Amazon has ordered a series adapted from a Quebec news item. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis will co-produce The Stickyfiction inspired by the historic 2012 maple syrup theft.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
The case had caused a lot of ink to flow. The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers had discovered the pot of roses during a routine check in its warehouse in Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, where 60% of the barrels were filled not with syrup, but with water. For nearly a year, a man had led a major scheme through which he managed to steal 9600 barrels of maple syrup, worth 18 million.
The series, which is set to be filmed in English in Quebec next fall, will center around the character of Ruth Clark, a middle-aged, skilled and tenacious maple syrup producer who stands to lose everything she cherishes, including his farm. With the help of two low-level crooks, she decides to take her destiny into her own hands by organizing an incredible scheme.
Jonathan Levine (Nine Perfect Strangers with Nicole Kidman) will direct the comedy-drama, which will land in 2023 on Prime Video, Amazon’s platform present in 240 countries and territories. In addition to Comet Pictures (Jamie Lee Curtis’ company), Blumhouse Television, Megamix and Sphère Média, a Quebec box, will produce the project.
Reached by phone, producer Josée Vallée (Sphère Média) applauds the desire of Amazon, an American giant, to include Quebec.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, PRESS ARCHIVES
Producer Josée Vallée, from Sphere Media
I find it funny that they came to get us to make sure we had a truth. Because it’s a fundamentally Quebec story, they thought it was important. And for us, it’s an opportunity to show what we can do.
Josée Vallée, from Sphere Media
The Sticky will consist of six half-hour episodes. Its launch was announced Wednesday in Toronto, during a special Prime Video presentation that we attended virtually.
Quebec presence
The event shone the spotlight on a few Quebec productions, including Three Pines, the highly anticipated adaptation of the novels by author Louise Penny. Created by Amazon Studios and produced by Left Bank Pictures, the company behind The Crown on Netflix, and Muse Entertainment, a Montreal company, the series starring Alfred Molina (Spider Man 2, The Da Vinci Code) was filmed in Montreal and the Eastern Townships from August to December 2021. It will be launched in early 2023 not only in Canada, but in the United States.
In a pre-recorded video, Louise Penny mentioned the importance of Quebec in Three Pines, and said she was happy that the film crew came from Quebec to “reflect what Canada is”. As for Alfred Molina, who plays Inspector Alfred Gamache, he said it was the best team he had worked with.
Additionally, Amazon will collaborate with Just for Laughs to create a new original series. Head of content at the Just for Laughs Group, Marina Di Pancrazio speaks of “excellent news” which is part of an international development strategy on which the Quebec company has been working for several years. As for the show, it is a “concept developed by Just for Laughs TV which will be 100% produced in Quebec with local artists,” Marina Di Pancrazio informs us by email.
Always in humor, LOL: Who will have the last laugh? will be recorded in Montreal in the coming weeks. As previously announced, this reality TV competition will be led by Patrick Huard, produced by Attraction (Live from the universe, The Chiefs !) and will bring together French-speaking comedians.
Quebec will also make its presence felt in Sugar, a thriller by English-Canadian director Vic Sarin starring Éric Bruneau. Partly shot in Montreal last fall, this Canadian-Mexican co-production chronicles the perilous cruise of two influencers (played by Katherine McNamara and Jasmin Sky Sarin) which turns into a nightmare when they find themselves in mortal danger, caught in the heart of a drug trafficking operation. Éric Bruneau portrays the “charming” young man behind the project. Featuring a promising trailer unveiled on Wednesday, the feature will be released later in 2022.
Starting May 6, Prime Video will feature The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smitha series of type true crime directed by Nathalie Bibeau (The Walrus and the Whistleblower). The Quebec documentary filmmaker takes an interest in the controversial undercover operation set up to nab the murderer of Smith, a young woman murdered at her home in Oshawa, Ontario, in 1974. It is an Amazon production Studios in association with Muse Entertainment.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY PRIME VIDEO
Documentary filmmaker Nathalie Bibeau
For me, it’s huge to take advantage of such a beautiful showcase. I am deeply touched to be the director of the first true crime Original from Amazon. It is an honour for me. I weigh my words. It’s all very exciting!
Nathalie Bibeau
Quebec author and director Julian Doucet, who will see his series The Lake landing on Prime Video on June 17, shares that excitement.
“It’s very exciting that Prime Vide is investing in our projects. It means that there is an appetite for our stories, for the way we tell them, for our landscapes…”
Comedy with Jordan Gavaris (Orphan Black), Julia Stiles (Save the Last Dance) and Madison Shamoun (Black-ish), The Lake paints the portrait of a man who, after having lived abroad for several years, returns to the country in the hope of reconnecting with his biological daughter, whom he gave up for adoption.
PHOTO PETER H STRANKS
Director Julian Doucet (right) with comedian Jordan Gavaris during the filming of The Lake.
Among the 10 Canadian original productions from Prime Video announced Wednesday, there is also a documentary on The Tragically Hip, a series featuring the comedians of the sketch show The Kids in the Halland Gary and his demonsan animated series.