Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures Gets Greenlit by The Movie Network and Movie Central
Eight-part series based on Vincent Lam's award-winning novel
Press Release, Shaftesbury Films
April 7, 2008
pril 07, 2008 – Toronto, Canada – Shaftesbury Films announced today that Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures, a one-hour drama series based on the Scotiabank Giller Award-winning novel by Vincent Lam, has been ordered by Astral Media's The Movie Network and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central. The eight-part series will begin production later this year.
"It is quite amazing, and wonderfully surreal, to watch as the characters and drama of my first book find their way onto the screen," said Vincent Lam, author of Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures. "I wrote Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures because I felt the stories were human, and I wanted to communicate a particular truth about doctors, patients, and the act of caring, to readers. Now, I'm happy that this can be shared with an even broader audience. I am thrilled with the level of enthusiasm and energy that all of the artistic and broadcast partners have brought to this project. It will be a unique pleasure for me to see this book brought to viewers."
"We are delighted to bring this internationally acclaimed novel to television with our partners at The Movie Network and Movie Central. Vincent Lam is a phenomenal writer and Jason Sherman has done an extraordinary job with the adaptation for pay TV. This is like no other medical drama brought to television," said Christina Jennings, Chairman and CEO, Shaftesbury Films.
"The Movie Network has been thrilled to be on board with Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures from the beginning. We're very excited to now greenlight the production of this innovative eight-part series which has the potential to represent what pay-TV does best: intelligent, engaging and unexpected; ideally, all the best qualities of Vincent Lam's book," said Michelle Marion, Director, Canadian Independent Production, The Movie Network. "We are thrilled to be working with Movie Central and the Shaftesbury team again -- our partners on four seasons of the award-winning original series ReGenesis."
"It is gratifying to work again with the gifted creative team that brought us ReGenesis," said Erica Benson, Vice President, Programming, Movie Central. "Vincent Lam's book is going to translate to riveting dramatic television and we look forward to bringing our audiences another stellar Canadian pay television series."
Based on the lauded short story collection, Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures follows a group of conflicted young doctors – at war with each other and, at times, their patients. The series centres on four main characters, from medical school through their internships and on to their years as emergency room doctors. Their stories reveal that there are no miracles in hospitals; just plenty of hard work, second guessing, fear, hope, pain, mistakes – and the occasional triumph.
Award-winning writer Jason Sherman (ReGenesis, Murdoch Mysteries) is developing and writing the series. Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures is produced in association with Astral Media's The Movie Network and Movie Central, a Corus Entertainment Company. The series is developed with the participation of Astral Media's The Movie Network.
About Shaftesbury Films
Founded in 1987, Shaftesbury Films has established a reputation as one of Canada's leading producers of high quality film and television programming. Recent productions include the drama series Murdoch Mysteries for Citytv; the fourth season of the drama series ReGenesis for The Movie Network, Movie Central and Showcase; the TV movies In God's Country and Eight Days to Live, both featuring Kelly Rowan and both delivering record breaking ratings for CTV; and The Robber Bride, the Emmy-nominated TV movie starring Gemini award-winner Mary-Louise Parker for CBC. Shaftesbury Films also produces a variety of kids' programming, including the highly successful series Life with Derek, currently airing on Family Channel and Disney Channel, and broadcast in over 100 countries worldwide. Visit the Shaftesbury website at www.shaftesbury.ca.
For further information please contact: Sue Baldaro, Communications Director Shaftesbury Films T: (416) 363 1411 ext 154/ (416) 573 8481 mobile Email: sbaldaro@shaftesbury.ca or Sue.baldaro@sympatico.ca
© Shaftesbury Films 2008