A series of 4 short animation created for Saskatoon’s MGM Communications.

A composite shot of live action video and 3d animation that showcases the vast uranium ore body at the Cigar Lake Mine in northern Saskatchewan. Created for Cameco by Cheshire Smile Animation Inc.

Animation Direction: Tim Tyler
Animator: Jonathan Sparks

Four short animated digital display sign ads featuring Red created for the SaskTel and Marketing Den for the SaskTel Superboard in Regina. A digital sign combined with a billboard advertising.

Smoking Laws in Saskatchewan have changed. Cheshire Smile Animation helps to get the message out with this series of two 15 second banner ads animated for Brown Communications Group and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health.

An advertising campaign for Cineplex theatrical screens. animated by Cheshire Smile Animation Inc. for SaskTel and Marketing Den in the Fall of 2010.

Animation Direction: Tim Tyler
Audio Post: GlennRoss Studios

I had the great fortune to take advantage of this program a number of years ago and can not say enough how great an experience it was for me. It came at a critical time for me, I had just signed a development deal with TELETOON for The Side Show Christmas, and was able to put the practical knowledge I gained from the experience to work. It prepared me for the success to follow.

If you are a creator of television shows, it is often very hard to deal with rejection after rejection however I can not stress this enough, it is important to plan for success. If you think that getting a No is hard, getting a Yes can be even harder. There is no better course that you can take if you plan to produce television within the Canadian system. Totally TV prepares you for the work that is needed when that Yes finally comes.

Best part – it is free. You just have to have an idea for a show that really stands out!!

From the Totally TV Website…….

What is NSI Totally Television?

• Market-driven, professional development program.
• Up to six writer/producer teams develop and produce a series for Canadian audiences.
• Fine-tune your ideas and work towards landing a development deal with a broadcaster.
• Learn about market conditions, trends, the viability of certain genres, marketing and pitching elements needed to sustain a television series.
• Concludes with Banff World Television Festival where students get to pitch their TV project to broadcasters.
• Part-time training lets you keep your day-job. No relocation – intensive training happens in one place then you return home to work with a mentor for the rest of the program.
• Graduating teams have entered production deals with broadcasters such as CHUM, CTV, YTV and pilot projects have aired on CBC, APTN and Global.

Have a great idea for a TV show? Learn how to get it to air with NSI Totally Television

News release: March 2, 2010

NSI Totally Television, run by the National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI), gives you the tools you need to develop your TV show and pitch it to broadcasters with the ultimate goal of getting it made.

Over ten months you’ll receive relevant market-driven training including the opportunity to work with story editors, showrunners, mentors and executive producers to develop and shape your project.

Up to six teams will be accepted for the initial phase of training; only the top teams with the best market-driven projects will go on to phase 2 and attend the Banff World Television Festival in 2011.

Apply for the program by Tuesday, May 4, 2010, 4:30 p.m. Central Time.

Get guidelines and an application form now.

“NSI Totally Television is all about training and connections. We give you the tools you need to successfully develop and pitch your project, and connect you with the people who’ll help you get it made,” said Brandice Vivier, Manager, Programs and Development, NSI.

“Our participants’ series have aired on Global, Citytv, APTN, HBO Canada, Showcase and CBC demonstrating the strength of projects and teams that have come through the program.”

This program gets results. 50% of phase 2 projects have gone into development with a broadcaster and 50% of these have gone into production.

Recent shows developed through NSI Totally Television include Todd and the Book of Pure Evil (shooting in Winnipeg this month), Less Than Kind (season 2 is airing now on HBO Canada), ‘da Kink in my Hair (season 1 available on DVD), and Wapos Bay (season 4 airs on APTN; series also airs in Australia).

The NSI Totally Television program can be done while you keep your day job. It features a week-long boot camp in Toronto in the fall for all participants and a shorter training session in Spring 2011 for Phase 2 teams. Project and professional development plans are created with maximum flexibility to allow you to keep working.

About Brandice Vivier - Manager, Programs and Development

Brandice Vivier has worked in the film and television industry for over 15 years. As Manager, Programs and Development at NSI, Brandice develops and delivers many of our training programs. In addition to managing NSI Totally Television, she is currently working with the NSI Online Film Festival and Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program. Brandice has also managed NSI Drama Prize, NSI Storytellers, NSI Pitch to Win!, NSI Global Marketing, Telefilm Canada Spark Plug, and DiverseTV.

