SEASON 5 OF MARBLEMEDIA’S AWARD-WINNING SERIES ALL-ROUND CHAMPION SCORES PREMIERE DATES ON BYUtv AND TVOkids
-New season set to premiere on January 15 (BYUtv) and February 8 (TVOkids)-
-Season 5 will celebrate para-athletes-
Toronto/Provo—December 5, 2022—Award-winning global media company, marblemedia along with broadcast partners BYUtv (US) and TVOkids (Canada) announce their premiere dates for season 5 of the high-octane series All-Round Champion. Season 5 is set to air first on BYUtv on Sunday, January 15 at 5pm PT, followed by TVOkids on Wednesday, February 8 at 5pm ET. This latest season comes at the heels of the series winning Best Children’s or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series at the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards.
For the first time in All-Round Champion history, Season 5 will feature a cast fully comprised of para-athletes—competitors with physical disabilities. However, true to the format, they won’t be competing in their own sports; they’ll be competing in each other’s to see how proficient they can become in a new sport in a short period of time. To reach this goal, they must excel beyond their own expectations. They must learn new skills, persevere, overcome their own physical and mental limits, and most importantly, adapt their abilities to the sport and the sports’ equipment. The athlete with the most points at the end of the season will be crowned the All-Round Champion!
The talented athletes and their sports this season are Brayden Butler (Climbing), Bradley Pedrick (Sailing), Dominic DeMaio (Rowing), Gurnoor Chouhan (Goalball), Jackson Atwood (Wheelchair Basketball), Lily Brook (Adaptive Boxing), Maggie Manning (Sledge Hockey), Momo Sutton (Swimming), and Samantha Fraser (Track).
The 10-episode, 60-minute series is hosted by Olympian and World Champion Perdita Felicien, who brings mentorship to the young athletes, along with weekly sports stars that coach and encourage the participants through their respective sports. For this fifth season, some of the sports stars include Britain’s most successful Paralympic sailor, Helena Lucas; four-time Paralympic swimming gold medalist, McKenzie Coan; 31-time Canadian track champion, Josh Cassidy; and Matt Scott, a two-time Paralympic champion in wheelchair basketball and the first disabled athlete featured in a Nike commercial.
“At its ethos, the series has always been about determination, excellence, and passion. There is no one better to showcase this than the tremendous cohort of para-athletes we have lined up. This is an exceptional season of All-Round Champion, and we are confident audiences will be as excited about it as we are,” said Matt Hornburg, Executive Producer and Co-CEO of marblemedia.
“Although All-Round Champion is an intense competition show at its core, it shines a light on the resilience of the human spirit and the strengthening of bonds between teammates and mentors,” said Andra Johnson Duke, Head of Content at BYUtv. “All-Round Champion has captured the imaginations of young people and their parents over the course of many seasons, and there’s no question that this exciting new iteration will continue to engage and inspire viewers to want to push harder, do better, and be better.”
“We love All-Round Champion because of how it celebrates developing a growth mindset, which is a critical skill set for children and youth of all ages,” says Kirsten Hurd, Executive Producer at TVOkids. “Through each moment of competition, our viewers witness young people taking on unfamiliar challenges and strategizing how to win. With its focus on para-athletes, Season 5 will be a landmark moment for the series.”
All-Round Champion is adapted from the wildly successful Norwegian Best i mest (NRK), which won an International Emmy Kids Award for Non-Scripted Entertainment, as well as a Prix Jeunesse. marblemedia was granted North American format rights from Beta Film.
Executive Producers of the series include Matthew Hornburg, Mark J.W. Bishop, Steve Sloan, and co-Executive Producer Donna Luke for marblemedia, Jeff Simpson and Andra Johnson Duke for BYUtv, and Kirsten Hurd for TVO. Perdita Felicien also serves as Producer.
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marblemedia is a global multi award-winning production company anchored in original storytelling. For over 20 years, marblemedia has been trailblazing the future of entertainment across its premium content divisions Primetime Scripted, Unscripted, and Kids & Family. The company has built up a library of over 2,100 hours of television.
Recent unscripted series include the global phenomena Netflix Original Blown Away, Discovery Original A Cut Above, CBC original Best in Miniature and five seasons of the high-octane competition series All-Round Champion.
Recent scripted series include the hit family comedy Overlord and the Underwoods, interconnected family comedies The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker and teen series Open Heart.
Powered by the of reach its own international distribution company, Distribution360, which has sold programming to over 200 territories. The company continues to rack up accolades such as, being named one of Variety’s Reality Impact Report 2022’s “Titans of Unscripted TV” as well as a “Next Gen Content Producer” by the Hollywood Reporter.
marblemedia was founded in 2001 by co-CEOs Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg with a vision of creativity, partnership, and innovation, the company is headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Los Angeles and London, plus a 50-acre production facility north of Toronto.
BYUtv provides families more than 2,000 hours of uplifting and compelling programming they can enjoy together. The network's content is trusted, contemporary and clean, yet clever and sophisticated enough to inspire children and parents alike. BYUtv's diverse portfolio of original, co-produced and acquired content includes scripted and unscripted dramas and comedies, competition shows, concert specials and 700+ hours of live HD collegiate sports. BYUtv is available in approximately 40 million homes in every state of the country on DISH Network, DirecTV and more than 130 major cable systems. A digital pioneer, BYUtv was the first U.S. television network to stream all its content live and free of charge over the internet. Today, BYUtv has more than two million YouTube subscribers and two billion views and is available live and on-demand on multiple digital platforms at no cost, including Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox, Windows, digital apps for iOS and Android, and BYUtv.org. Based in Provo, Utah, BYUtv is part of BYU Broadcasting, which is owned by Brigham Young University.
About TVO Media Education Group
TVO inspires learning that changes lives and enriches communities. Founded in 1970, we are a globally recognized digital learning organization that engages Ontarians of all ages with inclusive experiences and diverse perspectives. Through video, audio, games, courses, newsletters and articles, we’re investing in the transformative potential of education for everyone. Funded primarily by the Province of Ontario, TVO is a registered charity supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. For more information, visit TVO.me, TVO.org and TVOkids.com. Stream TVO on your favourite device.
For more information, please contact:
Simi Khosa (they/them)
Marketing and Publicity Specialist
skhosa@marblemedia.com
MARBLEMEDIA AND FAE PICTURES PARTNER TO DEVELOP AN ORIGINAL POLITICAL DRAMA, ‘SALT’
COMING OFF OF THE TIFF SERIES ACCELERATOR AND ON PLAYBACK MAGAZINE’S
10 TO WATCH CREATOR ABDUL MALIK (NBC’S TRANSPLANT)
EXPOSES THE UNKNOWN WORLD BEHIND UNIONIZATION IN AMERICA
LOS ANGELES/LONDON/TORONTO – November 23, 2022 – marblemedia and Fae Pictures, are excited to announce they are in development on an original, primetime political family drama series Salt, from creator Abdul Malik (NBC’s Transplant, Peace by Chocolate). marblemedia acquired the project earlier this year at the Toronto International Film Festival’s Series Accelerator program.
Salt follows a young man, Mohammad “Mo” Akram, raised by a wealthy Muslim family reeling from a scandal that’s decimated America’s working class. Seeking to make amends for his father’s sins, Mo takes a job as a ‘salt’ and must infiltrate and covertly unionize an opulent international hotel chain in Chicago from the inside, making vulnerable the workers he is seeking to protect and threatening his politically-influential family.
