Exclusive: Canada’s Waterside Studios, pod network Curiouscast and UK-based podcast producer Blanchard House are teaming up.
Waterside and Curiouscast have signed a multi-podcast deal with Blanchard House and the agreement will comprise for podcast titles that will be adapted for TV after their audio launches.
The first from the pact is Black and Blue: Behind the Badge, a true crime podcast centering around the experiences of Black officers in what one of them calls “the biggest gang in America”: law enforcement.
Presented by journalist Seren Jones, it follows the story of Michael Morrison. Synposis reads: “After joining the police force to serve and protect, he faces racism, violence and hostility. Michael’s life in policing will make him question everything he thought he knew about justice, community, and himself. This is a story about being torn in two. Torn between being a police officer and being Black. Can...
Waterside and Curiouscast have signed a multi-podcast deal with Blanchard House and the agreement will comprise for podcast titles that will be adapted for TV after their audio launches.
The first from the pact is Black and Blue: Behind the Badge, a true crime podcast centering around the experiences of Black officers in what one of them calls “the biggest gang in America”: law enforcement.
Presented by journalist Seren Jones, it follows the story of Michael Morrison. Synposis reads: “After joining the police force to serve and protect, he faces racism, violence and hostility. Michael’s life in policing will make him question everything he thought he knew about justice, community, and himself. This is a story about being torn in two. Torn between being a police officer and being Black. Can...
- 9/20/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Canada’s Waterside Studios is developing scripted projects with an array of North American writing and production talent.
The Corus Entertainment-owned studio is currently focusing on procedurals, half-hour comedies and young adult content after launching last year. On the back of its debut teen series Geek Girl going into production for Netflix and Corus, Head of Waterside Jeff Norton revealed a trio of titles developed with the likes of writer-producers Todd Berger and Julie Dicresce, Arnie Zipursky and Jeff Detsky.
On the procedural front is Serve & Protect, a drama series co-produced with Berger and Dicresce’s December Films, which is best known for Syfy horror comedy Reginald the Vampire. Canadian novelist and screenwriter Zoe Whittall is attached to the project, which Norton billed as having “the ensemble cast of NCIS with the quick wit of Private Eyes.”
The series follows a former big city federal officer who...
The Corus Entertainment-owned studio is currently focusing on procedurals, half-hour comedies and young adult content after launching last year. On the back of its debut teen series Geek Girl going into production for Netflix and Corus, Head of Waterside Jeff Norton revealed a trio of titles developed with the likes of writer-producers Todd Berger and Julie Dicresce, Arnie Zipursky and Jeff Detsky.
On the procedural front is Serve & Protect, a drama series co-produced with Berger and Dicresce’s December Films, which is best known for Syfy horror comedy Reginald the Vampire. Canadian novelist and screenwriter Zoe Whittall is attached to the project, which Norton billed as having “the ensemble cast of NCIS with the quick wit of Private Eyes.”
The series follows a former big city federal officer who...
- 6/22/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Waterside Studios has found its first project in the miniseries “The Last Wish of Sasha Cade.” Created by Jacqueline Pepall, currently at work on “Horrible Histories” for the BBC, it’s based on a novel by Cheyanne Young.
Headed by Jeff Norton, who will produce, Waterside Studios is a new creative content venture from Canada’s Corus Entertainment and part of the Nelvana Studios group. The company was launched following an overall deal with Norton’s IP company Dominion of Drama.
The bittersweet story – pitched at Mia Market and billed as “All the Bright Places” meets “The Fault in Our Stars” – sees a high school girl trying to come to terms with her best friend’s passing of cancer. But Sasha keeps on revealing her secrets, as Rocki starts to receive letters written before she died. Sasha, who was adopted, had a brother she never knew. Now, she is asking her friend to meet him.
Headed by Jeff Norton, who will produce, Waterside Studios is a new creative content venture from Canada’s Corus Entertainment and part of the Nelvana Studios group. The company was launched following an overall deal with Norton’s IP company Dominion of Drama.
The bittersweet story – pitched at Mia Market and billed as “All the Bright Places” meets “The Fault in Our Stars” – sees a high school girl trying to come to terms with her best friend’s passing of cancer. But Sasha keeps on revealing her secrets, as Rocki starts to receive letters written before she died. Sasha, who was adopted, had a brother she never knew. Now, she is asking her friend to meet him.
- 10/16/2022
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Corus Entertainment has struck an overall deal with U.K.-Canadian production company Dominion of Drama, and appointed its founder Jeff Norton as the head of its new imprint, Waterside Studios.
Waterside Studios is positioned as a new IP and production venture focused on premium scripted Canadian content for youth and primetime audiences. The outfit will cater to the Canadian as well as international marketplace.
Norton most recently served as a consultant for Corus, and previously as executive producer of “Trucktown” for production company Nelvana. He also co-wrote the novel “Keeping the Beat,” which was one of the launch titles for Kids Can Press’ young adult Kcp Loft imprint.
Colin Bohm, executive VP of content and corporate strategy for Corus Entertainment, said: “Jeff’s creativity, business acumen and international focus will help propel our content ownership strategy as we pursue production and distribution opportunities for Corus’ best-in-class creative content.”
