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Temple Street Productions

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Temple Street Productions
Company typeDivision
IndustryFilm and television
Founded1996
FoundersPatrick Whitley
Sheila Hockin
Defunct2020
FateFolded into Boat Rocker Studios[1]
Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario
,
Canada
Key people
David Fortier
Ivan Schneeberg
ProductsTelevision programs
ParentBoat Rocker Studios (2006–2020)

Temple Street Productions was a Toronto-based television studio. Formed in 1996 by Patrick Whitley and Sheila Hockin, it was sold to Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier—who had led the studio's drama unit since 2003—after Whitley's retirement from the industry. In 2015, a majority stake in the company was sold to Fairfax Financial; the following year, Temple Street was reorganized as Boat Rocker Media, with Temple Street becoming a unit of the new company. In 2020, Temple Street was closed and folded into Boat Rocker Studios' scripted division.

History

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Temple Street Productions was founded in 1996 by Patrick Whitley and Sheila Hockin.[2] The Whitley and Hockin era saw production of Showtime co-production Queer as Folk and children’s comedy Darcy’s Wild Life, as well as the first seasons of Canada’s Next Top Model and Billable Hours. In 2003, entertainment lawyers Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier left Toronto law firm Goodmans LLP to enter the TV production business. Despite their lack of practical experience in television, they found employment with Temple Street, a former client of Goodmans, and used their legal expertise to produce the law office sitcom Billable Hours, written by another former Goodmans lawyer, Adam Till.[3]

After three years as heads of Temple Street's drama arm, Whitley announced in July 2006 that Temple Street would be sold to Schneeberg and Fortier.[2][4] Whitley retired from production, while Hockin became a freelance producer and continued to work with Temple Street in a limited capacity. In Whitley and Hockin’s last year, the company generated $32 million from production, making it the 13th-most profitable independent Canadian production company.[5] Schneeberg and Fortier are joined by managing director John Young, who has been instrumental in the company’s move to increase the output of digital media and branded content.[6]

In 2009 and 2010, Temple Street was a key partner in The Remix Project, a social program to offer film and television production training to aspiring young filmmakers.[4] The final result, a series of 10 short films, was screened at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in 2010 under the title City Life Film Project.[7]

In June 2008, BBC Worldwide announced that they had acquired a 25% minority stake in Temple Street Productions for an undisclosed sum; as part of the agreement, BBC Worldwide received a first-look deal for international distribution rights to Temple Street's productions, while Temple Street received a first-look deal for developing Canadian adaptations of formats owned by BBC Worldwide, or whose Canadian rights are held by BBC Worldwide.[8] In February 2011, Temple Street and BBC Worldwide America announced a development deal focused on factual television.[9][10]

In June 2013, the company established a digital media division known as Temple Street Media Ventures,[11] and a digital content studio known as Boat Rocker Studios.[12][13] In July 2013, the company announced that it would open a new production office in Los Angeles, led by VP of factual entertainment Gerry McKean, and Tayfun King as U.S. head of factual entertainment.[14][15][16]

In July 2015, Fairfax Financial made an investment in Temple Street, taking a majority stake.[17] In August, the company launched a distribution arm, led by industry veteran Jon Rutherford.[18] In December 2015, Temple Street acquired a stake in Toronto-based animation studio Industrial Brothers.[19]

In February 2016, Temple Street announced a reorganization, forming a new parent company known as Boat Rocker Media. Temple Street would become a unit of Boat Rocker Studios.. Fortier and Schneeberg remained as co-executive chairman, and Temple Street managing director John Young was promoted to CEO. Schneeberg stated that the reorganization was meant to "bring clarity to the brand" as Boat Rocker expands into multi-platform operations.[20]

In December 2020, Temple Street was closed and folded into Boat Rocker Studio's scripted division.[21]

Productions

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Temple Street has developed a reputation for producing Canadian versions of American reality formats, such as Canada’s Next Top Model, Say Yes to the Dress: Canada[22]

In 2013, Temple Street premiered Orphan Black, a sci-fi drama co-commissioned by Space and BBC America; the series would go on to become one of Temple Street's most successful productions, with lead actor Tatiana Maslany winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2016.[23][24][20] Schneeberg and Fortier credited the show with “legitimizing” their production model, and recuperating the image of Canadian television abroad, where it was formerly seen as cheap and lacking in trans-national appeal.[25]

