Charles Falzon

Last updated

Charles John Falzon (born August 1957) is a Canadian entertainment executive, educator and university administrator, currently serving as Dean of The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He has produced nearly 2,000 hours of television programming, feature films and documentaries, and has been recognized with several Gemini Awards and an international Emmy Award nomination. [1]

Contents

Falzon is credited as a producer on thirty titles, including Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000), Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs (2005), Ghost Trackers (2005-2006), Artzooka (2010), Extreme Babysitting (2013-2014), Foreign Affairs (1992) and The Naked Entrepreneur (2016). [2] He has presided over or co-chaired several international entertainment companies.

Biography

Falzon studied television in what was then known as the Radio and Television Arts program at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now known as the RTA School of Media). Following graduation, Falzon moved into the marketing department of CBC TV, which was "then a very small division in the corporation, selling about $500,000 a year of CBC programming." [3] Falzon "travelled the world selling CBC programs to other broadcasters," and within five years annual sales topped $5 million. [3]

After leaving the CBC, Falzon founded Producers Group International in 1987 with fellow Ryerson graduate Gary Howsam." [3] PGI and Falzon's "salesmanship" were credited in a 1989 Toronto Star article for helping "many of Canada's film makers, from mega-buck productions at the CBC to small independents" get their "programs screened around the world" -- including a CTV drama series named Mount Royal and a "popular music program from CITY-TV" titled The New Music . [3]

With Falzon at the helm, Catalyst Entertainment produced Foreign Affairs , Canada's "first daily, afternoon soap opera", which was set and shot in Argentina and was created, produced, written and performed "mainly by Canadians." [4] The series was pre-sold to Germany, Spain, Italy, Britain, South America and the United States [4] The commercial success of the show was premised on the idea that "an internationally based soap opera would bypass the usual handicaps of Canadian TV". [4]

In 2000, Falzon teamed Catalyst Entertainment up with Britain's Britt Allcroft to make the first feature film involving Thomas the Tank Engine, titled Thomas and the Magic Railroad . [5] Featuring Alec Baldwin, Peter Fonda and Mara Wilson, the film was animated and produced by Catalyst Entertainment, which at the time also produced Shining Time Station , "the half-hour program that introduced Thomas to U.S. audiences." [5] The film, which cost US$20 million to produce, combined live action and animation. [5] On the success of the Thomas brand, Falzon remarked that "the simplicity and the safeness of Thomas is what makes him so successful," adding that it's "not about being high-tech"; rather, it's "really still about storytelling and characters that [children] can trust and feel good with." [5]

By 2001, Falzon was serving as President of Gullane Entertainment (formerly the Britt Alcroft Company), with operations in London, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto and Tokyo. That year, Falzon announced two significant acquisitions of entertainment properties by Gullane: Fireman Sam [6] , and Guinness World Records for a reported $65 million. [7]

Falzon became co-chairman of CCI Entertainment in 2002, which grew out of the merger in 2002 of Arnie Zipursky's Cambium Entertainment and Catalyst Entertainment, which was led by Falzon. [8] A "Canadian cartoon producer", CCI was "best known for properties like Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs , Erky Perky , and Shining Time Station." [8]

Academic life

In 2010, Falzon was appointed an associate professor and assumed the role of chair of the RTA School of Media. [1]

As chair of the RTA School of Media, Falzon was "one of the architects" of a new BA in Sport Media, housed in the old Maple Leaf Gardens, known today as the Mattamy Athletic Centre. [9] Focusing on sports entertainment, business, marketing and media, the program was noted as the first of its kind in Canada. [9]

In 2015, Falzon was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Design at Ryerson University for a five-year term effective July 1. In the appointment notice, Falzon was credited with renewing the reputation of the RTA School of Media, refreshing the curriculum across its three undergraduate programs, establishing the Transmedia Zone and RTA Productions, launching a collaborative summer program called "RTA in LA", and teaching for more than 20 years. [1] Falzon was promoted to full Professor of Media Production in 2018 and renewed as Dean in 2020 for an additional 5 year term. Falzon spearheaded the transformation of the faculty which was renamed as The Creative School. Among the many innovative initiatives Falzon introduced were The Design+Technology Lab,the Red Bull Gaming Hub,the Creative School Innovation Studio and a summer campus in Tuscany. Falzon holds a master's in theology from the University of Toronto and a master's in spirituality from Regis College. He teaches at the undergraduate and graduate level at Ryerson in the area of media ethics and business. [1]

Related Research Articles

Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, formerly Sheridan College of Applied Arts and Technology, is a public polytechnic institute operating three campuses across the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.

