BookShorts & CHUM Television’s Access Media Group
Announce New Television Series

Pilot Episode Advance Screening
PLUS Premiere of BookShorts New 2006 Productions

BookShorts Lounge at BookExpo Canada

June 12, 2006 … In a trend tied to the appetite for dynamic book-oriented content on screens from TV to mobile, BookShorts is pleased to announce BookShorts MOVING STORIES, an eight-episode half-hour series produced by BookShorts, directed by award-winner Bert Kish, for national broadcast in prime time on ACCESS The Education Station, CLT (Canadian Learning Television) and BookTelevision. The series is an outgrowth of BookShorts successful formula in marrying short films based on books with the dynamic process of filmmaking. Each episode is broadcast in conjunction with the book’s release date.

“We have to reach readers and short film fans where they are, on their terms, in ways that will pique their interest in literacy,” states Judith Keenan, Founder of BookShorts and Executive Producer of BookShorts MOVING STORIES, MOVING STORIES provides a unique lens through which to view books, by adapting the work of contemporary authors into provocative short films, and catalyzing viewers to contribute their own video interpretations. The pilot episode was given an advance screening in Toronto at BookExpo Canada, after a successful preview at BookExpo America in Washington DC in May, where twenty-five thousand authors, publishers, agents and booksellers saw the line-up of short films.

MOVING STORIES will be broadcast during the Fall 2006 season on multiple channels. Director of Programming Jill Bonenfant has licensed the series for CHUM Television’s Access Media Group. Rogers Television will broadcast second window, with provision for additional regional and educational broadcasters nationally such as partner Movieola-The Short Film Channel.

BookShorts are high-quality three-minute films are adapted from new release titles, produced with behind-the-scenes features, and offering multi-platform broadcast options - specialty and cable television, on the Internet, in retail kiosks, at literary festivals and readings and new for 2006 – on mobile wireless networks.

The concept for MOVING STORIES comes from BookShorts’ success with ICE: BEAUTY DANGER HISTORY. This animated short based on the book of the same name, authored by Pauline Couture integrated viewer-submitted content into the film. MOVING STORIES takes that experience further. Each episode shadows two teams of professional filmmakers during production then screens the finished short film they’ve created. The books and films are come together when the episode is broadcast in conjunction with the book’s release date.

MOVING STORIES is a tip of the hat to technologies that are available, affordable, and driving the new reality where viewers are also creators. It is an excellent way to foster literacy in all its forms - visual and print– and will encourage viewers to read the books.

BookShorts will be working in conjunction with all our publishers to synergize the exposure of their new titles using the series as a channel to the screen-addicted consumer. Publishers participating with new release titles in the fall 2006 program include: PENGUIN GROUP (CANADA); THE SECRET MOUNTAIN; ECW PRESS; MCCLELLAND & STEWART; EDGE SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY PUBLISHERS; WHITE KNIGHT BOOKS; RANDOM HOUSE CANADA; and THOMAS ALLEN PUBLISHERS.

BookShorts Literacy Program, BookShorts Inc., and MOVING STORIES are produced with the support of Canadian Heritage Book Publishing Industry Development Program, Newfoundland & Labrador Film Development Corp., CHUM Access Media Group, Rogers Television, Movieola-The Short Film Channel, and the roster of filmmakers, authors, and publishing partners

BookShorts is an innovative and exciting new way to bring books to the attention of new readers. The high-quality three-minute films are adapted from new release titles, produced with behind-the-scenes features, and offer multi-platform broadcast options.

BookShorts are distributed on specialty and cable television, on the Internet, in retail kiosks, at literary festivals and readings, as electronic press kits, and in 2006 – on mobile wireless networks.

Special Announcements and Screening

Judith Keenan, Executive Producer of BookShorts, is delighted to announce the renewed commitment of Random House Canada, McArthur & Company, and Thomas Allen Publishers, and new partnerships with Penguin Canada, ECW Press, McClelland & Stewart, White Knight Publishers, EDGE Science Fiction & Fantasy Publishers, and The Secret Mountain in 2006.

Exciting new broadcast partners and program developments will be announced at our special screening of the 2006 line-up on Monday June 12, 2006. Space is limited, please rsvp to Debby De Groot debby@bookshorts.com.

