VisionTV's SOUL


Toronto, November 26, 2008
*VisionTV sets Feb. 11 premiere date for drama series SOUL* starring R&B artist Keshia Chanté VisionTV, Canada’s multi-faith and multicultural television network, will premiere its first original hour-long drama series in February 2009. SOUL, a six-part series starring Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Keshia Chanté in her first lead role, is slated to air on Wednesdays, starting Feb. 11, at 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. ET. The series, produced for VisionTV by Halifax Film, was shot in Halifax, NS earlier this fall. The Ottawa-born Chanté stars as Mahalia Brown, a young gospel singer on the verge of leaving behind the safety of church and family for the fast and dangerous track to pop stardom. Mahalia’s story unfolds against a backdrop of violent conflict within her troubled urban neighbourhood. Michael Beach** (ER, Third Watch) guest stars. Other principal cast members include Jessica Parker Kennedy (Smallville, Kaya), Eli Goree (North/South), Karen LeBlanc (Playmakers, Nurse.Fighter.Boy) and Michael Anthony Rawlins (Intelligence). The Executive Producers of SOUL are Floyd Kane (North/South), Peter Lauterman (North of 60), Michael Donovan (Bowling for Columbine) and Charles Bishop (The Guard). Joan Jenkinson is Executive Producer for VisionTV. Andy Marshall is Creative Producer. The series emerged from the DiverseTV initiative launched in 2005 by VisionTV in partnership with the National Screen Institute – Canada. DiverseTV was designed to offer visible minority and Aboriginal writers the chance to create a television drama for national broadcast. SOUL is one of several new Canadian productions set to premiere on VisionTV in January and February. Forthcoming factual titles include Ralph Benmergui’s six-part documentary series God Bless America, and the documentary anthologies I Prophesy and Supernatural Investigator. For more information on VisionTV programming, please visit www.visiontv.ca. VisionTV, an S-VOX company, is Canada’s multi-faith and multicultural broadcaster, dedicated to entertaining and insightful programming that celebrates diversity and promotes understanding and tolerance among people of different faiths and cultures. VisionTV celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2008-2009. Visit VisionTV on the Web at: www.visiontv.ca. Halifax Film develops and produces original film and television programming. Halifax Film manages and co-ordinates all aspects of a program's life, including developing original ideas; purchasing literary rights; arranging production financing; carrying out production and post-production; and exploiting worldwide distribution rights. Halifax Film is a subsidiary of DHX Media Ltd., a leading international producer and distributor of television programming and interactive content with an emphasis on children, family and youth markets. www.halifaxfilm.com

Toronto, November 26, 2008

VisionTV sets Feb. 11 premiere date for drama series SOUL starring R&B artist Keshia Chanté

VisionTV, Canada’s multi-faith and multicultural television network, will premiere its first original hour-long drama series in February 2009.

SOUL, a six-part series starring Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Keshia Chanté in her first lead role, is slated to air on Wednesdays, starting Feb. 11, at 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. ET.

The series, produced for VisionTV by Halifax Film, was shot in Halifax, NS earlier this fall.

The Ottawa-born Chanté stars as Mahalia Brown, a young gospel singer on the verge of leaving behind the safety of church and family for the fast and dangerous track to pop stardom. Mahalia’s story unfolds against a backdrop of violent conflict within her troubled urban neighbourhood.

Michael Beach (ER, Third Watch) guest stars. Other principal cast members include Jessica Parker Kennedy (Smallville, Kaya), Eli Goree (North/South), Karen LeBlanc (Playmakers, Nurse.Fighter.Boy) and Michael Anthony Rawlins (Intelligence).

The Executive Producers of SOUL are Floyd Kane (North/South), Peter Lauterman (North of 60), Michael Donovan (Bowling for Columbine) and Charles Bishop (The Guard). Joan Jenkinson is Executive Producer for VisionTV. Andy Marshall is Creative Producer.

The series emerged from the DiverseTV initiative launched in 2005 by VisionTV in partnership with the National Screen Institute – Canada. DiverseTV was designed to offer visible minority and Aboriginal writers the chance to create a television drama for national broadcast.

SOUL is one of several new Canadian productions set to premiere on VisionTV in January and February. Forthcoming factual titles include Ralph Benmergui’s six-part documentary series God Bless America, and the documentary anthologies I Prophesy and Supernatural Investigator.

For more information on VisionTV programming, please visit www.visiontv.ca.

VisionTV, an S-VOX company, is Canada’s multi-faith and multicultural broadcaster, dedicated to entertaining and insightful programming that celebrates diversity and promotes understanding and tolerance among people of different faiths and cultures. VisionTV celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2008-2009. Visit VisionTV on the Web at: www.visiontv.ca.

Halifax Film develops and produces original film and television programming. Halifax Film manages and co-ordinates all aspects of a program's life, including developing original ideas; purchasing literary rights; arranging production financing; carrying out production and post-production; and exploiting worldwide distribution rights. Halifax Film is a subsidiary of DHX Media Ltd., a leading international producer and distributor of television programming and interactive content with an emphasis on children, family and youth markets. www.halifaxfilm.com