Stephen Stohn

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Stephen Stohn

CM
Stephen Stohn 2022.jpg
Stohn in 2022
BornMay 8, 1948 (1948-05-08) (age 75)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Occupation(s) Television producer, entertainment lawyer
Spouse
​
(m. 1995)​
ChildrenMax Stohn

John Stephen Stohn, CM (born May 8, 1948) is an American-born Canadian entertainment lawyer and television producer. He is best known for his involvement with the Degrassi teen drama franchise, particularly as an executive producer on Degrassi: The Next Generation . [1] Until 2018 he was the president of Epitome Pictures Inc., which he and his wife Linda Schuyler founded in 1992 [2] and was sold to DHX Media in 2014. [3] On June 7, 2019, he was installed as Chancellor of Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. [4]

Contents

Career

Stohn's work in the entertainment industry commenced with part-time appearances as a performing artist, continuing with active work as a songwriter (including two songs that reached the Canadian Top-10, Maybe Your Heart and Once In A Long Time, [5] co-written with Christopher Ward), and a primary career as an entertainment and copyright lawyer since he was called to the Ontario Bar in 1979. [6]

Trent University had barely been built when Stohn attended there starting in 1966. He helped found, and named, Trent's student newspaper Arthur. [7]

Stohn also helped found the radio station at Trent, [7] now CFFF-FM, along with Peter Northrop and Christopher Ward. In the early 1990s, he helped found the Songwriters Association of Canada [8] along with Donna Murphy, Terry McManus and internationally acclaimed songwriter Eddie Schwartz. Stohn has executive-produced two feature films, Me? and The Clown Murders . [9] He was also executive producer of Riverdale, English Canada's first prime-time soap opera, and of the lifestyle TV series Savoir Faire (hosted by Nik Manojlovich) and Room Service (hosted by Sarah Richardson).

Book

A book of stories from Stohn's life was published by Dundurn Press in March 2018. Entitled Whatever It Takes: Life Lessons from Degrassi and Elsewhere in the World of Music and Television, the book has been written by Stohn with Christopher Ward, and includes a foreword by Martin Gero. [10]

Degrassi

In early 2000, Linda Schuyler and Yan Moore were developing a new teen TV series with the working title Ready, Willing and Wired, based on the already success. One day Yan came up with the brainstorm that baby Emma, who was born to the then 8th-grade student Spike Nelson in Degrassi Junior High , would be the right age now to be attending high school, and why not make her a main character in Ready, Willing and Wired thus turning the new series into a sequel to the original Degrassi. Inspired by his love for the original Star Trek sci-fi TV series, which had spun into Star Trek: The Next Generation , Stohn suggested Degrassi: The Next Generation as the title for the new sequel series. By autumn 2001 the title remained, and Degrassi: The Next Generation made its first appearance on air. [11]

Stohn co-wrote the opening theme music for Degrassi: The Next Generation with Jim McGrath and Jody Colero. [5] He is also the executive producer of Alexz Johnson's debut solo album Voodoo , and the executive producer of all the various Degrassi soundtracks and Instant Star soundtracks .

Other work

For nearly 20 years, until 2009, he was executive producer of the telecast of Canada's music awards show, The Juno Awards, and during that period was a director and then Chair of Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the organization responsible for The Juno Awards. [6] He was also Chair of MusiCounts , a charity associated with The Juno Awards, which among other things distributes musical instruments to schools in need. [6]

From 2004 to 2008 Stohn executive produced the teen drama television series Instant Star about a young woman (played by Alexz Johnson) who wins a singer/songwriter contest. [12] In 2011 and 2012 he executive produced the television series The L.A. Complex (formerly called Highland Gardens) for Bell Media in Canada and The CW in the U.S., about young Canadians dreaming of fame and fortune while struggling to survive in an apartment-style hotel in Los Angeles. [13] [14]

His recent projects have included the family mystery series Open Heart for YTV in Canada and TeenNick in the U.S. [15] and the latest incarnation of Degrassi, namely Degrassi: Next Class for Family Channel in Canada and Netflix worldwide. [16]

