Tag Archives: Emmy

In demand Erica Carroll keeps busy with recurring roles on the CW’s Supernatural and Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart

Rising star Erica Carroll, best known for her recurring role on the long-running CW series Supernatural and Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart.

Always busy, the Canadian actress can currently be seen in the new season of CW’s Emmy-nominated and cult-favorite series Supernatural with her next episode airing on Tuesday, November 25th. She plays Hannah, a not-so-graceful angel occupying a human body. “I am quite proud of Hannah who I play on Supernatural,” says Erica. “Although she may be an ethereal being, she certainly doesn’t navigate the human world with the utmost finesse, which leads to awkward yet endearing moments and some seriously bad-ass altercations too.”

About Erica:
Erica is proud to be the first member of her family to be born in Canada, with deep roots running back to Dublin, Ireland. Born, in an ambulance headed to Fraser Lake, she split her childhood between Fort St. John (Northeastern B.C.) and Duncan, B.C, on Vancouver Island. Today, the homegrown talent calls East Vancouver home.

Reflecting her Irish roots, Erica began taking Irish dancing lessons at the tender age of five, where she discovered both a passion and a fear of being on stage. “I knew in my heart I wanted to perform in some capacity, but the thought of it terrified me,” she admits. “I watched Airplane and Beetlejuice repeatedly, loving bizarre comedy and weird and wonderful characters.”

Erica caught the acting bug years later as a teen after attending a performance of The Phantom of the Opera at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre with her family. A self-professed Saturday Night Live super-fan, she would make silly home videos trying out characters with a friend who owned a camera. But it was only in her 20s that she decided to give acting a serious shot. She studied drama at three schools, including Canadian College in Victoria, The Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, and the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. The latter has graduated the likes of Anne Hathaway, Robert Redford and the late Lauren Bacall.

Erica has been featured in countless Vancouver-shot TV shows, including Motive, Alcatraz, Fringe, Spooksville, Caprica, Smallville, Almost Human, Battlestar Galactica, and the list goes on. She’s also appeared in many independent films; Erica received a Leo nomination for her performance in the short film When Jesse Was Born. That same role nabbed her a Best Female Performance award at the Sacramento Film Festival. One of her latest features, Afterparty, premiered at last year’s Whistler Film Festival to critical praise.

“The film was entirely improvised, which is a thrilling experience for any actor and it was a really wonderful cast of local actors,” Erica shares. “Let’s just be honest, filming Afterparty was like being at summer camp with your best friends.”

When she’s not acting, Erica can be found coaching and motivating up and coming young talent, advocating safe technology, and pursuing a year long fitness program commitment to rehabilitate from several car accidents.

A true animal lover, Erica supports the SPCA and the Vancouver Humane Society. She has a Bullmastiff named Bella who has survived two bouts of cancer through the use of naturopathic remedies.

Social Media Handles

Twitter: @divinepigeon
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Erica-Carroll/90087671831
IMDb: www.imdb.com/name/nm1264633

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
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INDUSTRYWORKS STUDIOS ANNOUNCES ITS DISTRIBUTION DEAL IN THE USA FOR THE FEATURE FILM ‘THE LOST LEGION’ WITH GRINDSTONE ENTERTAINMENT

IndustryWorks is pleased to announce at this year’s AFM the US distribution deal for ‘The Lost Legion’ with Grindstone Entertainment. Lionsgate Home Entertainment will release the film across its media platforms in 2015. The feature film will be the catalyst that launches ‘The Lost Legion’ TV series slated for 2015 from Executive Producers, Evan Tylor, John Curtis and Lloyd Simandl.

“We’re very excited to launch this movie with Grindstone Entertainment and we look forward to continuing to deliver high end TV content into the marketplace.,” says Evan Tylor, CEO IndustryWorks Studios.

IndustryWorks Studios is fresh off their newest production, the terror-driven, theatrical film ‘WRECKER’ starring Anna Hutchison (Cabin in the Woods). IndustryWorks Studio also brought us the now infamous and New York Times touted feature film ‘American Mary’ distributed by Universal Pictures, Anchor Bay and XLrator Media in 2013.

About ‘The Lost Legion’:
Sex, corruption, betrayal and the final death throws of a once powerful Empire. Where enemies become allies, allies become pawns and one man’s struggle to survive is “the last chance for a new Rome”.

After the fall of the Rome, a once powerful Empire is now but a shadow of it’s self, deprived of its former glory and the Dark Ages are imminent. Fortress towns are now small kingdoms where decadence and corruption thrive and the struggle to maintain control is quickly slipping away. In one such remote outpost, one Legion remains and strives to bring Rome back to its former glory and the interwoven lives of the strong, the corrupt, the innocent and the power hungry will determine Rome’s final destiny.

