Created by Boss & Co’s Karen Knox and Gwenlyn Cumyn (Slo Pitch, Barbelle), the 10x15-minute
digital series will premiere on CBC Gem in 2022
Boss & Co and Portfolio Entertainment announced today that production is underway on the new CBC Gem YA dramedy series, Homeschooled (10x15). Created, directed, and executive produced by Karen Knox and Gwenlyn Cumyn (Slo Pitch, Barbelle), Homeschooled explores the niche world of home education as mainstream and fringe teen experiences collide in a unique coming-of-age tale. Production will continue in Toronto and Hamilton until early November, with the series set to start streaming on CBC Gem in 2022.
Freaks are underrated and “trads” (a student attending a “traditional” education facility) rarely make history – or at least that’s what 16-year-old intellectuals Farzanah (Eman Ayaz, Ghostwriter) and Greta (Veronika Slowikowska, What We Do in the Shadows) set out to prove in their documentary “Homeschooled”, showcasing what home education is really like. That is, until the film – and their friendship – takes an unexpected turn when Farzanah enrolls in a “real” high school for the first time.
Inspired by creators Gwenlyn Cumyn’s own experiences of home education and Karen Knox’s passion for smart, weird comedy, Homeschooled is a sharp YA dramedy that intertwines both documentary-style filmmaking with traditional narrative in an art-nouveau aesthetic. The series boasts an all-Canadian cast of incredible emerging and established talent, including Ayaz, Slowikowska, Precious Chong (Falling Water) as Greta’s mom, Dr. Hansen; Logan Aultman (Odd Squad) as Greta’s younger brother, Gunter; introducing Kevin Healy as fellow, and hunky, homeschooler, Donald; and Siddarth Sharma (The Expanse) as prom king incumbent at Farzanah’s new high school.
Homeschooled is a co-production between Boss & Co and Portfolio Entertainment. Producing for Boss & Co is Michael Schram, and producing for Portfolio is Lauren Evans, with Lisa Olfman and Joy Rosen serving as Executive Producers. Marushka Almeida (Get Up, Aisha) rounds out the writing team alongside Knox and Cumyn.
A CBC Gem original series, Homeschooled is going to camera with the support of Ontario Creates, The Bell Fund, and The Shaw Rocket Fund.
About Boss & Co
Boss & Co is a Toronto-based production company specializing in content creation for underrepresented audiences adhering to a solitary cardinal rule: Thou shalt not bore.
Established in 2018, Boss & Co is run by Karen Knox, Gwenlyn Cumyn, and Michael Schram, Boss & Co is devoted to making exceptional content for underrepresented voices, often centered around the female or LGBTQ+ experience. In summer 2021 Boss & Co finished filming the second season of Slo Pitch, a high energy mockumentary about a beer league slo pitch team, which was acquired by IFC and will air later this year. Boss & Co’s first series: BARBELLE can be seen worldwide on Amazon Prime, Bell Fibe TV1, Revry, and Shaftesbury’s KindaTV. The first season of BARBELLE has played multiple international festivals including the Cannes MipTv Festival, where it was nominated for best LGBTQ+ series, Stareable Fest NYC, The Pilot Light TV Festival UK, T.O Webfest, Bilbao Seriesland, Buenos Aires Web Fest, and more. Boss & Co’s film projects include, The Fates (TIFF), Damage Control (Pendance, Calgary Film Fest), and Case of the Massey Bodice Ripping (winner of best short at Venice Short Film Festival, and the Budapest Independent Film Festival). For more information, please visit bossandcofilms.com.
About Portfolio Entertainment
Portfolio Entertainment is a leading media company specializing in the production and distribution of award-winning kids and family entertainment for television and digital platforms worldwide. With a focus on building quality brands, the company has a proven track record and global reputation for creative excellence, innovation, and collaboration.
In addition to its robust slate of animation programming including notable series THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT (PBS), HERO ELEMENTARY (TPT/PBS) and DOOMSDAY BROTHERS (Canada’s Adult Swim), Portfolio continues to develop in the live-action space with an eye for innovative scripted tween, family and YA content.
Portfolio’s Distribution business is equally established, having cultivated strong relationships and partnerships worldwide, and successfully selling its catalogue of original and acquired programs in over 110 territories. www.portfolioentertainment.com
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, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, 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 CBC Gem
CBC Gem is Canada’s streaming service, offering more than 6500 hours of live and on-demand Canadian programming and a curated selection of acclaimed, best-in-class content from around the world, including more than 800 documentaries, 400 hours of ad-free content for kids and tweens, and a collection of over 150 Canadian feature films. CBC Gem is available free as an app for iOS and Android devices and online at CBCGem.ca, and on TV screens via Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV.
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Media Contacts:
HOMESCHOOLED PR Contact
Steph Perron, BAE Communications
647.278.6799
CBC PR Contact
Margot Hadaya, Publicist
