Bridge Award Honours Local Emerging Producers

Three Nova Scotia producers are one step closer to creating their projects as the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation and CBC Television announced the winners of the Bridge Award.

Heather Houston, Robert Hagen and Debra Taylor were selected by a panel of industry professionals as winners of the award that provides up-and-coming talent a chance to produce a program for broadcast in the Atlantic region.

"I am so excited and emotional about winning the Bridge Award," said Ms. Houston. "Not only is this a tremendous opportunity for me to learn how to produce first-hand, but I actually get to produce a script I've written myself.

"I am so grateful to the NSFDC and to the CBC for having crafted an award to bridge the gap between film industry experience and producing."

Running Into Edna, Ms. Houston's project, is a half-hour comedy that explores the relationship between a stressed professional couple and a lonely elderly woman. Dirty Laundry, a co-production between Mr. Hagen and Ms. Taylor, takes a look at the impact chance meetings an have on lives as they cause people to re-evaluate values.

"I was very enthusiastic when I heard the news about winning the CBC/NSFDC 2007 Bridge Award," said Mr. Hagen. "This is a great venue for emerging producers which will help to forge relationships with film professionals at all stages of production. The impact this opportunity has on launching a career producing quality Canadian programming cannot be overstated."

"I'm very grateful for the opportunity to work with the CBC and the NSFDC and so many talented and knowledgeable professionals in this industry," said Ms. Taylor. "I am an emerging producer and to get an opportunity like this, it's exciting."

Each project will receive $20,000 in equity funding from the film development corporation, and a $10,000 regional broadcast licence and $10,000 in services from CBC, as well as the opportunity to air on the network.

More information on the CBC/NSFDC Bridge Award can be found online at www.film.ns.ca/programs_bridgeaward.asp