As Director, Interactive for Astral Television Networks, Barbara Bailie is responsible for the strategic direction and production of interactive properties for eight television networks - Family, Disney Playhouse Canada, The Movie Network, HBO Canada, Mpix, Viewers Choice, Super Écran, and Cinépop. ...
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As Director, Interactive for Astral Television Networks, Barbara Bailie is responsible for the strategic direction and production of interactive properties for eight television networks - Family, Disney Playhouse Canada, The Movie Network, HBO Canada, Mpix, Viewers Choice, Super Écran, and Cinépop. These networks serve a variety of audiences ranging from children to adults in both the English and French markets in Canada.

Ms. Bailie was responsible for launching Astral Media’s first website, family.ca, in May 1997. Under her guidance, family.ca has now grown to become one of the most popular Canadian kids’ web sites. According to Comscore, family.ca consistently ranks as the #1 kids entertainment site against its key Canadian competitors. Targeted to kids 8 to 14, the site features games and activities, short and full-length broadband video contests, program mini-sites, moderated message boards, and user-generated content submitted by kids.

All of the websites under her direction have won numerous awards which include a 2007 Gemini Award for the Life with Derek mini-site on family.ca and 19 Gold, Silver and Bronze BDA/Promax Awards in a variety of categories such as best consumer site, best game, best micro-site, and best viral marketing campaign. Most recently family.ca’s new video player won a 2009 BDA Award and FamClub, family.ca’s community portal for kids won a 2009 Promax Award.

Broadcast Region:
Eastern Canada (The Movie Network) and National (Family)

I would like to meet with:
Mobile content producers, game developers.

Looking for:
mobile content, gaming content, storytelling, social media for kids and adults

Genre:
Children/Youth, Adults (Movies and Series - Pay Television)

Best Ways to Pitch:
email, online portfolio and demo

Pitch Irritations:
too long, not understanding the kids business (privacy restrictions, inappropriate content), not understanding the pay television business - it's all about attracting and retaining subscribers rather than providing entertainment online.

Budgets & Costs:
a good ballpark range is always best since I don't want to waste anyone's time.

Good co-production Partners:
This is something that we have not explored too much yet. But it would be great if they are already partnering or doing business with one of our suppliers such as Disney, HBO, ShowTime, etc. or another Canadian television producer

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In his role at SPACE, Canada’s destination for all things sci-fi, Fraser supervises the development of dramatic science fiction and speculative-themed series and specials as well as working as supervising executive for series in production and on the channel’s daily Sci-Fi news production, InnerSpac...
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In his role at SPACE, Canada’s destination for all things sci-fi, Fraser supervises the development of dramatic science fiction and speculative-themed series and specials as well as working as supervising executive for series in production and on the channel’s daily Sci-Fi news production, InnerSpace.

Before hopping on the SPACE train, Fraser worked for MTV in Canada, managing the channel’s development slate and line-producing a number of special projects, including MTV Live At The Concert Hall: Kanye West and the internationally broadcast documentary project 48 Fest, shot with MTV International’s Staying Alive initiative at the 2006 AIDS Conference in Toronto.

A graduate of Ryerson Polytechnic University’s Film Program and the Canadian Film Centre’s Producer Resident Lab, Fraser has extensive experience in a variety of creative, production and post-production roles, working with a number of different domestic and international broadcasters, production companies and visual installation artists. A longtime comics reader and Star Trek affectionado, Fraser keeps detailed plans for what he’d do in the event of a zombie infestation or post-apocalyptic nightmare.

I would like to meet with:
Traditional Television Producers and Interactive Producers. Mobile content producers are welcome too but should be aware that we have yet to commission anything specifically for mobile.

Looking for:
Great content. Regardless of platform, we first look towards what your story is and go from there. That being said, we do not seek gaming or feature film concepts.

