Sons Towing, The Ron James Show, control; it’s filmed naturalistically and on location, Funniest scene: One that comes to mind [for Kim’s Odd Squad) and the acting is grounded — all four Baronesses Convenience] is when Janet scolds her parents when are amazing in it, especially as the she finds out they’ve been having regular sex in her Funniest scene: In Bill & Sons Towing, the guys decide pharmacist. She’s saying ridiculous, vulgar things with roommate’s water bed. Janet is normally pretty to make a ‘progressive’ bikini calendar featuring a such an imperious, calm demeanour, and then Mer is patient and respectful, but here she loses it on both range of body types. When a young amputee (played trying to keep it together as the Every Woman With A her parents who know they are guilty and have wonderfully by Courtney Gilmour) shows up, they Yeast Infection. It doesn’t spin off into some wild place, nowhere to hide. The staging of it by director Renuka don’t quite know how to deal with it. I think the scene that’s just how ridiculous it actually is to be a woman Jeyapalan also made the parent/child role-reversal worked well because at its heart, it’s about an awkward trying to buy some goddamn cream for an itchy vag. that much funnier and apparent. encounter, which is something everyone can relate to. Nelu Handa The one that fell flat: I spent most of Baroness von The one that fell flat: There was a cold open from (JANN, Baroness von Sketch Show, The one that fell flat: I wish there was a playbook Sketch’s season three in the writing room plugging this year that didn’t come together as hoped. It The Beaverton) that could tell you why things don’t work, but every away at a sketch called ‘Two Women Turn Into Trees featured Appa and a friend discussing painful medical scene is a bit like a chemistry experiment. Obviously, While Waiting for Their Boyfriends to Stop Talking procedures — kidney stones — when they are quickly Funniest scene: My writing partner Amish Patel and you need great writing, but I’ve also seen things fall About Music.’ I think a big problem was that distaste upstaged by Umma talking about childbirth. A fun I are working on our pilot, and we’re pulling from our flat because the performances didn’t quite hit the right for conversations about music is not an especially premise with good performances, but in the end, own experiences as first-generation Indian-. tone, or the editing wasn’t punchy enough, or because widespread phenomenon. In general, spending that you could see it coming. It probably could have used It’s a scene with adult children explaining the world I took a network note and made all my nightmares much time on a sketch is a waste, and I knew that. But a more surprising turn. Ins [Choi] and I blame the they live in to their unmoved immigrant parents. I think come true. I just kept trying. If you’ve got a clear premise, the writers, who in this case, were us. it’ll appeal to the audience for its truth and nuances. writing should flow fairly easily because all you have The one that got away: I wanted to do a sketch to do is honour the premise, escalate it, maybe twist it The one that got away: It’s Appa’s dark night of The one that fell flat:I once performed a monologue based around an intense SWAT-team operation at the end and you’re out. the soul. We imagined him sitting on the roof of the I wrote as Malala Yousafzai to the wrong crowd. Hot where silence must be maintained, and the captain store smoking a single cigarette, contemplating his tip: Know your audience. forgets all the tactical hand signals. The sketch ended The one that got away: I really wanted Moira Rose place in the universe, or at least on Queen Street, as with pretty much every cop getting shot because the to injure herself and spend an episode using one of the moon carved out his silvery silhouette. While it The one that got away: For JANN, I wrote a captain kept giving them the wrong hand signals. those extendable reaching claws. This didn’t work seemed a funny image, it’s never translated into any showdown in a spa between and Michael The week after I pitched it, two cops were shot by a because, as I’m sure the rest of the room pointed kind of scene. It’s pretty outside the show. But maybe Bublé. I guess we couldn’t do it because it was too hot sniper-like gunman during a shootout. And that was out, it’s what’s known in the industry as ‘just a funny

... season finale? for TV. And he wasn’t available. PHOTOS OF KEVIN WHITE AND NELU HANDA: DAN BANNISTER the end of that. image,’ and ‘absolutely not a storyline.’

12 13 FEATURE

Sonja Bennett (Kim’s Convenience, Letterkenny, Preggoland)