A “salt” is defined as a labour union tactic involving the act of getting a job at a specific workplace with the intent of organizing a union. The person employed to do so is called a “salt.” This series will both entertain and expose the resurgent labour movement currently sweeping America. Today’s modern-day labour awakening will be on full display with this underlying IP as this original series will offer authenticity in a fictional world shaped by Malik’s personal insights working within the labour movement for a decade, within the worlds of salting, organizing, and storytelling.
Recently selected for Playback Magazine’s 10 to Watch, 29-year-old prolific screenwriter Abdul Malik spent a decade on the front lines of labour and environmental movements as a documentarian while he studied film. That led to co-writing the feature film, Peace By Chocolate, which premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. He is now garnering attention as a screenwriter recently having written on NBC’s Transplant; as well as two feature films, Streams Flow from a River and Queen Tut.
“A series like this is really close to my heart. It aims to do nothing less than articulate the thrilling world of labour unions, a world I know intimately, while speaking to the urgent issues and incredible uplift we’ve seen working class people achieve over the last few years by fighting for their rights. The series explores power in all its forms and knows the moral complexities of its world in a way that makes for rapt television,” shared Abdul Malik, series creator.
“We are thrilled to add Salt to marblemedia’s ever expanding content slate. After meeting Abdul, hearing his story and reading his voice, we knew this was a project we needed to be a part of. The series is aligned with our mandate to share stories that are rooted in authentic voices that are bold, inspiring and have a positive impact. We are proud to develop IP about topics that provoke conversation and galvanize change, while captivating audiences who covet smart, propulsive entertainment”, says Carrie Paupst Shaughnessy, VP Scripted at marblemedia. adding, “We are looking to attract top producing partners, international talent, and a showrunner who will align with Abdul’s creative vision.”
“On our mission to decolonize Hollywood, Salt comes in as a series that shatters our expectations of a political drama featuring an affluent and influential Muslim family against the backdrop of the struggles of America’s working class,” says Shant Joshi, president of Fae Pictures.
Salt is co-produced by marblemedia and Fae Pictures. Malik is repped by META Talent Agency.
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About marblemedia
marblemedia is a global multi award-winning production company anchored in original storytelling. For over 20 years, marblemedia has been trailblazing the future of entertainment across its premium content divisions Primetime Scripted, Unscripted, and Kids & Family. The company has built up a library of over 2100 hours of television.
Recent scripted series include the hit family comedy Overlord and the Underwoods (Hulu, Nickelodeon, CBC, BYUtv, ITV), interconnected family comedies The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker (Super Channel), and teen series Open Heart (Teen Nick). Currently, the company is developing the drama series Persuasion based on Arlene Dickinson’s bestselling book and Holding Still for as Long as Possible by Zoe Whittall.
Recent unscripted series include the global phenomena Netflix Original Blown Away, Netflix Original Drink Masters, Discovery Original A Cut Above, CBC original Best in Miniature and five seasons of the high-octane competition series All-Round Champion.
Powered by the reach of its own international distribution company, Distribution360, which has sold programming to over 200 territories. The company continues to rack up accolades such as, being named one of Variety’s Reality Impact Report 2022’s “Titans of Unscripted TV” as well as a “Next Gen Content Producer” by the Hollywood Reporter.
marblemedia was founded in 2001 by co-CEOs Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg with a vision of creativity, partnership, and innovation, the company is headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Los Angeles and London, plus a 50-acre production facility north of Toronto.
About Fae Pictures
Based in Los Angeles and Toronto, FAE PICTURES is an award-winning media production company on a mission to decolonize Hollywood by creating cinematic content for, by, and about queer, trans, and BIPOC people.
Our latest film, FRAMING AGNES, premiered at Sundance garnering the NEXT Audience Award and NEXT Innovator Award, and we were recently awarded the illustrious TEDDY Award (informally known as the queer Oscar) at the Berlinale for INTERNATIONAL DAWN CHORUS DAY. Our team’s work in film and TV has won awards at Sundance, Berlin, Inside Out, XPOSED, and BendFilm, and premiered at such festivals as Toronto, Tribeca, Hot Docs, Busan, BFI London, Ashland, Cleveland, Outfest, Black Star, and Bentonville, has earned multiple nominations for Canadian Screen Awards, and has seen theatrical and digital distribution across Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
For more information, contact:
Kelsey Aikman
Director of Marketing & Communications
kaikman@marblemedia.com
Drink Masters is a hit! Another top 10 Netflix series for marblemedia
Drink Masters, marblemedia’s latest Netflix offering premiered on October 28 to a resounding amount of positive attention, with media and viewers hailing it a must-watch due to its original premise, set design, and host Tone Bell’s charisma. During its premiere week, the series reached Netflix’s Top 10 TV show list in numerous territories including the US and Canada.
“marblemedia has single-handedly resurrected a sub-genre of reality tv that Bravo used to traffic in the late 2000s” – Reality Blurred
“…with a collection of creative mixologists, it brings all oohs, ahs and, awe we thirst for in great reality TV – Mashable
“It’s like Top Chef for bartenders…my kind of show” – Access Hollywood
In Drink Masters, twelve of the world’s most innovative mixologists infuse, stir, and blend their way through a series of high-stakes cocktail challenges to win $100,000 and the title of the Ultimate Drink Master. Comedian, actor, and writer Tone Bell hosts and titans of the cocktail world, Frankie Solarik and Julie Reiner serve as the judges the contestants must fight to impress. Drink Masters is the first competition show of its kind to showcase cocktails as liquid art alongside the mixology artists behind them.
Drink Masters joins marblemedia’s growing list of Netflix hits, Blown Away and Restaurants on the Edge. The series was created by Tim Warren and Matthew Hornburg, with Warren and Hornburg serving as Executive Producers with Mark J.W. Bishop.
The series has been covered by outlets such as:
And MORE!
Watch Drink Masters, streaming now only on Netflix.
marblemedia promotes Kelsey Espensen to director, unscripted development
marblemedia, the Toronto-headquartered prodco behind the award-winning Netflix competition series Blown Away, has promoted Kelsey Espensen to director of unscripted development.
In her new role, Espensen (pictured) will be responsible for developing innovative new formats with global appeal, as part of marblemedia’s push to expand its offerings across all its production channels.
Espensen is one of Playback‘s 2022 10 to Watch recipients and joined marblemedia as a digital marketing coordinator in June 2017, following an internship tenure earlier that year. Taking on a succession of different roles with progressively larger responsibilities, Espensen created and developed the miniature-building competition series Best in Miniature (CBC, Discovery+ UK and Ireland), and ideated and developed the sand-sculpting competition Race Against the Tide (CBC). She also co-developed the forthcoming format Drink Masters, which is slated to debut on Netflix on Oct. 28.
“marblemedia is known for delivering premium content to partners around the globe, and it all starts with bold, original and innovative ideas. Kelsey Espensen has strong commercial instincts and [has] consistently ideated new ways to explore unique story worlds and fresh formats that haven’t yet been showcased on television,” marblemedia co-CEO and executive producer Matt Hornburg said in a release.
Marblemedia will be presenting its latest format, the chainsaw-carving competition A Cut Above, at this year’s MIPCOM.
This story originally appeared in Realscreen
For more information, contact:
Kelsey Aikman
Director of Marketing & Communications
Kaikman@marblemedia.com
Say Hello To The Future Of Mixology In Netflix’s Upcoming Series ‘Drink Masters’
By MELISSA ROMUALDI. Published: 11 Oct 2022 1:00 PM Last updated: 11 Oct 2022 5:11 PM ON ETCANADA.COM
A fun, new competition series is coming to Netflix this fall.