Genre:
Science Fiction and Speculative themes (Horror, Fantasy, Supernatural). Documentary focus is less on ‘mysteries of the unknown’ and more directed towards themes that address the genre itself.

Best Ways to Pitch:
Two Sheet or even an email with a quick paragraph about the project.

Pitch Irritations:
(i.e. too long, not confident, too accommodating, not knowing what my network/company is about)Aside from all the stuff in the brackets,interactive pitches that are swamped in tech and process and don’t pay enough attention to what the story or content is. That is paramount for us.

Budgets & Costs:
Helpful, but not essential. We are content oriented in our first meetings.

Good co-production Partners:
Always interested in hearing about both domestic and international partners, we work with many different models.

Contact for Submissions:
feedback@spacecast.com (please specify ‘program pitch’ in your subject heading)

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Caitlin O'Donovan is the Director of Kids Interactive at Corus Entertainment where she leads the online strategic direction and operation of sites for YTV, Treehouse and Discovery Kids. Previously, she oversaw Corus' Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games, supervised new media production for the C...
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Caitlin O'Donovan is the Director of Kids Interactive at Corus Entertainment where she leads the online strategic direction and operation of sites for YTV, Treehouse and Discovery Kids. Previously, she oversaw Corus' Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games, supervised new media production for the CFC Media Lab, and lead the design of the TELUS Innovation Fund which invests in emerging forms of entertainment.

Broadcast Region:
Canada with TreehouseTV and YTV; Canada/International with Nelvana properties like Ruby Gloom, Babar, Beyblade, Franklin, etc.

I would like to meet with:
interactive producers, mobile content producers, Flash game developers

Looking for:
mobile content, interactive programming, game developers

Genre:
Kids 2 to 15 years old, Entertainment-focused

Best Ways to Pitch:
one sheet during the face-to-face meeting

Pitch Irritations:
not knowing what my networks and brands are about, not being able to give a clear summary of the core idea and what’s unique about it, not understanding kids demographic and interactive play patterns.

Budgets & Costs:
helpful to include at pitch time

Good co-production Partners:
domestic production partners preferred

Contact for Submissions:
Email only; caitlin.odonovan@corusent.com

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Paul Burns has responsibility for all aspects of Canwest Broadcasting’s digital product offering and strategy (including video, mobile, social media and community). Currently, Paul leads a talented team overseeing award winning sites like foodnetwork.ca, hgtv.ca, globaltv.com, showcase.ca, slice.ca...
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Paul Burns has responsibility for all aspects of Canwest Broadcasting’s digital product offering and strategy (including video, mobile, social media and community). Currently, Paul leads a talented team overseeing award winning sites like foodnetwork.ca, hgtv.ca, globaltv.com, showcase.ca, slice.ca, history.ca and over 10 other broadcast web sites. Recently Paul launched Canada’s first mobile recipe tool - Food Network To Go (which has quickly become the fastest growing application in the Blackberry App World store). Paul is an established industry leader, with a compelling vision for enabling rich multi-platform media experiences. Paul joined Canwest from his prior career with Sympatico / MSN, as Director of Mobile | IPTV | Broadband, where he launched Canada's first Mobile Media Lab project. Paul has also led the global digital marketing team for Nokia Mobile Phones out of London, UK and worked for a variety of new media start ups and dotcom's over his career. [ Minimize ]

I am a television addict! I grew up in London Ontario and studied Film and Communications at McGill and The University of Western Ontario. I thought I was going to be the next Diane Sawyer...but discovered my true calling was behind the scenes. I started my career producing for Canada’s first day...
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I am a television addict! I grew up in London Ontario and studied Film and Communications at McGill and The University of Western Ontario. I thought I was going to be the next Diane Sawyer...but discovered my true calling was behind the scenes. I started my career producing for Canada’s first daytime talk show, The Shirley Show and then spent several years producing talk shows in the USA. Productions included, Universal Television’s, Sally Jesse Raphael and Paramount Pictures, The Montel Williams Show and was also a development producer for Telepictures and Pearson Television. In 2001 I moved back to Toronto and began working for Alliance Atlantis as a Production Executive for HGTV, and then moved on to become Director of Original Production for HGTV and Food Network Canada. In January 2005, I became Director of Original Production for Slice and National Geographic Channel and this year added TVtropolis to my roster. [ Minimize ]

