The Future Is Female
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WINTER 2018 WE SET OUT TO FIND CANADA’S MOST IMPRESSIVE YOUNG PRODUCERS AND DISCOVERED THE FUTURE IS FEMALE PAW PATROL-ING THE WORLD OVER THE TOP? How Spin Master found the right balance We ask Netflix for their of story, product and marketing to create take on the public reaction a global juggernaut to #CreativeCanada 2 LETTER FROM THE CEO TABLE OF 3 LETTER FROM THE CMPA ADDRESSING HARASSMENT WITHIN CONTENTS CANADA’S PRODUCTION SECTOR 12 OVER THE TOP? A CONVERSATION WITH NETFLIX CANADA’S CORIE WRIGHT 4 18 S’EH WHAT? THE NEXT WAVE A LEXICON OF CANADIANISMS FROM YOUR FAVOURITE SHOWS CHECK OUT SOME OF THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST WE GIVE OF CANADA’S EMERGING CREATOR CLASS 20 DON’T CALL IT A REBOOT MICHAEL HEFFERON, RAINMAKER ENTERTAINMENT 22 TRAILBLAZERS CANADA’S INDIE TWO ALUMNI OF THE CMPA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM RISE HIGHER AND HIGHER 24 IN FINE FORMAT PRODUCERS MARIA ARMSTRONG, BIG COAT MEDIA 28 HOSERS TAKE THE WORLD THE TOOLS MARK MONTEFIORE, NEW METRIC MEDIA THEY NEED PRODUCTION LISTS so they can bring 6 30 DRAMA SERIES 44 COMEDY SERIES THE FUTURE IS FEMALE diverse stories to 55 CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH SERIES MEET NINE OF CANADA’S BARRIER-TOPPLING, STEREOTYPE-SMASHING, UP-AND-COMING PRODUCERS 71 DOCUMENTARY SERIES life on screen for 84 UNSCRIPTED SERIES 95 FOREIGN LOCATION SERIES audiences at home and around the world 14 WINTER 2018 THE CMPA A FEW GOOD PUPS HOW SPIN MASTER ENTERTAINMENT ADVOCATES with government on behalf of the industry TURNED PAW PATROL INTO AN PRESIDENT AND CEO: Reynolds Mastin NEGOTIATES with unions and guilds, broadcasters and funders UNSTOPPABLE SUPERBRAND OPENS doors to international markets CREATES professional development opportunities EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Andrew Addison CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kyle O’Byrne SECURES exclusive rates for industry events and conferences 26 CONTRIBUTOR AND COPY EDITOR: Lisa Svadjian THAT OLD EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Kathleen McGouran FAMILIAR FEELING CONTRIBUTING WRITER: Martha Chomyn EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN! DESIGN AND LAYOUT: FleishmanHillard HighRoad JOIN US. MAKE IT HAPPEN. IDENTIFY THE LATEST CAN’T-MISS COVER STORY PHOTOGRAPHY: Leeor Wild cmpa.ca CANADIAN TV REBOOTS ADDRESSING LETTER HARASSMENT WITHIN FROM CANADA’S PRODUCTION THE CEO SECTOR A LETTER FROM THE CMPA Over the past months, we have In our efforts to carry out this important work, the CMPA has developed a strategy focused on both developing and improving processes for reporting, investigation and discipline, as well as shifting For me, the 1990s didn’t In our industry, reboots of tried-and-true properties carry a heavy burden of expectations, both witnessed an unprecedented the industry culture that has allowed these issues to go largely unaddressed. from the creators and from the audiences who count down the days until the new movie hits focus on the issue of sexual We know that victims of harassment often choose not to report because they fear consequences seem so long ago—until I theatres or the new show airs. The same could be said of Creative Canada, Heritage Minister for their professional reputations and their careers. This should never be the case. We have Mélanie Joly’s cultural policy overhaul—another reboot of sorts—which was announced last harassment within the production learned that ReBoot, the therefore begun outreach to members to provide training and ensure that there is clarity about September after many months of consultations with stakeholders, including the CMPA. We the responsibilities that producers have as employers, both on set and in their offices. We are also groundbreaking Canadian believe that the broad tenets of the new policy—including commitments to stabilize CMF sector and across our broader working with our broader industry partners, including the unions and guilds, to create safe working funding, initiatives to reduce red tape at CAVCO and federal funding bodies, efforts to foster computer-animated series, society. Let us be absolutely environments where victims of harassment are encouraged to report without any fear of personal or innovation within the production sector, and an export strategy that will help producers bring professional reprisal. would soon be returning to the Canadian stories to new audiences around the world—are positive steps toward the ultimate clear—every person in our goal of updates to both the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act, and a refreshed sector is entitled to work in an As part of this process, we are collaborating on the development of a code of conduct for the entire screen in a new incarnation. regulatory system that meets the needs of both creators and consumers in this new digital age. sector that will plainly define expectations of appropriate and inappropriate behaviour, and clearly environment that is characterized communicate consequences for those who violate the code. My first thought was, “So Much of the public discussion following the announcement of the Creative Canada policy soon?”