No Sticks, No Stones, Just Jokes that Really Burn! All-New Original Series ROAST BATTLE CANADA Fires Up CTV Comedy Channel, October 11
CTV Comedy Channel Orders Original Comedy Series, ACTING GOOD
– The single-camera comedy series is produced by Kistikan Pictures Inc. –
– Inspired by the experiences of stand up comedian Paul Rabliauskas, production set to begin in early 2022 in Manitoba –
– Inspired by the experiences of stand up comedian Paul Rabliauskas, production set to begin in early 2022 in Manitoba –
TORONTO (September 29, 2021) – As announced today from Content Canada’s Digital Summit, CTV Comedy Channel has ordered the all-new original scripted comedy, ACTING GOOD, loosely based on the life of stand up comedian Paul Rabliauskas (THE STAND UP SHOW WITH JON DORE). Produced by Kistikan Pictures Inc., the series was co-created by Rabliauskas, who is also set to star in the series, Amber-Sekowan Daniels (DIGGSTOWN), Eric Toth (STILL STANDING), and Pat Thornton (FILTH CITY). The hilarious 10-part, half-hour comedy follows self-conscious and gullible Paul (Rabliauskas), who falls flat on his face in the big city and tries to slip back into life on his fly-in rez as if nothing happened. But his eccentric family is having none of it. ACTING GOOD is set to shoot on location in Manitoba early next year, with production and additional casting details to be announced in the coming months.
“ACTING GOOD is a hilarious take on what it’s like to start your life over after plans go awry. With a talented creative team drawing on the rich material from their own backgrounds and experiences, we know audiences will be able to see themselves in these characters and their story,” said Justin Stockman, VP, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media. “We’re excited to partner with Kistikan Pictures to bring these fresh and authentic voices to Canadian viewers and deliver a story we are sure will quickly make ACTING GOOD a must-watch comedy series.”
“We are beyond thrilled by the support from Bell Media for this hilarious and heartwarming series featuring a character dealing with his seriously curious, even nosy family and neighbours. While living on a fly-in reserve may not be everyone’s reality, the show also demonstrates the universal and all-too-familiar joys and challenges of life in a tight-knit community,” said Tina Keeper, Producer, Kistikan Pictures. “We continue to be encouraged by the promotion of diverse Canadian voices telling their own stories. The sheer amount of talent featured on this creative team is awe-inspiring, and we look forward to showcasing the best of Manitoba both in front of and behind the camera.”
ACTING GOOD is set in the fictional fly-in reserve of Grouse Lake First Nation in Northern Manitoba, a community that lives by its own set of rules. The series is inspired by Paul Rabliauskas’ own isolated reserve of Poplar River First Nation, and the family and friends that inhabit the community. Pat Thornton, Amber-Sekowan Daniels, and Eric Toth are co-writers for the series along with Rabliauskas.
This all-new comedy series joins Bell Media’s robust 2021/22 development and production slate that includes drama series SULLIVAN’S CROSSING and LITTLE BIRD, as well as scripted comedy series DU ME A FAVOR and LETTERKENNY spinoff series, SHORSEY.
ACTING GOOD is produced by CTV Comedy, in association with Kistikan Pictures Inc. Producers are Tina Keeper (Kistikan Pictures) and Jennifer Beasley (Buffalo Gal Pictures) with Phyllis Laing (Buffalo Gal Pictures) as Executive Producer. Amber-Sekowan Daniels, Pat Thornton, and Eric Toth serve as co-showrunners. For Bell Media, Chris Kelley is Production Executive; Rachel Goldstein-Couto is Head of Development, Original Programming; Sarah Fowlie is Head of Production, Original Programming; Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original Programming; Sarah Weaver is Director of Programming; Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, CTV and Specialty Programming. Justin Stockman is Vice-President, Content Development & Programming, Bell Media. Karine Moses is Senior Vice-President, Content Development & News, Bell Media.
About Bell Media Original Programming
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit series commissioned by CTV include #1 Canadian drama TRANSPLANT; record-breaking Canadian formats THE AMAZING RACE CANADA and MASTERCHEF CANADA; comedy series JANN; and upcoming new comedy CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING from the producers of LETTERKENNY. Among the original series on Bell Media specialty and streaming platforms are CTV Life Channel’s culinary series MARY MAKES IT EASY with Mary Berg; CTV Sci-Fi Channel’s SURREALESTATE; and CTV Comedy Channel’s CORNER GAS ANIMATED. Crave Originals include hit series LETTERKENNY and its upcoming official spinoff series SHORESY, CANADA’S DRAG RACE, and WAY OVER ME (SORTEZ-MOI DE MOI); docuseries DARK SIDE OF THE RING; and acclaimed documentaries FANNY: THE RIGHT TO ROCK and A.RTIFICIAL I.MMORTALITY. Discovery is home to Bell Media’s hit factual series and franchises HIGHWAY THRU HELL, HEAVY RESCUE: 401, and MUD MOUNTAIN HAULERS, in addition to MAKE IT TO THE MOON, and others. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. Learn more at www.BellMedia.ca.
About CTV Comedy Channel
The #1 Canadian Entertainment Specialty channel among Adults 18-49 and 25-54, CTV Comedy Channel delivers every flavour of funny with A-list stand-up, hilarious late-night talk shows, favourite sitcoms, and hit movies. The home of original comedy CORNER GAS ANIMATED and fresh stand-up captured every year at Montréal’s Just For Laughs Festival, CTV Comedy Channel also boasts some of the best late-night talk series from THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH and FULL FRONTAL WITH SAMANTHA BEE, to new series DOING THE MOST WITH PHOEBE ROBINSON. In addition to sitcoms like TACOMA FD and MIRACLE WORKERS, CTV Comedy hosts the upcoming cringe comedy CHAD, the revival of WIPEOUT, and more. From CTV, Canada’s most-watched network, CTV Comedy Channel is part of a powerful suite of specialty channels that also includes CTV Drama Channel, CTV Life Channel, and CTV Sci-Fi Channel, streaming on demand from CTV.ca and the CTV app.
About Kistikan Pictures Inc.
Formed through a partnership between Keeper Productions and Buffalo Gal Pictures in June of 2010, Kistikan Pictures develops and produces Indigenous stories for film and television for Canadian and international markets.
Projects include feature films Through Black Spruce (2018) and Road of Iniquity (2016) as well as seasons 3 and 4 of the APTN television series Cashing In, and the short documentary, The REDress REdress Project, a production for MTS TV completed in late 2011.
Keeper Productions Inc.
Prior to forming Kistikan Pictures, Tina Keeper was the proprietor of Keeper Productions, a communications company specializing in video production for First Nations and Aboriginal organizations. Her diverse career has also included a lead acting role in CBC’s North of 60 from 1992-97(for which she earned a Gemini) and one term serving as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons in 2008.
Keeper has a BA Theatre from the University of Winnipeg and has trained at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre, the Banff Centre and the Sundance Institute.
Buffalo Gal Pictures Inc.
Founded in 1994, Buffalo Gal Pictures has become one of Canada’s leading independent production companies, developing and producing a multitude of challenging and diverse projects by creating collaborative relationships with creative talent and building successful co-production partnerships. The company has continued to establish itself as a significant content developer for film (The Stone Angel, Hyena Road) and television (Less Than Kind, Sunnyside, The Pinkertons) and as a service partner (Heaven is For Real, Siberia, JT Leroy and the recently released Sean Penn-directed Flag Day.)
Altogether, Buffalo Gal Pictures and its subsidiaries are responsible for over half the feature film and television production in Manitoba, and generated over $50 million CAD in production in 2019. www.buffalogalpictures.com
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