Mixologists from around the world will shake up the competition as they bring their A-game — and cocktail shakers — to the bar in the upcoming unscripted reality series “Drink Masters”.
With a culinary approach to cocktails and “wild ingredients” on hand, viewers will see “masterpieces of liquid art” come to life.
The official synopsis reads: “Twelve of the world’s most innovative mixologists infuse, stir and blend their way through a series of high-stakes cocktail challenges to win a life-changing prize and the title of The Ultimate Drink Master.”
Toronto’s Frankie Solarik, owner of BarChef — an innovative, premium cocktail bar — will serve as one of the judges, in addition to author, mixologist and bar owner Julie Reiner. The series will also feature two Montreal-based mixologists competing to be named The Ultimate Drink Master. Actor and comedian Tone Bell is set to host.
“Drink Masters” will quench your thirst beginning Oct. 28 when the 10-episode series drops on Netflix.
For more information, contact:
Kelsey Aikman
Director of Marketing & Communications
kaikman@marblemedia.com
CBC ORIGINAL COMPETITION SERIES RACE AGAINST THE TIDE FROM MARBLEMEDIA RENEWED FOR A THIRD SEASON, WITH PRODUCTION CURRENTLY UNDERWAY
The third season, produced by leading Canadian entertainment company, marblemedia, will return to CBC in 2023 with an enhanced format, making it the most competitive season yet!
TORONTO October 11, 2022 - Leading international award-winning production company, marblemedia, is thrilled to announce that production is underway on an epic third season of the sand sculpture competition series, RACE AGAINST THE TIDE. Filmed on New Brunswick’s breathtaking and iconic New River Beach, on the Bay of Fundy, the summer hit will premiere on CBC in 2023. The stakes are higher than ever for season three, as the show introduces an all-new format, with more world-class competitors and an unforgettable season showcasing the strongest competition yet.
This series has quickly become a must-see, as it has consecutively ranked among the top of the Canadian TV ratings on Sunday nights each week*; and has seen resounding interest in the format from around the world.
“The wild success of Race Against the Tide is a testament to the continued rising interest into specialized artforms and story worlds,” shares Executive Producer and marblemedia co-CEO, Matt Hornburg. “Audiences viewing habits are constantly changing, and as producers we must pivot and change with them. Season three will see a spectacular new format and new cast of characters that will reinvigorate our audiences' adoration for this original series”.
“We're excited to head back to the beautiful Bay of Fundy with Wes, Karen and Rusty for a new season of Race Against the Tide,” said Jennifer Dettman, Executive Director of Unscripted Content, CBC. “The third season promises to be the most competitive one yet and we're looking forward to watching it play out with viewers across Canada next year.”
Taking the series concept to a whole new level, season three will see 12 world class sand sculpting teams of two tap into their artistic creativity more than ever before in the world’s toughest sand sculpting competition yet. Divided into two groups of six, the teams will dig, pound, carve and sculpt through four qualifying rounds. The top two teams from each round will face off in a sand flying semi-final. In the end, only one team will reign supreme and walk away with the grand prize of $10,000...and the beach bragging rights of being crowned Race Against the Tide champions.
Returning as host this season is New Brunswick’s own, award-winning godfather of Canadian Hip Hop, Maestro Fresh Wes. Wes will be joined by returning judges, Karen Fralich, who herself has competed in over 120 master-level contests around the globe, and is a five-time World Champion; and Rusty Croft, a seasoned sand sculptor who holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the “tallest sand castle” as a member of the Sand Guys. He has also appeared on every episode of Discovery Channel’s Sand Wars and Sand Blasters.
Race Against the Tide is executive produced by Matt Hornburg and Mark Bishop of marblemedia; series producer and writer is Carly Spencer, and Donna Luke of marblemedia serves as co-executive producer. Co-produced with Hemmings House
Films, for which Greg Hemmings serves as Co-Executive Producer and Stephen Foster as Producer. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports; Jennifer Dettman is Executive Director, Unscripted Content; Alexandra Lane is Senior Director of Production; and Ann-Marie Redmond is Executive in Charge of Production.
*Source: Numeris PPM TV, Total Canada, Ind2+ AMA, CBC Total, Sundays, July 10-September 11, 2022.
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About marblemedia
A global award-winning media company, marblemedia is anchored in original storytelling, innovation, and content that celebrates unique characters and perspectives through an inspiring lens. In addition to their critically acclaimed competition series and renowned award-winning family content, the leading production company is forging their way into the scripted television space by expanding their repertoire of scripted series with a number of new acquisitions. Founded in 2001 by co-CEOs Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg with a vision of creativity, partnership and innovation, the company has offices in Toronto, London and L.A., with a 50-acre production facility located north of Toronto. Learn more at marblemedia.com
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
For more information, contact:
Kelsey Aikman
Director of Marketing & Communications
kaikman@marblemedia.com
The Magic of the Tickle Trunk Returns, as Prime Video Announces the Start of Production on an Untitled Mr. Dressup Documentary
The Canadian Amazon Original is produced by marblemedia in association with CBC, Hawkeye Pictures, and Pyre Productions
TORONTO—September 29, 2022—Prime Video today announced the start of production on the new Canadian Amazon Original documentary based on the life and career of legendary Canadian children’s entertainer Ernie Coombs—or, as he is more commonly known by millions of fans, Mr. Dressup. The documentary celebrates the origins and history of one of Canada’s most beloved CBC children shows, Mr. Dressup, which enriched the lives of five generations. The project will film in fall 2022, with a release set for 2023 exclusively on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide, followed by a broadcast window on CBC in Canada.
The feature-length documentary celebrates the origins and history of Canada’s favourite children’s show, Mr. Dressup, which built a legacy of kindness, patience, inclusiveness, and creativity in 4,000 episodes across 29 years on CBC in Canada. The documentary will combine never-before-seen archival footage, interviews with series puppeteers and musicians, the Coombs family, and other notable Canadians, all sharing the impact the series had on them. The project also includes fascinating insights into Coombs and how he worked with other key creators and partners, including his friendship with Fred Rogers.
“Mr. Dressup holds a special place in the memories of millions, and Ernie, along with his puppet friends Casey and Finnegan, are the cornerstones of childhood entertainment for generations of Canadians,” said Nav Saini, head of content, Canada, Prime Video. “We are thrilled to work with our partners at marblemedia and the CBC to bring Canadian audiences a documentary that serves as a reminder of the power of creativity, the need for compassion, and the importance of playtime, from one of our most important entertainment icons.”
“This is one of the most iconic Canadian stories to tell as producers in Canada. A story that resonates positive values, an archetype that has changed the future of kids and family entertainment for generations, and shaped countless careers, including my own. And we’re telling it for the first time,” said Mark Bishop, executive producer and co-founder of marblemedia.
“Mr.Dressup was, and continues to be, a fun, creative, kind, and safe show for viewers of all ages. It’s a great honour to share the rich history, cultural significance, and unlimited imagination of the show and its key creators with all of Canada and the entire world,” added director and writer Rob McCallum.
"We are proud of the enduring legacy of Mr. Dressup and Ernie Coombs, representing the national public broadcaster's long-standing commitment to engage young audiences," said Catherine Tait, president and CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada. "Working alongside our partners at marblemedia and Prime Video, we have no doubt that this new documentary will emotionally move and inspire Canadians of all ages through the celebration of this quintessential children's series and its timeless themes of generosity, playfulness, and creativity."