Funniest scene: In Preggoland, I think one of the funniest moments is when Ruth’s co-worker calls her out on lying about being pregnant and to prove it, Scott Montgomery he punches her in her (fake) pregnant belly. I think (The Beaverton, Cavendish, ) “It’s one I wrote it works because the image of a pregnant woman being punched in the belly is shocking, but the Funniest scene: There’s a scene in my Cavendish almost entirely in audience knows she’s faking and so is in on the joke. episode ‘The Coven’ where Andy Bush tentatively The delicacy with which we treat pregnant women, reads a poem. He’s an objectively terrible writer, my head before juxtaposed with the violence of Danny Trejo throwing and the poem is like something out of a particularly a punch, works. dismal first-year creative writing class. It’s utter typing — maybe nonsense about a guy drinking from a cold stream, The one that fell flat: In one webisode of but it’s also about his father and includes the phrase Jeremy Woodcock that was the key.” Sunnyhearts CC, the community centre program ‘gelid moist.’ It works because Andy is a very funny (This Hour Has 22 Minutes) manager has to pacify Linda the Elliptical Lady who actor who plays neediness about as well as anyone - Jeremy Woodcock likens a body builder’s grunting to sexual harassment. ever has or could. Every word of that poem is a Funniest scene: It’s about a guy who can’t come Linda mimics his grunting, which leads to a groaning cry for help, just not in the way the poem intends. up with catchphrases. I think it works because it’s tennis match between the two, leading to some Of course, the small-town witches are utterly structurally tight — it relies totally on the comedy serious hate-arousal. It was in bad taste then and it transported by his terrible writing. Andy’s quiet, rule-of-three for each joke — but that never dawned on hasn’t aged well. deeply touched reaction to their approval suggests me while I wrote it, so it somehow doesn’t seem forced he wasn’t building on my central joke because I hadn’t it’s the best moment of his life. Which is very sad. either. I was just thinking that way from doing so much communicated it adequately, so it got very fuzzy and The one that got away: Both in Kim’s Convenience And, to me, funny! comedy at the time. It also depicts an entire lifetime was about too many different things. Don’t be afraid to and Letterkenny, Appa and Wayne, respectively, take in a couple of minutes, which I never thought about say what you consider the crux of the scene. a child to task for being an asshole. In both these The one that fell flat: Oh boy. I’ve worked quite a bit being overly ambitious, because it was just amusing me instances, scenes were tossed or altered because in sketch so there are a few of these. I usually blame to think of. It’s one I wrote almost entirely in my head The one that got away: A Romeo & Juliet parody for they ran the risk of causing the audience to be the audience, then cry myself to sleep. before typing — maybe that was the key. 22 Minutes. Coming from live sketch, I know you can concerned for the child character or for the actor do a lot just with suggestion, but sometimes you want playing the child. That said, in Preggoland, a character The one that got away: Years ago, I wrote a scene The one that fell flat: I wrote a King Solomon scene to see the whole package. On a non-stop weekly show, inadvertently clocks a child in the face with a baseball called ‘Copnotist.’ It was a mock documentary about for a live sketch show (obviously everything I’ve been that can be tough to cobble together, and without bat while trying to help bust open a stubborn piñata. a 1970s stage hypnotist who was given his own show, paid to write for television has worked perfectly all the scenic accoutrements and costumes, this one I think it works because the damage was done a gritty police procedural focused on a maverick cop and you should hire me to write for them). I was wouldn’t make sense. We didn’t have time to make it by accident and the assailant was duly horrified who solves and prevents crime through the power really excited about it, but realize now that I never look authentic, but still wanted to do it, and so kept afterwards. Aaaand... now that I’ve answered this of hypnosis. Unfortunately, that particular show got communicated to the guest host what I found so funny paring things back until the joke got confused. You question, it’s become disturbingly apparent that this canceled before we could do it. It’s too bad. I sensed a about the sketch. He’s brilliant, and really ran with it wouldn’t have known it was taking place in that world, is my specialty. Sorry screenwriters, I’ve got comedic spin-off. and played with the structure, which was great. But BANNISTER DAN WOODCOCK: JEREMY OF PHOTO and better to cut it than half-do it. violence against children cornered in Canada.

14 15 FEATURE

Fake news.

Real laughs.

The Beaverton continues to expand its audience with an ever-sharpening satirical take on Canada and the world By Matthew Hays

ake news — no, not the legitimate but “The network has made one thing very clear,” unfavourable reporting loathed by many says Beaverton co-showrunner Jeff Detsky. “They politicians these days — but the biting told us they wanted us to maintain the spirit of the based on daily events, is something website and early episodes. They weren’t interested of a growth industry right now. In the vast in us pulling any punches.” Co-host and series writer Fmedia landscape where people get their information, Emma Hunter adds that “the network has thrown the news-comedy industrial complex has emerged itself 100% behind us. It feels like the show is their as a pivotal force in shaping public opinions and first born.” perceptions. There are countless U.S. shows and the The Beaverton website was launched in 2010 cultural institution known as This Hours Has 22 by Alex Huntley, the late Laurent Noonan, and Luke Minutes in Canada, but breaking through the clutter Gordon Field (who is co-showrunner of the current is The Beaverton. It has ascended from a web presence series). Inspired in part by the American satirical to a full-fledged half-hour series, drawing national newspaper/website The Onion, the site featured the and international praise for its distinct brand of news popular formula of creating fake headlines that could parody in just a few short years. plausibly be real, despite their absurdity. With its third season, the series moved up “The site really came up on my radar in 2014,” from cable net The Comedy Network to full national says Detsky. “Beaverton stories were popping up broadcast on CTV in July. Channel owner Bell on social media feeds everywhere. Lots of people Media also made The Beaverton available globally were sharing them. It really was crying out for a TV on CTV’s official YouTube channel. (New episodes adaptation.” were uploaded to the web channel day-in-date After two seasons on The Comedy Network, with the CTV broadcast.) Clearly on a roll, with its the show and website’s reach continued to grow, with growing success and audience reach, it’s particularly positive critical notices, more social media shares and Series writers Miguel noteworthy that the Beaverton brand has not the gold standard — people falling for joke news items Rivas and Emma Hunter lost its bite or edge — propelling it through that as the real thing. (In 2016, The Hamilton Spectator do double-duty as the aforementioned clutter. cited a Beaverton article about the entire NDP show’s hosts

16 17 FEATURE

“We’re not the news. We’re commentary on the news. The balance of our show is fun — we don’t want it to feel like homework.” - Jeff Detsky

