*First
television series to be filmed in the new
Canada/Saskatchewan soundstage in Regina
*
Series features new host, Saskatoon-based actor
and director Kennetch Charlette
October 23, 2002 (Regina, SK) –Minds Eye Entertainment and Moose Jaw Light and Power, producers are pleased to announce the national broadcast premiere of the children’s television series Prairie Berry Pie on Saturday, November 2 at 9am and 11:30am ET on APTN.
Prairie Berry Pie is a warm, entertaining, and educational half-hour series for pre-school children, featuring an engaging storyline, lively, singable songs, while teaching pre-school social skills, illustrating themes of Canadian life, and recognizing the country’s rich cultural diversity. Born out of the same tradition as Shari Lewis’s Lamb Chop’s Play-Along and Sharon, Lois, and Bram’s Elephant Show, Prairie Berry Pie creates a safe and comfortable world of trust and respect -- as well as friendship and fun.
Set in a colourful apartment on top of a grain elevator, host Kennetch Charlette (Big Bear) plays David, a First Nations storyteller and singer, who acts as caregiver to a pair of puppet “kids,” Sasha the skunk (Janni Lauzon), and Clementine the porcupine (Trish Leeper). Rounding out the cast is Melissa Hande as David’s friend Mackenzie and Tom Rooney (Gilda Radner - It’s Always Something) and Kent Allen (Murder Seen) as a pair of zany brothers, Franklin and Gridley, who bring a splash of comic energy to end each show.
Truly a Saskatchewan collaboration, Prairie Berry Pie is co-produced by Regina-based Minds Eye Entertainment and Saskatoon production company Moose Jaw Light and Power and features Saskatoon-based actors Kennetch Charlette, Tom Rooney and Kent Allen. The 13 episode series was filmed in the new Canada/Saskatchewan soundstage in June 2002.
Established in 1986, Minds Eye Entertainment is a fully integrated production, post-production and distribution entity with offices across Canada. As Western Canada’s largest privately held film and television production company, Minds Eye Entertainment is currently in production with season one of Just Cause (W Network, PAX TV), the television movie Betrayed (CBC), season two of 2030CE (YTV), season four of Mentors (Family Channel) and season two of Prairie Berry Pie (APTN). The Company website is www.mindseyepictures.com.
Moose Jaw Light & Power is a creative powerhouse based on the expertise of its three principals -- Geoffrey Ursell, Barbara Sapergia, and Ken Mitchell -- who have national and international television, radio, theatre, and publishing credits. Ursell and Sapergia are co-creators of Prairie Berry Pie, and all three have written for the show.
APTN is the first and only national Aboriginal broadcaster in the world with programming by, for and about Aboriginal peoples, to share with all Canadians. APTN is available to nearly 8 million Canadian households with cable as well as direct-to-home and wireless service customers. 60% of APTN broadcasts are offered in English, 15% in French and 25% in Aboriginal languages. For program schedule or other information, please contact APTN toll-free at 1-888-278-8862. Visit APTN on the web at www.aptn.ca.
Prairie Berry Pie is produced with the financial participation of Aboriginal Peoples' Television Network, the Canadian Television Fund - Licence Fee Program, Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit Program, SaskFilm, CanWest Western Independent Producers Fund, Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Saskatchewan Communications Network and Movie Central, A Corus Entertainment Company.
Prairie Berry Pie is distributed worldwide by Minds Eye International. The Company website is www.mindseyeinternational.com.
Contact:
| Kerry Fraser Manager of Publicity Minds Eye Entertainment Tel: (306) 790-2117 kfraser@mindseyepictures.com |
Chris Allicock Network Publicist APTN Tel: (416) 254-1064 callicock@aptn.ca |