April 22, 2022
Border2Border Entertainment is thrilled to share that the Independent Production Fund and Canadian Media Fund Board of Directors has approved financing for their comedic short series (6x 20 min) entitled Settle Down, as part of the 2022 Development Packaging Program. The series is produced by Charlie David, written by Alexander Nunez, and story edited by Izad Etemad. It is aimed at the LGBTQ+ community and its supporters, allies and advocates.
Synopsis: Mason Fynn is a matchmaker with an impressive success rate, and the creator and host of “Settle Down”: a wildly popular podcast for which listeners get answers to questions on sex, dating, and relationships.
If he could just follow his own advice, he’d have the man of his dreams. Unfortunately, Mason has no such luck — his personal life is a tragic disaster. A crazy ex fiancé, crazy client cases... To top it all off, he can’t stop meddling in his friends’ love lives. Can Mason stop getting in his own way before he taints his budding love empire past the point of no return?
Along for the ride are his best friends: Georgia, who refuses to admit she has commitment issues; and Ben, who is riddled with anxiety when it comes to the dating front. They help one another navigate the wild world of LGBTQ+ dating, despite a truckload of friction along the way.
Each episode we meet a new client that Mason must match, while balancing his own messy private life. These clients and their stories reflect various topics about queer dating, love, and sex.
April 19, 2022
The IPF Board of Directors has approved financing for twenty (20) scripted short-form series as part of the 2022 Development Packaging Program. These are series which are being developed for exploitation primarily on digital platforms and channels. Thirteen (13) of the approved series are in English and seven (7) are in French.
The IPF and Canada Media Fund are providing a combined investment of roughly $600,000 for these projects and will also provide consultation advisory services to producers.
The Development Packaging Program is designed to support the development of high quality, Canadian, original, scripted short-form series.
One hundred and twenty-nine (129) eligible projects were submitted from across Canada – 105 English language, 24 French language. Applications were received from 8 provinces. 30+ evaluators analyzed and rated the projects providing a wide range of perspectives.
Evaluators looked for originality, quality of written creative materials, the experience of story editor or development executives and their commitment to the project, the proposed budget, and the overall potential for success.
Both new talents and experienced digital production companies are represented with a wide range of genres for both children’s/youth and adult demographics, including comedy, drama, horror, musical, mystery, thriller and two animated series!
IPF Chair Emilia King commented: “The IPF is thrilled to support this year’s next wave of creators in the development of their projects. There is so much talent in Canada, and it’s our continued privilege to be part of these creators’ journeys. We cannot wait to see these stories come closer to being realized!!”
“The CMF is delighted to partner with IPF to fund the development of these 20 high quality, original, scripted short-form series,” said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF. “Congratulations to the talented teams who submitted a funding application. We look forward to seeing the results of your hard work.”
The following productions are the recipients of the IPF 2022 Development Packaging Program:
Breakaway Genre: Drama Production Company: Studio 104 Entertainment Producer: Mike Johnston Writer: Jenny Lee-Gilmore Story Editor: Marc Adams
Degrees of Separation Genre: Comedy, Mystery/Thriller Production Company: Fae Pictures Inc. Producers: Shant Joshi, Eva Grant Writer: Eva Grant Story Editor: Eva Thomas
En onde avec Ovide Genre: Animation Production Company: COLGRAM Producer: Sophie Montmagny Writer: Émil Baroon, Pablo Tuduri Story Editor: Sébastien Landry
Everyone But Me Genre: Comedy, Drama Production Company: Brightlight Pictures Inc. Producer: Aaron Au Writer: Lelinh Du Story Editor: Emily Alden
Fan Club Genre: Comedy, Drama Production Company: Second Adolescence Productions Producer: Lola Gafaar, Fonna Siedu Writer: Jahnelle Jones, Kat Khan Story Editor: Jabbari Weekes
Finding Green Genre: Comedy, Drama Production Company: Bone Vault Inc. Producer: Heidi Lynch Writer: Jonathan Brent Story Editor: Cosima Herter
Hello Charlie Genre: Comedy, Drama Production Company: Shaftesbury Inc. Producers: Scott Garvie, Christina Jennings Writer: Sharron Matthews Story Editor: Dillon Taylor
Indigenius Genre: Comedy Production Company: Firediva Productions Inc. Producers: Joy Haskell, Rebeka Herron Writer: Joy Haskell Story Editor: Andrew Carr
It Doesn't Show Genre: Comedy, Horror Production Company: Puppet Up Producers: Bronwyn Szabo Writer: Bronwyn Szabo Story Editor: Roselynn Akulukjuk
J'adore le jus Genre: Comedy Production Company: Casadel Films Producer: Patrick Francke-Sirois Writer: Alec Pronovost Story Editor: Rafaële Germain
Je t'aime Loulou Genre: Comedy Production Company: Couzin Films Producer: Ziad Touma Writer: Rabii Rammal Story Editor: Stéphane Moukarzel
La dernière communion Genre: Comedy Production Company: Roméo et Fils Producer: Martin Henri Writer: Eli Jean Tahchi, Myriam Farsaoui Story Editor: Marie-Josée Ouellet
Out In The Cold Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Drama Production Company: Too Many Words Inc. Producer: Olga Ziman Writer: Geordie Sabbagh Story Editor: Mika Collins
Purgatorio Genre: Comedy, Musical Production Company: SPORT Producer: Johannie Deschambault Writer: Félix Brouillet-Desrosiers Story Editor: Alexandre Pelletier
Second Chance, Hina! Genre: Comedy, Drama Production Company: Lifesketch Media Inc. Producer: Shazia Javed Writer: Shazia Javed Story Editor: Jill Golick
Tales From the B_Side Genre: Comedy, Musical Production Company: Fenton & Smordin Pictures Producers: Kate Fenton, Breann Smordin Writers: Tricia Black, Caitlin English Development Executive: JP Laroque
Tantie Genre: Comedy Production Company: Cayenne Médias Producer: Luc Lainé, Neegan Trudel, Orlando Arriagada Writer: Laetitia Angba Development Executive: Louis-François Grenier
Toqaq Genre: Live Action Youth Production Company: Zone3 Producer: Frédérique Traversy Writer: Dave Jenniss Story Editor: Alexia Bouchard-Craig
Two Rivers: A Métis Story Genre: Animation, Historical Drama Production Company: Hammer & Tong Producer: Sean Ronan Writers: Jordan Waunch, James Kingstone Story Editor: Adam Hussein
Settle Down Genre: Comedy Production Company: Border2Border Entertainment Producer: Charlie David Writer: Alexander Nunez Story Editor: Izad Etemadi
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