Stohn's industry experience includes being a partner for 10 years in Canada's largest law firm, McCarthy Tétrault. He graduated from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law (J.D. 1977) and Trent University (B.A. 1969). [6] He is a founding partner in the Canadian entertainment law firm Stohn Hay Cafazzo Dembroski Richmond LLP, where he provides strategic legal advice to performers, advertising agencies, merchandisers, recording artists, songwriters, multimedia/internet creators, broadcasters and film and television producers. [17] He and two other partners in the firm constitute three of the fourteen entertainment lawyers named in the 2014 Lexpert American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. [18]

Personal life

Stohn was born in Denver, Colorado. He is married to Degrassi creator Linda Schuyler; they have one son, Max.

Awards

Stohn was appointed to the Order of Canada in June 2023. [25]

Related Research Articles

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> 2001 Canadian teen drama television series

Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series created by Yan Moore and Linda Schuyler. It is the fourth series in the Degrassi franchise and a revival of Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High. It premiered on CTV on October 14, 2001, and concluded on August 2, 2015, on MTV Canada. The series centers around a new ensemble cast of students at the fictional Degrassi Community School who face challenges such as sex, teen pregnancy, bullying, date rape, drug abuse, body image, homosexuality, domestic violence, gang violence, self-injury, suicide, abortion, mental disorders and many other issues. Various characters from the previous two series also returned as adults in recurring or guest roles.

<i>Degrassi</i> Canadian teen drama franchise

Degrassi is a Canadian teen drama television franchise created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler. Spanning five main series from 1979 to 2017, it follows the lives of youths in Toronto. With the exception of the first series, the franchise takes place in the same fictional timeline, with the titular school as the central setting. Outside of television, the franchise comprises companion novels, graphic novels, documentaries, soundtracks, and non-fiction works.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Schuyler</span> English-born Canadian television producer

Linda Schuyler is a Canadian television producer. She is best known for being the co-creator and producer of the Degrassi franchise, which has spanned five series over four decades. She is a co-founder of Playing With Time, Inc., and Epitome Pictures, the production companies involved with the franchise over its 40-year-long history respectively.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of Degrassi: The Next Generation, a Canadian serial teen drama television series, commenced airing in Canada on 14 October 2001 and concluded on 3 March 2002, consisting of fifteen episodes. The series introduces a group of seventh and eighth grade school children, and follows their lives as they deal with some of the challenges and issues teenagers face such as online predators, body image, dysfunctional families, sex, puberty, rumours, peer pressure, stress, and drug use.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 2) Season of television series

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<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 4) Season of television series

The fourth season of Degrassi: The Next Generation commenced airing in Canada on 7 September 2004, concluded on 14 February 2005 and contains twenty-two episodes. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. This season depicts the lives of a group of high school sophomores and juniors as they deal with some of the challenges and issues teenagers face such as bullying, dysfunctional families, school shootings, mental disorders, STDs, disabilities, gambling, homosexuality, and inappropriate student-teacher relationships.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 5) Season of television series

The fifth season of Degrassi: The Next Generation commenced airing in Canada on 19 September 2005, concluded on 20 March 2006 and contains nineteen episodes. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. This season depicts the lives of a group of high school sophomores, juniors and seniors as they deal with some of the challenges and issues teenagers face such as body image, teenage pregnancy, drug dealing, coming out, sexual identity, religion, eating disorders and relationships.

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<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 7) Season of television series

The seventh season of Degrassi: The Next Generation commenced airing in Canada on 14 January 2008, concluded on 23 June 2008, and consists of twenty-four episodes. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. This season takes place during the winter/spring semester of the school year that began in season six and continues to depict the lives of a group of high school sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues young adults face, such as rape, school violence, cancer, drug use, prostitution, sexual misconduct, racism, sexism, parenthood, HIV and relationships.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 8) Season of television series

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The ninth season of Degrassi: The Next Generation premiered in Canada on October 4, 2009, concluded on July 16, 2010, and consists of twenty-three episodes. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. Although only one school year passed in the story timeline since season six, season nine is set in the spring semester in which the years it aired. Writers have been able to use a semi-floating timeline, so that the issues depicted are modern for their viewers. This season continues to depict the lives of a group of high school freshmen, juniors and seniors, and graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues that young adults face such as drug abuse, sexting, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual identity, homosexuality, crime, sex, and relationships.