of the show was an election special, and was to air most distinctly. “In America, the first amendment the day after the 2016 U.S. election. They shot three in the Constitution is very clear,” says Field, himself versions: One where Hillary won; one where Trump a former lawyer. “In Canada, we have very strong was the victor; and a third where they didn’t talk defamation laws.” So, getting into the personal lives about the election much, in case the election was like of Canada’s politicians isn’t something The Beaverton the 2000 Bush-Gore scenario, in which precisely who is going to be touching anytime soon. became President wasn’t determined until weeks “We work with the lawyers, who are on our side after election night. and are protecting us,” says Field. “We say everything “So many didn’t think the Trump episode we want — we just might have to change our would ever see the light of day,” says Detsky. “But we terminology or the language we use. I can’t think of a had prepared the show, just in case, and as a result single segment that died this year due to a legal issue.” Beaverton writers assemble on the set of the show’s Election 2019 special. From L to R: Jocelyn we were the first comedy show that had prepared As The Beaverton’s audience continues to grow, Geddie, Callum Wratten, Scott Montgomery, Wendy Litner, Michael Balazo, Megan MacKay, Samuel Smith and Jess Salomon material on Trump. It was basically ‘The Funeral for the creative team behind it recognizes a certain America,’ and that put us on the map.” responsibility that comes with conveying the news — even in a comedic style. It’s not the news, How The Beaverton team gets it done but it is presented to a broad audience. And in a caucus wearing neck braces to Parliament after the had a no-one’s-going-to-believe-this politician before fitting twist, the move to CTV means the show gets elbowgate brouhaha as though it was genuine.) America did.” Since then, The Beaverton has had to change its taped in a studio right across the hall from where “I think it’s important not to give our politicians a production model to remain timely. The creative the actual national news is broadcast. “We don’t Satire in the age of Trump pass, just because they’re not Trump,” adds Beaverton schedule sounds as frantic as, well, putting on a news have the journalistic responsibility,” Rivas says. co-founder and co-showrunner Luke Gordon Field. show. Each episode starts up about seven or eight days “We talk about the entire zeitgeist, but avoid ever Of course, now there’s an epic elephant in the room “Not being in America does make for a different prior to its air date. “We write the show backwards, being condescending or didactic. We don’t present with which all satirical news must deal, even though comedy,” says Hunter. “The leader of our country isn’t starting with the least topical stuff,” says Detsky. ourselves as some kind of moral authority.” most real news stories written about him play out as bombastic or incompetent as the leader of the U.S. I “What are people talking about this month? It could “In last season’s finale, we didThe Beaverton’s like a comedy of errors — the current President of the think we have room to make our comedy more gentle. be the wellness industry, or Chernobyl. As the days guide to spotting fake news,” says Detsky. “We were United States, . It puts a Canadian show America is in a hard place; people are so full of anger. go on, the writers get more and more topical. Since having fun while teaching media literacy. We’re like The Beaverton in a slightly tricky spot. There’s Comedy has a different feel here. There really isn’t much the show airs on a Tuesday, we spend all weekend not the news. We’re commentary on the news. The no way to ignore the man, but you can’t put Trump at that’s subtle about Trump. I think that here you have to chatting about what the big stories are.” balance of our show is fun — we don’t want it to feel the centre of every joke, despite the obvious allure for work a bit harder to get to the joke.” The writers then assemble at 8 a.m. on Monday like homework.” comedy writers. Detsky confirms the show’s Canadian niceness. “We to talk about the four main topics that arose over the Hunter says she has ambitions for the show. The Trump Factor “cuts both ways,” notes co-host really avoid punching down. We’re also diversifying our weekend. “We share our various jokes, and a narrative “Ultimately, I’d like it to lead to me becoming the and writer Miguel Rivas. “He is obviously funny, often writing team. Some stories are too sad — we don’t trade begins to form from them,” says Detsky. The meeting Prime Minister. Nah. Actually, that’s not true. I think every day. But he is also often so ridiculous that it’s hard on tragedy. And the show went down for a few months so ends at about 11:30 a.m., when the script has to be mainly I’d like for us to bring some happiness and to know how to spin it. It is undoubtedly non-stop fodder one of our hosts could take mat leave. We weren’t about to finished. “Ideally, we want the show to feel like it was relief into living rooms in the evening on issues that for jokes, but there’s no real nuance to pick up on.” replace someone.” written on the day it airs.” are often really hard to process — a little light in a He adds that “there’s a tendency on the part of Ironically enough, it was Trump’s surprise Then the script is vetted by the legal department, world that often seems so dark. some of us to think that things can’t get zanier than victory that brought The Beaverton a good deal of where lawyers ensure nothing could lead to a lawsuit. “If we can do that, I’ll be happy. Also: Money, Trump. But let’s keep in mind, we had . We immediate exposure and praise. The first edition This is where the Canada-U.S. divide can be felt power and world domination!”

18 19 FEATURE LongThe Shortand the of it Writing tinged with absurdist humour and real heart fast-tracks sketch troupe Tallboyz from stage to TV

By Li Robbins

ake three short years and add four tall Club” the duct work is credited to architect Frank guys — that’s the setup for the story Gehry, in an endearing aside.) But it’s Tallboyz’ behind sketch comedy troupe Tallboyz’ thematic material that seems to have clicked with leap from stage to screen. Success has critics seeking something fresh. Among other things, come fast for the quartet. They got Tallboyz write about male body image, masculinity, Ttogether in 2016 in time to enter The Toronto Sketch friendship and vulnerability — not the most typical Comedy Festival that fall, and by September 2019 fodder for men in sketch comedy. their eponymous eight-part series premiered on CBC “I think we do explore some uncharted comedy,” Television, with Bruce McCulloch of Kids in the Hall says Vance Banzo. “I haven’t really seen much sketch (KITH) fame as showrunner and EP. For the record, talking about the insecurity of men and masculinity. Tallboyz are as advertised — there’s Guled Abdi (6’ We were all raised by single mothers, so we’re 8”), Vance Banzo (6’ 5”), Tim Blair (6’ 1”) and Franco definitely in touch with our more sensitive sides, and Nguyen (5’ 11” — and a half!). we’re not afraid to be vulnerable.” While Tallboyz sketches include moments of They’re also in touch with issues of race and height-related physical comedy, (for instance, “Tall racism, with sketches reflecting their real-life in the Club,” where forehead-meets-exposed-duct experiences as “a diverse group of comedians being work for some slapstick guffaws), most of the laughs diverse diversely,” as their Facebook page would are reliant on sharp writing. (Even in “Tall at the have it. In the sketch “I Know Canada,” for example,

Standing 25’ 2” tall in total are the Tallboyz — co-creators and stars of Canada’s newest sketch 20 comedy series. From L to R: Franco Nguyen, Guled Abdi, Tim Blair and Vance Banzo 21 FEATURE

