Activity Report Awards of Excellence 2019
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ACTIVITY REPORT AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2019 Prepared by Claudia Marcoux Special Events and Communications Youth Media Alliance June 13, 2019 Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 1 English Language Awards of Excellence 2019 A) The Event 1. Goals 2. Preparations 3. The Gala Ceremony 4. Financing 5. Visibility B) Appendices 1. Examples of the Gala communications (press releases, newsletter, social media, and website pages) 2. Press coverage (partial) 3. List of Gala attendees Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 2 A) THE EVENT 1. Goals The goal of the Youth Media Alliance (YMA) is to promote youth programming of the highest quality. For over forty-five years, the YMA has bestowed its Awards of Excellence for the best Canadian children’s programming content on all screens. This highly anticipated industry event is the only one of its kind in Canada to specifically reward children's productions. The distinction these awards confer is recognized globally as a stamp of quality, giving the Awards of Excellence added prestige and proving to be a definite asset for visibility. In addition to the Awards of Excellence, the YMA also offers its members professional training activities such as seminars, conferences, workshops and screenings that allow producers and other creators to update their knowledge of the constantly evolving world of youth programming. Since 2015, the Youth Media Alliance has developed and now offers three scholarships: the YMA Andra Sheffer, the YMA Thérèse-Pinho, the YMA Steven DeNure Scholarships. YMA has also combined forces with WIA Vancouver to launch a new Art Director Master Class initiative. 2. Preparations The YMA English-language Awards of Excellence 2019 honour the outstanding achievements from the past two years of Canadian television programming, digital content and interactive projects for youth. Moreover, special prizes are awarded to youth programming industry professionals: the Outstanding Achievement Award, the Emerging Talent Award and the new Award of Excellence for Outstanding Youth Performer. The competition was open to all Canadian-made youth productions originally broadcast in English within Canada between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018. Final applications had to be submitted by Tuesday, March 5 at 3 pm. We received a total of 92 entries. Advisory Committee Frank Falcone, Guru Studio Sarah Haasz, Cottonwood Media J.J. Johnson, Sinking Ship Entertainment Brandon Lane, Teletoon/Corus Marney Malabar, TVO Marie McCann, CBC Jessica McLaughlin, TVO Michelle Melanson Cuperus, Headspinner Productions Inc. Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos, Consultant / Strategist Jamie Piekarz, JamPie Media Jillianne Reinseth, Entertainment One John Rooney, Johnromedia Kate Sanagan, Sinking Ship Entertainment Travis Williams, Mercury Filmworks Suzanne Wilson, Lambur Productions Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 3 The Awards Twelve Awards of Excellence were awarded. Based on the YMA’s Statement of Quality, a total of 47 jury members selected 43 nominees in ten categories. Two new categories were added: Award of Excellence, Best Digital First Content and the Award of Excellence, Outstanding Youth Performer. Awarded by a special committee, this new award shines the spotlight on a talented performer under 18 years old who stands out for uniqueness, audacity and positive presence on all platforms. This year the YMA board members decided to present the Outstanding Achievement Award to Fred Penner and the Emerging Talent Award to Rita Claire Mike-Murphy. The Jury This year, the president of jury was John Rooney. He has a vast history within Kids television in Canada starting in the late 90’s working with YTV. Rising through the ranks, John became Director of Programming and was instrumental in shaping the Corus Kids & Family brands. John successfully transitioned over to TELETOON and became their Director of Programming responsible for content strategy for all their brands and launching Cartoon Network in Canada. John has recently joined the TAAFI (Toronto Animation Arts Festival International) as Program Director for their recent TAAFI 2019 Festival, a three-day animation festival held in Toronto each year. Currently, John is working as a consultant advising various clients on content strategy, programming, development and curation. John has been a member of the YMA Awards advisory committee for several years. The Gala Ceremony The YMA called upon Robby Hoffman to write and host the Gala awards ceremony. Robby Hoffman is a small ex-Hasidic queer stand-up comedian and writer. She has just come off of writing several seasons on The Chris Gethard Show (2018), was named one of Comedy Central's UP NEXT comedians (2018) on Conan O’Brien’s Comics to Watch list (2018), and recently recorded her first one-hour stand-up comedy TV special for Just for Laughs (2019). Robby’s writing has been on a tear since graduating from McGill University. She started on Playdate (ABC Kids), then Dino Dana (TVO Kids), and Odd Squad (PBS and TVOKids), winners of a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing. She then wrote for CBC's hit primetime show, Workin' Moms and contributed to IFC's Baroness von Sketch Show. She also wrote for and produced Odd Squad’s web series, OddTube (PBS). In recognition of her writing work on Odd Squad, she recently won a Daytime Emmy Award. Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 4 Graphic Design The YMA renewed its partnership with Cabana Séguin for development of the visual signature for the Awards of Excellence. Cabana Séguin designed a visual theme for the Gala, which carries over for the YMA’s next event: the Children Youth and Media Conference to be held from November 13 – 15, 2019. 3. The Gala Ceremony The Awards of Excellence Gala was held on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at CBC Glenn Gould Studio, in Toronto. The evening’s festivities commenced with a cocktail party attended by about 275 guests. Nine talented young performers were invited to present awards on-stage. They have been seen on shows such as Big Top Academy, Dino Dana, Odd Squad or Super Mighty Makers. From left to right: Ava Ro, Drew Davis, Isaac Kragten, Jaeda Leblanc, Madison Brydges, Michela Luci, Riley O'Donnell, Saara Chaudry and Millie Davis. Tom Power host of the national arts and entertainment program q on CBC Radio One presented the Outstanding Achievement Award to Fred Penner who couldn’t be at the gala. This was followed by a musical performance by Ken and Ben Whiteley of a medley of the best of Fred Penner songs. YMA’s met with Fred earlier in March and made a video of his acceptance speech prior to the gala. Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 5 Fred Penner Outstanding Achievement Award 2019 A full room with over 275 guests! Link to Awards of Excellence Gala picture gallery: https://www.ymamj.org/en/galleries/2019-awards-of-excellence-gala/ Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 6 Images of the cocktail and reception presented by DHX Media, this year the YMA celebrated its 45th anniversary! Link to Gala Video: https://www.ymamj.org/en/media-gallery/ Coming Soon! The video of the gala will be posted on YMA’s website in the coming weeks, Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 7 2019 Award of Excellence winners: Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Scripted and Non-Scripted, Preschool Dino Dana (A Dino Never Forgets) Produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment; Aired on TVOKids and Amazon Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Scripted, Ages 6–9 and 9 + Odd Squad (There's No O in Obot) Produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment; Aired on TVOKids and PBS Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Non-Scripted – Ages 6-9 Raven’s Quest (Madison) Produced by Apartment 11 Productions; Aired on TVOKids Award of Excellence for Best Program, Live Action Non-Scripted – Ages 9+ The Mystery Files (The Mystery of Nostra Culpa) Produced by Apartment 11 Productions; Aired on TVOKids Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 8 Award of Excellence, Best Interactive Content – Preschool Cutie Pugs Games Produced by Little Engine Moving Pictures, Sticky Brain Studios, TVOKids, TFO and Radio- Canada Award of Excellence, Best Interactive Content – Ages 6-9 CBC Kids Olympics Produced by CBC Award of Excellence, Best Interactive Content – Ages 9+ CBC Kids News Produced by CBC Award of Excellence, Best Digital First Content – All age groups Miss Persona Season 2 Produced by Nelvana and Balloon House Productions Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 9 Award of Excellence for Best Program, Animation – Preschool True and the Rainbow Kingdom (The Living Sea) Produced by Guru Studio; Aired on CBC Award of Excellence for Best Program, Animation – Ages 6-9 Total Dramarama (That's a Wrap) Produced by Elliott Animation; Aired on Cartoon Network and Teletoon Award of Excellence for Best Program, Animation – Ages 9+ The Dragon Prince (Bloodthirsty) Produced by Bardel Entertainment and Wonderstorm; Streamed on Netflix (Photo credit: @Kidscreen) Outstanding Youth Performer Michela Luci This new award shines the spotlight on the talent of an outstanding young performer who stands out for her uniqueness, audacity and positive presence on all platforms. Awards of Excellence 2019 – Activity Report 10 Outstanding Achievement Award: Fred Penner Given for a distinguished career in youth production in Canada, this prestigious prize salutes the individual’s contributions to the industry, leadership skills, ability to innovate and inspire and career-long commitment to young Canadians. Fred Penner is a gentle man with an undeniable ability to make you feel good about yourself. This musical master brings more than 40 years of commitment, consistency and depth to a career that blends the many genres of performing and communication. Fred continues to grow and create music for his generations of “Fred Heads”. Emerging Talent Award: Rita-Claire Mike-Murphy This award is given to a promising professional whose achievements have made her a rising star in children’s programming.