INCREDIBLE STORY STUDIO RETURNS HOME TO REGINA, HIGH RATINGS AND RAVING FANS

August 10, 2000

[REGINA, SK CANADA] - After a one-month shoot in Galway, Ireland and making history as Canada's first children's program to dramatize kids' stories from around the world, Incredible Story Studio returns to Regina to shoot the remaining nine episodes of its fourth season. Principal photography began in Regina August 8th.
The one-of-a-kind kids' show received some great news from its Canadian broadcaster YTV. Based on the Monday 7:30 pm ET airing, Incredible Story Studio is the number one program for kids 2-11 in its time slot.
Source: Nielsen Media Research (Spring 2000 - Season 3)

Producer/Co-Creator Virginia Thompson is delighted with the news. "Our ratings prove that kid's love stories written by their peers. Hats off to our creative kid writers from across the country and now around the world!"

"The success of Incredible Story Studio is a testament to the creativity of the kids that submit their stories," says Paula Parker, Vice President Programming and Production, YTV Canada, Inc.. "Written and acted by kids from around the world, this years stories will give Canadian viewers a glimpse into the imaginations of their international peers."

Executive Producer Kevin DeWalt is thrilled with the ratings. "Ranking number one in its time slot in the hotly contested kid's television market proves that Incredible Story Studio is a winner. Not only is the series at the top of YTV's ratings, it's number one with kids as the most creative, unique and fun way to experience television today!"

And that's not just the opinion of the program's execs. On the show's web site storystudio.com, fans of the show from across Canada and around the world rave about the series.

Felix from Venezuela writes, "I really love your show - congratulations! I hope to send my story from Venezuela!"

Udi from Israel sends this message: "Hi! I live in Israel and I love your show!"

Ronny from Alberta says, "I am a young Canadian writer who finds your television show to not only be inspiring but interesting and entertaining as well!"

The wildly popular series that airs on YTV and SCN in Canada, is now broadcast to more than 125 million homes worldwide. It's a hit on the Disney Channel in the U.K., France, Germany and the Middle East, Discovery Kids in the U.S. and Latin America, Nickelodeon in Australia, SABC in South Africa, CETV in China, KEBS in Korea, NHK in Japan, Noga in Israel, TnaG and TG4 in Ireland and Singapore Cable Vision.

Virginia Thompson and Robert de Lint are series creators, Kevin DeWalt is Executive Producer, Virginia Thompson and Mark Reid are producers, Rob de Lint is co-producer.

Virginia Thompson and Robert de Lint founded Vérité Films in 1994 to develop Incredible Story Studio. They developed the series by pitching the concept of "kids telling their own stories on TV" to over 6000 school kids across Canada, producing the series pilot, and writing the scripts for the first six episodes of the series. Vérité Films entered into a co-production with Minds Eye Entertainment to produce the series and have been living and working in Regina, Saskatchewan for the past four years.

Established in 1986, Minds Eye Entertainment is a fully integrated production, post-production and distribution entity with offices in Canada and the U.S. As Western Canada's largest film and television production company, Minds Eye Entertainment has been instrumental in contributing to the country's thriving motion picture industry. Its award-winning feature films, television series, shorts and documentaries have been sold in more than 100 countries.

For the term of the shoot in Galway, Ireland the Canadian companies worked with Merlin Films Group, based in Dublin. Merlin specializes in the development, financing, production and distribution of high quality product for the international media marketplace and is recognized as Ireland's leading film financier, providing quality entertainment to audiences through all mediums. Merlin also has offices in Shannon, London and Los Angeles.

Incredible Story Studio is a Canada-Ireland co-production produced with the financial participation of the Canadian Television Fund Equity Investment Program, the Canadian Television Fund License Fee Program, YTV, SCN, Minds Eye International, The Shaw Cable Children's Programming Initiative, The Shaw Cable Television Broadcast Fund, Independent Production Fund, The Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit, Government of Canada - Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit Program, and Saskatchewan Post Secondary Education & Skills Training. SaskFILM has provided development assistance. Incredible Story Studio is distributed internationally by Minds Eye International.