Julie Di Cresce has recently been appointed Manager of Original Programming for Movie Central, where she is responsible for pre-licensing Canadian feature films, assessing programming needs and evaluating creative. She also works closely with the VP of programming on the development and production o...
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Julie Di Cresce has recently been appointed Manager of Original Programming for Movie Central, where she is responsible for pre-licensing Canadian feature films, assessing programming needs and evaluating creative. She also works closely with the VP of programming on the development and production of commissioned series, and sits on the committee which administers the Corus Made with Pay Development fund.

Prior to joining the Movie Central team in 2007, Julie worked for The Documentary Channel as a contributing member of their commissioning team. In addition to screening for the Worldwide Short Film Festival, Toronto and Birds Eye View Film Festival, London, she has a Masters of Arts degree in Film and taught screenwriting while pursuing her studies in the UK.

Movie Central is the western Canadian home to the best of HBO and Showtime, as well as Canadian feature films and original Canadian drama series.

Broadcast Region:
Western Canada (Manitoba to Vancouver)

Looking for:
Theatrical films, Pay tv series

Best Ways to Pitch:
two sheet via email

Pitch Irritations:
Pitching shows that are not suitable to the network

Budgets & Costs:
Prefer larger budget films ($3-5M); usually we ask for budget topsheet, financing structure (with some financing already in place) and production schedule.

Good co-production Partners:
Domestically we usually partner with TMN on most films and ALL series; occasionally we share programming with other Corus properties if they fit but we prefer projects with Movie Central as the leading interest.
We are interested in partnering on series with other pay networks in the US.

Contact for Submissions:
Julie Di Cresce or Jennifer Walsh (Jennifer.Walsh@corusent.com)

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As Manager of Development and Production at CTV, Samantha Morris Mastai oversees original dramatic series and television movies for the network. Recent projects include Gemini-winning youth series INSTANT STAR (Epitome Pictures), Shaw Rocket prize-winning STICKS AND STONES (Cirrus Communications/Dr...
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As Manager of Development and Production at CTV, Samantha Morris Mastai oversees original dramatic series and television movies for the network. Recent projects include Gemini-winning youth series INSTANT STAR (Epitome Pictures), Shaw Rocket prize-winning STICKS AND STONES (Cirrus Communications/Dream Street Pictures), and the highly-rated PLAYING FOR KEEPS (Force Four Productions). Before joining CTV, Samantha produced PINK LUDOOS, a CHUM television movie that toured the international festival circuit (Best Canadian Feature, ReelWorld Film Festival), and numerous short films in Toronto and Vancouver. Previously she worked in development and production at Brightlight Pictures, Vancouver’s largest independent production company. Samantha is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre's Producer's Lab and holds a Masters of Arts in Communications from McGill University.

Broadcast Region:
Canada

I would like to meet with:
traditional television producers, interactive producers

Looking for:
traditional programming, interactive programming

Genre:
Scripted Drama

Best Ways to Pitch:
short proposal via email

Pitch Irritations:
not being familiar with CTV's brand and the programming CTV airs

Budgets & Costs:
No

Contact for Submissions:
Samantha Morris Mastai, samantha.mastai@ctv.ca

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Patricia Ellingson has been the Creative Head of Children’s Programming for TVO since October 1998. Children’s programming is the cornerstone of TVO’s commitment to educational broadcasting. It encompasses over 70 hours of TVO’s weekly scheduling, about 90 hours per year of in-house TV production ...
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Patricia Ellingson has been the Creative Head of Children’s Programming for TVO since October 1998. Children’s programming is the cornerstone of TVO’s commitment to educational broadcasting. It encompasses over 70 hours of TVO’s weekly scheduling, about 90 hours per year of in-house TV production and the number one educational website for kids in Canada, tvokids.com. TVO is a publicly funded media organization based in Toronto, Canada.