The documentary is produced by marblemedia in association with Hawkeye Pictures and Pyre Productions, with the participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund, the Rogers Documentary Fund, and Ontario Creates. Mark Bishop, Matt Hornburg, Aeschylus Poulos, Justin Schoenrock, and Rob McCallum are executive producers, Donna Luke serves as co-executive producer, and Bishop and Poulos are producers. The documentary is directed by McCallum (Power of Grayskull: The Definitive History of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Missing Mom) and written by McCallum and Jordan Morris. International sales are handled by Distribution360 (D360).
The documentary joins the slate of Canadian Amazon Original series including The Kids in the Hall, The Lake, LOL: Last One Laughing Canada, All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs, LOL: Qui rira le dernier?, and The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith. Since 2015, Amazon Studios has filmed over 25 Amazon Original series and films in Canada, including The Man in the High Castle and Upload in British Columbia; The Boys, Reacher, and The Expanse in Ontario; Tales from the Loop in Manitoba; as well as parts of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and The Voyeurs in Quebec.
The untitled Mr. Dressup documentary will join the thousands of TV shows and movies from Hollywood and around the world in the Prime Video catalog, including award-winning and critically acclaimed Amazon Originals like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Cinderella, Do, Re & Mi, and Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.
For more information, contact:
Kelsey Aikman
Director of Marketing & Communications
kaikman@marblemedia.com
A Cut Above Season 1 Exclusive Promo & Cast Revealed
BY DAVID WILDEROTTER. PUBLISHED SEP 26, 2022 ON SCREENRANT.COM
Screen Rant reveals an exclusive promo for A Cut Above, a new chainsaw wood carving competition series debuting on Discovery in October.
Screen Rant is exclusively revealing a brand-new chainsaw carving competition series called A Cut Above, along with a promo and the list of contestants. A Cut Above premieres in October on Discovery. The series is hosted by Adam Beach, a Golden Globe-nominated actor. A Cut Above, produced and developed by marblemedia and Bell Media, is being described as the ultimate chainsaw carving competition.
A Cut Above will debut after Alaskan Bush People season 14, which was recently renewed by Discovery and premieres October 2 at 8 p.m. EDT. Alaskan Bush People season 14 will be the first without Billy Brown, the patriarch of the Brown family, who died after suffering a seizure in 2021. Alaskan Bush People will have a two-hour premiere for its new season. A Cut Above will air one-hour episodes over 12 weeks, with the contestants facing elimination every week.
In a Screen Rant-exclusive promo, A Cut Above is being described as a competition "like nothing you've seen before." One contestant describes the series as the "toughest" there is. Twelve of the world's top chainsaw woodcarvers face off to show their skills and outlast the competition. According to a press release from Discovery, A Cut Above, premiering October 2, "puts the contestants to the ultimate test of artistry, stamina and carving skills as they re-imagine ordinary wood logs into jaw-dropping works of art." The intense competition, from the same network that airs Alaskan Bush People, which lasts 12 weeks, will push the contestants to their limits as they fight for a cash prize and the title of "A Cut Above." The list of competitors, who range in age from 23 to 53, includes Andrew Mallon, Aya Blaine, Bongo Love, Brigitte Lochhead, Chris Wood, Jesse Toso, Joel Palmer, John Hayes, Junior Henderson, Ryan Villiers, Sam Bowsher and Sylvia Itzen.
The contestants, described as "master carvers," come from all over the world to compete on A Cut Above. Some are from the United States, while others are from Canada, Ireland, Germany, Zimbabwe, Wales and Scotland. Every week, the carvers will square off in different challenges, including a Quick challenge and a Master Carver challenge. They will race "against the clock in hopes of avoiding elimination." Ryan Cook, a "world-renowned chainsaw carver," and Katharine Dowson, an "esteemed sculptor," are the judges for A Cut Above, which will air on the same network as Naked & Afraid, and they will decide who stays in the competition every week and who goes home. They will "bring their combined expertise and artistic prowess" to A Cut Above as they judge the work of the master carvers.
A Cut Above is truly a competition series that has never been seen before on television. Discovery is bringing a one-of-a-kind show to viewers with A Cut Above, and carving fans should be excited to tune in and watch the world's best carvers battle it out. There will be masterpiece after masterpiece that will take the judges and the audience by storm. The anticipation is high, and after Alaskan Bush People returns, fans can tune in to A Cut Above to find out who will come out on top.
A Cut Above premieres Sunday, October 2 at 10 p.m. EDT on Discovery.
For more information, contact:
Kelsey Aikman
Director of Marketing & Communications
kaikman@marblemedia.com
Netflix Teams With ‘Blown Away’ Producer Marblemedia for ‘Drink Masters’ Reality Series
The streamer has turned to the Canadian makers of the comforting glass-blowing competition series to bring a broad audience to the tight-knit world of mixologists.
Netflix is set to shake up the bar and spirits worlds with Drink Masters, a reality series out of Canada to debut on Oct. 28 as competing mixologists infuse and blend their liquid art to create fresh takes on storied cocktails.
Similar to other reality competition shows, 12 contestants from across North America have to complete challenges against a clock, with one person getting their marching orders every episode until an Ultimate Drink Master is crowned. But what can be done with a skillet and stove in Top Chef or Chopped can apparently also be done with a cocktail shaker and a bar top in Drink Masters as bartenders shake, stir and pour elixirs to create madcap cocktails, Marblemedia co-creator Matt Hornburg tells The Hollywood Reporter.
“It’s not just about what’s in the glass, but what appears around the glass as part of that experience. And it’s just as much about your palate as well as the aromas,” Hornburg explains. After the success of its Blown Away and Restaurants on the Edge series on Netflix, Marblemedia pitched the streaming giant on a cocktail competition series that is less in-your-face than American reality competition series and more focused on the tactile adventure of making cocktails.
“It’s taking something cinematic, with rich, elevated, distinct characters who are passionate and having a slightly unique quality different from a lot of other shows out there — something more optimistic, which is true to the values of our company,” Hornburg says.
“It’s not lost on us as Canadians to be making a reality competition show that has a different perspective than around a show made out of the U.S. There’s space in this environment for all of these different perspectives and that’s what people are tuning into,” he adds about the success of Blown Away.
Fellow Marblemedia co-creator Mark Bishop insists Drink Masters is the product of an indie producer based in Canada, but operating as an American company focused on a world market that Netflix and other streaming players are expanding into. “We’re a Canadian company, but our focus has been about working closely with the U.S. We’re there. We have someone based in LA., we’re there, working and selling directly to the streamers in the U.S. We’re operating like an American company and a local company as we work with them, and all the while leveraging every dollar that we can out of Canada and we have by creating Canadian content,” Bishop tells THR.
Netflix’s Drink Masters, unveiled on Thursday, sees mixologists drawn from celebrated bars in New York City, San Francisco, Las Vegas and elsewhere who are mostly veterans of the cocktail competition circuit. The series is shot in Hamilton, Ontario on a giant soundstage with nine cameras trained on two long bars, velvet fabrics, chandeliers, bar stools, floor-to-ceiling shelves of bottled spirits and a kitchen to which contestants are forever racing back and forth for key ingredients.
The cocktails are marked on taste, presentation and how the palates of the two judges, Frankie Solarik and Julie Reiner, are reacting that day. And the tough job of making that rarified passion for cocktails gripping for ordinary TV viewers falls to the series host, Tone Bell, a stand-up comic who starred as John Levy alongside Andra Day in Lee Daniels’ The United States vs. Billie Holiday.
“I’m getting some jokes off, but I’m also learning stuff that people at home will take away as they try to make things that our competitors created,” Bell tells THR. “That’s the really fun part of the series.”
