The Red Carpet was rolled out at Imagine Cinemas Carlton Cinemas in celebration of upcoming CBC Gem Series REAL BLACKITY TALK. The ground-breaking Docu-Series, hosted by sisters Aiza and Kamana Ntibarikure. The Show explores the voices of Black Women and non-binary Black people. How amazing seeing in-person events again at long last!
See the Trailer:
It was a festive affair on the Red Carpet as the Ntibarikure Sisters were joined by some up-and-coming local talent, including TIFF Rising Stars and stars of new, acclaimed CBC Series.
REAL BLACKITY TALK premieres March 18, 2022 on CBC Gem.
Learn more about the Series here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/CBC)
A new six episode series is coming to CBC GEM called FOR THE RECORD. Each episode centers around one centerpiece song from Universal Music‘s catalog of hits, including a track by Canadian YouTube sensation Johnny Orlando!
Synopsis:
Ray and Angela just broke up. What if the iconic songs we all know and love had the power to bring them back together? Follow the interconnected people, stories & music that mend their broken hearts.
See the Trailer here.
Episode 1
Title: Splitsville
Centrepiece song: Wouldn’t It Be Nice By The Beach Boys
Synopsis: Ray and Angela just broke up. They’ve just got one thing left to do together: divvy up their prized record collection. One album, Pet Sounds, proves to be non-negotiable, leading the couple to unearth the pain and bitterness that drove them apart.
Director: Lisa Baylin (Guidestones, Save Me) & Julian De Zotti (Suits, Transplant)
Actors: Anna Hopkins (The Expanse, Shadowhunters, Bad Blood), Julian De Zotti
Episode 2
Title: The Broken Hearts Tour
Centrepiece song: Phobias by Johnny Orlando
Synopsis: Angela spends Christmas with her niece Madison, who is desperate to meet her “soulmate”: the real-life pop star Johnny Orlando. But cynical Angela is hellbent on teaching this tween “stan” that love is a lie. Only Johnny Orlando himself can prove her wrong.
Director: Dane Clark & Linsey Stewart (Mr D, Bickford Park)
Actors: guest starring Johnny Orlando, Anna Hopkins, Alexandra Beaton (The Next Step, Hardy Boys), Moni Ogunsuyi, Julian De Zotti, Callum Maudsley
Episode 3
Title: Dinner Music
Centrepiece song: Redemption Song by Bob Marley
Synopsis: Ray’s new girlfriend Sara wants him to meet her parents. Over a dinner of traditional oxtail stew cooked by the “woke” Ray, they all get into a battle royale about cultural appropriation in music when he plays a Bob Marley protest song during the meal.
Director: Sudz Sutherland (Ginny & Georgia, Batwoman)
Actors: Julian De Zotti, Moni Ogunsuyi, Maurice Dean Wint (Lead in new Syfy series The Surrealtor), Karen LeBlanc (Guest Star of Lovecraft Country).
Episode 4
Title: Climax
Centrepiece song: I Feel It Coming by The Weeknd
Synopsis: Stefan is a charismatic pastor, eligible bachelor and devoted disciple of The Weeknd who goes through a crisis of faith when he engages in a passionate affair.
Director: Sudz Sutherland
Actors: Lyriq Bent (Power, The Affair), Kira Clavell, Phil Borg, Maurice Dean Wint, Karen LeBlanc.
Episode 5
Title: That Twilight Queer Love Affair
Centrepiece song: I Put A Spell On You by Nina Simone
Synopsis: Recent widow Joy is about to turn 70. On the eve of her birthday she meets Fiona, a Nerds 4 Hire employee, and they strike up an unlikely friendship thanks to Nina Simone.
Director: Theresa Rebeck (The 355, Smash)
Actors: Alannah Ong, Theresa Tova, Uni Park, Kira Clavell, Phil Borg, Neil Lu
Episode 6
Title: The Drop
Centrepiece song: Stars Tonight by Zeds Dead
Synopsis: Rain is attending her annual Zeds Dead EDM festival pilgrimage. She’s also 8 months pregnant. Don’t judge! When she goes into labour, there’s only one person there to assist her: Ray, itching to get back together with his first love, Angela.
Director: Matt Eastman (Ming’s Dynasty, Whatever Linda)
Actors: Justine Nelson, Julian De Zotti, Theresa Tova, Anna Hopkins, Olivia Mata, Martha Lucia Rodriguez, Melissa McNerney, Brynn Chamblee, Manuel Bonilla, Miguel Bonilla, Vicki Perry, Tashi Simmons, Alice Forsanari, Mason Tanner Hassenplug
FOR THE RECORD streams on CBC GEM December 11, 2020.
(Photo/video credit: CBC Gem)
Premiering tomorrow on CBC Gem, three-part Short Form series THE 410 centers on a young South Asian woman (Supinder Wraich) who is left to her own devices after her truck driving father is imprisoned for drug trafficking. She turns to crime to bail him out of jail, placing herself at great risk, crossing paths with some key people in her life to make it happen.
The gritty Series created, written and starring the talented Wraich examines crime and culture, making for an intense watch. Wraich is perfect as the anti-heroine balancing moral judgement with the greater good even if it means doing the unconventional.
The Cast and Crew behind THE 410, named after a highway which connects Brampton to Greater Toronto, celebrated its release at the Artspace Sandbox on Adelaide Street West. In attendance were Wraich, Jade HassounĂ© (Shadowhunters), Balinder Johal (Beeba Boys), Sarena Parmar (Suits, Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Renuka Jeyapalan (Workin’ Moms, Kim’s Convenience). Special guests included Kimberly Sue-Murray (Shadowhunters), Vinay Virmani (Dr. Cabbie, Little Italy) and among others, Karena Evans star of Canadian Screen Award-winning Firecrackers and Director of Drake’s videos for smash hits, In My Feelings, God’s Plan and Nice for What.
Wraich tells the audience in a Q&A about repeat times in high school where others would tell her “You’re pretty for a brown girl”, which initially she thought was a compliment before realizing that it really wasn’t. She describes her process writing the story and returning to her roots very much like her character Suri whom after being blonde and wearing blue contact lenses, finds herself, owning her “brown-ness” embracing again her family and community, the very things that once made her feel very insecure.
See some Snaps from the night:
Left to right Matt Power, Jade Hassouné, Balinder Johal, Renuka Jeyapalan and Wraich
Karena Evans (left) showing support for her friends
The 410 streams on CBC GEM Thursday, May 2, 2019.
CBC Gem offers local live CBC TV channels live from coast-to-coast for free, while a $4.99 per month premium option offers CBC News Network live 24/7 and on-demand content.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/CBC Gem)
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