<i>Thomas & Friends</i> British childrens television series

Thomas & Friends is a British children's television series that aired across 24 series from 1984 to 2021. Based on The Railway Series books by Rev. W. Awdry and his son Christopher, the series was developed for television by Britt Allcroft. The series follows the adventures of Thomas, an anthropomorphised blue steam locomotive on the fictional North Western Railway on the Island of Sodor, and many other anthropomorphised locomotives on the North Western Railway, including Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, and Toby. They work for Sir Topham Hatt, primarily known as the "Fat Controller".

Britt Allcroft is a British writer, producer, director and voice actress. She is the creator of the children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, Shining Time Station, Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales and Magic Adventures of Mumfie. She also wrote, co-produced and directed the film Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HIT Entertainment</span> British-American entertainment company

HIT Entertainment Limited was a British-American entertainment company founded in 1982 as Henson International Television, the international distribution arm of The Jim Henson Company, by Jim Henson, Peter Orton, and Sophie Turner Laing. Orton alone took over the company in 1989 after learning Henson intended to sell the company to The Walt Disney Company. HIT owned and distributed children's television series such as Thomas & Friends, Fireman Sam, Bob the Builder, Pingu, Barney & Friends, and Angelina Ballerina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gullane Entertainment</span>

Gullane Entertainment PLC was a British independent production company which produced children's programming, including Thomas & Friends (1984–2021), Shining Time Station (1989–1995), and The Magic Adventures of Mumfie (1994–1998). The company was purchased by HIT Entertainment in 2003, and went defunct within the same year. As of today, most of Gullane's library is currently owned by toy company Mattel as a result of their subsequent acquisition of HIT Entertainment.

<i>Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs</i> Childrens books and animated television series

Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs is a series of children's books written and drawn by Ian Whybrow and Adrian Reynolds. The series is about a 5-year-old boy named Harry, who has a bucket full of six dinosaurs named Taury, Trike, Patsy, Pterence, Sid, and Steggy. In the books the dinosaurs talk to Harry but seem to be toys to the other characters. The other main characters are Mum, Nana, Harry's best friend Charlie and Harry's sister Sam. A major difference is that the book series includes an Anchisaurus while the TV series does not.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rogers Communications Centre</span>

The Rogers Communications Centre is home to Toronto Metropolitan University's RTA School of Media, Professional Communications and Journalism programs, as well as the offices for the Faculty of Communication and Design (FCAD). Completed in 1992, it is located at 80 Gould Street in downtown Toronto, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramona Pringle</span> Canadian journalist, producer and actress

Ramona Pringle is a Canadian digital journalist, television host, multiplatform media producer, actress and professor. Currently she is the Director of the Transmedia Zone at Ryerson University, an incubator for innovation in media, and a Technology Columnist for CBC.

Clearwater Features Ltd. was a British film production company that produced the first two series of the children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends from 1984 to 1986. Clearwater is also known for creating the short lived children's TV series TUGS.

The RTA School of Media is a school within the Faculty of Communication and Design at Toronto Metropolitan University located in the Rogers Communications Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It offers two Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Masters of Arts. It was previously named "The School of Radio and Television Arts" and as such is and was commonly referred to as "RTA". It offers the only 4-year broadcasting degree programs in Canada and is reputed as one of the best media programs in the world.

