CTV's New Original Drama Series PLAYED Begins Production;Vincent Walsh Cast as Series Lead

- Principal cast also includes Chandra West, Lisa Marcos, Dwain Murphy, Agam Darshi, and Adam Butcher -

- From Muse Entertainment Enterprises and Back Alley Film Productions, PLAYED to debut in the upcoming 2013/2014 broadcast season on CTV -

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TORONTO, May 2, 2013 /CNW/ - In association with Muse Entertainment Enterprises and Back Alley Film Productions Ltd., CTV announced today that production has begun on PLAYED, the 13-episode, one-hour scripted drama series ordered by CTV for the upcoming 2013/2014 broadcast season. Created by Executive Producer Greg Nelson (SAVING HOPE, ROOKIE BLUE), and from Emmy® Award-nominated Executive Producer Michael Prupas (THE KENNEDYS, BEING HUMAN) and Gemini Award-winning Executive Producers Adrienne Mitchell and Janis Lundman (BOMB GIRLS, DURHAM COUNTY), PLAYED tracks an undercover police unit as it infiltrates criminal organizations through different case stories/"plays". The original drama began shooting this week in and around Toronto through September 2013. With casting now complete, PLAYED stars Vincent Walsh (DECEPTION, LOST GIRL) in the lead role of John Moreland.

** Media Note** Photography for PLAYED is available online at BellMediaPR.ca

In PLAYED, the CIU (Covert Investigations Unit) risks going undercover to infiltrate and bring down criminal organizations. In this new style of short-term, high-intensity undercover work, each covert "play" is crafted quickly and executed at an even faster pace. Placed into various worlds of crime without a safety net, the cops are in constant danger, as they repeatedly go off the grid. Wearing wires, coaxing confessions, and setting up stings, the cops of the CIU must think quickly, talk smoothly, and rely on pure instinct. They slip in and out of characters so often that, sometimes, they lose track of who they really are.

The team of highly-skilled and brave detectives is led by Walsh as undercover cop John Moreland. At the top of his game, John has great instincts, and is usually in charge, but when the new Covert Investigations Unit is established, it is the consummate strategist Rebecca Ellis (Chandra West, NYPD BLUE, JOHN FROM CINCINNATI) who is given the reigns, resulting in tense conflict between the two. Rebecca keeps John on track by balancing his from-the-hip instincts with her keen intellect. However, ultimately Rebecca and John need each other to pull off their risky plays and they know it.

"This suspenseful edge-of-your-seat new series is a fresh look at a complex world full of action, drama, and high stakes," said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. "With an outstanding award-winning cast and team of producers, a group of accomplished directors, plus police consultants who have lived and breathed the world that PLAYED showcases, this drama delivers a thrill ride that is both authentic and intense."

PLAYED also stars Lisa Marcos (THE LISTENER, FLASHPOINT) as Maria Cortez, a cop who can beguile her way into any back room and disarm any man who's hiding criminal secrets; Dwain Murphy (COMBAT HOSPITAL, NIKITA) as Daniel Price, whose genuine warmth is the perfect complement to John Moreland's aggressive style; Agam Darshi (SANCTUARY, RING OF FIRE) as Khali Bhatt, whose effortless skill with technology is a real asset for the team; and Adam Butcher (REPUBLIC OF DOYLE, BOMB GIRLS) as Jesse Calvert, the explosive rookie of the undercover unit.

PLAYED was created by Greg Nelson (SAVING HOPE, ROOKIE BLUE), who also serves as executive producer and co-showrunner, with Adrienne Mitchell, who is also directing the pilot. Other episode directors are: Charles Binamé (CYBERBULLY), Jerry Ciccoritti (BOMB GIRLS), Kelly Makin (FLASHPOINT), Rachel Talalay (THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS), Lee Rose (LOST GIRL), and Paul Fox (HAVEN). The director of photography is Thom Best (THE BRIDGE) and the production designer is Aidan Leroux (BOMB GIRLS).

Tom Hastings is production executive for Bell Media. Trish Williams is Director, Independent Production, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

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About Muse Entertainment
Muse Entertainment is a leading film and television production company known for its well-crafted and high-quality productions. Since its founding in 1998, Muse has produced, co-produced or provided production services on more than 170 TV movies and mini-series, television series and feature films and has won over 100 awards and garnered over 300 award nominations! Muse Entertainment's most recent television series are Bomb Girls and Being Human. In 2011, its topical, 8-hour. historical drama, THE KENNEDYS, earned 10 Emmy® Award nominations and won 4. Its PILLARS OF THE EARTH also won an Emmy® along with several other awards. Muse's other award-winning programs are DURHAM COUNTY,, BEN HUR, THE LAST TEMPLAR, IMPACT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ANSWERED BY FIRE, THIS IS WONDERLAND and TALES FROM THE NEVERENDING STORY. The company's head office and its Quebec production centre are in Montreal. Muse also maintains development and production operations in Toronto and Los Angeles. For more information please visit www.muse.ca

About Back Alley Film Productions Ltd.
Back Alley Film Productions Ltd. has been producing entertaining and provocative film and television in Canada for over 20 years and is known internationally for its production of cutting edge and entertaining dramatic series. Founded by Janis Lundman and Adrienne Mitchell, the company most recently co-created and produced the WWII drama BOMB GIRLS and the critically acclaimed dramatic crime series DURHAM COUNTY. They also created and produced the series Bliss and the first interactive dramatic series in Canada for CBC, DROP THEBEAT, set in the world of hip hop music, as well as the Gemini award-winning STRAIGHT UP also for CBC. In 2001 Mitchell and Lundman won the Production Award for Excellence from Women in Film & Television -Toronto. Back Alley has offices in Toronto and Montreal. http://www.backalleyfilms.ca

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned and co-produced some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, while working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, MOTIVE, and THE LISTENER, and the recently concluded game changer FLASHPOINT. New for 2013 on CTV are the drama series PLAYED, relationship comedy SATISFACTION, multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, a Canadian-produced, complementary version of the hit international series. Among the scripted series on Bell Media specialty channels are the two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, ORPHAN BLACK, and upcoming drama BITTEN, as well as reality series PANIC BUTTON. In total, Bell Media ordered 27 new original Canadian series in 2012, and put 35 scripted projects into development.

About CTV
CTV is Canada's largest private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV is Canada's most-watched television network. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at ctv.ca.

SOURCE: CTV

Tonia Addison, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.2194 or [email protected]
Allie Page, CTV, CTV Two, 416.384.4596 or [email protected]
Maureen O'Donnell, Unit Publicist, Played 416.255.4811 cell: 416.435.2008 [email protected]