Bridge Award Helps Local Emerging Producers

Three Halifax producers are closer to creating television programs after receiving the 2008 Bridge Award.

Jeff Coll, Chris Pauley and Steve Richard were selected as recipients of the award, which provides up-and-coming talent a chance to produce a program for broadcast in the Atlantic region.

The Bridge Award, co-sponsored by Film Nova Scotia and CBC Television, will give each project $40,000 in equity funding with the finished program broadcasted on CBC.

Mr. Coll's project, The Hole, tells the story of a donut shop robbery gone wrong.

"I am extremely excited to be a recipient of the Bridge Award this year," said Mr. Coll. "This acts as a great stepping stone and helps build the confidence and ability needed to produce larger projects like features or television series."

Mr. Pauley and Mr. Richard's production, Sunfish, follows the adventures of the title character as she goes through the process of having her obscure name legally changed.

"We look forward to this opportunity to learn and grow as filmmakers," said Mr. Pauley. "The Bridge Award carries a certain cachet and we're honoured to be entrusted with the responsibility of living up to that reputation."

"We see this opportunity as something that's very critical to our development as filmmakers," said Mr. Richard. "I know the coming months are going to bring us a wealth of experience and information that will serve us into the future."

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