The...
Waterside Studios is positioned as a new IP and production venture focused on premium scripted Canadian content for youth and primetime audiences. The outfit will cater to the Canadian as well as international marketplace.
Norton most recently served as a consultant for Corus, and previously as executive producer of “Trucktown” for production company Nelvana. He also co-wrote the novel “Keeping the Beat,” which was one of the launch titles for Kids Can Press’ young adult Kcp Loft imprint.
Colin Bohm, executive VP of content and corporate strategy for Corus Entertainment, said: “Jeff’s creativity, business acumen and international focus will help propel our content ownership strategy as we pursue production and distribution opportunities for Corus’ best-in-class creative content.”
The...
- 9/13/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s Global Bulletin, BBC Four snags “The Hunt for a Killer”; Curious Films and Picture Zero team on U.K. Climate Assembly doc; Nada Arnot joins Britbox North America; Rainmaker Content boards “Amy Winter” and Global Agency sells Turkish drama “The Phoenix” in several territories.
Acquisition
BBC Four has picked up Swedish crime thriller “The Hunt for a Killer” from Banijay Rights. The series is produced by Yellow Bird and will head to BBC iPlayer later this summer. Set in the south of Sweden in the late ’80s, “The Hunt for a Killer” dramatizes the real-life disappearance and murder of a 10-year-old girl and its subsequent 16-year long investigation. Banijay has also sold the series to Sbs in Australia, Rtl in Germany and NBCUniversal in France. The series is co-produced by Banijay’s Yellow Bird and Swedish broadcaster Svt and Film I Skåne.
Documentary
Curious Films and Picture Zero in the U.
Acquisition
BBC Four has picked up Swedish crime thriller “The Hunt for a Killer” from Banijay Rights. The series is produced by Yellow Bird and will head to BBC iPlayer later this summer. Set in the south of Sweden in the late ’80s, “The Hunt for a Killer” dramatizes the real-life disappearance and murder of a 10-year-old girl and its subsequent 16-year long investigation. Banijay has also sold the series to Sbs in Australia, Rtl in Germany and NBCUniversal in France. The series is co-produced by Banijay’s Yellow Bird and Swedish broadcaster Svt and Film I Skåne.
Documentary
Curious Films and Picture Zero in the U.
- 5/12/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Lisa Duff.
Former Screen Australia senior investment development manager Lisa Duff has joined the Australian operation of the Eq Media Group.
Duff started today as head of production – scripted, working alongside VP scripted Michelle Hardy.
“I’m looking forward to being involved with the making of quality Australian drama and encouraging internationals to choose Australia as their production location of choice,” said Duff, who departed Screen Australia in June after more than five years with the agency.
Eq Media Group CEO Greg Quail and president Jesse Fawcett re-branded their trans-national production company Essential Media and Entertainment after buying the Essential companies in March from the collapsed Kew Media Group.
As If reported, Eq Media, Beyond Production, Renegade Entertainment and AGC Television are teaming up for Troppo, an Australian crime drama series which Yolanda Ramke (Cargo) adapted from Candice Fox’s novel Crimson Lake.
Thomas Jane (Amazon’s The Expanse) will...
Former Screen Australia senior investment development manager Lisa Duff has joined the Australian operation of the Eq Media Group.
Duff started today as head of production – scripted, working alongside VP scripted Michelle Hardy.
“I’m looking forward to being involved with the making of quality Australian drama and encouraging internationals to choose Australia as their production location of choice,” said Duff, who departed Screen Australia in June after more than five years with the agency.
Eq Media Group CEO Greg Quail and president Jesse Fawcett re-branded their trans-national production company Essential Media and Entertainment after buying the Essential companies in March from the collapsed Kew Media Group.
As If reported, Eq Media, Beyond Production, Renegade Entertainment and AGC Television are teaming up for Troppo, an Australian crime drama series which Yolanda Ramke (Cargo) adapted from Candice Fox’s novel Crimson Lake.
Thomas Jane (Amazon’s The Expanse) will...
- 8/31/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Greg Quail and Jesse Fawcett.
Greg Quail and Jesse Fawcett have re-branded their trans-national production company Essential Media and Entertainment as the Eq Media Group and are boosting their slate of unscripted and scripted content.
With development and production hubs in Los Angeles, Sydney, Dallas, Vancouver and Auckland, Eq Media Group has a core staff of 40, with a current run-of-show employee count of 70.
Quail and Fawcett bought the Essential companies in March from the collapsed Kew Media Group.
President and executive producer Fawcett said: “We have focused on staff retention and are proud to say we haven’t lost any employees. Our team’s focus on content development has now tripled our production slate with further North American show announcements in the pipeline.”
CEO and executive producer Quail said the name Eq was chosen to signify Emotional Quotient or Emotional Intelligence, the elements which they say drive the best storytelling.
Greg Quail and Jesse Fawcett have re-branded their trans-national production company Essential Media and Entertainment as the Eq Media Group and are boosting their slate of unscripted and scripted content.
