CBC today announced a new scripted content leadership team that will oversee separate development and production units for comedy and drama. With four newly created Director roles reporting directly to Trish Williams, Executive Director, Scripted Content, the updated structure is designed to be more responsive to Canadian creators and the independent production community.
“With this new structure, we are excited to welcome fresh perspectives and recognize the shining stars of our experienced scripted team,” said Williams. “Bringing in two highly respected producers to lead our proactive and future-looking vision for development will ensure we can find and nurture new creative talent while we continue to achieve a high standard of excellence in our nationally and internationally celebrated dramas and comedies.”
DEVELOPMENT, COMEDY AND DRAMA:
Jennifer Shin will join CBC as Director of Development, Comedy on February 8. A film and television producer with over 15 years of experience in the industry including such acclaimed films as Rebecca Addelman’s Paper Year and Patricia Rozema’s Mouthpiece, Shin joins CBC from the Peabody Award-winning production company Banger Films, where she served as Head of Content and launched a scripted division. Prior to that, she was VP of Feature Film at First Generation Films, where she oversaw the development and production slate of their projects. Shin has also had a rich career in entertainment journalism, working as a producer on entertainment television shows including CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight/The Hour. Shin is the co-chair of the Reel Asian Film Festival. Reporting to Shin will be an Executive in Charge of Development, Comedy.
Also joining CBC on February 8 is Lea Marin, who has been named Director of Development, Drama. An award-winning producer with more than 20 years of experience, Marin’s recent film credits include Michele Stephenson’s Stateless, co-produced with Jennifer Holness and winner of Hot Docs 2020 Special Jury Prize Canadian feature documentary; Charles Officer’s Unarmed Verses, which won the Best Canadian Feature Award at Hot Docs 2017; and upcoming release Throat, a co-collaboration between Chelsea McMullan and artist/activist Tanya Tagaq. A graduate of the Canadian Film Centre’s Producers’ Lab, Marin joined the National Film Board of Canada as a producer in 2006. CBC Digital Originals executive Paige Murray will report to Marin in the new role of Executive in Charge of Development, Drama.
CURRENT PRODUCTION, COMEDY AND DRAMA:
CBC comedy executive Sandra Picheca has been promoted to the role of Director of Current Production, Comedy. Picheca has served as Executive in Charge of Production, Comedy since 2012, overseeing the development and production of such acclaimed and award-winning CBC original comedies as Kim’s Convenience, Workin’ Moms, Sort Of, Mr. D and This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Prior to joining CBC, she produced documentaries and short comedy films and was also CTV/Rogers’ managing editor of features and documentaries for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. CBC comedy executive Greig Dymond (Schitt’s Creek, Baroness von Sketch Show, TallBoyz) will report to Picheca in an expanded role as Executive in Charge of Current Production and Head of Festivals, Comedy.
CBC drama executive Sarah Adams has been promoted to the role of Director of Current Production, Drama. Adams has served as Executive in Charge of Production, Drama since 2012, overseeing the development and production of a number of CBC original dramas including Feudal, Coroner and X Company. Prior to joining CBC, Adams worked in independent production and was Head of Development for Breakthrough Entertainment, where she led the sourcing and development of IP and new original series in scripted comedy and drama, animation and factual. CBC drama executive Nicola Makoway will report to Adams as Executive in Charge of Current Production, Drama, with an additional Executive in Charge of Current Production role open for recruitment, also reporting to Adams.
Additionally, Ty Hyland has been appointed to the expanded role of Senior Advisor, Production and Business Planning for the CBC scripted team. A line producer with more than 20 years of experience with scripted series credits including Corner Gas, Incredible Story Studio, Insecurity, Little Mosque on the Prairie and Renegade Press, Hyland joined CBC in 2013 to work as an in-house strategist in production planning across scripted and digital programming.
