Bite TV’s inaugural Web Series Symposiumtook place yesterday at Second City in Toronto. As part of the symposium, the three finalists from the Bite Comedy Web Series Competition were invited to live pitch their project in front of the symposium panel.
Kicking things off were National Screen Institute CEO, John Gill and Blue Ant Media’s EVP of Programming & Marketing, Vanessa Case with the opening address. The half-day symposium was moderated by Liz Hover – Director, NSI Online, National Screen Institute, and included industry panel membersAndra Sheffer – Executive Director IPF, Bell Fund, Cogeco Fund, Lisa Baylin – VP, Content & Production, iThentic, Fran Accinelli – Director English Market, CMF Program, and Marcia Martin – SVP Original Content, Blue Ant Media. Topics included financing options, producing and distributing web series content for broadcasters.
As part of the event, three finalists in the Bite Comedy Web Series Competition were given the opportunity to live pitch the panellists for a chance to win a $10,000 development deal with Bite to fund their project. The three finalists were: Dad Drives: Daniel Beirne and Mark Little; Human Town: Kane Stewart and Kajetan Kwiatkowski; and Kids Show For Adults: Chris Hunt. After much deliberation, Dad Drives was crowned winner of the competition and awarded a cheque for $10,000.
“We were really impressed by the incredible talent and caliber of content submitted for the competition,” said Marcia Martin, SVP Original Content, Blue Ant Media. “It was a really tough decision. We selected Dad Drives as it aligns well with our Bite brand and audience.”
Bite continues to be a leader in the development of original web series content for a multi-screen environment. Such series include two seasons of Comedy Bar, Guidance (now in production on second season), and Andrea Martin Abroad.
