CFC AND CBC LAUNCH CANADA'S FIRST-EVER DIGITAL COMEDY WORKSHOP FOR ONLINE CREATORS

Announced at the inaugural Buffer Festival Industry Day at the Hyatt Regency Toronto, the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and CBC are pleased to join forces to launch Jumping Screens Comedy Workshop, Canada’s first-ever enhanced pre-development lab for online creators who want to migrate their talents to television. Set to begin in January 2015, the lab seeks to actively workshop up to four new properties that will star YouTube content creators and/or other online talent, through a five-month process that provides creative, business, and production mentorship services.

“The CFC is thrilled to be partnering with the CBC to launch a program devoted to online and YouTube creators,” said Ana Serrano, chief digital officer, CFC. “We are excited to experiment with a novel approach to development where we adapt rapid prototyping models and apply them to story creation, engaging with audiences along the way.”

“We’re excited to be embarking on this initiative with the CFC, a real centre of media innovation in Canada,” said Michelle Daly, senior director of Comedy, CBC. “As new talent, distribution platforms, and content creation models continue to emerge and mature, CBC is eager to branch out and experiment with ground-breaking programs like this, and comedy is a natural fit. We’re really looking forward to this process, and what emerges from it.”

The Jumping Screens Comedy Workshop will consist of up to four creative teams who will work with the lab’s lead production company to develop up to 10 five-minute sketches or webisodes, which will be published on CBC’s Punchline as well as the creators’ online channels, including YouTube. The goal of this new initiative is to select at least one of the properties for development on CBC Television.

CFC accelerates the careers of the brightest talent in film, television, screen acting, music, and digital media. A charitable organization, CFC is committed to promoting and investing in Canada’s diverse talent; providing exhibition, financial, and distribution opportunities, and fostering industry collaborations and creative partnerships. CFC makes a significant cultural and economic contribution to Canada by launching the country’s most creative ideas and voices to the world. For more details, visit cfccreates.com.

Created in 1997, the Canadian Film Centre’s Media Lab (CFC Media Lab) provides a unique training, research and production think-tank environment for digital media content developers, and practitioners, as well as acceleration programs and services for start-ups and SMEs in digital entertainment. An internationally acclaimed and award-winning facility, CFC Media Lab participating developers and start-ups emerge as leaders in the world of digital media, produce innovative projects, and sustain 21st century companies. www.cfccreates.com.

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Communications Specialist, CFC

416.445.1446 x463

Senior Manager, Publicity, CBC

416.205.2998