Banzo (who is Saulteaux/) plays a game show required for a script in TV,” says Blair. “Lots in terms of host quizzing a white guy on the differences between structure, and things like how much detail is needed so an Indigenous person and a Canadian penny. It’s that the humour comes out, and what makes it flow so an absurd premise, but one that quickly gets to that an idea can be clearly understood.” the heart of the discomfort many non-Indigenous The sheer breadth of McCulloch’s experience Canadians experience when talking about inspired and motivated all of them, as Banzo recalls. Indigenous issues. “Bruce talked a lot about his time in the KITH But while race and notions of masculinity provide [troupe], and about being a writer on Saturday Night plenty of inspiration, the group has no rules about what Live before Kids got their show. Also, when it comes it chooses to write about, as Guled Abdi explains. to writing, he’s a lot like myself. Procrastinating, “When we’re writing, we just bring up any idea. mulling things over. But the one thing Bruce kind of When we have the most discussion, it’s about sketches drove into us is that if you have an idea just write it, connected to race. We want to make sure we’re as because you don’t know where it’s going to go. You thoughtful as possible, and we try to make the ideas could have three ideas done by the end of the day, so clear and powerful.” just keep working, keep going.” The troupe’s members, who all knew each other Abdi echoes Banzo, commenting on McCulloch’s from Toronto’s improv and stand up scene, began as “vast knowledge of comedy” and his motivational Tallboyz II Men, but some combination of concerns skills when it came to getting the members of about trademark and online searchability meant Tallboyz to stick with a sketch even when it could go calling the CBC series Tallboyz. And yes, they do to “eight or 10 drafts.” have a boy-band sketch, revolving around one group “He could see the funny in ideas we were member’s reluctance to take off his shirt, and it sometimes unsure about,” says Abdi. “He had a concludes in a manner that can only be described as different eye for the stuff. He was so generous with surreal. (No spoilers: See episode one, streaming on feedback and really tried his hardest to let this show CBC Gem.) be the show we wanted it to be.” Their live shows were always written as a group, It’s tempting to look for signs of KITH in honing the sketches in response to audience reaction. Tallboyz, but McCulloch is on record as saying But once CBC saw the pitch (scored live, complete Tallboyz’ brand of humour is a little “kinder and with sound effects, which was McCulloch’s idea) and sweeter” than KITH’s, also less sexual and more greenlit the show, the way they wrote had to change. political. When McCulloch first saw Tallboyz live For one thing, there was a schedule. They wrote the he was impressed by how “original, surprising and show from Nov. 2018 to Feb. 2019 (the writers’ room sweet” they were, as he said in the CBC press release With promising raw material, but little experience writing for TV, comedy heavyweight Bruce McCulloch got the call to serve as showrunner and EP on Tallboyz, guiding the troupe’s transition from stage to screen was in an empty bar), which meant having to work announcing the show. As for Tallboyz, KITH has faster than they were used to. They also incorporated become an influence, but they didn’t all grow up other writers into the room, and had McCulloch’s watching it. At 23, Blair says his first experience notes to consider. of KITH was when he was still in middle school, “Collectively we had almost no TV experience,” watching the reunion special Death Comes to Town. says Abdi. “And we were used to writing as a Where KITH and Tallboyz as writers do cross committee. But when we got to the show, we were told over is in their mutual penchant for the absurd. to watch. The twist is a revelation about the origins Tallboyz has been airing on CBC back-to-back it would slow down things dramatically to work that KITH had its oddball cops who would do things of police racism though, moving the whole thing to with Baroness von Sketch Show, and in some ways, way. So, we had pitch sessions, and did some writing like consider the property values of houses during a a deeper level of social commentary. But then, just it seems almost like its flipside. Not surprisingly, individually. If we hit a wall, we’d bounce the ideas off shoot-out. Tallboyz has its hapless Toronto Transit when you need them to, the TTC special constables Baroness has its admirers in Tallboyz. (Abdi notes of each other.” Commission (TTC) special constables; out of shape, show up. “they pack so much into such a short amount of time, Franco Nguyen underscores the challenges they bumbling, and in one sketch, carrying pepper spray Abdi says he’s “very proud” of the pull-over which is so impressive.”) But whether the multiple faced. “Our training is in funny. We’ve had a lot of because they can’t carry guns. (“This isn’t America,” sketch, which the troupe’s members spent a lot of seasons that Baroness has landed are also in Tallboyz’ practice being funny in front of live audiences. But is the winking line to the camera.) time writing before they even took it to the writers’ future remains to be seen. Clearly the troupe is the speed at which a TV show comes together is way But police play a more troubling role in a room. But the members of Tallboyz say they never hopeful, and they’re already hard at work. Banzo faster. And the speed at which people process visual Tallboyz sketch premised on two men in a car being can predict what will resonate with the audience. describes his days as pitching, writing and going information [via a screen] is much faster, too. We’ve pulled over by a pair of cops for no reason. The car’s The TTC constables have been an unexpected hit, home, then doing it again the next day — all the while had to learn to write in a more concise way.” driver says that because he’s “a black man in a car,” he for example. So has “I Could Have Met Drake,” in keeping in mind the underlying values of the kind of McCulloch, who first encountered Banzo and knows exactly what the cops will say when he lowers which everyone and their dog and their dog’s cousin comedy Tallboyz is committed to making. Tim Blair while guest lecturing at Humber College’s the window. And he does know. Literally. The scene shares a near-brush with the rap star. It ends with a “We’ve had discussions about it,” says Banzo. Comedy: Writing and Performance program, proved a unfolds with the driver mirroring both police officers’ solemn, PSA-style warning: “Every day, one in three “We really want a positive, fun, and caring show — we hugely helpful mentor. lines, word for word. Words, it must be noted, that Torontonians will claim they met Drake. You don’t all care about each other so much. We want to bleed “Bruce gave us lot of tips and tricks on what’s ring so true some might find the sketch almost painful have to be one of them.” that into the paper and hopefully to the screen.”

