May 2012
PLATINUM WINNER!
Hermes Creative Award - Video: Government
GAPC has won another award for the trailer-style promotional video produced for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, "The Innovators: Agriculture Rooted in Science".
View the winning entry at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nepk4tl_OpM
May 2012
HONORABLE MENTION!
Hermes Creative Award - Video: Non-Profit
"The Christmas Exchange Program 2011" PSA was produced and donated by GAPC and the dedicated video production community of Ottawa for the Caring and Sharing Exchange.
View the winning entry at: http://www.caringandsharing.ca
December 2011
Ron Allen shares his decades of experience and success in the Animation Industry with the on-line trade journal "Animation Career Review".
Read the article at: http://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/gapc-entertainments-ron-allen-shares-his-decades-experience-and-success-animation-industry
November 2011
GAPC wins Gold in the Logo Effects category at the 2011 Pixie Awards for the "Prime Time in Ottawa" animated logo produced for The Canadian Media Production Association.
View the winning entry at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=wSe3vv6M4fU
November 2011
Christmas Exchange:
GAPC has been donating video transfer and distribution services to the Caring and Sharing Exchange for many years. This year we felt it was time for this not-for-profit charitable organization to have a fresh and current PSA and GAPC offered to donate the production and distribution of completely new television and radio PSAs. For this important project we partnered with many talented individuals and companies in Ottawa for the donation of their time and services:
- Ascribe Marketing Communications - Scriptwriting
- Affinity Productions - Additional Lighting and Grip
- Ron Allen - Director
- Chris Corriveau - Camera Operator
- Giant Tiger - Location
- Many volunteers, friends and family
The Caring and Sharing Exchange has been helping families through hard times during the holidays since 1915.
http://www.caringandsharing.ca
October 2011
GAPC produced a unique trailer-style promotional video for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, entitled "The Innovators: Agriculture Rooted in Science". The video won a platinum award in the Video/Film: Government category at this year's MarCom Awards!
View the winning entry at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nepk4tl_OpM
October 2011
The 2011 Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence honoured twenty-nine teachers from across our country for their devotion, innovation, commitment, care, success and passion for teaching. GAPC produced the winners' video profiles for the event, directed and recorded the live event, created a one-hour Video Keepsake for the winners, and a Hi-Light video featuring two minutes of the celebration, including podium scenes, recipients on stage and the photo op.
September 2011
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council's mandate is to address the human resource issues facing agriculture businesses across Canada. GAPC produced a fifteen miniute instructional video in both official languages to demonstrate the On-The-Job Training Method for Landscape Horticulturalists. Along with the training video, GAPC also created trailers to highlight their purpose and promote sales of the training DVD. Mobile applications for iPhone and Android are now in development with releases scheduled at the end of the year.
January 2011
Canada Newswire:
"TV Series that Makes Math Cool for Kids"
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2011/11/c9434.html
July 2010
Award-winning Ottawa-based production company GAPC Entertainment Inc. is at it again. This time, they’re producing a new live action children’s television series that makes numbers cool: The Prime Radicals. The series is based on two cousins, and their wacky Uncle Norm, who embark on crazy adventures that always end up—somehow—being related to math.
Targeted at children aged 6-8, each episode uses humorous, hands-on, real-world scenarios to show kids how we use math for everything from composing music, to cooking, to renovating their clubhouse, and much more. The Prime Radicals is shot in reality style and uses cool music, engaging graphics, and wacky sound effects to keep kids entertained while they’re learning.
“The Prime Radicals is unique in its approach to math education,” says Hoda Elatawi, Senior Producer. “Our team is collaborating with Dr. Lynda Colgan, Associate Professor in mathematics education from Queen’s University, to develop the series. It’s based on the Ontario math curriculum, yet the approach is so fun and engaging, kids will hardly know they’re learning math.”
The series features seasoned comedic actor Norm MacQueen as the zany Uncle Norm, along with 18-year-old Alanna Bale as Alanna, and 11-year-old Kevin Wang as Kevin. Young singing sensation Ayda Khan wraps up every episode with a catchy tune that reinforces each math lesson.
The Prime Radicals was developed in conjunction with TVOkids. Scheduled to launch in January 2011, the series is also being produced in association with Knowledge Network, SCN and ACCESS Alberta; and with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund, The Shaw Rocket Fund, The Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund, and the Ontario Media Development Corporation (Screen Content Initiative Program).