About Samantha Linton – Program Advisor

Sam is an award winning producer, director and executive producer. She has worked as Head of Factual Programming at Cineflix, Head of Development for RTR Media where she helped create Maxed Out and From the Ground Up with Debbie Travis. She also worked as Head of Original Production for Discovery Channel Canada where she oversaw and executive produced hundreds of hours of programming.

1 x 48 Minute Animated Genre: Family / Animation / Adventure / Christmas

Joy, an intrepid penguin, journeys to the North Pole to learn the secret of flight from Santa and his reindeer.  Along the way she must foil SKY PIRATES, three bumbling elves-gone-wrong, bent on destroying Christmas.

It’s like: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer meets Happy Feet.

JOY is both an optimist and a dreamer.  She confesses to her only friend BLIZZ that she longs to soar in the sky like other birds.  But when Blizz accidentally reveals her secret to several other penguins, she is ridiculed and ostracized.  Humiliated, Joy embarks on a quest to the North Pole, where she hopes to learn the secret of flight from Santa and his Reindeer, cleverly hitching a ride on a plane carrying kids’ Christmas letters to the North Pole.

Blizz, shaken by guilt at revealing Joy’s secret, convinces the penguins who made fun of Joy to help him find her and bring her back home.  Meanwhile Joy’s plan is working: she is hidden away safely in a crate full of letters headed to the North Pole, when suddenly it is hijacked by three mysterious thieves.

At the South Pole, Blizz leads the grumbling penguins due north, only 11, 486 miles to go!  As the group complains about their impossible journey, Blizz finds a camp of polar weather scientists preparing to move to the North Pole where winter has just begun.  He convinces the other penguin to stow away among scientific equipment about to be shipped to the North Pole.

Joy discovers that the thieves who have stolen all of Santa’s letters are Sky Pirates: FINCH, HORRACE and TINSEL, three bumbling, disgruntled, disgraced elves, fired from Santa’s workshop for making unsafe toys.  They have vowed revenge and are determined to destroy Santa’s reputation by putting an end to Christmas.  Without the children’s Christmas wish letters, Santa won’t have a clue which presents to make or deliver.  Joy outwits the Sky Pirates and escapes with the letters and delivers them to Santa’s workshop.  As a reward, Santa shares the secret of flight, and Joy soars triumphantly among the clouds for the first time.  On her return, she finds the workshop in chaos. The Sky Pirates have struck back, kidnapping the reindeer.  Joy’s despair turns to shock when she finds Blizz and the other penguins trudging toward her.

To save Christmas, Joy must teach Blizz and the other penguins to fly, lead Santa’s round the world flight and reconcile some disgruntled elves with their old boss.  Impossible tasks yes, but not for Joy, the Christmas Penguin, especially when she discovers…

… that being a little different can make all the difference in the world.

For more information about this show,

contact: Tim Tyler – Producer

306.229.2567 tim@cheshiresmile.com

www.cheshiresmile.com

2010 Cheshire Smile Animation Inc.

All Rights Reserved

Not only was it a highly inspirational, it was very informative. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in taking their first significant steps on this journey.

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LITTLE AIRPLANE ACADEMY 3-DAY SEMINAR:
“HOW TO MAKE A GREAT PRESCHOOL SERIES”
February 13 through February 15

Little Airplane Productions is offering limited enrollment in a unique workshop led by accomplished preschool TV veterans on creating a hit preschool series. Classes include Pitching, Writing, Research, Design, Music, Directing, Legal, Licensing, and a notable panel of children’s television network executives.

Please contact Melinda Richards at 212-965-8999 melinda@littleairplane.com .
http://www.littleairplane.com/academy .

2009 Broadcast dates on TELETOON Canada – EST.

Saturday, December 19 at 4 pm,
Sunday, December 20 at 1 pm,
Monday, December 21 at 10 am,
Tuesday, December 21 at 5 pm
and Wednesday, December 23 at 8 am.

A SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

As Christmas approaches, JASON SHANKS watches his father’s side show hit rock bottom. Jason’s father, SANDWELL, driven to desperate measures, kidnaps Santa Claus and hypnotizes him to be the new headline act. To save Christmas Jason must get Santa back in the sleigh, reconcile with Sandwell, and revolutionize the Most Unbelievable Show On Earth.

The Side Show Christmas was produced by Saskatoon Based Cheshire Smile Animation Inc. in association with Studio B Productions.

Purchase your own copy of The Side Show Christmas DVD online from Amazon.ca

DVD Label

The Side Show Christmas is set to be released at major retailers across Canada under the TELETOON Presents Label on 10 November 2009. The Side Show Christmas was produced by Cheshire Smile Animation Inc. and Studio B Productions and is distributed internationally by DECODE Entertainment.