Another notable production was its dance-themed teen drama The Next Step for Family Channel, which marked the highest-rated original series premiere in the network's history. The show would be sold to other international markets,[26][27] and would spawn a live tour featuring its cast members.[28]

Awards

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Since 2009, Temple Street projects have earned 12 Canadian Screen Awards, 10 Gemini Awards, 4 Shaw Rocket Prizes, 2 AToMiC Awards, 2 EWwy Awards, 1 Canadian Comedy Award, 1 DGC Award, 1 WGC Screenwriting Award, 1 C21/Frapa Format Award, 1 Leo Award, 1 Peabody Award, and 1 Mention Spéciale du Jury Européen at Le 15e Festival de la Fiction TV..[29]

In addition, executive producers David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg received the Lionsgate/Maple Pictures Innovative Producer Award at the 2010 Banff World Television Awards for Temple Street's "incredible achievement in television and digital media."[30]

References

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  1. ^ Townsend, Kelly (18 December 2020). "Boat Rocker folds Temple Street into scripted division". Playback. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Founders sell Temple Street". Variety. July 10, 2006. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  3. ^ "Bay Street veterans play law life for laughs". The Globe and Mail. March 17, 2009. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Avoiding 'The Downfall'". Playback. November 12, 2010.
  5. ^ "Temple turns over". Playback. July 24, 2006. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  6. ^ "John Young". Temple Street Productions.
  7. ^ "City Life Film Project debuts at TIFF Bell Lightbox" Archived 2011-11-26 at the Wayback Machine. Playback, November 17, 2010.
  8. ^ "BBCW takes a stake in Temple". Variety. June 6, 2008. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  9. ^ Anderson, Kelly (February 3, 2011). "Temple Street and BBC Worldwide America form development deal". Playback. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  10. ^ Weisman, Jon (February 2, 2011). "BBC Worldwide builds Canadian connection". Variety. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  11. ^ See Quan, Danielle NG (June 6, 2013). "Temple Street ups Michel Pratte to lead digital content expansion". Playback. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Dickens, Andrew (June 10, 2013). "Temple Street opens digital studio". C21 Media. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  13. ^ See Quan, Danielle NG (June 10, 2013). "Temple Street Media Ventures launches Boat Rocker Studios". Playback. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Marechal, AJ (July 2, 2013). "'Orphan Black' Production Company Opens L.A. Branch". Variety. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  15. ^ Vlessing, Etan (July 2, 2013). "Canadian Indie Temple Street Productions Opens Los Angeles Office". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  16. ^ "Temple Street expands into U.S." Playback. July 2, 2013. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  17. ^ Dickens, Andrew (February 3, 2016). "Temple Street restructures". C21 Media. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  18. ^ Vlessing, Etan (August 27, 2015). "'Orphan Black' Producer Temple Street Launches Distribution Arm". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  19. ^ Cummins, Julianna (December 14, 2015). "Temple Street invests in Industrial Brothers". Playback. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Punter, Jennie (February 2, 2016). "'Orphan Black' Producer Temple Street Productions Expands as Boat Rocker Media". Variety. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  21. ^ Townsend, Kelly (18 December 2020). "Boat Rocker folds Temple Street into scripted division". Playback. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  22. ^ Star, Linda Barnard Special to the (2014-07-16). "Say Yes to the Dress Canada premieres in 2015". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  23. ^ "Emmys 2016 winners: the full list". The Guardian. September 19, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  24. ^ Rosen, Christopher (July 16, 2015). "Tatiana Maslany finally received an Emmy nomination for Orphan Black, and everyone is thrilled". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  25. ^ "How Temple Street is changing the face of Canadian television" Archived 2017-03-06 at the Wayback Machine The Globe and Mail, April 18, 2014.
  26. ^ Vlessing, Etan (January 8, 2014). "Hulu, CBBC Acquire Canadian Scripted Reality Show 'The Next Step'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 26, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  27. ^ "BBC Worldwide takes the Next Step on global scale". Kidscreen. January 8, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023.
  28. ^ "Family Channel and Temple Street Productions add fifteen shows to The Next Step Live on Stage national tour" Equities, December 5, 2014.
  29. ^ "Temple Street Productions - About Us"
  30. ^ "Banff World Television Festival Announces Three Special Achievement Award Winners" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine ITNewsLink, June 8, 2010.
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