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Sweet Magnolias is a romantic comedy-drama series created by Sheryl J. Anderson. Based on the novel series of the same name by Sherryl Woods, the Netflix series is set in South California and it follows three women who have been best friends since childhood. They try to support each other through life’s various complexities, including career, family, and love. Sweet Magnolias stars JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott, Heather Headley, Logan Allen, Anneliese Judge, Carson Rowland, Chris Klein, Jamie Lynn Spears, Dion Johnstone, Brandon Quinn, and Chris Medlin. So, if you loved the small-town vibes, feel-good story, and lovable characters in Sweet Magnolias, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Virgin River (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Virgin River is a romantic comedy-drama series created by Sue Tenney. Based on the novel series of the same name by Robyn Carr,...

Exclusive: Welsh broadcaster S4C is set to develop an eco-thriller series created by Hugo Award-winning screenwriter Morgan Gendel.

The series, currently titled Isolation, follows a team of scientists working to combat global climate change who discover an even more catastrophic otherworldly threat.

It is being developed for S4C by Hiraeth Productions, Fun Republic Pictures and Karma Film, in association with Gendel’s Cashmere Road Entertainment and Bai-ley as part of S4C International’s Commercial Content Fund, which is designed to realize opportunities for global content across various platforms.

“We are thrilled with the transatlantic team we have assembled to create this ambitious new eco-thriller series,” Gwenllian Gravelle, Drama Commissioner at S4C said in a statement Friday. “We always strive to punch above with our original Welsh series development slate and (Morgan) Gendel’s Isolation does just that for us”.

David Cormican © 2024, Fun Republic Pictures

Asa Bailey, Anand Ramayya...

At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, The Direct had the opportunity to speak with the creators of the upcoming TV series based on Arthur C. Clarke’s ‘Venus Prime’.

Set to start production in Canada later in the year, the series will be directed and produced by Jonathan Frakes, known for his extensive work in the ‘Star Trek’ universe.

The series, which will consist of six episodes, is generating considerable excitement with David Cormican and Dwayne Hill as executive producers and showrunners.

Hill shared his enthusiasm at Sdcc, detailing their innovative use of a large volume wall for filming, which allows extensive pre-visualization and could revolutionize the way the series is shot.

He highlighted Frakes’ expertise with this technology, hinting at the groundbreaking potential of their production techniques.

Cormican described the project as both thrilling and daunting, given the legacy of Arthur C. Clarke, one of the legendary figures in science fiction.

At San Diego Comic-Con (Sdcc) 2024, The Direct was able to exclusively catch up with some of the creative team behind Arthur C. Clarke's Venus Prime TV series.

In July 2024, it was announced that Jonathan Frakes, best known for his role in Star Trek, will direct and produce the upcoming sci-fi series Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime.

The six-episode series, set to begin production later this year in Canada, has also seen the addition of David Cormican (Tokyo Trial) and Dwayne Hill (Northern Rescue) to executive producers and showrunners.

Read full article on The Direct.

Exclusive: David Cormican, who produced Freeform’s ShadowHunters and Lifetime’s The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe, has new representation.

Cormican and his Fun Republic Pictures banner has signed with Paradigm. The agency will work with Cormican across scripted feature film and TV as well as publishing, brand partnerships, content finance, marketing, and mergers and acquisitions opportunities.

It comes as Cormican is preparing for the television adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime, which is set to go into production in Canada next year with Star Trek alum Jonathan Frakes directing. Cormican is writing, will exec produce and serve as co-showrunner.

He recently produced Michal Kunes-Kováč debut feature film Réveillon, is currently in production on Trevor Cameron’s debut narrative feature film #VanLife, a thriller which stars Michelle Thrush, Tamoh Penikett and Justin Derickson and is in post-production on the Michael Jai White action film Hostile Takeover.

He is...

When production begins this week in the province of Saskatchewan on #Vanlife, it is believed the horror thriller will become the first Indigenous and Canadian independent film to shoot entirely in a virtual studio.