May 2009
GAPC Entertainment returns from a highly successful pitching trip in the US. With stops in New York, Washington, Boston and LA, we were able to pitch our ideas to some of the most successful broadcasters in the world! Among our pitches were the Lost Science of the Sultans, a 6 x 1 hour documentary series about the early scientific innovations of the Islamic empires and a new children's series about math, The Prime Radicals. Interest was high! Stay tuned more more news as GAPC Entertainment continues to make inroads for penetrating the US markets. Both series have received development financing through OMDC's Screen Content Initiative, and broadcaster funds.
March 2009
GAPC Entertainment is thrilled to announce the sale of SpellzT to Nickelodeon TV, India! This entertaining and hilarious children's series teaches children ages 6-9 how to do magic tricks, and learn about the world they live in along the way!
SpellzT (Season1 & 2), produced for TVOkids in Canada, has already sold worldwide, with sales in the US, the Middle East and throughout Asia.
December 2008
GAPC is pleased to announce that it has acquired the Panasonic AJ-HPX3000 the most advanced P2HD camera system. The camera records in 1080P, 1080i, 720P as well as DVCPRO50 and in AVC Intra compression or DVCPROHD compression.
"We are extremely pleased with both the creative latitude that the camera gives us with respect to set-up and in camera adjustments for painting as well as the technical and operational side" reports Ken Stewart, President of GAPC. "It takes some re-learning if you will, in terms of file management in the field, but in the end is much more efficient, flexible and can save significant time in the edit suite."
The camera was recently used on a HD Drama GAPC was filming in New Brunswick on RB Bennett and its performance stood up and exceeded anything the company has used previously including the Cine Alta. "One of the important aspects is how easy it is to bring in the files to our HD Matrox Axio / Premiere editing system" reports Derek Prosser, Senior Editor at GAPC, " All the files come in at two times faster than real-time and are already organized in their respective folders".
The camera package comes complete with a mini-laptop, P2 reader and 500GB or 1TB hard drive. "It's taken a while but I think Panasonic has really got a winning format here, it also gives a significant advantage to small shops in terms of not requiring VTR's and going directly into the edit system."
GAPC Entertainment is off to Singapore for the Asian Television Forum (ATF) as part of a CFTPA delegation. "We have been very much focused on project development over the past 8 months and have a wonderful roster of projects to pitch, many of which have development funds attached" reports Hoda Elatawi, Senior Producer. "It's an exciting time, having wrapped two seasons of "SPELLZ" and two season of "The Letters", both of which garnered awards and now we are really upping our game, so to speak" Amongst a number of other projects, GAPC Entertainment is now concluding its development phase on "The Lost Science of the Islamic Empire" a six hour documentary series and "Prime Radicals" a kids series promoting fun in Math.
August 2007
Toronto: As if by magic, SpellzT is back by popular demand, launching its second season on TVO starting at 6pm on Sept 4th. SpellzT will run every Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm with a weekend repeat on Saturdays at 12:30pm.
Hosted by internationally renowned magician Jay Sankey (who has designed tricks for David Copperfield; Criss Angel's "Mindfreak") with assistance by Ottawa teen Bridget Hall, SpellzT is an original live action half-hour kids show aimed at 6-9 year olds that shares the secrets behind the tricks guardedly handed down through the centuries from one magician to another.
The show has a contemporary, hip feel and is set in a cool, colourful funhouse, where old and new live side by side.
Using common objects such as cards, money, straws, string and paper clips, Jay performs the dazzling sleight of hand magic and comedy for which he's known. After each trick, Jay shows how he drew us in and pulled it off. Jay and Bridget also share handy tips that will keep the friends of aspiring magicians amazed.
Every episode will also feature a regular segment called "Make and Do Magic" where the at home audience will learn how to make props, costumes and other items that will help them in their magical pursuits.
"Tricky History" is another staple of the show and features fantastical stories of magic, both recent and from long ago. From the first female magician who poured any kind of drink from a bottomless pitcher to a man who rode his bicycle down Broadway completely blindfolded, "Tricky History" gives us wild and wondrous tales from the history of magic in quick, easy, and intriguing bites.
Produced by GAPC Entertainment in partnership with TVOkids, with the participation of Knowledge Network, SCN and the Canadian Television Fund, Spellz T is created by Hoda Elatawi, Mike Erskine-Kellie, Jay Sankey and David Peck. The show is directed by Ron Allen.
