Village Gamer

Premier digital content strategists and creators Daniel Dales and Jarrett Sherman are announcing the launch of Digital Howard, an interactive entertainment company focused on creating and producing extraordinary 360 degree entertainment experiences for audiences on all platforms.  Digital Howard specializes in expanding conventional intellectual property onto digital platforms, working with IP owners at any point along the curve, from the initial stages of development through production and exploitation. Dales and Sherman founded Smokebomb in 2008 and were quickly acquired by television prodco Shaftesbury to become their in-house digital studio. Having left Smokebomb in the summer of 2012, the Executive Producers bring an impressive list of awards and accomplishments to the table in their latest venture. Read the rest of this entry »

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) is making its way to the Banff World Media Festival to celebrate the talents and successes of Canadian content producers and to share the work the CMF is doing as a key industry partner. The CMF is one of the festival’s Grand Patrons and many of our team members will take an active part in sessions as panelists or experts. On Monday, June 10th, the CMF will host a series of must?see presentations that will explore various topics including: Read the rest of this entry »

iPad users can now discover the genius of animation pioneer Norman McLaren and find out how their artistic skills compare to his, using his creative tools and techniques to make and share new works of their own. All of this and more can be found in McLaren’s Workshop, the new free iPad app developed by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and now available in Apple’s App Store. Selected as the Editors’ Choice at Apple’s App Store, McLaren’s Workshop lets users discover the techniques pioneered by the founder of animation at the NFB, enabling them to bring images to life, just as he did. Read the rest of this entry »

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) announced today a contribution of more than $7.8M to 19 eligible projects that applied either to the Francophone Minority Program or the Anglophone Minority Incentive.  As the CMF enters its fourth year, it continues to support diversity of voices from a regional, language and point of view perspective by offering financial support to official-language minorities across the country.  Read the rest of this entry »

The gates of Animal Crossing: New Leaf will open when the game launches for the Nintendo 3DS system on June 9, inviting residents to move in and, in a series first, become mayors of their own personalized towns. Animal Crossing: New Leaf is based on the real-world calendar – no two days in the game are the same – and includes features new to the series like customizing specific pieces of furniture, visiting a tropical island, swimming in the ocean and even sharing personalized homes with friends. Read the rest of this entry »

DHX Media Ltd. has signed a number of licensing deals for its popular kids’ and entertainment properties Johnny Test and Caillou. Johnny Test has been licensed in a multiyear worldwide deal with Percy3D for their line of digital party products, and toy licensee Imports Dragon has renewed their license with DHX Media for Johnny Test. Caillou has been licensed by PlayWorld Mobile which will be producing a global mobile app. An agreement has also been signed by Les Chocolats Vadeboncoeur, who will be making chocolates inspired by the show in a multiyear deal. Read the rest of this entry »

Shirley Douglas, Officer of the Order of Canada, and a long-time protector of child actors in the entertainment industry, will be on hand at the Ontario Legislature today with child actors, parents and other supporters of Bill 71 – Protecting Child Performers Act. ACTRA Toronto and Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, representing screen and stage actors, jointly support the bill. The private members bill will be presented at second reading today in the Ontario Legislature by Paul Miller, MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. Read the rest of this entry »

The Canada Media Fund has released a new study (PDF) on the Aboriginal screen-based production sector paints a portrait of a dynamic and vibrant industry sector. Producers in the sector typically employ Aboriginal Peoples, combine the roles of producer, writer and director and create original productions in Aboriginal languages. The report prepared by Maria De Rosa, President of Communications MDR, and her Associate, Marilyn Burgess, examined the state of Aboriginal television, interactive and feature film production in Canada and measured production activity over the five-year period 2007-2008 to 2011-2012. In that period, the sector created over 3,300 full-time jobs, generating almost $173 million in production activity. Read the rest of this entry »

Vancouver-based Force Four Entertainment is launching a huge cross-Canada casting call for big personalities and larger-than-life characters for a new series in development with a major Canadian broadcaster. Force Four is looking for people who could be TV’s next biggest star – fill out an application form to apply. All applicants should also submit a photo of themselves or of their group, and a short 1-minute video to introduce their quirky life and demonstrate why they deserve their own TV show. Read the rest of this entry »

Public Mobile has announced its acquisition by Thomvest Seed Capital Inc., the Toronto-based investment vehicle of Peter J. Thomson, and Cartesian Capital, a New York-based private equity firm. With the acquisition, Thomvest and Cartesian invested the first tranche of a commitment to fully fund Public Mobile to a cash flow positive position, and Thomvest became the company’s controlling shareholder. Read the rest of this entry »