PROGRAM NOVEMBER 13 TO 15 pprogramme-en.inddrogramme-en.indd 1 005/11/135/11/13 112:59:302:59:30 THANKS TO THE 2013 CHILDREN, YOUTH & MEDIA CONFERENCE SPONSORS PRESTIGE SPONSORS TM EXCELLENCE SPONSORS pprogramme-en.inddrogramme-en.indd 2 005/11/135/11/13 112:59:312:59:31 SPECIAL THANKS Youth Media Alliance would like to warmly thank its 2013 Children, Youth & Media Conference advisory committee: CAROLE BONNEAU / TELETOON Canada J.J. JOHNSON / Sinking Ship Entertainment VINCE COMMISSO / 9 Story Entertainment LAWRENCE MIRKIN / Mirkin Creative JONATHAN FINKELSTEIN / LISA OLFMAN / Portfolio Entertainment Apartment 11 Productions JAMIE PIEKARZ / Corus Entertainment JILL GOLICK / Screenwriter and Digital Creator ALEXANDRA RAFFÉ / Thunderbird Films TABLE OF CONTENTS Word from Co-Chairs . 4 Word from Executive Director . 5 Schedule and Venues . 6 General Conference . 8 Workshop with Jan-Willem Bult . 11 Forays into the Latin American Market . 12 Speakers’ Biographies . 16 YOUTH MEDIA ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Co-Chairs Treasurer MICHÈLE FORTIN / Télé-Québec VINCE COMMISSO / 9 Story Entertainment J.J. JOHNSON / Sinking Ship Entertainment Secretary MICHELE PARIS / Knowledge and BBC kids Directors GUILLAUME ANIORTÉ / Tribal Nova IRA LEVY / Breakthrough Entertainment CAROLE BONNEAU / TELETOON Canada PIERRE MOISAN / Frima Studio MICHAEL GOLDSMITH / Family Channel, PETER MOSS / PDM Entertainment Disney Junior and Disney XD ALEXANDRA RAFFÉ / Thunderbird Films JOCELYN HAMILTON / Corus Entertainment KIM WILSON / CBC Television MADELEINE LÉVESQUE / Sardine Productions YMA OFFICE TEAM CHANTAL BOWEN / Executive Director LYNE CÔTÉ / Special Events and Communications Coordinator pprogramme-en.inddrogramme-en.indd 3 005/11/135/11/13 112:59:332:59:33 WORD FROM CO-CHAIRS I know what you’re thinking, will the series I’ve had in development for two years finally get greenlit? How will I make up my budget’s 20% shortfall? Does APTN do co-productions? If South Korea does animation inexpensively then what about North Korea? Why did I buy Teletubbies? Will my channel be auctioned off or have its hours reduced? Where do I find an HTML5 programmer? Or, if you’re a student here with us, where can I find the cheapest alcohol tonight? You, I envy. For the rest of us, I implore you, just for today – let it go. Dim the noise of the outside business world and remind yourself why you got into this crazy field in the first place. Remember that what you make is important and has a meaningful impact on your audience. Whether it’s teaching them about the outside world or giving them a break in their lives with a laugh – everything you do brightens a kid’s day. The YMA Conference is unique in that its focus is squarely on how to improve what we all make. How do we connect better to our audience? Understand what they need? How do we tell grander, more emotional stories? Where should be taking some risks? How are we winning and how are we losing? And ultimately, how do we make a movie, because that would be awesome. Thank you so much for joining us here today, I hope you have an incredible conference. J.J.J J JOHNSON For nearly forty years now, Youth Media Alliance has celebrated excellence in TV programming and interactive content specially made for children and youth. Each new season brings another broad new range of programs and web projects produced and broadcast here at home. The variety we witness in these productions is a true testament to the vibrancy and diversity of content intended for our youngsters. With the advent of multiple screens come many new avenues for producers and broadcasters of youth content to explore – now more than ever. Turning out quality products built on solid educational foundations has become a priority for each and every one of us. I’m always so proud to see that our homegrown productions are being welcomed with open arms by Canadian families, thanks to the tireless eff orts of youth TV professionals like you. As co-president of the Youth Media Alliance, I’m pleased to welcome you to Children, Youth & Media 2013 – it’s a golden opportunity for us to meet, discuss, and learn from each other. Enjoy the conference! MICHÈLE FORTIN 4 pprogramme-en.inddrogramme-en.indd 4 005/11/135/11/13 112:59:332:59:33 WORD FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Welcome to our 2013 edition! As you know, our industry is in a period of great transition and there are now some new players on the field, such as Amazon Studios – the YMA is pleased to welcome them to Toronto as it heads into its 40th year. This year’s chosen theme is the target audience, which the industry should be striving to serve better. During discussions and presentations, participants will explore “ways to create better content that meets young people’s needs and expectations.” To help you remain on the leading edge of our constantly shifting business, there are a number of speakers on the roster who are sure to meet your expectations. We aim to ensure relevant, ground-breaking content at these annual gatherings. In the company of such eminent guests as Tara Sorenson, Jocelyn Stevenson, Angela Santomero and David Kleeman, we promise that your two days will be fast-paced and stimulating, with an international flavour. There are two workshops planned after the conference. On November 14, from the Netherlands, KRO Youth Creative Head Jan-Willem Bult will be here to present the workshop “Creating for Boys Aged 9 to 12: Isolation or Integration?”. Mr. Bult will also be screening a reel of his productions. On November 15, we turn the spotlight on Latin America, more specifically Brazil. We’ll start by screening the productions seen at Comkids Prix Jeunesse Iberoamericano this past June in Sao Paulo. Organized by age group, the screening will be followed by a discussion with facilitator Beth Carmona, director of the Comkids event. Next, we’ll host a roundtable on the challenges of co-production and the new rules introduced to streamline the process. Hope you enjoy the event! CHANTAL BOWEN 5 pprogramme-en.inddrogramme-en.indd 5 005/11/135/11/13 112:59:362:59:36 SCHEDULE AND VENUES NOVEMBER 13: GENERAL CONFERENCE ST. ANDREW’S CLUB & CONFERENCE 8:45–9:15 a.m. Registration & Breakfast CENTRE 9:15–9:30 a.m. Opening of the Children, Youth & Media Conference by YMA 150 KING STREET Executive Director and Co-Chair of the Board WEST, 27TH FLOOR 9:30–10:45 a.m. Developing Kids’ and Entertainment Content with Amazon Studios TORONTO, ON 11 a.m.– 12 p.m. Where Are the Drama Series for Young People? M5H 1J9 12–1 p.m. Lunch 1–1:30 p.m. YMA Annual General Meeting (for members only) 1:45–2:45 p.m. Enter the Digital World: Reacting Quickly to Audience Needs and Expectations 3–4 p.m. The Changing Nature of Quality in Children’s Media 4:15–5:30 p.m. What Are the Key Elements of a Successful Feature Film for Kids and Families, an Underexploited Niche in our Industry? 5:30–6:30 p.m. Networking Cocktail Reception NOVEMBER 14: WORKSHOP WITH JAN-WILLEM BULT CBC’S CANADIAN BROADCASTING “CREATING FOR BOYS AGED 9 TO 12: ISOLATION OR INTEGRATION?” CENTRE ROOM 1B315 9–9:30 a.m. Registration & Coff ee 250 FRONT STREET W. 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Workshop TORONTO, ON • Introduction to Bult’s “Children in the Centre” philosophy M5V 3G5 • Concepting children’s media – the programming policy Bult designed for KRO Youth • Creating fiction – examples • Creating non-fiction – examples • Q&A, conclusions 12:30–2 p.m. Networking Lunch 6 pprogramme-en.inddrogramme-en.indd 6 005/11/135/11/13 112:59:372:59:37 NOVEMBER 15: CBC’S CANADIAN FORAYS INTO THE LATIN AMERICAN MARKET BROADCASTING CENTRE 8:30–8:45 a.m. Registration & Coff ee ROOM 1B315 8:45–9 a.m. Welcome and Introduction 250 FRONT STREET W. TORONTO, ON 9–9:50 a.m. Screening (preschool programming) M5V 3G5 • Fishtronaut (PEIXONAUTA) • The Princess of the Frozen Heart (A PRINCESA DO CORAÇÃO GELADO) • Playing with water, Snow (JUGANDO CON EL AGUA, NIEVE) • Godofredo, The switch (GODOFREDO, O INTERRUPTOR) • Yoga for kids: Aisha, the super-star: salutes the moon (YOGA PARA NIÑOS – AISHA LA SUPER ESTRELLA: FAMOSA VACA) • João, the unusual rooster (JOÃO, O GALO DESREGULADO) 9:50–10:15 a.m. Discussion 10:15 a.m–12:15 p.m. Screening (7–11, tween and teen programming) • Calling Quilombola (DISQUE QUILOMBOLA) • What your dreams are?, Trinidad Anwandter Diaz (¿CON QUÉ SUEÑAS?, TRINIDAD ANWANDTER DIAZ) • My grandmother (MI ABUELA) • Lord Lucas Vacation (AS FÉRIAS DE LORD LUCAS) • Newbie and the Disasternauts (BACK IN THE GAME) • Take me out (LEVE-ME PARA SAIR) • Pedro and Bianca – Between being born and death, we grow up (PEDRO E BIANCA – ENTRE NASCER E MORRER A GENTE CRESCE) • The moon in the garden (LA LUNA EN EL JARDÍN) 12:15–12:45 p.m. Discussion 12:45–1:30 pm. Lunch 1:30–3 p.m.: Round Table on Co-productions with Brazil 7 pprogramme-en.inddrogramme-en.indd 7 005/11/135/11/13 112:59:372:59:37 GENERAL CONFERENCE DEVELOPING KIDS’ AND ENTERTAINMENT CONTENT WITH AMAZON STUDIOS Last April, Amazon Studios began developing children’s original programming, spearheading a new way to develop original content by off ering open submissions to anyone who has a great idea. Projects are turned into pilots and customers are then invited to watch, provide feedback and help determine which pilots should be produced as a series. The programming coming out of this new development process include kids’ shows Annedroids, a science-based series from creator J.J.