Patricia has a particular passion for presenting programming that makes a difference in the lives of kids and parents. She has been instrumental in building the trusted tvokids educational brand, overseeing multi-platform productions developed for every kind of young learner and covering virtually all areas of the Ontario JK-5 curriculum: Gisèle’s Big Backyard, Reading Rangers, Super Citizens and Tumbletown Tales to name just a few. Patricia was responsible for the convergence of TVO children’s television and new media teams and rebuilding the tvokids.com website, which has become one of the most popular kids’ online destinations and one that continues to push the envelope on multiple platforms.

Pat has worked with some of Canada’s most notable producers who share her commitment to innovative kids content that has substance and “makes you think”. Her international co-productions have included Miss BG, George Shrinks, Timothy Goes to School, Swap TV, Think Big, Heads Up, Taste Buds, This is Daniel Cook and Peep and the Big Wide World.

Pat also acts as Executive Producer for TVO’s family programs including the innovative multiplatform program for parents, YOUR VOICE and Reach for the Top, which celebrates the best and brigtest Ontario high school students.

Broadcast Region:
Ontario

I would like to meet with:
Happy to meet with traditional television producers, interactive producers, mobile content producers, games developers

Looking for:
interactive programming, traditional programming, gaming content

Genre:
Children with target 3-9 years old

Best Ways to Pitch:
two sheet or full proposal

Pitch Irritations:
Not doing your homework first to see what the website or channel is all about. Not being clear about what the project is about.

Budgets & Costs:
A budget estimate and finance plan are always good but not essential.

Good co-production Partners:
A good co pro model includes multiple partners. Domestic and international

Contact for Submissions:
Pat Ellingson, Creative Head




Children's, TVO

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From such humble positions as craft service girl and production assistant, Michelle has climbed her way up the production ladder. Whether she was working on Canadian institutions like Kids in the Hall - she honed her skills and learned to wield the power of a kick ass Associate Producer and killer L...
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From such humble positions as craft service girl and production assistant, Michelle has climbed her way up the production ladder. Whether she was working on Canadian institutions like Kids in the Hall - she honed her skills and learned to wield the power of a kick ass Associate Producer and killer Line Producer. Her knowledge and skill, not to mention her ability to put people in their place, made her very attractive to The Comedy Network. Today as Director of Content she flexes her corporate muscles, and oversees the creative elements on several irreverent original productions such as Dan for Mayor, Hiccups, HOTBOX, The Jon Dore Television Show, Keys to the VIP and various specials.

Broadcast Region:
National.

I would like to meet with:
Television Producers and Interactive Producers.

Looking for:
Traditional Programming and Interactive Programming.

Genre:
Comedy and reality.

Best Ways to Pitch:
If we have never met I prefer a short meet and greet where I can discuss what we are looking for at The Comedy Network and then follow up with a pitch. Once we have met email is fine; some people really like to come in and pitch and that is fine with me. Basically however the producer wants to pitch is fine, it is nerve racking enough so what ever is most comfortable for them.

Pitch Irritations:
Not having a sense that they have ever watched the Network.

Budgets & Costs:
Not necessary.

Good co-production Partners:
Not necessary at time on pitch.