22 23 FEATURE

he timing couldn’t have been better for Heidi Critch, for his part, appreciates Brander’s The Brander’s debut as head writer on This Hour steadiness. “She has an amazing temperament,” he tells Has 22 Minutes. Not only was there a federal Canadian Screenwriter. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her election campaign going on, but it was angry. She can take whatever pressure the grind puts on proving to be one for the ages. her with style and grace and she delivers every time.” Graduate T“We came back on air at the perfect moment,” It was Allison who chose Brander as his successor. she says on the line from Halifax, where the politically “Heidi has been a joke machine, delivering funny focused CBC satire and sketch series is shot. “The news sketches and desk material week after week,” he says. Heidi Brander moves up to has been fantastic.” “She works hard and is a positive force in the room. Nothing provided more fodder than the We’ve worked side by side for several years, so offering head writer of This Hour revelation of photos of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau her the head writer position was the easiest decision I Has 22 Minutes at in blackface and brownface. had to make.” “That was the craziest day I’ve had on this show,” While Allison is charged with the show’s overall a juicy time in adds Brander, in her seventh year on the series. “We had vision, Brander describes her role as “managing the Canadian politics a whole show planned, then that happened and we just writers, making sure everything is in on time and taking threw everything in the garbage and had to start from a final pass at the script.” scratch. It was fun and exciting but intense. We thought, The group convenes Tuesdays — the day after By Mark Dillon ‘Oh my God, what an idiotic thing for him to do!’” shooting — to pitch ideas, mostly, Brander explains, In that episode, co-host Trent McClellan, who “to make sure that if two writers have the same idea is a person of colour, introduced himself as Trudeau. they’re not stepping on each other’s toes and maybe can Co-host Susan Kent confessed to an earlier sketch in collaborate.” Newbies sometimes need to be told that which she also appeared in heavy makeup — as Trudeau. their ideas, while funny, don’t fit the show. McClellan and co-host Mark Critch traded barbs Each one writes four or five sketches, then Brander about the scandal, with the latter noting, “Blackface is and Allison pick the best 25 to 30, which make it to a [Trudeau’s] go-to costume. It’s his ‘sexy cat.’” table read, and then the eight or nine that get the most That quip is pure Brander, who favours pop- laughs go to camera. The live shows film up to two hours, culture allusions. “The show calls for everything to during which Brander sits at the back of the audience to be tied into politics, but my sense of humour is a bit gauge response to help her and Allison decide what will sillier,” says the stand-up comic. “Making those kinds of make the final 22-minute cut. references is more my style.” As with other writing gigs she’s landed, Brander Staying relevant is key to the longevity of the first heard about the opportunity at22 Minutes through series, now in its mind-boggling 27th season. Show her stand-up network and sent in a package. Her first creator and original cast member returned scripting job was on variety show MTV Live, followed by in this year’s third episode to interview youth at appearances on Video on Trial mocking music videos. Montreal’s climate march, in a piece summing up the She later wrote for web series Just Passing Through and show’s delicate balancing act: Appealing to longtime CBC’s Still Standing and Baroness von Sketch Show. fans while courting a new demographic. Shaking up the She studied film at Queen’s University after writers’ room is one way to keep fresh. spending her high school years in P.E.I. and her “We have some cool young stand-up comics on childhood divided between and Ontario. staff and we’re trying to let them get their voices heard She still considers her claim to fame as the time she beat as much as possible,” Brander says. “If there’s something Ryan Gosling in a lip-sync competition while in Grade 4 going on in the news that might target a younger in Cornwall, Ont. audience, we usually get them to write up something, “He was the big-deal performer kid at my school,” even if it’s just a parody of a new song.” she recalls. “He did a number and everyone was saying, The writing staff this year includes Adam ‘Oh, he’s going to win because he’s Ryan Gosling.’ Then I Christie, Kevin Shustack, Sophie Buddle, Brandon did a song and came in first and he came in second. I had Hackett, Aisha Brown and Jon Blair with contributions a crush on him — I still do — and I thought, ‘Is he mad at from Dean Jenkinson and Bob Kerr. Former head me because I won?’ I didn’t want to piss off my crush.” writer Mike Allison has been promoted to showrunner, Her biggest comedy crush is another fellow taking over from Peter McBain. Canuck — Samantha Bee of Full Frontal with Samantha The four cast members — including , the Bee fame. “She’s my hero and main comedy influence,” sole original one — contribute sketches, but Critch is the Brander gushes. “I recently went to L.A. and did a only one who gets a writer’s credit. “He’s a powerhouse,” comedy show there and afterwards the host said, Brander says. “In any given week, if you see a sketch and ‘You’ve got such a Samantha Bee vibe.’ It was the nicest think it’s the best one, chances are Mark wrote it.” compliment anyone’s ever given me.”

24 25 W-FILES Kayla Lorette & “We want to make a funny and interesting Evany Rosen series, one that challenges conventional structure ... We also want to show Mining ’70s utopias for laughs complex and flawed female characters.” in New Eden - Kayla Lorette Rosen (L) and Lorette in character By Cameron Archer