—until I did the math. centred on the deal Joly struck with Netflix, in which the streaming giant pledged to invest by respect and dignity, and is Harassment is often about power and power imbalances, which is likely to occur in situations where $500 million in original Canadian productions. On page 12, we ask Corie Wright, Director of women are a minority within a larger group. While this minority dynamic is by no means the only factor The original show first aired Global Public Policy at Netflix, about the deal, the reaction it generated, and what it means for free from sexual harassment and that contributes to power imbalances between men and women, it is unfortunately the reality within well over 20 years ago; Canada’s independent producers. assault of any form. We at the the production sector. This is why, in addition to updating and developing new processes, the CMPA remains committed to promoting gender parity across all roles in our sector, from producers and It’s been quite thrilling to see the cultural conversation that’s been spurred by this policy CMPA are committed to working directors to grips and camera operators. indeed, the time was ripe for debate, and it underscores my belief that Canadians are much more than passive consumers a revisit. (Turn to page 20 of culture—we care passionately about where that culture comes from. Unfortunately, our with our members and across Furthermore, given the relationship between harassment and power imbalances, women with diverse industry has also been making headlines in less positive ways, beginning last fall with the the entire industry to eradicate backgrounds and life circumstances face an increased risk of sexual harassment at work. With this to see what the new show’s revelation of the suffering wrought by powerful men in Hollywood and beyond. In this issue, in mind, the CMPA is also committed to implementing initiatives aimed at improving inclusivity for executive producer, Rainmaker we confront the issue of sexual harassment and assault head-on, and renew our commitment this behaviour. women from diverse and intersecting backgrounds. to supporting a safe environment for all (page 3). Entertainment’s Michael Finally, we recognize that for cultural change to be lasting, we need to focus on the next generation of In some senses, each emerging generation of producers offers our industry a chance to renew producers—those who are not yet members of the CMPA. We will work with educational institutions Hefferon, has to say about itself, reorder its priorities, and adapt to changing technologies. I’m thrilled about this issue’s to develop training programs and tools that will begin to embed a cultural shift, creating new cover story (page 6), which tracks nine up-and-coming producers who are making phenomenal expectations of industry norms among emerging producers in Canada. bringing the beloved series work on their own terms. This “new class” isn’t bound by traditional ways of making or This moment presents us all with an opportunity to put in motion the steps to create lasting cultural distributing things, and they are thriving in a digital world that’s hungry for fresh, authentic, back to life.) change that will improve the production sector and our society. We are wholly committed to this task nuanced stories. They are all women—a fact that I hope becomes less and less surprising as and will continue to provide updates on progress as this important work continues. gender parity in film and television becomes a reality. And as we eagerly await the new content that these and other dynamic young producers will bring us, we also celebrate the astonishing success—particularly international success—that has followed several of our current shows, from the immensely popular kids’ program PAW Patrol (page 14) to the fast-talking small-town comedy Letterkenny (page 28) to the perennial home-design favourite Love It or List It (page 24). We delve into the reasons for each’s popularity, and the distinct path each has taken to global success. At their core, each is a story of creative control and creative ownership, and the magic that can happen when creators are free to choose their own destiny. LETTER FROM THE CEO According to Samantha Wan, one of the creators of the sitcom Second Jen and one of the LETTER FROM THE CMPA producers featured in our cover story, “It’s an exciting time to be a creator.” It’s possibly an even more exciting time to be an audience. Here’s to the future. INDIESCREEN / MARGUERITE PIGOTT, VICE-PRESIDENT, SCOTT GARVIE, CHAIR, REYNOLDS MASTIN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, INDIESCREEN / Reynolds Mastin OUTREACH & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, CMPA CMPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS CMPA President and CEO, CMPA 2 3 SHANNA ROBERTS SALÉE QUIXOTE PRODUCTIONS Notable work: Mistakes Were Made, a web series that follows three Montreal women as they forge a messy path to adulthood.