With production now underway in North Bay, Ontario, Sienna Films and Streel Films announce casting for new CBC original series TRICKSTER (6x60), coming to CBC and the free CBC Gem streaming service in 2020. Starring newcomer Joel Oulette, TRICKSTER is based on the best-selling novel Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson and created by award-winning filmmaker Michelle Latimer (RISE, Nuuca) and Tony Elliott (Orphan Black). Latimer will also direct all six episodes. Leading global distributor, KEW MEDIA Distribution, will manage the international sales outside of Canada.
Oulette plays Jared, an Indigenous teen struggling to keep his dysfunctional family above water, holding down an after-school job and selling ecstasy to support his partying mom, Maggie (Crystle Lightning), who self-medicates an undiagnosed mental illness, and his unemployable dad, Phil (Craig Lauzon) and his new girlfriend. But when Jared starts seeing strange things — talking ravens, doppelgängers, skin monsters— his already chaotic life is turned upside down. At first, he thinks he’s losing his mind, but to his relief and terror, the supernatural events are all too real. This is Indigenous Gothic – spirits, ancient magic, deadly rights of passage – in a coming of age story unlike you’ve ever seen. Additional cast includes Kalani Queypo (Jamestown), Anna Lambe (The Grizzlies), Joel Thomas Hynes (Little Dog), Gail Maurice (Cardinal) and Georgina Lightning (Blackstone).
"It is vital for Canada's Indigenous stories and perspectives to be shared with authenticity of voice, and we're proud to work with the exceptionally talented team that was assembled to adapt Eden Robinson's gorgeous novel," said Sally Catto, General Manager, Programming, CBC. “We know that this wonderfully unique and complex coming of age story will strike a chord with audiences across the country and we can't wait for Canadians to see it.”
“What’s magnificent and unique about TRICKSTER is that our characters defy the stereotypes of Indigenous people so often seen in the media –- the romanticized, safe abstractions of “dead Indians” invented by settlers. We are striving to reimagine these images by creating a more nuanced and authentic portrait of Indigeneity. Our sovereignty as a People is tied to story, because through our stories we can write our future,” said Co-Creator Michelle Latimer.
“It’s a tremendous honour — and incredibly humbling — to be entrusted with adapting Eden’s ground breaking and celebrated novel,” said Co-Creator Tony Elliott.
“We are excited to be a part of this amazing team bringing Eden’s incredible voice and irreverent brand of humour to broadcast audiences; it reminds us how important it is that we try to ensure this specificity of voice and experience be present in the stories we put on our screens,” said Sienna Films’ Jennifer Kawaja.
A CBC original series, TRICKSTER, is produced by Streel Films and Sienna Films. Executive Producers are Streel Films’ Michelle Latimer, Tony Elliott, Sienna Films’ Jennifer Kawaja and Julia Sereny. Co-Executive Producer is Penny Gummerson. Michelle Latimer directs all six episodes. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Programming; Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content; Helen Asimakis is Senior Director, Scripted Content; and Melanie Hadley is Executive in Charge of Production. Kew Media Distribution, part of Kew Media Group, will handle worldwide sales for TRICKSTER.
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About CBC/Radio-Canada:
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About Sienna Films:
Helmed by Jennifer Kawaja and Julia Sereny, Sienna Films is one of Canada's preeminent scripted content companies. Serialized CTV crime series CARDINAL, starring Billy Campbell and Karine Vanasse, is entering its fourth season on global platforms including Hulu, BBC4, Canal+ and NBC Universal. RANSOM, a co-production between Canada and Hungary with eONE for CBS and Global has been sold in over 100 territories and just ended with its third season.Previous television includes Afghanistan-set limited series COMBAT HOSPITAL (Global/ABC/Sony Int’l) starring Elias Koteas (The Killing, Zodiac) and Michelle Borth (Hawaii 5-0); Julian Fellowes-penned mini-series TITANIC (ITV/Global/ABC); television movie ONE DEAD INDIAN (Bell Media, winner of three Gemini Awards); and mini-series DIAMONDS (CBC/ABC) starring Derek Jacobi, James Purefoy, Nicholas Pinnock and Judy Davis. Sienna built their reputation as producers of quality, independent content on feature films including breakout comedy NEW WATERFORD GIRL (Alliance; TIFF/Sundance), TOUCH OF PINK, starring Kyle McLachlan (Sony Pictures Classics; Sundance), HOW SHE MOVE, starring Rutina Wesley (Paramount Vantage/MTV Films/Sundance) and Carol Shields adaptation UNLESS, starring Catherine Keener. Upcoming is SWEETNESS IN THE BELLY with director Zeresenay Mehari, premiering at TIFF 2019 and based on the novel by Camilla Gibb.
About Michelle Latimer:
Streel Films’ Michelle Latimer is the showrunner, director and writer of the Viceland breakout series RISE, which premiered at the Sundance Festival and won Best Documentary Program at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards. A Toronto based filmmaker, showrunner, producer, actor and activist, her films have screened at festivals internationally including Sundance, TIFF, Berlin, Rotterdam and Cannes. Her recent film Nuuca, was Executive Produced by Lara Poitras for Field of Vision. Nuuca premiered at Tiff 2018, as well as Sundance Film Festival and Berlinale Festival. Selected films include Choke (Sundance Festival Jury Honourable Mention), The Underground (TIFF), Nimmikaage (Oberhausen, National Gallery of Canada), and the feature doc Alias (nominated for a Canadian Screen Award). Michelle is currently working on the dramatic feature Forgotten, adapting the bestselling novel Inconvenient Indian (TMN/BELL/ NFB), and show running the series Red Nation Rising, in development with Sienna. Michelle has directed episodes of the drama series Burden of Truth (CBC/CW/Hulu) and comedy series Little Dog (CBC), and has written for Frontier (Netflix/Discovery). Michelle was selected by Playback Magazine as one of Canada’s Top Ten Filmmakers to Watch, and the CBC recently named her among the “Great Canadian Filmmakers of the Future”.
About Tony Elliott:
Tony Elliott recently wrote on and produced the final two seasons of the critically acclaimed sci-fi series 12 Monkeys (SyFy/Hulu). Tony has been recognized for his writing on Orphan Black — he was nominated for the Writers Guild of Canada Best Television Drama Writing Award in 2014, and again in 2015 when he took home the prize. In 2016, Tony wrote and directed his sci-fi spec ARQ, the first-ever Netflix Original Canadian feature film, which had its world premiere at TIFF. ARQ won the Canadian Cinema Editors’ Best Editing Award, and was nominated for the WGC Best Feature Film Writing Award, as well as the Directors Guild of Canada Award for Best Editing, and for Best Production Design. Tony’s original feature writing has garnered the WGC Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize, the WGC Charles Israel Screenwriting Prize, the Super Channel Catalyst Screenwriter Award, and Best Original Feature Screenplay from the Independent Film Channel. His award-winning short films have screened at Sundance, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
About Kew Media Distribution:
Kew Media Distribution, part of Kew Media Group, distributes a diverse catalogue of film, television and digital assets to broadcasters and viewing platforms across the world. Kew Media Distribution manages international rights to a library of over 11,000 hours of TV and digital content, including major drama series, non-fiction entertainment, special event programming, kids’ series, TV movies and mini-series. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.kewmedia.com.
For further information, please contact:
Elizabeth Reid – Publicist, CBC [email protected] 416.205.2665
Mario Tassone – Unit Publicist, Trickster [email protected]
