Power (one of the producers) description:
The Summit - 2 x 2hrs
"A corrupt government, a deadly secret and a race against time. From the acclaimed writer John Krizanc comes a controversial, uncompromising and unmissable event mini-series. Set on the eve of the next G8 Summit, this gripping, fast-paced action thriller follows a mother’s desperate struggle to bring justice to her murdered son, fallen victim to a massive corrupt pharmaceutical company. Approaching the G8 armed with a vial of infected blood, one woman is determined to get the attention of the world’s most powerful leaders with a biological weapon that threatens the entire future of the Western world."

Cameras rolling on Shaftesbury Films, Media Headquarters and Power's highly anticipated new miniseries The Summit Coming to CBC and Global Television in 2008 With an all-star cast featuring: Bruce Greenwood, James Purefoy, Rachelle Lefevre, Mia Maestro, Stephen McHattie and Lisa Ray with Wendy Crewson and Christopher Plummer

TORONTO, Nov. 7 /CNW/ - Filming has begun on The Summit, a Shaftesbury Films/Media Headquarters co-production, in association with Power Corporation, CBC and Global Television. A four-hour, two-part miniseries scheduled to air next season on CBC and Global Television, The Summit is about a North American military-engineered smallpox virus smuggled into Canada as world leaders gather for the G8 Summit. This partnership between CBC and Global Television has provided the unique opportunity to support a production of this magnitude, with its wide scope and international all-star cast. Filming continues on the seven-week shoot until November 21, 2007 in and around Toronto, Hamilton, Huntsville, Parry Sound, Sudbury, London, England and Ecuador.

"We're very excited about The Summit," said Kirstine Layfield, Executive Director of Network Programming for CBC TV. "This is yet another example of an exciting story that we think is really going to resonate with Canadians, and at the same time bring to our audiences lots of international cachet in terms of its storyline and stars."

"With its timely, gripping story and Canadian star power, we expect The Summit will be a huge television event," said Christine Shipton, Vice President, Original Programming for Global Television. "By partnering with the CBC on this unique project, we ensure a miniseries of this magnitude is enjoyed by audiences across both national networks."

As Canadian Prime Minister Adderly (Bruce Greenwood - Thirteen Days), U.S. President Aimes (Christopher Plummer - A Beautiful Mind) and other world leaders gather to meet at the G8 Summit, Leonie Adderly (Rachelle Levefre - Life on Mars), grad student and daughter of the PM, and Columbian union organizer Maria (Mia Maestro - Alias) are preparing to release an explosive documentary about the conditions of the Columbian flower industry.

Meanwhile, a U.S. military-engineered strain of smallpox is smuggled into Canada and finds its way within the walls of the summit. With leading CDC investigator Dr. Thom Lightstone (James Purefoy - Rome), U.S. Chief of Staff Ellie Bruckner (Wendy Crewson - ReGenesis), head of the U.S. Black Ops, Tate (Stephen McHattie - 300), and reporter Rebecca Downey (Lisa Ray - Water) on-site, a search gets underway for the bio-terrorist before the results turn deadly.

Directed by Nick Copus (The 4400), The Summit is produced by Robert Cohen and Shari Cohen for Media Headquarters and Adam Haight for Shaftesbury Films. It is Executive Produced by Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie for Shaftesbury Films and Justin Bodle for Power Corporation. Written by John Krizanc (H2O), the Director of Photography is Alwyn Kumst (The Dresden Files), and Production Designer is Tim Bider (Terry).

CBC's Production Executives are Sally Catto, Creative Head, Drama TV Arts and Entertainment, and Helen Asimakis, Executive in Charge of Production. Global Television's Production Executives are Rachel Nelson, Production Executive, Original Programming, Drama and Christine Shipton, Senior Director, Dramatic Programming. Power's Production Executive is Ewa Radwanska, Director of Development and Production.

The Summit is produced by Shaftesbury Films and Media Headquarters, in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canwest Global and Power Corporation, with the participation of The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, the COGECO Program Development Fund, Nickel Basin Federal Development Corporation, and with the assistance of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit.

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 TV series ReGenesis for The Movie Network, Movie Central and Showcase, currently shooting its fourth season; 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 kids' series Life with Derek, currently airing on Family Channel and Disney Channel, and broadcast in over 100 countries worldwide. Shaftesbury's large format division, SK Films, released the multi-award winning box-office success Bugs! (IMAX 3D). Visit the Shaftesbury website at www.shaftesbury.ca.