February 2007
If you’ve ever written a love letter or received one from an ardent admirer you will fall in love with Season II of The Letters: Rediscovering the Art of Courtship. It’s a different kind of TV show where sparks fly on paper instead of in hot tubs.
Ten Suitors set out to court a mysterious woman known to them only as “Roxanne,” but with one very romantic twist. They must woo her with the power of the pen. Anonymity is key as the Suitors and Roxanne never lay eyes on each other and use pen names to mask their true identities.
In each episode the Suitors embark on exciting challenges to inspire them in their letters to Roxanne while she must decide who stays and who goes...Until she is left with two Suitors and one final heart-stopping decision…
Whom will she choose to meet face to face for a very special first date?
“It’s absolutely fun and romantic!” says producer Hoda Elatawi. “It encourages us to show a more heart-felt side of ourselves and sparks our creativity.”
Elatawi, who conceived the series was inspired by friends who were in a long distance relationship and fell in love via letters.
“The Letters…Rediscovering the Art of Courtship motivates us all to spice up our own love lives. Who doesn’t appreciate getting a passionate love letter? It’s one of the most amorous gestures there is,” says Elatawi.
The Letters…Rediscovering the Art of Courtship was filmed at the spectacular Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, British Columbia. Elatawi promises the usual twists and turns that audiences have come to love about unscripted television but with a difference.
“It taps into our whimsical and romantic desires.”
“The Letters…Rediscovering the Art of Courtship” is produced by Ottawa-based GAPC Entertainment Inc. and Alberta's Corkscrew Media in association with Canadian Learning Television, Access Alberta, Book TV and BRAVO.
This season is directed by Blake Horobin of Corkscrew Media and hosted by Ottawa-based writer, Sylvie Hill.
GAPC has produced numerous documentary specials and TV series for Canadian and international broadcasters. Programs include Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages (CBC “Life and Times”) and Oscar Peterson: Keeping the Groove Alive (CBC “Life and Times”) and the new kids hit magic show Spellz (TVO).
For more information about “The Letters…Rediscovering the Art of Courtship”or any other GAPC program, please contact: Hoda Elatawi, Senior Producer, GAPC Broadcast Division. Tel (613) 723-3316 ext. 237 fax: (613) 723-8583 email: helatawi@gapc.com or visit us at www.gapc.com
July 2006
Toronto: TVO makes tv magic with Spellz,T an original hosted live action half-hour kids show that shares the secrets behind the tricks magicians have passed on to one another throughout the ages. Aimed at 6-9 year olds and produced by Ottawa-based GAPC Entertainment, SpellzT will air Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6:00pm starting September 4.
Set in a cool, colourful funhouse, SpellzT is hosted by Toronto-based, internationally renowned magician extraordinaire Jay Sankey and his amazing kid assistant, Bridget Hall. From episode to episode, this dynamic twosome illuminate some of the most popular tricks in the world of magic.
Using common objects such as cards, money, and paper clips, Jay performs the dazzling sleight of hand magic and comedy for which he's known. After each trick, Jay shows how he drew us in and pulled it off. Jay and Bridget also share handy tips that will keep the friends of aspiring magicians amazed.
Every episode will also feature a regular segment called "Worldly Magic," which puts the offbeat and quirky workings of our universe centre stage, exploring everything from the mystery of crop circles to why leaves change colour in the fall.
"Tricky History" is another staple of the show and features fantastical stories of magic, both recent and from long ago. From the sorcerers of ancient Rome to Houdini's disappearing elephant feat, "Tricky History" gives us wild and wondrous tales from the history of magic in quick, easy, and intriguing bites.
Produced by GAPC Entertainment, Spellz T is created by Hoda Elatawi, Mike Erskine-Kellie, Jay Sankey and David Peck. The show is directed by Ron Allen, written by Susan McLennan, and executive produced by Ken Stewart.
June 2006
The Letters...Rediscovering the Art of Courtship...Season 2.
The Letters… Rediscovering the Art of Courtship is in preliminary pre-production for Season 2! Scheduled to go into production early this fall, The Letters Season 2 will be shot on location in beautiful Alberta.