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-blown-away-producer-marblemedia-drink-masters-reality-series-1235199949/
OVERLORD AND THE UNDERWOODS NOW STREAMING ON HULU!
August 4 – marblemedia is thrilled to share that OVERLORD AND THE UNDERWOODS is now available on Hulu!
This charming comedy follows the Underwoods, a North American family, whose life is turned upside down when their distant cousin, Overlord, the second most wanted villain in the universe, seeks refuge in their home after being forced into intergalactic witness protection. After snitching out his boss, the evil Mega-Lord Supreme, Overlord is sent to live with his incredibly nice, distant cousins on Planet Earth. Over the course of the series, the evil Overlord and the very sweet Underwoods discover a thing or two about each other as they learn to treasure the value of family and the importance of true friendship, diversity, and compassion.
For American residents, click here for more information:
https://www.hulu.com/series/overlord-and-the-underwoods-a0f6a2b4-2986-4d50-9b79-ced0f14792e6
Safety Gear at the Ready as Discovery Reveals the 12 Carvers Competing in the All-New Series A CUT ABOVE, Beginning August 8
– Hosted by Adam Beach, the 12 episode Discovery original series features homegrown and international chainsaw-wielding carvers competing for a cash prize and the title of “A Cut Above” –
– New episodes and exclusive content available on CTV.ca and the CTV app each week –
TORONTO (July 18, 2022) – Discovery gears up for a competition series like no other when the all-new Canadian original series, A CUT ABOVE, premieres Monday, August 8 at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT. Also revealed today are the 12 highly skilled carvers who are ready to tackle the ultimate carving competition. The gifted group of chainsaw wielding whizzes from around the world must demonstrate their creativity, strength, and skill, as they turn ordinary logs into extraordinary works of art.
Each one-hour episode of A CUT ABOVE sees the talented carvers compete to win both the Quick and Master Carve challenges while racing against the clock in hopes of avoiding weekly elimination. At the end of the entire competition, the artist who out-carves the rest wins a cash prize and is declared “A Cut Above”.
As previously announced, Golden Globe-nominated actor, Adam Beach, joins as host alongside world-renowned Canadian chainsaw carver Ryan Cook and esteemed sculptor, Katharine Dowson, who bring their combined expertise and artistic prowess as judges.
Meet the 12 cutting edge carvers. For the full carver bios, visit The Lede:
Andrew Mallon, Age 39 Falls Church, VA 8 Years’ Experience “Honestly, if I make it through the first round, I’ll win the whole thing.”
Aya Blane, Age 46 Boonville, NY 17 Years’ Experience “I can’t do anything else. I’m a chainsaw carver.”
Bongo Love, Age 47 Boulder, CO 15 Years’ Experience "It's a big canvas. I'm just excited, I can't wait for the outcome.”
Brigitte Lochhead, Age 40 (she/her) Vancouver, B.C. 14 Years’ Experience “Carving brings me joy. Carving with others amplifies that.”
Chris Wood, Age 52 Newport, Wales 22 Years’ Experience “I like to be energetic in my art – the combination of energy and focus is very meditative for me”
Jesse Toso, Age 46 Vancouver, B.C. 17 Years’ Experience “I love when the wood tells me what it wants to be.”
Joel Palmer, Age 37 Browns Flat, N.B. 9 Years’ Experience “Within seconds I can transform the ordinary, into the extraordinary, revealing the hidden surfaces below, with ease.”
John Hayes, Age 49 Waterford, Ireland 7 Years’ Experience "I'm an ideas man. Lists and details, forget it. But talk to me about an idea, and my brain lights up!"
Junior Henderson, Age 44 Campbell River, B.C. 15 Years’ Experience “I got into carving because I wanted to be like my Grandfather.”
Ryan Villiers, Age 41 Edmonton, Alta. 4 Years’ Experience “I want to take on as many competitions as possible!”
Sam Bowsher, Age 23 Moffat, Scotland 3 Years’ Experience "All my idols growing up were chainsaw carvers, starting with my Dad."
Sylvia Itzen, Age 53 Bucholz, Germany 20 Years’ Experience "I have both feet on the ground and I know what I want: to be a great carver."
Each week, viewers can stream new episodes of A CUT ABOVE on CTV.ca and the CTV app, which is also home to behind-the-scenes videos, cast highlights, and more
A CUT ABOVE was created and produced by leading global entertainment company, marblemedia, in association with Bell Media for Discovery. For marblemedia, Matt Hornburg, Mark Bishop, and Diane Rankin are Executive Producers, Donna Luke and Carly Spencer are co-Executive Producers, Grant Greschuck is series producer, and the series was created by development producer Kelsey Epsensen. For Bell Media, Tina Apostolopoulos is Sr. Production Executive; Sarah Fowlie is Head of Production, Original Programming; Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original Programming; Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, CTV and Specialty Programming, and General Manager, Discovery Networks. Justin Stockman is Vice-President, Content Development & Programming. Karine Moses is Senior Vice-President, Content Development & News and Vice Chair, Québec, Bell. Distribution360, a marblemedia company, holds worldwide distribution rights.
source: https://www.bellmedia.ca/the-lede/press/safety-gear-at-the-ready-as-discovery-reveals-the-12-carvers-competing-in-the-all-new-series-a-cut-above-beginning-august-8/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=safety-gear-at-the-ready-as-discovery-reveals-the-12-carvers-competing-in-the-all-new-series-a-cut-above-beginning-august-8
marblemedia Signs First-Look Deal with Ira Levy Banner
The multi-year agreement with Levy's Spike & Sadie Media spans all genres, with Distribution360 retaining global distribution on all projects.
Toronto-based TV prodco marblemedia has signed a multi-year, first-look deal with Ira Levy’s new boutique film and television production banner, Spike & Sadie Media.
Mark Bishop, co-CEO and executive producer at marblemedia, tells Playback Daily the deal is across all genres — primetime scripted, unscripted and kids and family — with marblemedia acquiring both existing projects that Levy has been developing on his Spike & Sadie slate, as well as new projects.
Distribution360, marblemedia’s distribution arm, will retain global distribution on all projects in the first look-deal.
Levy tells Playback that since launching Toronto-based Spike & Sadie Media in January, he’s “been looking to partner with creators that are authentic storytellers rooted in creativity, with a willingness to take risks.”
“So it felt very natural to sign a first-look deal with Mark and Matt [Hornburg] at marblemedia who are proven leaders in both the unscripted and scripted space,” says Levy, whose producing credits include Less Than Kind and Kenny vs. Spenny.
Bishop says he and Hornburg, who is also co-CEO and executive producer at marblemedia, have known Levy — a veteran producer who is also co-founder of Breakthrough Entertainment — for over 20 years. “Both hold much mutual respect for one another and have often talked about wanting to work on projects together,” he says.
“We have a shared commitment to developing new talent and telling original stories, and this first look-deal brings many exciting new projects to marblemedia’s expansive roster of content,” says Bishop. “Ira has been nurturing a really dynamic slate of primetime projects, a mix of both established creators and producer and many new voices, all of whom we look forward to collaborating with.”
In March, Spike & Sadie Media announced it had finalized the acquisition of 10 scripted projects that are in development from Toronto-based producer-distributor Breakthrough Entertainment.
Bishop says the first-look deal fits into marblemedia’s multi-year growth plan to increase its output of premium content production for global streamers, international partners and domestic broadcasters, with “fresh, rich stories” and a a particular focus on primetime and co-viewing scripted.
It also supports both marblemedia’s goal to showcase and nurture new talent and the company’s announcement last year of Carrie Paupst Shaughnessy’s (VP of scripted and executive producer, marblemedia) expanded role as executive producer of scripted.
