National Screen Institute alumni teams land series of television deals

Winnipeg – National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) congratulates the Totally Television teams whose projects are all in development with broadcasters. Most recently, This Space For Rent, a pilot by producer Jason James and writer Nick Citton (NSI Totally Television 2002-03) aired on CBC Television in early January 2006. Since the program's inception in 2002, seven out of eight NSI Totally Television graduating teams were awarded development deals with broadcasters and two have been produced and aired nationally.

“We are very proud of our alumni,” said NSI CEO Susan Millican. “The goal of NSI Totally Television is to develop strong writer-producer teams who can deliver television shows that draw in Canadian audiences. Their hard work and perseverance has paid off and now a national audience can tune in to see their programs.”

Recent successes include:

• Todd and the Book of Pure Evil (NSI Totally Television 2004-05) by producer Anthony Leo and writer Craig D. Wallace (executive producer Brad Pelman, Maple Pictures) is in development with CHUM.
• Less Than Kind (2004-05 NSI Totally Television) by writer Marvin Kaye and producer Chris Sheasgreen is in development with CHUM.
• Kink in My Hair (2004-05 NSI Totally Television) by writer Trey Anthony and producer Damion Nurse is in development with Global Television.
• Writer Dennis Jackson and producer Anand Ramayya celebrated the broadcast of Wapos Bay – There’s No ‘I’ in Hockey (NSI Totally Television 2002-03) on APTN in May 2005.
• Jay Dahl, producer (Strange Adventures, 2003-04 NSI Totally Television) had his television pilot Cheap Draft, Bad Language, Fast Cars, Women and a Video Camera air on CBC Television in January 2006.

“The NSI Totally Television program gave me an opportunity to develop the skills I needed, to negotiate my series pilot deal with CBC,” said NSI graduate, Jay Dahl.

The NSI Totally Television program is a market-driven, rigourous and individualized program that spans 10 months and is designed to mentor and train television writer-producer teams through the development of their television series concept. Participants are connected with a team of experts who help them land an executive producer, prepare a pitch-of-a-lifetime for broadcasters, and attend the Banff Television Festival.

Leadership is an important feature of the program. The program manager is respected television executive and pitching expert Kit Redmond. The first season of NSI Totally Television was led by global marketing expert Mickey Rogers.

 

The National Screen Institute — Canada, with headquarters in Winnipeg, is one of Canada’s four nationally recognized film and television training schools helping emerging writers, directors and producers bring their stories to life and to audiences at home and abroad. Its market-driven programs have led to employment for NSI graduates by giving them a competitive edge — according to the 2005 NSI Graduate Survey, 97% of respondents are working in the industry.

The National Screen Institute — Canada operates with ongoing funding from Telefilm Canada through Canadian Heritage, and Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism. Additional support provided by Patrons: CTV and CBC Television, Partner: Warner Bros. Canada Inc., and financial assistance provided by the Winnipeg Arts Council.

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For more information contact:

Liz Hover, Publicist, National Screen Institute – Canada,

Email: liz.hover@nsi-canada.ca
Telephone: (204) 956-7800 ext. 212