Trevor Cameron directs the story of young influencers who are lured into a violent cult and the project stars Michelle Thrush from TIFF 2022 selection Bones Of Crows and Justin Derickson from 2022 teen fantasy Monster High.

Germany’s Palatin Media is launching international sales talks at Toronto International Film Festival next month.

Anand Ramayya and Kelly Balon of KarmaFilm, Doug Cuthand (Big Bear), and Juliette Hagopian of Julijette are producing #Vanlife,...

Volume Global, in association with Navajo Entertainment, Claxson Media, Fun Republic Pictures, Karma Film, Julijette, Palatin Media and Washington Square Entertainment, presented the highly anticipated adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime to an enthusiastic crowd at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

The panel, titled ‘Jonathan Frakes unveils ‘Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime’ TV series,’ took place on Thursday, July 25th, at the San Diego Convention Center as part of Comic-Con International’s 2024 lineup.

Moderated by Comic-Con mainstay and legend Gary Miereanu, the panel featured special virtual appearances from director and Executive Producer Jonathan Frakes, and Executive Producer Lucas Vivo Garcia Lagos, while the Emmy-nominated Co-Showrunners David Cormican and Dwayne Hill, shared the stage with Miereanu along with fellow Executive Producer and Volume Global’s Michael Hamilton Wright.

Fans of the bestselling book franchise were treated to an in-depth discussion about the upcoming TV series adaptation based on the...

A new six-episode series adaptation of author Paul Preuss’ novels, “Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime,” is set to enter production later this year, and Variety reports that “Star Trek” stalwart Jonathan Frakes will direct.

Jonathan Frakes joins the producing team that includes showrunners and executive producers David Cormican (“Tokyo Trial”) and Dwayne Hill (“Northern Rescue”).

“When the materials for ‘Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime’ were presented to me, I couldn’t help but devour them,” Frakes told Variety. “When asked if I wanted to direct what I read —my answer was a resounding and immediate ‘Hell, yes!’ Working on such a tremendous piece of IP from the mind of another sci-fi legend (who is also a contemporary of the true #1 Gene Roddenberry), will be both an honor and a dream for me.”

Arthur C. Clarke collaborator Paul Preuss is also on board as a consultant.

The official synopsis...

“Star Trek” alum Jonathan Frakes is set to direct sci-fi series “Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime.” He has also joined the producing team.

“Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime” has also upped writers David Cormican (“Tokyo Trial”) and Dwayne Hill (“Northern Rescue”) to exec producers and showrunners. The six-episode series is set to go into production at the end of this year in Canada.

“When the materials for ‘Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime’ were presented to me, I couldn’t help but devour them,” Frakes said. “When asked if I wanted to direct what I read —my answer was a resounding and immediate ‘Hell, yes!’ Working on such a tremendous piece of IP from the mind of another sci-fi legend (who is also a contemporary of the true #1 Gene Roddenberry), will be both an honor and a dream for me.”

Claxson and Navajo acquired the rights to the book series from iBooks,...

Format

Fremantle and Kansai TV have launched new entertainment format “Quiz Pong” following a co-development deal initially revealed at MIPCOM 2022. The format was launched in Japan last month by Kansai TV and Fremantle will handle the production and global distribution.

“Quiz Pong” is a fast-paced gameshow where teams compete against each other in a fun tournament testing their mental, physical, and strategy skills. The teams go head-to-head by throwing balls into moving baskets, on a supersized set and answering general knowledge questions to score points. The harder the basket is to reach the more difficult the question inside the basket will be for their opponent. After battling through two rounds, the winning teams compete in the grand finale for a prize.

Miho Okada, executive managing director at Kansai TV, said: “Thanks to the innovative idea from our producers and creative support from Fremantle, ‘Quiz Pong’ developed into a fun, exciting,...

Event ran September 12-13 concurrent Toronto International Film Festival.

The virtual 2021 Ontario Creates International Financing Forum (iff) that took place this month brought together feature producers on projects at various stages of development with industry executives and hosted more than 550 meetings.