Contact for Submissions:
To me directly or via our online submissions - thecomedynetwork.ca

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Scott joined the CBC Drama Unit mid 2006 with 10 years of experience in television, independent production & artist representation, including almost four years as a part of the producing team at Ken Finkleman’s & Peter Meyboom’s independent production company. 100 Percent Film & Television. Highligh...
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Scott joined the CBC Drama Unit mid 2006 with 10 years of experience in television, independent production & artist representation, including almost four years as a part of the producing team at Ken Finkleman’s & Peter Meyboom’s independent production company. 100 Percent Film & Television. Highlights included 18 episodes of the The Newsroom (2005 International Emmy, 2004 San Francisco Film Festival award for Best Narrative Short Form, 2005 Banff Rockie Award for Best Comedy, 2005 Gemini for Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series,), At The Hotel (2006 Gemini Award to Maury Chaykin for Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role Dramatic Series, 2006 Gemini to Linda Kash for Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role Dramatic Series), and The Phoenix Sessions, a two-part 9 indie performance show for the CBC featuring Randy Bachman, Ron Sexsmith, The Constantines, Matt Mays & El Torpedo, and Kyle Riabko. Prior to his work at 100 Percent, McEwen worked within the legal and distribution departments at Nelvana, was a founding partner of the artist management agency Judy Inc., produced several dozen music videos for independent Canadian recording artists as well as assisted many directors & American service producers on various feature films shooting in Toronto. He studied theatre production and storytelling & children’s literature at Ryerson and the University of Windsor respectively. His role as Executive in Charge of Development, Drama in English Television Arts & Entertainment is to seek out and identify creators, partners & projects for Drama Unit’s development slate. [ Minimize ]

Thom is one of "those" guys. The guy behind the scenes, saying "wouldn't it be amazing if..." and then making sure it happens. Beginning in 1996, Thom joined joined ChumCity Interactive with a simple mandate; "Help make us the most interactive broadcaster on the planet." 4 years, 9 networks, a...
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Thom is one of "those" guys. The guy behind the scenes, saying "wouldn't it be amazing if..." and then making sure it happens. Beginning in 1996, Thom joined joined ChumCity Interactive with a simple mandate; "Help make us the most interactive broadcaster on the planet." 4 years, 9 networks, and hundreds of digital ad campaigns later, the flagship site "MuchMusic.com" was found to be "the most popular site on Earth with Canadian youth," while using a business model that has since been replicated by broadcasters around the world including: Viacom, Canwest, China’s PCCW, and Finland’s Jyrki. In 2001, Thom founded RPM Interactive Media with Chris MacLaurin, where they worked with large scale clients to bridge the gap between traditional and digital advertising while helping to "turn 30 seconds into 3 minutes." In 2007, Thom was offered and accepted the position of “Executive In Charge of Digital” at CBC Arts and Entertainment Television, overseeing digital initiatives for some of Canada’s best known television productions including; The Rick Mercer Report, The Tudors, Little Mosque on The Prairie, The Border and Being Erica. Thom’s role encompasses: digital strategy, creative direction, digital production executive, and funding. Since joining CBC, Thom and his team's work has been nominated for two Gemini Awards (The Border, Being Erica), and has won a BC New Media Award (Heartland). [ Minimize ]

Caroline Soucy is the Director of TELETOON Interactive. Overseeing the award-winning teletoon.com which boasts over 100 interactive games and averages over 1.3 million visits per month, Caroline has extensive and proven experience in reaching kids and tweens through interactive media. Directing...
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Caroline Soucy is the Director of TELETOON Interactive. Overseeing the award-winning teletoon.com which boasts over 100 interactive games and averages over 1.3 million visits per month, Caroline has extensive and proven experience in reaching kids and tweens through interactive media. Directing the TELETOON interactive team, Caroline has seen the launch of the teletoon.com video player, an integral component to programming strategy that features content from TELETOON, TELETOON Detour and TELETOON Retro. Over six million videos have been viewed since the launch of the player on December 1, 2008. Caroline has played an active role in Canada’s kids’ entertainment and gaming online industries for the last 13 years, specializing in broadcast interactive environments. Before joining TELETOON she worked on prestigious youth sites such as YTV.com, TVOKids.com and the Microsoft MissionX. [ Minimize ]