TORONTO – The Black Academy and Insight Productions announced today a partnership to produce a live award show honouring established and emerging Black talent.
The telecast will feature award presentations, performances, and tributes from across Canada, and in addition, The Black Academy and Insight announced a search for a Black showrunner and production crew, as well as a skills development program.
Interested applicants can submit their résumés to BlackAwardShowResumes@insighttv.com
“The live telecast is one of several initiatives created by The Black Academy to break down barriers of discrimination and combat systemic racism,” reads the release,
The award show stems from co-founders Shamier Anderson and Stephan James (pictured above, left to right) commitment to their community and an awareness of the lack of opportunities to showcase Black talent in Canada, says the announcement. “Anderson and James continue to call on corporate Canada, government entities, and individuals to meet this challenge. The awards will celebrate both Anglophone and Francophone Black talent across film, television, music, sports, and culture. Award categories, juries, and the submission process will be announced at a later date,” reads the release.
As a not-for-profit, the release notes The Black Academy “needs the support of government and corporate partners across the country to help fill gaps in representation and opportunity for the next generation of Black talent.”
“In the Black community, we like to do things big, bold, and colourful – that’s what this show is going to be,” said James. “I think everyone will be truly amazed by what they see, but for those who aspire to work in this industry, the people behind the camera will be just as impressive and inspiring. And it’s important to note that the award show is only one piece of what The Black Academy is doing to uplift Black talent in this country. We’re also focused on mentorship and education programs, and we’ll have more to share about those down the road.”
“Our goal to is work toward staffing the show with a Black crew, from PAs to producers to the showrunner,” said Lindsay Cox, senior vice-president, Insight Productions, and executive producer. “The intent is that the key decision makers will be Black and whether it’s the creative positions or the technical ones, the audience will know there are Black faces behind the cameras too. We’ve already met with some incredibly talented candidates and are speaking with BIPOC organizations as well, and we want to connect with everyone in the community who has a real passion for this genre.”
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