Iff, which took place from September 12-13 concurrent with Toronto International Film Festival, invited 42 industry executives from the likes of Netflix, Neon, Voltage Pictures, The Match Factory and Protagonist Pictures. Charlotte Mickie, vice-president of Celluloid Dreams, said: “Iff is awesome. The offering is diverse and rich, and the conversations with the producers are so stimulating and provocative, in a good way.

Exclusive: ShadowHunters producers Don Carmody and David Cormican will adapt the New York Times No. 1 bestselling House of Night series, the Ya vampire saga written by the mother-daughter tandem of P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast, for television. Carmody and Cormican board the project with Davis Films, according to Victor Hadida, Davis Films’ president.

Hadidia said Oscar-winning producer Carmody (Chicago) and International Emmy-nominated producer Cormican (Tokyo Trial) are the ideal team to adapt the fang saga into a live-action TV series through their Don Carmody Televison, the 6-year-old shingle that most recently delivered Northern Rescue for Netflix.

Carmody has considerable history with Davis, having produced both Silent Hill films, a few Resident Evil installments and most recently Lucky Day by writer-director Roger Avary.

“My late brother Samuel and I purchased the production rights to this amazing set of books a few years ago [before his death last year], and had been looking for the right...

Tragedy, resilience, and family ties are at the heart of Netflix’s upcoming family drama “Northern Rescue.” Created by David Cormican, the series debuted on the streaming service March 1.

Following the West family in the midst of tragedy and loss, the first two of the series’ ten episodes seethe death of the family matriarch, which then spurs the patriarch, John West (Billy Baldwin), to pick up and move his three children Maddie (Amalia Williamson), Scout (Spencer Macpherson) and Taylor (Taylor Thorne) back to his childhood home of Turtle Bay Island to live with his sister-in-law Charlie (Kathleen Robertson), where he takes a job as the head of the sleepy town’s search and rescue team.

Cormican is no stranger to Netflix — he’s worked with streaming giant before on what he calls “sci-fi genre-skewing” shows like “Between” and “Shadow Hunters” as well as on historical drama “Tokyo Trial.”

What sets...

Newcomer Amalia Williamson, Spencer MacPherson (DeGrassi: Next Class) and Taylor Thorne (Odd Squad) have joined leads William Baldwin and Kathleen Robertson in Northern Rescue, as production begins in Canada on the CBC & Netflix family adventure series from Don Carmody Television.

Created by Between writer Mark Bacci and executive producer David Cormican, and Dwayne Hill (Peg + Cat), Northern Rescue follows John West (Baldwin), who uproots his three children from the big city to return to his home town to take command of the local Search & Rescue service after the death of his wife. As the family comes to terms with their loss, the series explores the effects on their individual lives. The children’s Aunt Charlotte (Robertson), struggles to help John and his children heal as she copes with the loss of her sister and her desire to have a family of her own. Along the way, John faces many situations...

Hey, remember Boondock Saints? Thank you to those of you who responded to the computer. Remember that sequel they made? Or the Comic? Do you want more? Well, it was recently announced that it will now be getting a TV prequel series. Doesn't that just make all you Boondock Saints fans happy?

The Boondock Saints: Origins will take place before the events of original Boondock Saints movie. To help fund the project, you can go to their campaign page now and donate almost $600 for a special edition of the TV series before it is even released on TV. It comes with a bunch of extras including Rosary Beads, Whisky Tumbler set, and metal cross keychain, just for a start. Only the first 5000 people get it though. I've also include a camgain video for you to watch as well.

Look, I'm a fan of the first Boondock Saints. It's a...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, here is the Toronto Film Production Update for March 2016, including "American Gods", "American Gothic", "Transylvania" and a whole lot more:

American Gods

TV Series

Fremantle /Starz Network

Exec. Prod.: Bryan Fuller, Michael Green, Neil Gaiman

Mar. 14 – Sep 30 /16

American Gothic

TV Series

Amblin /CBS Studios

Prods.: Frank Siracusa, John Weber

Feb 29 - Jul 1/16

Between Season 2

TV Series

Rogers / Netflix

Prod.: Don Carmody, David Cormican, Michael McGowan,

Rick Bota

Jan. 13 - Mar 11/16

Cardinal

Mini Series

Sienna Films Inc.