About the Cast and Characters:
The feature film stars Michelle Lukes (‘Strike Back’, ‘Alexander’, ‘Doctors’) as the manipulative and shrewd Urbina Prima, the wife of Maximus the insane and glory seeking Roman Emperor played by Brian Caspe (‘Hellboy’, The Illusionist’, ‘The Last Knights’). Also starring is Tom McKay (‘Hatfields & McCoys’, ‘The White Queen’) as the ‘Legions’ hero Taranis and Jim High (‘The Muskateers’, ‘Borgia’, Crossing Lines’) as Argos, the middleman who plays all sides of this chessboard.

This stellar cast comes with a long list of Emmy, Golden Globe and People Choice nominated credits and awards on both feature films and television.

“We have the utmost confidence that Grindstone along with the marketing machine of Lionsgate that ‘The Lost Legion’ will be given the perfect reveal into the US market. We’re looking forward to seeing it all come together.” Adds Caterina Scrivano, VP Sales & Marketing, IndustryWorks Studios.

“In the tradition of “Game of Thrones”, we look forward to bringing IndustryWorks’s new feature film, “The Lost Legion” to the U.S. audience. Evan, John, and Lloyd have created a fresh and quite provocative vision of the politics of the Roman Empire”. – Stan Wertlieb-Grindstone Entertainment Group-Head of Acquisitions.

About IndustryWorks Studios/Pictures
IndustryWorks is a fully integrated Distribution, Production and New Media, worldwide content provider. IndustryWorks sets itself apart by having a keen sense of recognizing the potential in projects for distribution and is dedicated to releasing unique and marketable content to the world market place. The Company has several in-house projects in development and acquires films from producers around the world. IndustryWorks distributes its content to through all media outlets, including box office, VOD, SVOD, broadcast, airlines, internet and digital platforms, retail and rental outlets.

For more press information, interviews and photographs please contact:
Lesley Diana | Lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca | 604-726-5575

For ‘The Lost Legion’ Sales and IndustryWorks information please contact:
Caterina Scrivano | CS@Industry-Works.com | 604-876-0547 or 604-306-3556

Or visit us at AFM – November 5^th – 12^th, The Loews Hotel – Suite #704

Social Media Handles

Website: industry-works.com/the-lost-legion
Twitter: @IWPictures
Facebook: facebook.com/IndustryWorksPictures

Canadian star Kaj-Erik Eriksen adds another franchise to his impressive list in the Soska Sisters Slasher Sequel “See No Evil 2”

Canadian actor Kaj-Erik Eriksen has appeared in some of the most beloved franchises of all time – including “MacGyver,” “NCIS” and “Star Trek.” The Vancouver native is at it again with a starring role in the Lionsgate and WWE Studios film “See No Evil 2,” the sequel to the surprise slasher hit featuring wrestler Kane.

The movie premieres Friday, October 17, 2014 on Digital HD and Video on Demand, followed by a DVD and Blue-Ray release later in the month. In line with the horror theme, filming took place in an abandoned mental institution.

Directed by filmmaking twins Jen and Sylvia Soska (a.k.a. the Soska Sisters), the second installment sees madman Jacob Goodnight (played by Kane) rise from the dead and wreak havoc among a group of friends at the morgue. Eriksen plays Seth, an earnest guy who works at the morgue alongside Amy (Danielle Harris) and happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

“For me it was exciting,” Eriksen told Rotten Tomatoes at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. “It’s a lot of running and yelling and getting chased and blood and splattering – it was fun. I hadn’t done a horror movie in a long time, so it was cool to jump back in.”

“See No Evil 2” marks Since then the Canadian actor has made numerous appearances on the small screen, including as a series regular in the USA Network, Emmy-nominated show “The 4400.”

About Kaj-Erik Eriksen
Kaj-Erik Eriksen has been acting for more than 29 years, which is impressive considering he’s only 35. Born and raised in Vancouver, B.C., Eriksen began his acting career at the tender age of six. After just a handful of extra and small speaking roles, the young actor landed a part in the independent feature “Quarantine.”

Around that same time, Eriksen booked a guest-starring role in “MacGyver,” one of the most popular shows at the time. It also happened to be Eriksen’s favorite series as a child and one that he would return to a few years later for another guest stint.