hile Kayla Lorette a deep interest in cults. The idea female communes to see how they KL: We talked a lot about women American Vandal and NBC’s were actually high — people get and Evany Rosen have that a group of people could be differ from ones led by men. How and how they function in large Trial & Error? killed, people get brainwashed, Wworked together in the manipulated into following the do matriarchies function, and groups — the tenderness and care people go to federal prison. theatre with 2015’s Network Notes, doctrine of a strange leader is so how do they crumble when their of sisterhood, but also some of ER: The first thing we always The characters themselves the pair’s most ambitious project endlessly fascinating. leaders are foolish or egotistical? the darker elements of female say when people ask us about are so absurd, and at times to date is true-crime documentary communication. Evany and I those shows is that we are not a ill-equipped to handle the send-up New Eden. The show went ER: The idea for New Eden evolved ER: Our research was more spent a lot of time exploring so mockumentary, but a fictional extraordinary situations they into production for Bell Media’s over many hours of discussion, focused on communal living many details of New Eden, a lot documentary. We were always find themselves in, that all the Crave this past summer, and and one self-appointed “voluntary movements that emerged in of which never made it to the fascinated by the idea of the darkness somehow ends up follows the New Eden community work trip” to Ottawa where we California and on the West Coast in screen. We took a lot of care in documentary lens as a vehicle for being funny. as it deals with issues related to spent the weekend brainstorming. the 1960s and ’70s. I remember we the world-building so that it story, but not as the butt of the communal living, alien goddess We really liked the idea of working had already done a deep dive on the would feel real to us. Once that joke. We wanted our doc to feel worship and murder — of course. with both true crime and the Rajneeshees, and then Wild Wild world was built in our minds, it authentic, and for the characters … What are your goals for New Among other credits, Rosen is intricacies of female relationships. Country came out. We were both felt easy to inject any satire or to have their own story going on. Eden, both comedically and a writer, story editor and actor like, ‘Oh no, people are gonna think absurdity without losing the soul commercially? What do you for CBC’s Baroness von Sketch KL: We always knew the comedic our show is based on this doc.’ of the show. KL: It was very important to us plan to achieve with the series? Show, and was a member of sketch core of New Eden would be the that our show had real stakes comedy troupe . Lorette characters. I believe our history KL: The women in our story ER: Once you step back from that and real drama. We wanted to ER: We certainly hope that is currently best known as Dree as improvisers helped develop were all pushing back against world, knowing all that footage see how far we could take the people will discover something Davis on Kim’s Convenience (CBC), dialogue that felt grounded and the sexism they were facing, and is filtered through the lens of a serious elements of their story new with New Eden and discover and is a voice-over artist for natural to fit the documentary style. wanted to define their own rules 1991 documentary that sees our without losing the comedy. We not only a unique format, but series like Gary and His Demons for living. characters through their trial and also took a lot of care in crafting a new balance of comedy and (CBC Gem/VRV) and Cupcake & into a life behind bars, it becomes our fake documentarians. We drama that they maybe haven’t Dino: General Services (Teletoon/ How did you prepare more of a juggling act in terms wanted to know exactly what seen before. Netflix). Shoving three decades background research for New How hard was it to establish a of tone. The world and the story intention was behind each into eight episodes, New Eden Eden? Did you examine the place like New Eden and keep it gets so much bigger, and so much lens so we could explore the KL: We want to make a funny debuts in November 2019 on stories of past, failed Canadian believable, but keep the satire more absurd, but it has to walk ideas of male gaze and media and interesting series, one Crave. utopias like Major William sharp? this familiar real-feeling line. perspective. That last sentence that challenges conventional Kingdom Rains’s attempts on ‘Wait, do I remember that news doesn’t sound all that fun, but I structure. We are interested Where did the idea for New Lake Simcoe, or the Kalevan ER: The world of New Eden story from the early ’80s?’ is the think it gave us a rich extra layer in playing with moments of Eden come from? How did your Kansa in Sointula, B.C.? itself — which is all found footage question we want our audience to play with. drama and seeing how far we past writing experiences inform from a 1970s cult — was the most who were alive in the early ’80s can push that. We also want to the creation of the series, and ER: No, but I’ll be sure to look organic, I think. In that realm, we to ask. ER: In a lot of other true-crime show complex and flawed female how did you come to collaborate those up! were working from a pure space of mock docs, the stakes are really characters. on it? character — not only our own, but low, but they’re treated like KL: We read a lot of feminist also all the women who populate What separates New Eden they’re high through a parody ER: Honestly, we’d just be jazzed KL: Evany and I are both fans of works from that time, but also New Eden. The comedy and from true-crime mockumentary of the format. We wanted to if people watch it period. That’d true crime and have always had looked to all past and present pathos there felt natural and easy. series such as Netflix’s make a comedy where the stakes be great.

26 27 MEMBER ALERT! Unfair Engagers The Guild has declared the following engagers “unfair” for failing to abide Help Producers by grievance procedures or the decision of a joint standing committee. The WGC’s working rules prohibit members from working with unfair engagers. Project1:Layout 1 10/25/12 2:26 PM Page 1

3620425 Canada Inc. Lester Beach Entertainment Find and Hire You Principal: Louis-Philippe Rochon Principal: Jeff Lester All I Want Productions Inc. Mikisew Keemiwan Productions, Ltd. Principal: Kirk Shaw Principal: Norman Champagne Battered Productions Inc. Nikolai Productions Principal: Kirk Shaw Principal: Cindy Lamb Christmas Town Productions Inc. Norfolk International Ltd. Principal: Kirk Shaw Principal: William Macadam FOTP Productions Inc. Numb Productions Inc. Principal: Richard Rapkowski Principal: Kirk Shaw Guardian Films Inc. / En Garde Films Inc. Perfect Stranger Productions Inc. Principal: Kirk Shaw Principal: Kirk Shaw H & S Films Prospero Entertainment Group Inc. Principal: Nicolas Stiliadis Principal: John Lambert Hiding Productions Inc. Richard Lowry Productions Inc. Principal: Kirk Shaw Principal: Richard Lowry High Seas Rescue Productions Inc. She Productions Inc. Principal: F. Whitman Trecartin Principal: Kirk Shaw Ice Planet (1) Canada Ltd. Spiritual Productions Inc. Principal: Philip Jackson Principal: Kirk Shaw Justice Productions Inc. System Productions Inc. Principal: Kirk Shaw Principal: KirkPl eShawase Help Us Find These Writers! The CSCS is holding foreign secondary authors’ levies for writers Kangaroo Court Productions Ltd. T Man Productions Inc. Principal: Robin Payne Principal: Kirk Shaw Les Productions les Plus Belles Routes du Monde Inc. Zolar Productionshe Ca Inc.nadian Screenwriters Collection Society (CSCS) is Principal: Andre Belanger Principal: Kirk hShawolding foreign secondary authors’ levies for a number of (not affiliated with Spectra Animation Inc.) T writers and uncredited productions. As CSCS does not have a current address for these writers or the productions do not have complete credit information we have not been able to forward any monies to the entitled writers. The complete list of writers and productions is available on the CSCS website at: Please Help Us Find These Writers! The CSCS is holding foreign secondary authors’ levies for writerswww.wgc.ca/cscs/hot_news/index.html If you have any information that would allow us to contact any of these writers or their agents, or if you are a credited writer The Canadian Screenwriters Collection Society (CSCS) Marisa Kingo natt [email protected] listed production, please contact: Update your Member Directory profile. is holding foreign secondary authors’ levies for a number or call (416) 979.7907 ext. 5231 or of writers and uncredited productions. As CSCS does not 1.800.567.9974Mari sext.a K i5231.ng at [email protected] It’s easy. Login at www.wgc.ca to get started. or call (416) 979.7907 ext. 5231 or have a current address for these writers or the productions 1.800.567.9974 ext. 5231. do not have complete credit information we have not been Please note that CSCS may require writers to furnish able to forward any monies to the entitled writers. The contracts inPl esupportase no teof ttheirhat Cclaim.SCS mAccordingay requir etow CSCSriters to furnish complete list of writers and productions is available on the regulations,c oifn tara writercts in doessupp onotrt oclaimf the ihisr c loraim her. A cmoniescording to CSCS Questions? CSCS website at: within twor eyearsgulat iofon sbeing, if a postedwriter d oones ournot websiteclaim h itheses or h er monies https://www.wgc.ca/screenwriters/cscs monies revertwith toin 2theye operatingars of bein expensesg posted oofn oCSCS.ur website these monies Contact Terry Mark ([email protected]) revert to the operating expenses of CSCS. If you have any information that would allow us to contact any of these writers or their agents, or if you are a credited writer on the listed production, please contact:

Member Directory Ad.indd 1 3/6/19 11:25 AM SPOTLIGHT News from WGC Members

Larry Bambrick is back From January to July, Kate September and will continue in Toronto after six sunny Hewlett served as a writer and its festival run over the coming Stuck (Prime Video), recently Now the monks sworn to protect first novel Claremont, recently months in Los Angeles working co-EP on the BBC/DHX Media months before being broadcast became a viral hit, garnering more this secret are him published in Canada, have been on the new Hallmark series (now WildBrain) co-pro, Malory nationally on CBC’s Canadian than 300,000 views online. His with crossbows. In a desperate sold to publisher Kiepenheuer & When Hope Calls. He is now Towers. Additionally, her two Reflections. new film Lughead will have its attempt to save his life, Jerome Witsch in Germany. developing a show for eOne and episodes of Corner Gas Animated world premiere at the Austin Film will publicly reveal the Forbidden Counterfeit Pictures — and aired on The Comedy Network Greg Nelson is spending the year Festival. Transition here: RHOMBUS- John Walker has optioned Linden another Canadian-Irish co- over the summer. in Los Angeles as writer and co- WIPE. Use at your own peril! MacIntyre’s recently released production with Hoodwink of the new While exploring a script library non-fiction book The Wake. With Entertainment. Gemma Holdway is currently CBS/CTV series All Rise. recently, Jerome Simpson The German and world rights funding from the CMF Early adapting the comic book series accidentally unearthed a long- (excluding the U.S. and Canada) Stage Development Program, he is Alejandro Alvarez Cadilla’s The Spire for BOOM! Studios and Jennifer Podemski and Derek forgotten Forbidden Transition. to Wiebke von Carolsfeld’s planning to adapt it for the screen. short script Abyssal has made Blue Ice Pictures. Diorio (Hard Rock Medical) have the finalist list for Best Short created and are now writing a 10- Script at the Pittsburgh Shorts Edward Kay’s primetime ep half-hour drama series called Film Festival taking place in drama, Get Happy, has been Unsettled for TVO and APTN. November and will be read by optioned by Diggstown producer, Production begins in February in actors in front of an audience at Circle Blue Entertainment. His North Bay. CANADIAN SCREENWRITERS ARE… the Southside Works Theatre. preschool series, Let’s Roll, is in development with Boulevard Publisher Routledge has just Mika Collins has recently Productions, one of the co- published English and French returned from Cape Town, producers of the CBC series, versions of Isabelle Raynauld’s Writing what South Africa, where she wrote Addison, for which Edward was book, Reading and Writing a WRITING several episodes for Syfy’s new showrunner. Screenplay: Fiction, Documentary feminist space opera, Vagrant and New Media. Queen, now in production. Donald Martin has been Her award-winning sci-fi web commissioned to adapt the Nora Carolyn Saunders wrote several SUCCESS series, Deep Six, (co-created Roberts novel Brazen Virtue into episodes of the web series Tokens, SELLS and co-produced with Davin a movie for Netflix. a comedy about last-minute Lengyel), about the first diversity casting. The series ON ALL SCREENS Internationally astronauts in deep space, just Peter Meech’s debut novel is doing nicely on the festival launched on YouTube. It’s now Billy (the Kid) will be published circuit, winning Best Comedy available after a successful in February 2020 by Sentient Series at the Minnesota Webfest. Telling Canadian stories… to the World. festival run, winning Best Publications. Web Series at the Los Angeles Corey Shurge is currently Independent Film Festival, Karen Moore’s directorial working in Los Angeles as writer Writers Guild of Canada www.wgc.ca Hollyweb Festival, and the debut short film Volcano had its and executive producer on the London Independent Film world premiere at the Toronto new scripted podcast series, Solve Festival. International Film Festival in (iHeartRadio). His short film,

30 WRITERS HELPING WRITERS MEMBERSHIP

Money for Missing Writers Welcome (May 8 – October 28, 2019)

