Sandra Cunningham is coproducing. Alliance Atlantis in distributing. Nancy Chapelle, Elaine Sperber, head of BBC children's drama, and Kevin Gillis are executive producing. Genuine jumps into preschool bits Ottawa-based Genuine Pictures is in production on a series of 40 interstitials for preschoolers. The series, licensed by TVOntario and The Knowledge Network in English, and TFO in French, was established to fill the gaps in TVO's fall kids block.
Shooting is underway at various dance schools and venues in and around Ottawa.
The three-minute segments will air between preschool programming over the next five years, starting this fall on all three channels. The network began airing the series in October 2000, but will not be picking up a second season, because, says Leon, it is mandated to give priority to aboriginal producers. Both Twinkle Toes and Jumpstart are distributed by Avecom. The Academy Screening Series, which also serves as a launching pad for Canadian filmmakers, premiered on March 7 with Ron Mann's Genie-winning documentary Grass. The series is hosted by the Academy in conjunction with TMN-The Movie Network.