In 1991, after scoring a number of movies and guest roles on TV, the Canadian talent landed the part of David Scali, the son of Michael Chiklis’ character on the hit ABC drama “The Commish.” The show introduced Eriksen to millions of American fans and earned him the attention of critics, who gave him nods for a Youth in Film Award, a Hollywood Reporter Youth Star Award, and two YTV Achievement awards.

Eriksen worked on a number of other projects during “The Commish’s” five-year run, including a remake of the classic film “Captains Courageous” and popular kids TV shows such as “Goosebumps” and “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”

He moved to Los Angeles at the age of 17, where he continued to grow as an actor with guest roles in “Home Improvement” and “Walker Texas Ranger.” In 1999, the Vancouver native returned home to shoot two seasons of Showtime’s “Beggars and Choosers,” a short-lived series that garnered critical praise and a devoted cult following.

Upon coming back to L.A. in 2001, Eriksen landed one of his most important roles to date: the part of Jeremy Peters on David E. Kelley’s “Boston Public.” What was originally supposed to be a mere four-episode arc evolved into a recurring role over the span of two seasons. Eriksen also appeared in the action thriller “88 Minutes” starring Oscar-winner Al Pacino.

Since then, the Canadian star has been featured in ” Stephen King’s “Dead Zone,” “Criminal Minds,” “The Closer,” among many others. Eriksen has also been seen starring alongside Richard Thomas in the Hallmark movie “Time After Time.” He will next be seen on Hallmark Channel’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Christmas Special.”

In his spare time, Eriksen studies karate and enjoys photography. He also collects Victorinox Swiss army knives, an obsession that started because of his love of “MacGyver.”

Social Media Handles

Website: kaj-erikeriksen.net
Twitter: @KajEriksen
Facebook: facebook.com/KajEriksen
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0259264/?ref_=sr_4

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People

Actor Gerald Auger returns to TV in CBC’s Strange Empire following three-year sabbatical

Auger’s Black Eagle Entertainment productions are increasing the awareness of First Nations people

It’s official: Gerald Auger is back! Starting this fall, one of Canada’s most sought-after First Nations actors and motivational speakers can be seen as Chogan in Strange Empire, a brand new 1800s-set Western featuring a female-driven cast. Part of CBC’s 2014-15 lineup, the TV drama focuses on its characters’ struggle to survive and care for their community in a lawless society, and is set to air on Monday, October 6th at 9pm.

“In the 16 years I’ve been acting, I have never experienced cast and crew coming up to me as a fellow actor on set and apologizing for what they are about to say or do to my character,” says the actor. “I found both the cast and crew to be truly remorseful about the plight of the indigenous people from the past.”

Like some of the show’s characters, Auger has been helping his community for many years. He’s a recipient of the Native Role Model Award from the Governor General of Canada for overcoming obstacles and challenges in his life as an Indigenous youth.

After filming a recurring role, Pawnee Killer, in AMC’s Emmy-nominated Hell on Wheels, the Canadian star took a hiatus from acting and returned to the northern Alberta community where he grew up. Upon his arrival, Auger was shocked to learn there had been at least seven deaths of young members of the community.

“I realized then that I needed to give back to my community, specifically in regards to the young people,” he shares. “As I have lived the struggles that they were experiencing, alcohol and drug abuse, violence, suicide, low self esteem, and homelessness.”

Auger is the founder of Black Eagle Entertainment; a production company geared towards increasing the awareness of First Nations people and dispelling stereotypes associated with the culturally rich community.

Never one to shy away from personal stories, his 2009 short film Honour Thy Father – created in collaboration with the APTN, CBC and the National Film Board of Canada – focuses on his struggle with the Anglican Church to lay his father to rest in the traditional Cree way.

Auger spent part of his acting sabbatical writing and directing The Forgotten Truth of the Wilderness, the sequel to his critically acclaimed 2009 documentary. The film explores his personal quest to understand the impact of Christianity on First Nations communities. The film is based on his personal search in understanding the man they called Jesus through Indigenous ceremonies and land based teachings.

“For me, I will always hold my head up high, stand proud and stay strong even when my own indigenous people come at me for my Indigenous cultural and spiritual beliefs,” he says.

As an actor with Native roots, Auger is very selective about his on-screen roles. He tries to take on parts that portray First Nations people in a positive light, with the hopes that other young actors will follow suit. The roles that he chooses must have a spiritual component to the story and characters. Auger believes “Today’s film and television industry has become disconnected to creation and Creator like most of society. It is refreshing to be a part of a TV Series like Strange Empire and Hell On Wheels that are at least attempting to capture the the plight of the Indigenous people of the past”

Auger’s career:
Discovered in the opening ceremonies of the 1995 Canada Winter Games, Gerald Auger has become one of the busiest First Nations actors in Canada. Some of his many high-profile credits include: a supporting role in the Steven Spielberg-produced Into the West, the ABC miniseries DreamKeaper, and a starring role alongside Adam Beach and Jason Priestley in CTV’s Luna Spirit of the Whale.