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<i>Degrassi</i> (season 11) Season of television series

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<i>Degrassi</i> (season 12) Season of television series

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<i>Degrassi</i> (season 13) Season of television series

The thirteenth season of the Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi, formerly known as Degrassi: The Next Generation, premiered on July 11, 2013, concluded on July 29, 2014, in Canada and the United States, and consists of 40 episodes. Although only four school years have passed in the story timeline since season six, this season was split into 3 parts. The first part is set in the summer. The second part is set in the fall/winter semester. The third and final part is set during the first term of the Spring semester. Writers have been able to use a semi-floating timeline, so that the issues depicted are modern for their viewers. This season depicts the lives of a group of high school freshmen, sophomores, seniors and graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues that teenagers face such as cancer, texting while driving, death, sexism, sleep disorders, cyber bullying, domestic violence, rape, racial profiling and relationships.

Degrassi is an unproduced Canadian teen drama television series and the intended sixth overall series in the Degrassi franchise created by Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler. It was originally announced as a HBO Max original series in 2022. It is intended to be the sixth main series and second soft reboot since the Netflix production, Degrassi: Next Class, which ended in 2017. It is also the first series in the franchise not to be helmed by Schuyler, who has stated she has been hired as a consultant.

References

  1. ↑ "How 'Degrassi' Became The Most Digitally Savvy Show On (and Off) TV". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  2. ↑ "Growing up Degrassi" . Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  3. ↑ "DHX Media buys Degrassi TV studio". The Globe and Mail. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  4. ↑ "Stephen Stohn installed as new chancellor of Trent University in Peterborough". thepeterboroughexaminer.com. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  5. 1 2 "ACE Title Search". ASCAP. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Stephen Stohn, Stohn Hay Cafazzo Dembroski Richmond LLP | Lexpert ALM 500". Lexpert.ca. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  7. 1 2 "Founder of Trent University Radio Inducted to Canadian Hall of Fame". Trent University News & Events. 12 October 2010. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  8. ↑ "S.A.C History". Songwriters.ca. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  9. ↑ "Stephen Stohn". IMDb. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  10. ↑ Stohn, Stephen (27 March 2018). Whatever It Takes. ISBN   978-1459739987.
  11. ↑ "Degrassi Online". Degrassithenextgeneration.degrassi.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  12. ↑ "Stephen Stohn". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  13. ↑ Kelly, Brendan (2010-12-09). "'Degrassi' producers cultivate 'Gardens' - Entertainment News, TV News, Media". Variety. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  14. ↑ "Bell Media Site - MuchMusic". Bellmediapr.ca. 2011-12-08. Archived from the original on 2012-01-07. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  15. ↑ "Kidscreen Site". kidscreen.com. 2014-08-06. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  16. ↑ "'Degrassi' Next Season coming to Netfli". variety.com. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  17. ↑ Dan Admin (2007-11-18). "Stohn Hay Cafazzo Dembroski Richmond People". Stohnhay.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-17. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  18. ↑ "Lexpert速 ALM 500 - Ranking". Lexpert.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  19. ↑ "Awards Database". academy.ca. Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Archived from the original on 2016-01-29. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  20. ↑ "Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for 2011 - Outstanding Children's Program". Emmys.com. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  21. ↑ "Degrassi: My Body Is A Cage (TeenNick)". Peabody Awards. George Foster Peabody Awards. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  22. ↑ "Awards and Nominations". emmys.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  23. ↑ "2011 Inductees to Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame Announced: | 2013 Canadian Music Week • March 20-24, 2013". Cmw.net. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  24. ↑ "Five Distinguished Canadians To Receive Honorary Degrees". trent.ca. Trent University. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  25. ↑ "Order of Canada appointees – June 2023". The Governor General of Canada. June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
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