The Letters… Rediscovering the Art of Courtship is a dating show with a difference. Using the art of writing love letters, the show follows eight young men who compete for the affections of one woman. In each episode the suitors are challenged to write their way into the woman’s heart. But there’s a twist. The woman never sees what the suitors look like and they only get a sense of her throughout the show, until the last episode. To make things more inspiring - they use pen names.
The Letters… Rediscovering the Art of Courtship is produced by Ottawa-based GAPC Entertainment Inc. and Alberta's Corkscrew Media in association with Canadian Learning Television, Access Alberta, Book TV and Bravo.
The series will be directed by Corkscrew's Blake Horobin and hosted by Ottawa-based writer, Sylvie Hill.
“It’s absolutely fun and romantic!” says producer Hoda Elatawi. “This show gives everyone a chance to show a more creative and heart-felt side of themselves because it’s all about the writing.”
The Letters…Rediscovering the Art of Courtship inspires us all to spice up our own love lives.
Elatawi promises the usual twists and turns that audiences have come to love about reality TV shows but with one distinctive bonus--stay tuned in to find out more!
January 2006
The most popular genre in fiction is the subject of an intriguing new documentary.
“Who’s Afraid of Happy Endings?” is a witty, revealing and often surprising one-hour documentary that takes us into the fascinating realm of romance fiction
Romance generates over $1 billion in sales every year in North America alone, beating mystery and sci-fi as the top seller. Yet despite its success romance remains the “Rodney Dangerfield” of the fiction world. Critics pan the books as trashy and formulaic, calling the writers hacks and labelling readers as desperate housewives.
“This documentary will look at why something so popular is also so put down,” says producer Hoda Elatawi.
“Who’s Afraid of Happy Endings?” is written, directed and co-produced by Joanna D’Angelo and Christine Alexiou who’ve been developing it for the past year. The documentary follows the stories of three up-and-coming Canadian romance authors as they manoeuvre their way to the top and shows us an insider’s view of the romance-writing world.
“Many of the most successful romance authors in the world are Canadian,” says D’Angelo. “So don’t be surprised that romance is alive and well in Canada – after all Canada is also the home of uber romance publisher Harlequin Enterprises.”
“Who’s Afraid of Happy Endings?” shines a spotlight on an industry that has turned the unending desire for love into a cultural phenomenon and a booming world-wide business.
;The documentary also features interviews with the biggest superstars of the romance world including: Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Jayne Ann Krentz, Jennifer Crusie, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jo Beverley, Eloisa James and Christine Feehan.
“No matter where you live in North America – there are women writing romance novels in your hometown or city…and maybe a guy or two,” says Alexiou.
“Who’s Afraid of Happy Endings? also includes interviews with a few lone wolves among the pack - including Howard Lowry who writes as Leigh Greenwood and Tony Karayianni who writes with his wife Lori under the pen-name Tori Carrington.
October 2005
GAPC is proud and delighted about a delectable "win" for The Recipe Diaries! This Nunacom production recently won the Gold in the Television Long Form category at the World Food Media Awards -- considered the food and drink Oscars!
" We were delighted to be involved in this beautiful and thought provoking film, through our production and post-production services", says President Ken Stewart.
The Recipe Diaries, which is being distributed internationally, was produced by Hoda Elatawi and directed by Jacques Ménard for Nunacom Communications. It premiered on Canada's Food Network in April 2005.
May 2004
GAPC is pleased to announce its participation in the HD production of "Keys to the Coffin".
Visit the "Keys to the Coffin" web page.
November 2003
GAPC Broadcast Entertainment presents "Oscar Peterson: Keeping the Groove Alive" on CBC’s LIFE & TIMES
September 2003
Grand-Pré Visitor's Centre Opens its Doors to Canada and the World
July 2003
GAPC Entertainment is pleased to announce that production has begun on two biography documentaries for broadcast in Canada in early 2004
June 2003
The local chapter of the IABC awarded GAPC with an Excel 'Excellence' Award in the Electronic Media 'Skill in Communications' category.
GAPC Broadcast Entertainment is proud to announce that its six-part series, GROWING UP CANADIAN, will be broadcast weekly on HISTORY Television beginning Wednesday, July 9th at 9pm.
April 2003
GAPC Broadcast Entertainment presents an intriguing new documentary entitled "The Secret Lives of Butterflies"
March 2003
National children’s magazine selects Currency Museum website for its effective fun and interactive learning atmosphere.