Photography Credit: Malcom Carter – whatischronos.com

Social Media Handles

Website: geraldauger.com
Twitter: @Auger1
Facebook: facebook.com/geraldauger
Instagram: @geraldauger
Pinterest: pinterest.com/geraldauger
IMDb: imdb.com/name/nm1370064

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People

Independent Studio IndustryWorks Pictures Brings The Powerful and Historical Original Drama Series ‘The Lost Legion’ to MIPTV

IndustryWorks is pleased to announce the exclusive ‘first look’ at the new TV drama series ‘The Lost Legion’ at MIPTV this April.

Sex, corruption, betrayal and the final death throws of a once powerful Empire. Where enemies become allies, allies become pawns and one man’s struggle to survive is “the last chance for a new Rome”.

The thirteen one hour-long episodes by Executive Producer Evan Tylor, who brought us the now infamous and New York Times touted feature film ‘American Mary’. Petr Kubik and David Kocas direct ‘The Lost Legion’ and Christopher Hyde writes the series. Producers of ‘The Lost Legion’ are Lloyd Simandl and John Curtis. Production for the first two episodes has been completed. Filming will continue in Prague from June to December 2014.

“On behalf of IndustryWorks Pictures, we’re proud to present The Lost Legion, which takes us back to an era of a once great Empire struggling to retain its glory. I haven’t seen this portrayed before in film or television.” Says Evan Tylor, President of IWP. “The stories and characters are captivating, and the history is quite relevant, considering the uncertainty the modern world is facing today.”

“We’re excited about the possibilities for ‘The Lost Legion’ and other new and original shows that we have in development.”

About ‘The Lost Legion’ Television Series
After the fall of the Rome a once powerful Empire is now but a shadow of itself, deprived of its former glory and the Dark Ages are imminent. Roman Fortress towns are now small kingdoms where decadence and corruption thrive and the struggle to maintain control is quickly slipping away. In one such remote outpost, one Legion remains and strives to bring Rome back to its former glory and the interwoven lives of the strong, the corrupt, the innocent and the power hungry will determine Rome’s final destiny.

About the Cast and Characters:
The series stars Michelle Lukes (‘Strike Back’, ‘Alexander’, ‘Doctors’) as the manipulative and shrewd Urbina Prima, the wife of Maximus our debauched and insane Roman Emperor played by Brian Caspe (‘Hellboy’, The Illusionist’, ‘The Last Knights’). The cast includes Tom McKay (‘Hatfields and McCoys’, ‘The White Queen’) as the ‘Legions’ hero Taranis Maldras and Jim High (‘The Muskateers’, ‘Borgia’, Crossing Lines’) as Argos, the middle man who plays all sides of this chessboard.

The stellar cast comes with a long list of Emmy, Golden Globe and People Choice nominated credits that features Tom McKay who starred in the BBC’s Golden Globe and People’s Choice Nominated show ‘The White Queen’ and stars in the Golden Globe award winning and multi SAG and Prime Time Emmy Award winning, TV show ‘Hatfields & McCoys’ along side Kevin Costner. Michelle Lukes starred in the Emmy Nominated show ‘Strike Back.’ Jim High stars in BBC America’s newest TV Series ‘The Musketeers’, the TV Series ‘Borgia’, Primetime Emmy Nominated TV series ‘Missing’ and the new NBC TV series ‘Crossing Lines’ and soon to be seen in the up and coming feature film ‘Serena’ with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. Brian Caspe may be best known for Guillermo Del Torro’s ’Hellboy’, as well as ‘The Illuisionist’ and ‘Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol’, Brian Caspe is in the up coming action adventure film ‘The Last Knights’ with Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen and is also in the Oscar Nominated and multi-award winning TV series ‘The American Experience’.

About IndustryWorks Pictures, Inc
IndustryWorks is a fully integrated company that distributes and produces feature films, television and new media content worldwide.

IndustryWorks Pictures sets itself apart by having the keen sense of recognizing potential in projects for production and its primary function is to release unique and marketable content to the market place. IndustryWorks’ mandate is to release films and television content that appeal to the mainstream and niche audiences. The company has several in-house projects in development on an ongoing basis. IndustryWorks distributes its content to all ancillary media outlets, including box office, VOD, SVOD, broadcast, airlines, internet and digital platforms, retail and rental outlets.