“We know how respected Ira is in the industry as a trusted executive producer and he has great taste,” says Bishop. “This multi-year deal will allow us to support the development and production of an increased volume of production of marblemedia content.”
marblemedia and Mezo Entertainment find life on Mars withsci-fi adventure series,GENERATION MARS
Award-winning writer and producer Robert C. Cooper (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Stargate) joins as Showrunner
Power line-up of esteemed Mars experts are attached to consult, including space exploration non-profit, Explore Mars; NASA Mars mission operations specialist, Dr. Tanya Harrison; and twenty-one-year-old astronaut-in-training and STEM-influencer phenom,
Alyssa Carson
Los Angeles/Toronto/ Vancouver - (May 26, 2022) – marblemedia and Mezo Entertainment announced today they are in development on a live-action sci-fi adventure series, Generation Mars (10x60’). Helmed by creator Robert C. Cooper (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Stargate) the series is based on the popular books of the same name by Douglas D. Meredith.
Generation Mars chronicles humanity's perilous extraterrestrial endeavour from the unique point of view of an extraordinary family. It’s an optimistic heart-pounding thrill ride based on hard science that will inspire adventure-seekers of all ages.
Why would anyone have kids on a planet that always seems to be actively trying to kill them? Because the future may depend on it. The year is 2053 and twelve-year-old Cas is famous on two worlds. She’s a true Martian, the first human being born on Mars. Twenty years earlier the first settlers arrived from Earth, and now Cas is about to step outside and see the Martian sky with her own eyes for the first time.
marblemedia signed-on award-winning creator, and executive producer, Robert C. Cooper of Mezo Entertainment as the project’s showrunner. Known for show running the Stargate franchise through 3 series, spanning 17 seasons for MGM, he has since been the showrunner for the absurdly funny, hip and violent Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency for BBC America. He also produced and show ran the medical drama Unspeakable for Sundance channel, which was named on the Hollywood Reporter's and New York Times' Best Television of 2019 lists.
Explore Mars Inc., a not for profit whose mission is to achieve human exploration of Mars by the mid-2030s, have boarded the series. Bringing space stakeholders, policy makers, innovation professionals, international partners, and space enthusiasts together, Explore Mars led by CEO Chris Carberry and President Janet Ivey, will consult and work on outreach to authenticate and raise awareness for the series. Recently, they hosted their annual The Humans to Mars Summit in Washington D.C, where marblemedia’s VP Kids/Family Development, A.J. Trauth, and Robert Cooper spoke on the “STEM In Media” panel.
Bringing scientific credibility to help build a realistic story world, Dr. Tanya Harrison, a Ph.D. in Geology with a specialization in Planetary Science and Exploration, has boarded the project as a consultant. Dr. Harrison is a respected Mars expert who has worked as a geoscientist and mission operations specialists on multiple NASA Mars missions over the past 13 years. She currently works as the Director of Strategic Science Initiatives at Planet Labs and as a Fellow at the University of British Columbia’s Outer Space Institute.
Additionally, astronaut in training, Alyssa Carson, joins the series as a consultant. This 21-year-old pioneer is the youngest person to be accepted to and graduate from the Advanced Possum Academy, officially certifying her to travel to space as an astronaut trainee. In addition to this remarkable accomplishment, she is a global speaker, an author of ‘So You Want to be an Astronaut’, featured in the documentary The Mars Generation, and was recently selected as one of seven ambassadors representing Mars One, a mission to establish a human colony on Mars in 2030.
“We’re excited to announce our partnerships in bringing this ambitious four-quadrant hard science fiction series to the screen,” shared A.J. Trauth, VP of Kids/Family Development at marblemedia. “Doug (Meredith) wrote an edge-of-your-seat, thriller of a novel and we can’t wait to build out this story for TV audiences of all ages with Rob Cooper and the contribution of our impressive panel of experts.”
“Doug’s books are about three things. The importance of family, co-operation and science.” said Rob Cooper “For me, Generation Mars is about human resilience and forging a meaningful existence in the face of what life throws at you. I have three daughters and I’m excited to be part of something that will inspire the next generation of scientists, explorers and leaders. We need them badly.”
ABOUT marblemedia
marblemedia is a leading global entertainment company that develops, produces and distributes compelling TV, interactive and digital content for audiences of all ages.
Powered by reach with an international distribution company, Distribution360, marblemedia content divisions include Primetime Scripted, Unscripted, Kids & Family. and a successful CAVCO certified YouTube channel marbleKids, marblemedia is an expert in delivering premium content that meets the needs of an ever-changing media landscape.
Building on a library of award-winning programs, marblemedia has produced over 900 episodes of television content. Recent scripted series include the interconnected family comedies The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker; family comedy Overlord and the Underwoods; teen series Open Heart. marblemedia’s unscripted series include Netflix Original series Blown Away, Netflix Original series Restaurants on the Edge, All-Round Champion, Race Against the Tide and Best in Miniature.
Founded in 2001 by co-CEOs Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg with a vision of creativity, partnership and innovation, the company has offices in Toronto, Los Angeles and London, plus a 50-acre production facility located north of Toronto.
About Mezo Entertainment
Mezo Entertainment is Robert C. Cooper’s production company. Rob has been involved in the creation of over 400 episodes of television. He is known for showrunning the record-breaking 17 season STARGATE television franchise for MGM. He co-created STARGATE ATLANTIS and STARGATE UNIVERSE and served as executive producer, writer, and director of multiple episodes of all three series and two DTV movies. His latest series UNSPEAKABLE, produced by Mezo for CBC and AMC Studios/Sundance TV, chronicled the Canadian tainted blood tragedy. Prior to that, he served as showrunner on DIRK GENTLY’S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY for BBCAmerica, Netflix and AMC Studios. Some accolades include two Hugo nominations, a Canadian Writer’s Guild award for best dramatic screenplay and an Outstanding Achievement Award for contribution to the British Columbia television industry.
RACE AGAINST THE TIDE RETURNS FOR A SECOND SEASON ON CBC THIS SUMMER, PREMIERING JULY 10 WITH HOST MAESTRO FRESH WES
CBC today announced the return of original competition series RACE AGAINST THE TIDE (10x30) for a second season, produced by marblemedia and premiering Sunday, July 10 at 8:30 p.m. (9 NT) on CBC and CBC Gem. New Brunswick-based, award-winning Hip Hop artist Maestro Fresh Wes hosts the new season, featuring a new group of sand sculptors who will compete head-to-head at the Bay of Fundy to create extraordinary sand art before the world’s highest tide comes in, while attempting to avoid elimination.
“I am so excited to be joining season two of RACE AGAINST THE TIDE and can't wait for audiences to witness the amazing talent these diverse artists possess. The sand sculptures they create are spectacular,” said Maestro Fresh Wes.
Each week, the artists have six hours to create their sand sculptures before the tide washes them away. In the end, the two judges – five-time World Champion Karen Fralich (Burlington, ON) and Master Sculptor Rusty Croft (Carmel Valley, CA) – will decide which duo will walk away with the grand prize of $10,000.
RACE AGAINST THE TIDE season two host Wes Williams, otherwise known as “Maestro Fresh Wes,” was born in Toronto and is considered to be the godfather of Canadian Hip Hop. Maestro Fresh Wes recently became the first Hip Hop artist inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame for his 1989 signature song “Let Your Backbone Slide,” and is also the first Black Canadian artist to have a recording reach platinum status in Canada. He now resides in Saint John, New Brunswick.
