Copper - New period drama series picked-up by Showcase and BBC America

Cineflix Studios’ New Original Crime Series to Air on Showcase and BBC America

10 Episode Series to Start Production In January 2012



TORONTO, ON, October 3, 2011– Shaw Media announces a partnership with Cineflix Studios and BBC America on Copper, a gripping new crime series, set to air on Showcase in Canada. Set in 1860s New York City, Copper centres around Kevin Corcoran, an intense, rugged Irish-immigrant cop working the city’s notorious Five Points neighbourhood. The one-hour, 10 episode series is set to premiere on Showcase in fall 2012.

Corcoran is struggling to maintain his moral compass in a turbulent world, while on an emotional and relentless quest to learn the truth about the disappearance of his wife and the death of his daughter. His friendship with two Civil War compatriots – the wayward son of a wealthy industrialist and an African American physician who secretly assists Corcoran with his forensics work – takes him to the contrasting worlds of elegant Fifth Avenue and rural Harlem. The three men share a secret from their experience on the battlefield that inextricably links their lives forever.

“With the amazing creative minds on board for this series, Copper is already on its way to becoming a dynamic, multi-layered drama and we are thrilled to add it to our stellar slate of original programming,” said Barbara Williams, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media. “The rich subtext of the many cultural and socio-economic layers in this series will captivate viewers coast to coast.”

“Copper is a provocative, smart story – with plenty of suspense, sex, intrigue, and compelling characters,” said Sally Catto,Executive Vice President,Cineflix Studios. “We’re absolutely delighted to partner with Shaw Media and its talented team to present this bold original series to Canadian audiences.”

The series is created by Tom Fontana (OZ, Homicide: Life on the Street, St. Elsewhere) and Will Rokos (Monster’s Ball, Southland). Amongst the co-executive producers on the series are Fontana, Rokos, Barry Levinson (Good Morning, Vietnam, Rain Man, You Don't Know Jack) and Christina Wayne, President of Cineflix Studios (Broken Trail and executive in charge of Mad Men at AMC).

Production on Copper is set to begin in Toronto in January 2012.

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About Shaw Communications Inc.
Shaw Communications Inc. is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Home Phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging programming content (through Shaw Media). Shaw serves 3.4 million customers, through a reliable and extensive fibre network. Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 18 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, History Television and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX – SJR.B, NYSE – SJR). For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

About Cineflix Studios
Cineflix Studios combines global broadcast and production partners, major talent, and key executives to develop and produce high-quality scripted programming for cable and broadcast outlets in the US, Canada, and around the world. Christina Wayne is President of Cineflix Studios, Vlad Wolynetz is President of Production, and Sally Catto is Executive Vice President. Cineflix Studios was established in July 2010 and is a subsidiary of the international production and distribution company Cineflix Media.

About BBC America
BBC AMERICA delivers U.S. audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. Owned by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including an Emmy, four Golden Globes and ten Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable’s most affluent and educated audiences and is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 70 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms.
Source Showcase