Social Media Handles

Website: industry-works.com/the-lost-legion
Twitter: @IWPictures
Facebook: facebook.com/IndustryWorksPictures

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People

‘3 Days In Havana’ starring Gil Bellows and Greg Wise opening in Cineplex Theatres across Canada on March 28th, 2014

SOME PEOPLE WOULD KILL FOR THREE DAYS IN HAVANA

3 Days in Havana is the testament of a life-long collaboration between two friends and the directorial debut for both Gil Bellows and Tony Pantages

Gil Bellows and Tony Pantages are pleased to announce that the feature film ‘3 Days in Havana’ will open in Cineplex Theatres across Canada on March 28^th, 2014 via leading Canadian distributor Entertainment One (eOne). 3 Days in Havana is the directorial debut of filmmakers, Gil Bellows & Tony Pantages and is the testament of a life-long collaboration between two friends with a shared vision and the talented family of artists and technicians that joined them on the ride. The film stars Gil Bellows (Ally McBeal, Shawshank Redemption), Greg Wise (Sense and Sensibility), Robin Dunne (Sanctuary), Michael Eklund (The Call, True Justice), Christopher Heyerdahl (Hell on Wheels, True Blood) and John Cassini (Continuum, Blackstone)

About The Film
Jack Petty (Gil Bellows) gets more than he bargained for when he travels to Havana on business and gets caught up in an assassination conspiracy with his new friend Harry Smith (Greg Wise).

Jack Petty sits in an airport bar, nursing a drink. He’s on a stopover halfway to Havana, and so is the sexy lady who chats him up, giving him travel tips and whispering something scary in his ear. He’ll meet her again, in the midst of a conspiracy that includes assassination, kidnapping and more.

This a film with a lot of tradition behind it: some major Hitchcock (particularly Strangers on a Train and The 39 Steps); the wised-up dialogue of old film noir; and the gritty detail and sharp plot twists of contemporary thrillers. It’s all put across with high spirits, and the cast is stellar—highlights include Christopher Heyerdahl as a slick member of the Canadian Consulate, John Cassini as a ruthless mob boss, and Phyllida Law as… well, you’ll see. And there are many other colourful characters, none of them trustworthy, most of them with their sights set on poor Jack. He’ll have to outwit, outrun or outfight them all—a tall order for a mere businessman on a conference trip. But he’s surprisingly cool under pressure. The fun here comes not just from the close shaves and slick repartee but from the knowledge, quickly acquired, that nothing is what it seems. (Courtesy Vancouver International Film Festival)

About The Directors
Gil Bellows is an Emmy & Peabody winning and Golden Globe nominated producer for the HBO film, “Temple Grandin”. Gil also steered Ali Selim’s “Sweet Land” to win the Best First Feature trophy at the Independent Spirit Awards. Best known for creating the role of ‘Billy Thomas’ in the Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning FOX series “Ally McBeal,” Gil first gained international attention among filmgoers and critics for his portrayal of an inmate with a penchant for knowledge in the critically lauded “Shawshank Redemption,” opposite Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. In recent years, Bellows has found himself starring in several Canadian Independents including Paul Gross and Niv Fichman’s Canadian War-time Drama “Passchendaele” and “Toronto Stories”.

Tony Pantages is an award-winning director of music videos, commercials, documentaries and short films with trophies and nominations for MTV, MuchMusic, Clio & Juno awards. Pantages studied acting at the Loft Studio in LA under Peggy Feury where his classmates included Sean Penn, Matthew Broderick, Krispin Glover and Meg Ryan. After ten years of working with some of the top directors in the business, Tony switched to the other side of the lens, assisting the Oscar winning director John Schlesinger (Midnight Cowboy, Marathon Man) for two years before launching his own successful career directing number one music videos for INXS, Sarah McLachlan and Our Lady Peace and commercials for Lee Jeans & Canadian Airlines. His Behind The Scenes documentary “Beyond the Yellow Brick Road” about the Syfy Channel’s miniseries “Tin Man” broke their viewership record and aired 14 times. Mr. Pantages’ short film Passages was an official selection at the Vancouver International film Festival.

Social Media Handles

Twitter: @3DaysInHavana, @realgilbellows, @tonypantages, @eOnefilms
Facebook: facebook.com/3daysinhavana, facebook.com/eOnefilms
Movie Trailer: vimeo.com/86457182
IMDb: imdb.com/title/tt1842371/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People