Prod: Jessica Daniel

Feb 11 - Apr 21/16

Conviction

TV Pilot

Warm Bodies Ltd.

Prod.:Sean Ryerson

Mar 12 - Mar 24/16

Dark Matter Season 2

TV Series

Fireworks

Prod: Norman Denver

Dec 9/15 - May 9/16

Dearly Depotted

TV Movie

Hallmark

Prod.: David Anselmo

Feb 22 - Mar 11/16

Designated Survivor

TV Pilot

Designated 1 Ltd.

Producer Amy Harris, David Guggenheim

Mar. 7 - Oct. 21/16

Downsizing

Feature

Paramount Pictures /

Mega Omaha Films Inc.

Prods.: Mark Johnson,...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, here is the Toronto Film Production Update for February 2016, including "American Gods", "The Strain", "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and a whole lot more:

American Gods

TV Series

Fremantle /Starz Network

Exec. Prod.: Bryan Fuller, Michael Green, Neil Gaiman

Mar. 14 – Sep /16

American Gothic

TV Series

Amblin /CBS Studios

Prods.: Frank Siracusa, John Weber

Feb 29 - Jul 1/16

Arq

Feature

Nine Time Productions Inc.

Prods.: Mason Novick, John Finemore, Mary Anne Waterhouse

Feb 1 – Feb 26/16

Backstabbing For Beginners

Feature

Scythia Films

Prods.: Lars Knudsen, Aaron Barnett

Jan 26 - Mar 11/16

Between Season 2

TV Series

Rogers / Netflix

Prod.: Don Carmody, David Cormican, Michael McGowan,

Rick Bota

Jan. 13 - Mar 11/16

Bookaboo Season 4

TV Series

Sinking Ship Entertainment

Prod: Carla De Jong, Lucy Goodman

Sept. 5/15 – Mar. 1/16

Cardinal

Mini Series

Sienna Films Inc.

Prod: Jessica Daniel

Feb 11 - Apr 21/16

Dark Matter Season 2

TV Series

Prod: Norman Denver

Exec. Prod.: Jay Firestone,...

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, here is the Toronto Film Production Update for January 2016, including "Dark Matter", "Killjoys", "The Strain" and a whole lot more:

Between Season 2

TV Series

Rogers / Netflix

Producers.: Don Carmody, David Cormican, Michael McGowan,

Rick Bota

Jan. 13 - Mar 11/16

Bookaboo Season 4

TV Series

Sinking Ship Entertainment

Producers: Carla De Jong, Lucy Goodman

Sept. 5/15 – Mar. 1/16

Dark Matter Season 2

TV Series

Fireworks

Producer: Norman Denver

Dec 9/15 - May 9/16

Downsizing

Feature

Paramount Pictures /

Mega Omaha Films Inc.

Producers.: Mark Johnson, James Burk, James Taylor

Apr. 12 - Jul 11/16

Killjoys Season 2

TV Series

Temple Street Prod.

Producer: DJ Carson

Dec. 2/15 – Apr. 15/16

Odd Squad Season 2

TV Series

Producer: Stephen Turnbull

Aug 6/15 - Apr 1/16

Rabbit Hole

TV Series

Temple Street Prods Ltd.

Producer: Claire Welland

Sept 28/15 – Mar 1/16

Snipped In The Bud

TV Movie

Hp Flowershop Mysteries Productions Ontario Inc.

Producer: David Anselmo

Dec. 11/15 – Jan. 29/16

The Code

TV Series

Shade Pi Productions Inc.