SEED Alternative School is a small Toronto District School Board alternative high school now located in Toronto's east end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Film Centre</span> Film school in Toronto, Canada

The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) is a charitable organization founded in 1988 by filmmaker Norman Jewison in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Originally launched as a film school, today it provides training, development and advancement opportunities for professionals in the Canadian film, television and digital media industries, including directors, producers, screenwriters, actors and musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Metropolitan University</span> Public university in Ontario, Canada

Toronto Metropolitan University is a public research university located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The university's core campus is situated within the Garden District, although it also operates facilities elsewhere in Toronto. The university operates seven academic divisions/faculties, the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Community Services, the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, the Faculty of Science, The Creative School, the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, and the Ted Rogers School of Management. Many of these faculties are further organized into smaller departments and schools. The university also provides continuing education services through the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education.

Falzon may refer to:

Jenny Sampirisi is a Canadian poet, novelist, editor, and university instructor, living in Toronto. She is the author of the novel is/was and experimental poetry narrative Croak.

CJTM, branded as Met Radio, is a low-powered AM campus and community radio station, owned and operated by Radio Ryerson Inc. at Toronto Metropolitan University, which was granted a broadcast license by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on December 11, 2014.

CCI Entertainment Ltd. is a Canadian television production company that focuses on the production of television shows and feature-length movies. The company was formed in February 2002 as a merger between Cambium Entertainment Corporation and Catalyst Entertainment, Inc.

Arthur Smith is a Canadian television producer who is the Chairman of A. Smith & Co. and Chairman of Tinopolis USA. Best known for the multiple Emmy nominated American Ninja Warrior and FOX's longest-running competition show Hell's Kitchen, he was inducted into the Realscreen Hall of Fame in 2021, and was named Producer of the Year 2020 by Broadcasting & Cable. He previously worked for CBC Sports, Dick Clark Productions, MCA Television Group, and Fox Sports Net. He has won multiple NAACP awards for his series Unsung, Rose D'Or Awards for I Survived A Japanese Game Show, a Critics' Choice Real TV Award, a Realscreen Award and multiple Reality Television Awards. In addition, his shows have been nominated for Daytime Emmys, Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards, Producers' Guild Awards and People's Choice Awards.

Marusya Bociurkiw is a Canadian born, Ukrainian film-maker, writer, scholar, and activist. She has published six books, including a novel, poetry collection, short story collection, and a memoir. Her narrative and critical writing have been published in a variety of journals and collections. Bociurkiw has also directed and co-directed ten films and videos which have been screened at film festivals on several continents. Her work appears in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, the National Archives of Canada, and many university libraries. She founded or co-founded the media organizations Emma Productions, Winds of Change Productions, and The Studio for Media Activism & Critical Thought. She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada where she is an associate professor in the RTA School of Media Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University. She teaches courses on social justice media, activist media production, and gender/race/queer theories of time-based and digital media. She is also Director of The Studio for Media Activism & Critical Thought at Toronto Metropolitan University.

James Anthony Johnson, known professionally as J. J. Johnson, is a Canadian-born writer, director, executive producer, and founding member of Sinking Ship Entertainment. He is the creator of children's television programmes, including This is Daniel Cook, Dino Dana and Endlings. He also serves on the Youth Media Alliance board as a co-chair.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Charles Falzon appointed dean, Faculty of Communication & Design". Ryerson University. Ryerson University. May 18, 2015. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  2. ↑ Charles Falzon at IMDb
  3. 1 2 3 4 Brennan, Pat (February 27, 1989). "Film makers look at the total picture". The Toronto Star. Toronto.
  4. 1 2 3 "Filming Canadian soap a steamy affair". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. August 4, 1992.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Ledger, Brent (July 22, 2000). "The little train that made it: When Thomas the Tank Engine pulls into theatres next week, hopes for a huge merchandising machine will be riding with him". The National Post. Toronto.
  6. ↑ Goodway, Nick (December 18, 2001). "Sam joins Thomas the Tank Engine". The Evening Standard. London.
  7. ↑ Brennan, Steve (July 2, 2001). "Gullane quaffs Guinness book". Hollywood Reporter.
  8. 1 2 Vlessing, Etan (October 4, 2007). "Toronto's CCI partners with Dubai's Blink". Hollywood Reporter. Toronto.
  9. 1 2 Gough, Drew (February 20, 2014). "Media education enters a new arena". The Toronto Star. Toronto.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.