Contact
Debby de Groot
ddg Publicity & Marketing
Direct: (647) 295-2970
debby@bookshorts.com

BookShorts Literacy Program is supported by Canadian Heritage Book Publishing Industry Development Fund; Movieola-The Short Film Channel; BookExpo America and BookExpo Canada.

www.BookShorts.com

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BOOKSHORTS CATALOGUE of ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS

What Casanova Told Me
By: Susan Swan
Pub: Random House Canada, Bloomsbury US, Losada Spain + France, Russia, Serbia, UK.
Genre: Historical Fiction / Period Drama
Dir: Ed Gass-Donnelly & Marco Pecota
Writers: Judith Thompson & Rod Gudino
Adapted: Paul Quarrington & Bert Kish
Release: Jun 2005 Bravo!FACT, OMDC

JPod
By: Douglas Coupland
Pub: Random House Canada; Bloomsbury US; Bloomsbury UK Genre: Fiction / Comedy
Dir: Lisa Mann & Curtis Wehrfritz
Writer: Bruce Pirrie
Release: May 2006

i-ROBOT Poetry
By: by Jason Christie
Pub: EDGE Science Fiction & Fantasy Publishing.
Genre: Prose Poems / Animation
Dir: Lisa Mann & Curtis Wehrfritz
Writer: Link York
Release: Aug 2006

The Fighter
By: Craig Davidson
Pub: Penguin Canada, Norton US
Genre: Fiction / Drama
Dir: Mark Hesselink
Writer: Mona Zaidi
Release: Sep 2006

No Limit Texas Hold'Em: A Complete Course
By: Angel Largay
Pub: ECW Press
Genre: Poker Non-Fiction / Comedy
Dir: Bert Kish
Writer: Paul Quarrington
Release: Sep 2006

Archetypes
By: Mireille Silcoff
Illustrator: Kagan McLeod
Pub: McClelland and Stewart
Genre: Humour / Animated Comedy
Dir / Writer: Irene Duma
Release: Oct 2006

This Hour Has Seven Decades
By: Patrick Watson
Pub: McArthur & Company
Genre: Memoir / Mockumentary
Dir / Writer: Irene Duma
Release: Jun 2005 Worldwide Short Film Festival.

ICE Beauty Danger History
By: Pauline Couture
Pub: McArthur & Company
Genre: Cultural Science / Animated Doc
Dir: Daniel Borins
Animation: Oli Goldsmith
Release: Mar 2005 CBC ZeD TV

Confessions of a Pilgrim by Sue Kenney
Pub: White Knight
Genre: Inspirational Non-Fiction / Doc
Dir: by Bert Kish
Writers: Bruce Pirrie & Sue Kenney
Release: Nov 2006

My Heart is Africa by Scott Griffin
Pub: Thomas Allen Publishing
Genre: Travel Adventure / EPK
Trailer Dir: Craig Goodwill
Writer: Paul Quarrington
Release: Mar 2006

A Quiet Courage by Paula Todd
Pub: Thomas Allen Publishing
Genre: Inspirational Non-Fiction / Doc
Dir: Francine Zuckerman
Release: Jun 2005 TVOntario

COLLECTIONS DISTRIBUTED BY BOOKSHORTS

The Secret Mountain
Children's Storybooks, Audio CDs and DVD Music Videos Groundbreaking and award-winning children's songs and literature - multi-media storybooks and audio CDs.

BOOK EXPO FEATURED PROFILES: The Fabulous Song; Dream Songs Night Songs; Lullaby Berceuse; A Treasure in My Garden with gorgeous animated music videos, plus A Duck in New York City, A Poodle in Paris by Juno award-winning Connie Kaldor all now available in Canada (English and French) and in the US. A Treasure in my Garden American release 2007.

The Giller Profiles
Originally produced for broadcast in the context of the prestigious annual Scotiabank Giller Prize live awards show, the collection of more than 50 profiles, each 3 minutes in duration, includes readings with dramatic adaptations with high profile authors such as Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Austin Clarke, Ann-Marie MacDonald.

BOOK EXPO FEATURED PROFILES: Mordecai Richler, Paul Quarrington, Carol Shields.