With development and production hubs in Los Angeles, Sydney, Dallas, Vancouver and Auckland, Eq Media Group has a core staff of 40, with a current run-of-show employee count of 70.
Quail and Fawcett bought the Essential companies in March from the collapsed Kew Media Group.
President and executive producer Fawcett said: “We have focused on staff retention and are proud to say we haven’t lost any employees. Our team’s focus on content development has now tripled our production slate with further North American show announcements in the pipeline.”
CEO and executive producer Quail said the name Eq was chosen to signify Emotional Quotient or Emotional Intelligence, the elements which they say drive the best storytelling.
- 8/6/2020
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Awesome Media & Entertainment, the Kew Media-backed IP and production company run by writer-producer Jeff Norton, has optioned a contemporary detective novel in the hope of creating a female Luther.
Awesome has secured the rights to New York Times best-selling author Caroline Mitchell’s Truth and Lies, the first installment in a series of novels on young London detective Amy Winter. The book is published by Amazon Publishing imprint Thomas & Mercer.
The story follows Winter, the daughter of a husband and wife who were imprisoned for a string of heinous killings, as she investigates the disappearance of a teenage girl and is forced to reconnect with her mother.
Norton said he wants to turn Truth and Lies into a returnable TV series, with the aim of creating a female version of Luther, the popular BBC One series starring Idris Elba.
Norton is already talking to co-production partners and buyers about the project,...
Awesome has secured the rights to New York Times best-selling author Caroline Mitchell’s Truth and Lies, the first installment in a series of novels on young London detective Amy Winter. The book is published by Amazon Publishing imprint Thomas & Mercer.
The story follows Winter, the daughter of a husband and wife who were imprisoned for a string of heinous killings, as she investigates the disappearance of a teenage girl and is forced to reconnect with her mother.
Norton said he wants to turn Truth and Lies into a returnable TV series, with the aim of creating a female version of Luther, the popular BBC One series starring Idris Elba.
Norton is already talking to co-production partners and buyers about the project,...
- 9/27/2019
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Viacom’s Channel 5 has unveiled its latest drama slate including a thriller from Mr Selfridge writer Kate O’Riordan.
The British broadcaster has ordered three-part series Penance and two-hour drama The Small Hand as well as the renewal of Blood, starring Line of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar.
This comes after Deadline revealed that it was working on psychological thriller The Deceived.
O’Riordan is adapting her own novel Penance into a three-part series. A psychological thriller that follows the lives of Rosalie and Luke Douglas and their teenage daughter, Maddie. Following the loss of their son, Rosalie and Luke find their marriage under immense strain. Maddie and Rosalie find themselves in the caring hands of Jed, a charming and charismatic young man that they encounter at bereavement counselling who is also suffering under the weight of his own grief. Jed rekindles a hope for the future within the Douglas household.
The British broadcaster has ordered three-part series Penance and two-hour drama The Small Hand as well as the renewal of Blood, starring Line of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar.
This comes after Deadline revealed that it was working on psychological thriller The Deceived.
O’Riordan is adapting her own novel Penance into a three-part series. A psychological thriller that follows the lives of Rosalie and Luke Douglas and their teenage daughter, Maddie. Following the loss of their son, Rosalie and Luke find their marriage under immense strain. Maddie and Rosalie find themselves in the caring hands of Jed, a charming and charismatic young man that they encounter at bereavement counselling who is also suffering under the weight of his own grief. Jed rekindles a hope for the future within the Douglas household.
- 8/21/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Kew Media-backed UK outfit Awesome Media & Entertainment, the IP and production company founded by writer-producer Jeff Norton, is launching a graphic novel ‘studio’ with the ambition to develop stories into film and TV properties.
Awesome’s fiction publishing imprint Awesome Reads was launched in 2018. Comic book writer Richard Dinnick is joining the new venture as publisher.
The plan is for Awesome Reads to develop high-concept, character-driven comics for a broad, adult audience and for them to also be developed for the screen. The division will launch with Retrograde, a post-apocalyptic love story about the survivors of a retro-virus that has dialed back the evolutionary clock on most of the planet’s DNA.
Retrograde is written by Dinnick (Lost In Space), with art by Pasquale Qualano, colors by Charlie Kirchoff, and lettering by Comicraft’s Richard Starkings and Jimmy Betancourt. It will be followed in December by #Guardian, written by Erika Lewis,...
Awesome’s fiction publishing imprint Awesome Reads was launched in 2018. Comic book writer Richard Dinnick is joining the new venture as publisher.
The plan is for Awesome Reads to develop high-concept, character-driven comics for a broad, adult audience and for them to also be developed for the screen. The division will launch with Retrograde, a post-apocalyptic love story about the survivors of a retro-virus that has dialed back the evolutionary clock on most of the planet’s DNA.
Retrograde is written by Dinnick (Lost In Space), with art by Pasquale Qualano, colors by Charlie Kirchoff, and lettering by Comicraft’s Richard Starkings and Jimmy Betancourt. It will be followed in December by #Guardian, written by Erika Lewis,...
- 7/16/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
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