Unlike House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Daredevil and Bloodline, Netflix isn’t making much of a promotional push for its upcoming series Between. Perhaps that’s because it’s a co-production with Canadian networks, which means it’ll be un-bingeable, diverging from the Netflix model by launching on May 21 and releasing a new episode weekly. Let the impatient viewer rioting commence.

A survivalist thriller set in the small town of Pretty Lake, Between kicks off as a mysterious plague kills off every resident of the town over the age of 21. The government quarantines the town, leading to a power vaccum and struggle for dominance as the teens go to war with one another in order to stay alive. Think Lord of the Flies with moody, disinterested youth.

It’s a very similar premise to Michael Grant’s bestselling Gone series, which Sony Pictures Television is planning to adapt for the small screen,...

Netflix released the first full-length trailer for the upcoming series “Between” on Wednesday. The show follows a pregnant teenager, played by Jennette McCurdy, living in the small town of Pretty Lake, which has been devastated by a disease that kills anyone over the age of 21. In the trailer, the town’s population plummets as the disease spreads faster than anyone can comprehend. The government institutes a quarantine and leaves the inhabitants to fend for themselves. See photos: 12 First Look Stills of Jane Fonda-Lily Tomlin's Netflix Series 'Grace and Frankie' “Between” was created by filmmaker Michael McGowan (“Still Mine,...

A version of this story first appeared in the Sept. 12 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Both in front of and behind the camera, these 15 Canadian up-and-comers have drawn audiences and industry admirers as they help their home country navigate a fast-changing global entertainment business. You'll find profiles on the country's proudest 35-and-under industry professionals and talent below, including the credits and achievements likely to make them Canada's future entertainment leaders. David Cormican, 32 (producer) Cormican is executive vp at Don Carmody Television. He is co-producing Echoes, a sci-fi series from

read more...

Carl Binder, who served as an executive producer for the Stargate television franchise, has been hired to write the pilot for "Echoes," a new science-fiction series. Spearheaded by Don Carmody Television, "Echoes" is set in the year 2021 and follows the journey of Sonya, a young woman trying to survive after two warring extra-terrestrial species bring their intergalactic battle to planet Earth. Binder will serve as showrunner should the project be picked up for a full season. "With Carl's mastery of the genre and one of the best sci-fi visual effects team on the planet, we hope to bring the world and aliens of 'Echoes' to life for the millions of fans of the genre the world over," said David Cormican, executive vice president of Don Carmody Television. Oscar-winning film producer ...

Th International Financing Forum (Iff) will be held at this year's Tiff by the Ontario Media Development Corporation (Omdc), now in its 8th edition the annual event will bring the best Canadian and international producers to an expectant group of industry executives, sales agents, financiers, and distributors.

During the two-day networking program, taking place September 8tha and 9th, 40 feature film projects will be get this invaluable exposure. Twenty-one of these potential works are Canadian, the rest represent 15 international markets from around the globe which include Australia, Bulgaria, England, Germany, India, Finland, France, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and The United State.

Via more than 682 meetings scheduled for Iff 2013 the selected projects will have the chance to be connected with over 30 international companies :

Bankside Films, Big Beach Films, Cinetic Media, eOne Entertainment, Film4, FilmNation, IFC Films/Sundance Selects, K5 Media Group, ICM Partners, Kickstarter, Magnolia, The Match Factory, Nordisk, Participant Films, Parts & Labor Films, Protagonist Pictures, River Road Entertainment, See-Saw Films, TF1, Voltage, Wild Bunch, and William Morris Endeavor, among other top film companies.

