2015 Bell Media Executive Producer Accelerator Lab Now Accepting Applications

- Comprehensive program supported by the Bell Media TV and Film Skills Development Initiative provides immersive and experiential broadcast and production experience for producers -

- Deadline for applications is November 6, 2014; more information available at BellMedia.ca -

[The 2014 program] far exceeded my expectations.
- Lauren Grant, past participant

An amazing opportunity to . . . expand my professional network and deepen my understanding of the Canadian television landscape.
- Shane Corkery, past participant

A very unique and special experience . . . [it was] defining, rewarding, and extremely enjoyable.
- Sally Karam, past participant

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TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - Bell Media announced today that applications are now being accepted for the second annual Bell Media Executive Producer Accelerator Lab, a two-part program designed to assist the career advancement of mid-level Canadian producers. Interested candidates can visit BellMedia.ca to apply. Submissions will be accepted until Thursday, November 6 at 5 p.m. CST with the program scheduled to begin in February 2015. The Bell Media Executive Producer Accelerator Lab is part of Bell Media's TV and Film Skills Development Initiative, which invests $12.3 million annually in a suite of national training programs.

"We are pleased to once again offer the Bell Media Executive Producer Accelerator Lab program and provide participants with a deeper understanding of the complexities and challenges of television production in today's environment," said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. "Through this initiative, producers will gain new knowledge and skills that will help further their careers as part of the next generation of Canada's executive producers."

"The Bell Media Executive Producer Accelerator Lab far exceeded my expectations," said Lauren Grant, one of the participants in the inaugural program held earlier this year. "It was specific, detailed, educational, informative, and fun, and really helped me connect the dots between the broadcaster and the producer."

There are two components to the Bell Media Executive Producer Accelerator Lab:

Broadcaster Internship

The broadcaster internship trains up to six producers in a group-based curriculum during a six-week internship at Bell Media's Toronto headquarters. Participants are exposed to the internal operations of a Canadian broadcaster while learning more about the complex business model and economics of Canadian television production and its relationship to broadcasting through hands-on sessions with internal departments, panel discussions with industry experts, and exploration of case studies and coaching sessions.

Production Apprenticeship

Following the broadcaster internship, up to three participants will be selected for a specialized eight to 10-month senior-level production apprenticeship with a top independent Canadian production company or Bell Media In-House Productions. This placement will span of the life of one program cycle and is intended to expose the participant to the Executive Producer's role and responsibilities, and provide meaningful access to the day-to-day running of a large-scale series. Companies that hosted participants in 2014 include Marble Media, Temple Street, and Shaftesbury.

Applicants for the Bell Media Executive Producer Accelerator Lab must be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants over the age of 19. Applicants must hold a degree or diploma with an emphasis on television or film studies, or have an equivalent five years of production experience.

About the Bell Media TV and Film Skills Development Initiative
The $12.3 million Bell Media TV Skills and Film Development Initiative is a suite of national mentoring and promotional programs, which ensure a comprehensive range of training for writers, producers, directors, and showrunners in the Canadian television and film industry at different stages of their careers. Currently, five of these multi-year initiatives are exclusively funded by Bell Media. The program supports the Banff World Media Festival, the Bell Media Diverse Screenwriters Program (Writers Guild of Canada) for emerging and mid-career writers from diverse backgrounds who intern in a writing room of a Bell Media TV series; the Bell Media Primetime TV Program (Canadian Film Centre), which provides series development for TV writers; the Bell Media Executive Producer Accelerator Lab, which provides immersive and experiential broadcast and production experience for mid-level producers; the Bell Media Showrunner Bootcamp (Canadian Film Centre), which develops showrunner knowledge and management for TV writers; the NSI Totally Television Program (National Screen Institute), a training course for writers, producers, and showrunners to hone concepts with the goal of landing a development deal with a broadcaster; and the Telefilm Talent Fund (Telefilm), which helps fund and promote films from emerging and established filmmakers.

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, THE LISTENER, MOTIVE, and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, the record-breaking, Canadian-produced complementary version of the hit international series. New to CTV in 2014 are hit international format MASTERCHEF CANADA and multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, one of the most-watched new comedies of the season. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the three-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK, the most-watched original series in Space history BITTEN, Bravo's most-watched new drama 19-2, TRANSPORTER - THE SERIES, dramedy SENSITIVE SKIN, and the upcoming KILLJOYS. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to hit factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others.

About Bell Media
With passion and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Bell Media creates content and builds brands that entertain, inform, engage, and inspire audiences through the platforms of their choice. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada's #1 television network; 35 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, Canada's most-watched specialty channels in English and French; four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super Écran; and is managing shareholder of premium pay-per-view service Viewers Choice Canada. Bell Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 106 licensed radio stations in 54 markets across Canada. Bell Media owns Astral Out-of-Home, one of Canada's most dynamic and innovative out-of-home advertising companies with a network of more than 9,500 advertising faces in Québec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites, delivers TV Everywhere with its innovative GO video streaming services, including CTV GO, TMN GO and Bravo GO, and owns Dome Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca.

SOURCE: Bell Media

Amy Doary, Bell Media, 416.384.2593 or [email protected]