This season’s 10 highly-skilled sand sculpting duos are:
Agnese Rudzīte-Kirillova and Sanita Ravina (Latvia) – Agnese is an accomplished mixed media artist who learned about sand sculpting over a decade ago and has been doing it professionally ever since. Sanita discovered sand sculpting when she was a young girl, but has only been doing it full-time for the past four years.
Bouké Atema and Jeroen Advocaat (Germany and The Netherlands) – Originally from Kenya, Bouké has been sand sculpting since 2002 and is well-versed in several different art forms. He is known for sculptures depicting nature, while his partner, Jeroen, prefers structural design. Jeroen, a professional sculptor of over 18 years, studied architecture and 3D design.
Carlos Pereyra and Francisco Valdez (Mexico) – Carlos and Francisco have a combined total of 23 years experience in sand sculpting. The friends met before a competition in Mexico, when Carlos’ original partner backed out at the last minute. He had heard about Francisco and his talent, but didn’t personally know him. Francisco filled in for that competition, and the rest is history.
Craig Mutch and Daeyoung Ji (Vancouver, BC and South Korea) – Craig and Daeyoung want to bring their East-meets-West sculpture style to the world’s toughest beach battle. Craig has been a professional sculptor for 35 years working in ice, sand and snow, whereas Daeyoung has been sculpting for seven years and was catapulted to international success after completing an apprenticeship in Australia.
Fred Dobbs and Guy-Olivier Deveau (Sidney, BC and Quebec, QC) – Fred, who has been sculpting for over 35 years and is considered a Canadian carving legend, is recognized around the world as a professional sand sculptor. Guy-Olivier, who has been sculpting for more than 15 years, is one of Canada’s premier sand sculptors and is known for his dark Gothic creations.
Jo (Stefanie) Hollick and Manuel Campos (Vancouver, BC and Columbia) – Jo began sand sculpting on the beaches of White Rock, BC over two decades ago. With many career achievements under her belt, her biggest personal feat was placing fifth in the Parksville Beach Festival. Manuel has been a professional sand sculptor for over 12 years and has been awarded many different awards at various competitions.
JT (Joseph) Estrela and Amanda Gafford (USA) – Originally a math teacher, JT switched careers and now owns and operates his own company called San Diego Sand Castles. He has been professionally sculpting for seven years while his partner, Amanda, is a registered nurse by day, and an artist by night.
Peter Vogelaar and Alex Avelino (Winlaw, BC and Nelson, BC) – Peter and Alex are a mentor/mentee team from Canada who have sculpted together all over the world in both sand and snow. Peter, a professional artist, has been sculpting for almost two decades while Alex, a graphic designer, has been sculpting for nearly eight years.
Walter McDonald and Christy Atkinson (USA) – Walter and Christy are a father/daughter duo from the United States. Walter is the world’s oldest, still working sand sculptor, who discovered sand sculpting in the early 80s. Christy has been sand sculpting since 2003 and was taught everything she knows by her father.
Wilfred Stijger and Edith van de Wetering (The Netherlands) – This husband and wife duo are professional sand sculptors who have over 25 years of experience and have competed in hundreds of festivals around the globe. Their mind-blown surrealist sculptures are recognized across the world.
In the inaugural season of the show, PEI's Abe Waterman and Seattle's Sue McGrew took the top spot. Catch up on episodes on CBC Gem.
RACE AGAINST THE TIDE is executive produced by Matt Hornburg and Mark Bishop of marblemedia; series producer and writer is Carly Spencer and Donna Luke of marblemedia serves as co-executive producer. Co-produced with Hemmings House. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports; Jennifer Dettman is Executive Director, Unscripted Content; Alexandra Lane is Senior Director of Production; and Ann-Marie Redmond is Executive in Charge of Production. RACE AGAINST THE TIDE is presented with support from Tourism New Brunswick.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About marblemedia
A global award-winning media company, marblemedia is anchored in original storytelling, innovation, and content that celebrates unique characters and perspectives through an inspiring lens. In addition to their critically acclaimed competition series and renowned award-winning family content, the leading production company is forging their way into the scripted television space by expanding their repertoire of scripted series with a number of new acquisitions. Founded in 2001 by co-CEOs Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg with a vision of creativity, partnership and innovation, the company has offices in Toronto, London and L.A., with a 50-acre production facility located 90 minutes north of Toronto. Learn more at marblemedia.com
Media Contact:
Margot Hadaya, CBC PR
https://www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/press-release/race-against-the-tide-returns-for-a-second-season-on-cbc-this-summer-premie
OVERLORD AND THE UNDERWOODSHEADING TO HULU SUMMER 2022
Los Angeles / Toronto – April 25, 2022 – marblemedia and Cloudco Entertainment announced today that Hulu has acquired U.S. streaming rights for the hit series, Overlord and the Underwoods (20x30). The original live-action, single-camera family comedy from award-winning Canadian writer and Playback’s Showrunner of the Year, Anthony Q. Farrell (NBC’s The Office, CBBC’s Secret Life of Boys, The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker) and co-creator Ryan Wiesbrock (Buddy Thunderstruck, Holly Hobbie), will land on Hulu in the summer of 2022.
“We are thrilled this series will be reaching new fans on Hulu,” says Mark Bishop, Executive Producer and Co-CEO at marblemedia. “We know Overlord and the Underwoods will delight their audiences and fit right in amongst Hulu’s premium content offering.”
“We are excited that our series Overlord and the Underwoods has found a new home with Hulu and we hope the compelling characters and stories resonate with their audience,” added Ian Lambur, EVP, Content Strategy, Co-Productions and Global Distribution at Cloudco Entertainment.
Overlord and the Underwoods follows the Underwoods, a family whose life is turned upside down when their distant cousin, Overlord, the second most-wanted villain in the universe, seeks refuge in their home after being forced into intergalactic witness protection. After snitching out his boss, the evil Colossatrotus, Overlord is sent to live with his incredibly nice, only known family on Planet Earth. Over the course of the series, the evil Overlord and the very sweet Underwoods discover a thing or two about each other as they learn to treasure the value of family and the importance of true friendship, diversity, and compassion.
Produced by marblemedia and Cloudco Entertainment, the series features an ensemble cast including Patrice Goodman (Slasher, Sunnyside), Darryl Hinds (Second City, Little Mosque on the Prairie), Ari Resnick (Odd Squad, Clearwater Kids), Kamaia Fairburn (Holly Hobbie, Endlings, Starfalls), Jayne Eastwood (Hey Lady!), Troy Feldman (Lord of the Rings musical) as “Overlord”, and award-winning Canadian icon Jann Arden (Jann) as the voice of “R0-FL” — a droid that has spent most of her life by Overlord’s side. The series was recently nominated for three Canadian Screen Awards.
The series is produced in association with CBC, BYUtv, Nickelodeon International (Viacom) with ITV/Citv, and with the financial participation of the Shaw Rocket Fund and the Cogeco Fund. The series was developed through funding from the Bell Fund Slate Development Program. Cloudco Entertainment and Distribution360, a marblemedia company, hold worldwide distribution rights for the series.
About marblemedia
marblemedia is a leading global entertainment company that develops, produces and distributes compelling TV, interactive and digital content for audiences of all ages, across media platforms.
With divisions specializing in primetime scripted and unscripted programming complementing its roster of successful kids and family properties, international distribution company Distribution360 and a successful CAVCO certified YouTube channel marbleKids, marblemedia is an expert in delivering premium content that meets the needs of an ever-changing media landscape.