Canadian producers/projects include:

• Toronto producer David Cormican of Don Carmody Productions with romantic comedy, The Jane Austen Marriage Manual, written by internationally best-selling novelist Kim Izzo (The Fabulous Girl’s Guide to Decorum)

• Vancouver’s Trish Dolman and Christine Haebler (Hector and The Search For Happiness starring Simon Pegg) with Nick Broomfield’s ( Kurt and Courtney) fiction feature film directorial debut, The Catastrophist, to star Freida Pinto, John C. Reilly, and Dana Stevens

• Toronto producer, Frank Siracusa with murder-mystery, The Bird Artist, with Baltasar Kormákur (2 Guns with Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg) at the helm, written by Malcolm McRury (The Man Without A Face, Deadwood)

• International projects include:

• Award-winning Iranian director, novelist, human rights activist, Mohsen Makhmalbaf (award-winning Gabbeh, Iran’s submission for 70th Academy Awards®) with The President from U.K. producers, Mike Downey (Deathwatch) and Sam Taylor (Before The Rain)

• Netherlands producers Pierre Spengler and Laurence Lamers (1995 Palme d’Or Winner – Underground; Superman I and II) with historical-drama, Orestes, with Freddie Highmore, Susan Lynch and Alan Cumming attached to star

• Finnish producer, Tero Kaukomaa (2000 Palme d’Or winner, Dancer in the Dark and award-winning Iron Sky) with Deadrise, a Timo Vuerensola (Iron Sky) horror/zombie project

• U.S. producers Mona Panchal (former Paramount executive) and Priya Swaminathan (head of development, George Clooney’s Smoke House Pictures) with psychological thriller, The Incident (2013 Sundance Screenwriting and Directing labs), written and to be directed by Jan Kwiecinski (Vice Films distributed, Fawns).

Some of the recent successful projects supported in previous years by the Iff include the 2011 Academy Award nominated film Incendies by Denis Villeneuve who returns to Toronto with two films Prisoners and Enemy , David Michod's Animal Kingdom, and more recently Wadjda, the first Saudi Arabian feature film from a female director, which opens in the U.S on September 13th.

Exclusive: 40 Canadian and international producer teams selected for Omdc’s eighth annual Toronto co-financing market.

New films by Donald Petrie, Timo Vuorensola, Baltasar Kormakur [pictured], Nick Broomfield, Gillies Mackinnon are some of the 40 selections for the eighth Omdc’s International Financing Forum. (Full list below)

The Ontario Media Development Corporation’s feature film co-financing market will be held Sept 8-9, running concurrently to Tiff.

The two-day event includes one-on-one producer meetings, a top-level panel discussion, roundtable meetings, a networking luncheon, and a networking reception.

The initiative focuses on English language feature film projects being developed by international and Canadian producers, who meet with executives including sales agents, financiers, distributors, agents and executive producers – from companies including Beta Cinema, Big Beach, Cinetic, eOne, Film4, Film Nation, TF1, Wild Bunch and William Morris Endeavor.

The Canadian-produced projects selected this year include Nick Broomfield’s fiction feature film debut The Catastrophist to star Freida Pinto and John C Reilly and to...

David Cormican, Producer of both the short films ‘Minus Lara’ and ‘Rusted Pyre’ has been awarded a two-way tie between his films for the “Best in Canada” award as part of the 2011 Reel Rave International Film Festival.

Waskesui, Sk— The Canadian Short Screenplay Competition’s ‘Rusted Pyre’ starring Best Actress winner Samantha Somer Wilson and ‘Less Than Kind’ star Brooke Palsson, written by Daniel Audet and directed by Laurence Cohen and ‘Minus Lara’ (a short film produced for Bravo!Fact), stars Romina D’Ugo is written by Canadian Film Centre student Surita Parmar and directed by Rob King, were co-awarded one of… More...

The Canadian Short Screenplay Competition’s 2008 1st place winning script ‘Seeing In The Dark’ written by Gordon Pengilly will have it’s World premiere as part of the Edmonton International Film Festival.

Edmonton, Ab— The Canadian Short Screenplay Competition, the most prestigious name in short film script contests, has earned one more honour: a triple play festival screening of all three Cssc short films: ‘Rusted Pyre’, “Minus Lara’ and ‘Seeing In The Dark’ as part of the 2011 Edmonton International Film Festival (Eiff).

‘Seeing In The Dark’, penned by Calgary native Gordon Pengilly and co-directed by Lethbridge born David Cormican,… More...