Alejandro Alvarez Cadilla Montreal QC Margaret Lester Mississauga ON The Writers Guild of Canada is holding monies for the writers listed below. The WGC has Elysse Applebaum Los Angeles CA Bret MacDonald Saint-Lazare QC been unable to locate the writers and forward the money to them. If you have any information that would help us reach these writers (or their agents or estates), please contact the staff Emily Ballou Glasgow SCOTLAND Megan MacKay Toronto ON member indicated below. These writers would thank you. Ronald Bass Los Angeles CA Michael Mariano North Hills CA Phillip Bastien Toronto ON Steve Marmel Sherman Oaks CA IPA - contact Aaron Unrau at [email protected] NFB - contact Aaron Unrau at [email protected] Shem Bitterman Los Angeles CA Jennifer McAuliffe Toronto ON 1-800-567-9974 ext. 5270 1-800-567-9974 ext. 5270 Joie Botkin Oakland CA Jessica Meya Toronto ON Susan Brightbill Minnetonka MN Sally Nemeth Los Angeles CA Dawn Cumberbatch — Top Cops Laszlo Gefin — Revolution’s Orphans Lisa Codrington Toronto ON Amish Patel Brampton ON Elana Devine — Student Bodies János Szanyi — Revolution’s Orphans Ashley Cooper Toronto ON Madeleine Patton Toronto ON Warren Easton — Odyssey II Gilles Toupin — Cycling: Still the Greatest Joe Flanigan — Stargate Peter Vogler — Ernie’s Idea Adam Countee Studio City CA John Christian Plummer Cold Spring NY Gerald Fourier — Littlest Hobo David Curtis Dawson City YK Tamara Podemski Toronto ON John Hollard — Littlest Hobo Amber-Sekowan Daniels Toronto ON James Schultz Toronto ON Tim Fontaine Toronto ON Rob Shapiro Toronto ON Michael Foulke Burbank CA Michelle Shaughnessy Toronto ON Mary Galloway Winnipeg MB Akash Sherman Toronto ON Meredith Hambrock Vancouver BC David Shohet Montreal QC At the Distinguished Writers Program, I came to Duncan Hay Jennings Toronto ON Carley Smale Peterborough ON feel a connection to the artistic life of a city unlike anything Keith Hodder Toronto ON Laurie Smith Toronto ON I have experienced before. People want words to do so many Lauren Holly Oakville ON Ashley Spires Delta BC different things! To tour and talk through this kind of variety Mathias Horhager Toronto ON Jason Stone Toronto ON has been a profound and enriching experience. Jono Howard Surrey BC Kirstie Swain London ENGLAND David Iserson Los Angeles CA Jill Turner Fishkill NY Vicky Jones London ENGLAND Garth Twa Altadena CA — Nick Thran 2015–16 Canadian Writer-in-Residence Frances Koncan Winnipeg MB Michael Vogel West Hollywood CA Caitlin Langelier Toronto ON Anna White Los Angeles CA Monique LeBlanc Bouctouche NB Callum Wratten Toronto ON Are you our next writer-in-residence? Our condolences Apply by January 15, 2020. Andrew Dalrymple Toronto ON Joe Wiesenfeld Palm Desert CA ucalgary.ca/cdwp Leon Marr Toronto ON OFF SCRIPT CALENDAR

November

7 - 15 — Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival reelasian.com 14 - 24 — Montreal International Documentary Festival ridem.ca 27 — Writers Talking TV wgc.ca

December

1 — Deadline — WGC Screenwriting Awards Nominations wgc.ca 4 — WGC Quebec Member Holiday Party, Montreal wgc.ca 4 - 8 — Whistler Film Festival whistlerfilmfestival.com 6 — WGC Pacific Region Member Holiday Party, Vancouver wgc.ca 12 — WGC Central Region Member Holiday Party, Toronto wgc.ca

Penelope Laurence January She’s written for everything from YTV Family 29 - 31 — Prime Time in Ottawa primetimeinottawa.ca Biz to doc-style Bomb Hunters and preschool toon February Toopy and Binoo, all under the influence of Tarantino.

10 - 13 — Kidscreen Summit summit.kidscreen.com 22 — ACTRA Awards in Toronto actratoronto.com

March Who is your greatest TV series of all time? Six Feet by Douglas Coupland. When I influence when it comes to Under • What is one of your read it in my 20s it wasn’t one 23 - 29 — Canadian Screen Week academy.ca screenwriting? Tarantino — when favourite TV series right now? of my favourites, but in my I first watched Pulp Fiction as Sharp Objects • How do you 40s, I now recognize what a a teenager, I realized he was overcome procrastination aka kickass character he’s created April a screenwriter’s wet dream. writer’s block? Just do it. By that in the matriarch of the family, He writes dialogue not just I mean, put something on the Janet Drummond. • What are 27 — WGC Screenwriting Awards, Koerner Hall, Toronto wgc.ca to advance story and reveal paper, anything. No judgement. you obsessed with right now? character, but for the simple joy Get it all out. Do the vomit pass, This list. I keep waking up in of saying cool things. • What TV then polish that turd into GOLD. the middle of the night and writers’ rooms do you wish you What is the most over-used remembering another snappy had been in? Six Feet Under, plot device in a script? “…and answer, then I wake up and Dawson’s Creek, Being Erica. I woke up to discover it was all discover it was all a dream. If you had to listen to one song a dream.” • What one do you What is your most treasured on repeat until you finished think will never disappear possession? My television. your next script, what would it and shouldn’t? The rule of Like all good scriptwriters, it be? “Sunny” by Bobby Hebb. It three. It’s as sanctified and raised me. • If you weren’t a makes me feel that no matter omnipresent as the Father, Son screenwriter, you would be a what the challenge in front of me, and Holy Ghost. • Who are your ______? Olympic skier or everything is going to be all right. favourite writers? Tarantino, a doctor. These are my two What are your preferred snack , Douglas Coupland. other dream lives. Of course my foods for a writers’ room? A fine • What are you reading and sporting skills and grades at high red wine. In vino veritas after all. listening to right now? I just school ensured scriptwriting was What is one of your favourite reread All Families Are Psychotic the only realistic choice.

34 DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE AT THE SPOTLIGHT. WGC SCREENWRITING AWARDS ARE NOW OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS.

CHILDREN’S COMEDY SERIES DOCUMENTARY DRAMA SERIES FEATURE FILM MOW & PRESCHOOL SHORTS & WEBSERIES TWEENS & TEENS

Visit wgc.ca to submit entries. DEADLINE: Sunday, Dec. 1, 11:59 p.m. EST

The 24th Annual WGC Screenwriting Awards April 27, 2020 Koerner Hall Toronto

WGC Nominate Ad 2020.indd 1 11/1/19 10:38 AM