Recent scripted series include the interconnected family comedies The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker; family comedy Overlord and the Underwoods; teen series Open Heart, co-produced with Epitome Pictures and Nickelodeon; and are in development on the drama series Persuasion based on Arlene Dickinson’s bestselling book. marblemedia’s unscripted series include Netflix Original series Blown Away, Netflix Original series Restaurants on the Edge, All-Round Champion, Race Against the Tide and the new hit series, Best In Miniature.
Founded in 2001 by co-CEOs Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg with a vision of creativity, partnership and innovation, the company has offices in Toronto and London, plus a 50-acre production facility located 90 minutes north of Toronto.
About Cloudco Entertainment
Cloudco Entertainment, formerly American Greetings Entertainment, is the owner for iconic entertainment brands such as The Care Bears™, Holly Hobbie™, Madballs™, Packages from Planet X™, Twisted Whiskers™, Buddy Thunderstruck™, Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese™. and its newest IP, Overlord & The Underwoods™. Cloudco Entertainment develops multi-platform entertainment franchises across all media channels and extensive consumer merchandising programs that immerse children and adults in brands they love.
About Hulu
Hulu is the leading and most comprehensive all-in-one premium streaming service that offers an expansive slate of live and on-demand entertainment, both in and outside the home, through a wide array of subscription options that give consumers ultimate control over their viewing experience. As part of Disney’s Media and Entertainment Distribution segment, Hulu is the only on-demand offering that provides access to shows from every major U.S. broadcast network, libraries of hit TV series and films – including licensed content available exclusively on Hulu – and award-winning Hulu Originals, both with and without commercials. With Hulu + Live TV, subscribers receive a unique combination of access to 80+ live news, entertainment and sports TV channels from 20th Television, The Walt Disney Company, ABC, NBCUniversal, CBS Corporation, The CW, Turner Networks, A+E Networks and Discovery Networks, as well as Disney+ and ESPN+ included as part of the base plan. Visit hulu.com to subscribe or learn more about the service.
Adam Beach Confirmed to Host Discovery’s All-New Canadian Original Competition Series A CUT ABOVE
– Also confirmed today, judges for the debut season are woodcarver Ryan Cook and sculptor Katharine Dowson –
– Cast of 12 chainsaw-wielding carvers competing for a cash prize and the title of “A Cut Above”, to be announced at a later date –
– The 12 x :60 series shoots this spring in Squamish, B.C., and is slated to premiere later this year –
TORONTO (April 11, 2022) – Discovery announced today that Golden Globe-nominated actor, Adam Beach, is confirmed to host Discovery’s all-new Canadian original woodcarving competition series, A CUT ABOVE. The 12 episode series shoots this spring in the heart of stunning Squamish, B.C., and is set to premiere later this year on Discovery.
Joining the cast is world-renowned Canadian chainsaw carver Ryan Cook and esteemed United Kingdom sculptor, Katharine Dowson, who bring their combined expertise and artistic prowess to serve as the competition judges.
A competition like no other, A CUT ABOVE puts 12 of the best chainsaw carvers from across the world to the ultimate test of creativity, strength, and skills, as they turn ordinary logs into extraordinary works of art. Each episode, the carvers compete in weekly Quick and Master Carve challenges, while racing against the clock, in hopes of avoiding elimination. At the end of the grueling competition, the carver who out carves the rest, wins a cash prize and will be named “A Cut Above”. Competitors to be announced at a later date.
About Adam Beach:
Adam Beach recently appeared opposite Benedict Cumberbatch and Jesse Plemons in the Academy Award-winning film The Power of the Dog. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in My Heart at Wounded Knee and earned a Critics’ Choice nomination for his role in Flags of Our Fathers. Beach recently starred in SWAN SONG, JUANITA, and Crave’s Monkey Beach. He started his career starring in NORTH OF 60, and has since starred in ARCTIC AIR, and appeared in NANCY DREW, SUPERNATURAL, DRUNK HISTORY, and BIG LOVE.
About Ryan Cook:
Ryan Cook, who can be seen on CARVER KINGS, got his start in carving as an apprentice on the reality television series SAW DOGS. He has quickly become one of the world’s top carvers, and one of the most recognized names in the world of chainsaw carving.
About Katherine Dowson:
Katherine Dowson studied sculpture at the Royal College of Art, London. Her work is in numerous prestigious collections including The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft Museum Seattle USA, The Welcome Trust, Cultura Inglesa Art Collection Brazil, The Arts Council Collection England, and various national museums and universities.
A CUT ABOVE was created and produced by leading global entertainment company, marblemedia, in association with Bell Media for Discovery. For marblemedia, Matt Hornburg, Mark Bishop, and Diane Rankin are Executive Producers, Donna Luke and Carly Spencer are co-Executive Producers, Grant Greschuck is series producer, and series created by development producer Kelsey Epsensen. For Bell Media, Tina Apostolopoulos is Sr. Production Executive; Sarah Fowlie is Head of Production, Original Programming; Carlyn Klebuc is General Manager, Original 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 and Vice Chair, Québec, Bell.Distribution360, a marblemedia company, holds worldwide distribution rights.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Discovery Canada on Facebook: Facebook.com/DiscoveryCanada
Discovery Canada on Twitter: Twitter.com/DiscoveryCanada
Discovery Canada on Instagram: Instagram.com/DiscoveryCanada
Discovery Canada PR on Twitter: Twitter.com/DiscoveryCAN_PR
Discovery Canada PR on Instagram: Instagram.com/discoverycanada_pr
marblemedia on Instagram: Instagram.com/marblemediaofficial
About marblemedia
marblemedia is a leading global entertainment company that develops produces and distributes compelling TV, interactive and digital content for audiences of all ages, across media platforms.
With divisions specializing in primetime unscripted and scripted programming complementing its roster of successful kids and family properties, international distribution company Distribution360 and a successful CAVCO certified YouTube channel marbleKids, marblemedia is an expert in delivering premium content that meets the needs of an ever-changing media landscape.
marblemedia’s recent unscripted series include Netflix Original series Blown Away, Netflix Original series Restaurants on the Edge, TVO’s All-Round Champion, CBC’s Race Against the Tide and CBC’s Best in Miniature. Recent scripted series include the interconnected family comedies The Parker Andersons/Amelia Parker; family comedy Overlord and the Underwoods; and are in development on the drama series Persuasionbased on Arlene Dickinson’s bestselling book.
Founded in 2001 by co-CEOs Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg with a vision of creativity, partnership and innovation, the company has offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, and London, plus a 50-acre production facility located 90 minutes north of Toronto.
About Bell Media Original Productions
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 format THE AMAZING RACE CANADA; comedy series CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING from the producers of LETTERKENNY, and JANN. 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 Comedy Channel’s ROAST BATTLE CANADA, and the upcoming comedy series ACTING GOOD; as well as CTV Drama Channel’s upcoming scripted series SULLIVAN’S CROSSING. 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 Discovery
With compelling real-life programming that inspires and entertains, Discovery reveals the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. Discovery offers a signature mix of adrenaline-charged stories, larger-than-life personalities and vivid imagery for viewers with curious minds. With the best factual programming from Canada and around the world, Discovery captures the excitement of a passion for life – one lived fully and at its most extreme. With exceptional and immersive storytelling, the channel offers in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the extraordinary people and places that shape our world. Discovery Canada is a joint venture between Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company, and Discovery Communications Inc. Fan favourite series and exclusive Canadian original Discovery content is available to stream on CTV.ca and the CTV app.
For more information, please contact:
Marin Pollock, 647.850.9355 or marin.pollock@bellmedia.ca
Andrea Allen, 416.384.5375 or andrea.allen@bellmedia.ca
marblemedia press contact:
C2C Communications