Insight Productions is a Canadian production company based in Toronto, Ontario. It was established in 1970.[1] Insight Productions is led by CEO John Brunton.[2]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media and entertainment |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founders | Pen Densham John Watson |
| Headquarters | 135 Liberty Street, , |
Key people | John Brunton (CEO) |
| Parent | Boat Rocker Media (majority owner) |
| Website | www |
History
Insight Productions was established in 1970 by Penray "Pen" Densham and John Kingsley Watson.[3]
In December 1978, John Brunton, assistant editor and director with Insight, bought the rights to the company from Densham and Watson, becoming president and CEO.[4]
Insight Productions has created programs in several genres (documentary, drama, sports, variety, comedy, music, reality), and has adapted to shifting tastes, technology and formats. Canadian Idol, an Insight-produced iteration of the successful international format, aired between 2004 and 2008 to record-breaking audiences.[5]
Insight Productions is also credited with revamping Canada's national music awards, The JUNO Awards. By moving the show from a theatre to an arena setting, Insight was ultimately able to take the show on the road to cities across the country.[6]
John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby were awarded the Order Of Canada in 2018.[7][8]
The company released the documentary film Life Times Nine in 1973 for which it was nominated for two Academy Awards.[1]
The company faces a class-action lawsuit over unpaid wages.[9]
Recent Productions
Recent productions include, Big Brother Canada, Amazing Race Canada, Canada's New Year's Eve: Countdown to 2021, Every Child Matters: Reconciliation Through Education, The JUNO Awards, Wall of Chefs, Battle of the Blades, Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind, The Launch, Canada's Walk Of Fame, Top Chef Canada, I Do, Redo, The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration, and Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble. On April 13, 2021, Amazon Prime Video announced Jay Baruchel will host a Canadian version of LOL: Last One Laughing to be produced by Insight Productions.[10]
Television
The company's television series projects include:
- Are You Smarter than a Canadian 5th Grader?
- A Russell Peters Christmas
- A Christmas Fury
- Amazing Race Canada
- The Artistry Of Torvill and Dean
- Battle of the Blades
- Big Brother Canada
- Canada Day 150
- Canada's Got Talent
- Canadian Idol
- Canada's Walk Of Fame
- Canada’s New Year’s Eve: Countdown to 2021[11]
- Canada’s New Year’s Eve: Countdown to 2022
- Deal or No Deal Canada
- Disney's Animal Kingdom: The First Adventure
- Eurovision Canada
- Every Child Matters: Reconciliation Through Education[12]
- Falcon Beach
- Hatching, Matching & Dispatching
- Heart Of Gold
- The Goods
- How To Look Good Naked Canada
- I Do, Redo
- Indigo
- It's Only Rock N' Roll
- Intervention Canada
- Jamie & David: A Golden Homecoming
- Jann Arden: Live At Last
- Joni Mitchell: Painting With Words And Music[13]
- The Jon Dore Television Show
- The JUNO Awards
- Kurt Browning: Ice Legends
- Kurt Browning: You Must Remember This
- Kurt Browning: Tall In The Saddle
- The Launch
- LOL: Last One Laughing Canada
- Much Music VJ Search: The Series
- Music Without Borders
- Never Ever Do This At Home
- One World: The Concert For Tsunami Relief
- Open Mike with Mike Bullard
- Project Runway Canada
- Ready or Not
- Test Pattern
- Top Chef Canada
- Saying Goodbye
- Scott Hamilton: Upside Down
- The Sean Cullen Show
- Sean Cullen Home For Christmas
- Sonic Temple
- Sponk!
- Star Racer
- Stars On Ice
- Stolen Hearts
- Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble
- The Truth About Alex
- Toller Cranston: A Tribute
- Wall of Chefs
- The Wave
Documentaries
The company's documentary projects include:
- How To Change The World
- Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind
- The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration
- Comedy Gold: The Hilarious Story of Canadian Comedy
Digital
The company's digital projects include:
- Joke or Choke
- But I'm Chris Jericho!
- Damaged
References
- ^ a b "Insight Productions | Media Commons". mediacommons.library.utoronto.ca. University of Toronto. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "John Brunton". Variety. September 11, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ "Insight Productions - Discover Archives". discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Insight Productions". Ontario Creates. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ ""Canadian Idol" | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "John Brunton". Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Barbara M. Bowlby". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Mr. John M. Brunton". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Ahearn, Victoria (February 24, 2020). "Insight Productions faces Ontario class action lawsuit over unpaid wages - CityNews Toronto". toronto.citynews.ca. Toronto, Ontario: Citytv. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ Canada, Amazon. "Amazon Prime Video Announces Jay Baruchel as Host of the Canadian Edition of the Global Amazon Original Hit Format Lol: Last One Laughing Canada". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ Canada's New Year's Eve: A Countdown to 2021, retrieved March 4, 2021
- ^ "Every Child Matters: Reconciliation through Education". Decoda Literacy Solutions. September 30, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ Tosoni, Joan, Joni Mitchell: Painting with Words and Music (Music), Brian Blade, Mark Isham, Greg Leisz, Joni Mitchell, retrieved March 5, 2021