About Media Headquarters Lead by partners Robert Cohen and Shari Cohen, Media Headquarters has developed a global reputation for producing high quality and innovative film and television projects. Recent productions include the Emmy-nominated, Gemini-winning family special The Great Polar Bear Adventure, featuring Howie Mandel and Megan Follows; the acclaimed feature documentary Souvenir of Canada, based on the bestselling books by celebrated author Douglas Coupland; and the high-rated reality series Outlaw In-Laws. Media Headquarters produces a range of factual, dramatic and family programming and is the recipient of dozens of international awards and nominations.

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. With 28 services offered on Radio, Television, the Internet, satellite radio, digital audio, as well as through its record and music distribution service and wireless WAP and SMS messaging services, CBC/Radio-Canada is available how, where, and when Canadians want it.

Through this array of activities, CBC/Radio-Canada brings diverse regional and cultural perspectives into the daily lives of Canadians in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, in nine languages on its international Radio service, Radio Canada International, and in eight languages on its Web-based Radio service RCI viva, a service for recent and aspiring immigrants to Canada.

About Global Television

Global Television is owned by CanWest MediaWorks Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CanWest Global Communications Corp. (CanWest) (TSX: CGS and CGS.A, www.canwestglobal.com). In addition to owning the Global Television network, CanWest, an international media company, is Canada's largest publisher of English language daily newspapers, and also owns, operates and/or holds substantial interests in conventional television, out-of-home advertising, specialty cable channels, Web sites and radio networks in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Indonesia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Four-hour, two-part mini series titled The Summit will air on CBC in 2008

Deerhurst Resort became Hollywood North for five days last week, playing host to Shaftesbury Films, a Canadian film and television production company based in Toronto. The film crew had cameras rolling on Deerhurst’s golf course – working around several unexpectedly heavy downpours to get shots with Peninsula Lake in the background – outside the main entrance and inside in the lobby area.

Earlier, a call had gone out for extras to play alongside movie greats such as Christopher Plummer, Bruce Greenwood, Wendy Crewson and Britain’s Nigel Bennett, resulting in many familiar faces possibly showing up when The Summit, a four-hour, two-part miniseries airs on CBC next fall.

Muskoka actors Gregg Evans and Britt Stevens were snapped in their dark suits relaxing between takes. Evans was playing an aide to the French prime minister (Pierre Alcide) and Stevens a secret service agent for the US president (Plummer) and the US chief of staff (Crewson).

While there was a considerable amount of time spent waiting around between takes, being part of the production was a lot of fun, said Evans.

“It’s much easier than being on stage.”

The previous day, local extras had played members of the media, taking part in a scrum (when a large number of reporters surround a public figure and bombard them with questions) being filmed outside the resort’s main entrance.

“It was fun, and Deerhurst provided a great lunch,” said Marnie Hill, who played one of the reporters.

The Summit, a drama/thriller written by Albertan playwright John Krizanc (This is Wonderland) and directed by Nick Copus (Painkiller Jane), is about corrupt government, a deadly secret and a race against time.

Set on the eve of the next G8 Summit, the fast-paced action thriller follows a mother’s desperate struggle to bring justice to her murdered son, fallen victim to a massive corrupt pharmaceutical company. Approaching the G8 armed with a vial of infected blood, the woman is determined to get the attention of the world’s most powerful leaders with a biological weapon that threatens the entire future of the western world.

Meanwhile, young activists clamour at the gates, demonstrating for a new kind of society. Lines are drawn, barricades erected and police and activists are armed.

Filming began on Oct. 1 and concludes on Nov. 21. Shooting takes place around Haliburton, Hamilton, Parry Sound, Sudbury, Toronto, London, UK, and Ecuador, which will play for Colombia.

Another call has gone out for film extras for a protest scene to be filmed in Parry Sound on Nov. 3 and 4. Anyone interested should contact Maureen Evans at maureenb2b@yahoo.com, or at 1-416-406-6600.

The Summit is a Shaftesbury Films/Media Headquarters co-production, in association with CBC Television, Global Television and Powercorp International.

New Mini: Robert Cohen reports he's producing the new miniseries The Summit for CBC and Global. Shooting in town and Hamilton through October, the cast of the Shaftesbery Films production set before a G8 summit includes Christopher Plummer, James Purefoy, Bruce Greenwood and Mia Maestro.