This week at the Banff World Media Festival, I couldn’t help but hear the symbolic sound of shattering glass – a sonic representation of Canada’s TV industry pushing forward with its commitment to smashing the glass ceiling for women in production roles, empowering them to thrive and succeed.
Actors-turned-producers Chelsea Hobbs and Jovanna Burke from Canada debuted their own production company, Grand Boulevard Entertainment, in Banff. Their aim is to foster more substantial roles for women and promote Canadian talent by encouraging them to develop and produce their own content.
Or:
In Banff, Canadian performers-turned-producers, Chelsea Hobbs and Jovanna Burke, unveiled Grand Boulevard Entertainment. Their objective is to empower women with stronger characters in storylines and inspire Canadian artists to create and produce their unique content.
Hobbs, who’s worked in Hollywood on shows like ‘UnREAL’ and ‘Make It or Break It,’ expressed that the industry is tough and highly competitive. However, what he and Jovanna have been striving to do is expand chances for people similar to themselves – particularly Canadian actors, writers, producers, and all others involved. They believe there are stories out there that need to be told, and the audience is ready for them, as stated in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.”
Or more concisely:
“Hobbs, whose credits include ‘UnREAL’ and ‘Make It or Break It,’ told The Hollywood Reporter that he and Jovanna are working to create opportunities for Canadian talent because they believe there are stories waiting to be told, with an audience ready to listen.
The duo’s proposals for projects in the Canadian Rockies feature two ventures: “Puck Bunnies”, a humorous series focusing on hockey-loving mothers, and “The Sandwich Generation”, a comedy that delves into the complexities of parenting. Burke, known for his roles in “Supernatural” and “The Flash,” emphasizes that creating more genuine and superior opportunities for Canadian actresses is a primary concern.
Burke shared that they’ve consistently aimed to share unique narratives missing from common scripts. They were particularly keen on highlighting female characters as main protagonists, a perspective they felt was lacking in the scripts they reviewed. Therefore, their goal is to establish a community and a platform in Vancouver for tales that prioritize women and underserved voices at their core.
This week in Banff, a further 25 women, each heading their own production companies, took part in the Banff Spark Accelerator for Women in Media, a program supported by Paramount+ in Canada. This initiative is part of Canada’s ongoing commitment to achieve gender balance, particularly among indigenous and racially diverse groups within the media industry.
In the past, some fellow female producers were hesitant to help each other climb career ladders. However, Debra Kouri, head of Poutine Studios in Montreal, is now actively mentoring up-and-coming BIPOC producers, frequently serving as an executive producer on their projects. At the same time, she’s been presenting her own content portfolio in Banff.
Over the course of 25 years in this field, I’ve felt like I’ve been working tirelessly, but it hasn’t gotten any easier – it’s still a grind. Since I didn’t have anyone to provide me with opportunities early on, I’m putting all my effort into furthering my own ventures and aiming to assist rising talents in the industry, as shared with THR.
One of her latest works is the travelogue series titled “Poutine & Punchlines“, which features comedian Derek Seguin as the host. In this show, various international stand-up comics explore their late-night cravings by sampling dishes akin to Quebec’s traditional post-party treat, Poutine – a delightful combination of fries, cheese curds, and gravy.
In Banff, Kouri presented “The Syrian Detective,” a gripping crime drama, which is set in 1920s Montreal – an era when her family emigrated from Syria and Lebanon to Canada. The story revolves around a Syrian detective serving on the city’s police force who becomes consumed with unraveling the Delorme Affair, a real-life Canadian murder mystery involving a Catholic priest accused of killing his brother.
Additionally, at a TV festival held within the Canadian Rockies, Danielle Sturk – a producer based in Winnipeg with Franco-Manitoba roots – shared with THR that she’s utilizing the Spark accelerator to explore the possibility of obtaining financing for her project pipeline from various French-speaking regions across Europe. These areas include France, Switzerland, Belgium, and other international territories.
At a Canadian Rockies TV festival, Danielle Sturk, a Winnipeg-based producer, said she’s using the Spark program to seek financing for her projects from French-speaking regions like France, Switzerland, Belgium, and other international places.)
In response to the Canadian industry shifting its focus towards international markets and reducing dependence on American financing due to Donald Trump’s trade conflict with Canada, which involves border annexation threats, Sturk expressed a preference for the cultural style in Europe as it resonates more with his global perspective and storytelling approach, as stated to THR.
She noted that being a part of the Spark accelerator has given her an opportunity to establish a supportive network of 25 female peers for potential future collaborations. “It’s wonderful to be part of a community instead of feeling alone,” Sturk said, “and being connected to a sisterhood-like group is truly remarkable.
Ric Bienstock, a seasoned producer and alumnus of Sparks accelerator, shared with The Hollywood Reporter his desire to transition from juggling numerous independent projects, often interrupted for financing, into a setup that allows him to finance his company once and execute multiple projects simultaneously through pre-sales and partnerships.
Currently, I’m deeply engrossed in both producing and directing a film. It’s quite demanding, as I find myself in an editing room most of the time. This got me thinking about the convenience of having some support infrastructure. I’ve managed a company previously, but I wonder how one goes about establishing one from scratch?
This year, the Spark accelerator is making its comeback in Banff, with Canada intensifying efforts to champion under-served groups. This move follows demands for more racial diversity in local film and television workforces. However, recent industry statistics show that while progress has been made on gender equality, advancements for Black or Indigenous women have been slower.
Although progress has been made in reducing the gender disparity within the Canadian industry, there remains minimal shift in the balance of power in an environment that is predominantly male-led in the media sector.
More recent independent films with a female focus are “Beans” by Tracey Deer, “The Broken Hearts Gallery” by Natalie Krinsky, and “Monkey Beach” by Loretta Todd.
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2025-06-12 03:54