Advisory Committee

Along with the rest of the Meridian Artists team, Glenn currently represents a select roster of some of Canada’s most talented writers, directors and producers.

Glenn’s career started in 1996 when he began working as script reader for New Line Cinema and Innovative Artists Agency. From 1997 through 1999, Glenn worked as a Creative Executive at Templeton Production’s first look deal with New Line Cinema. In 1999, Glenn returned to Toronto and joined The Characters Talent Agency where he ran the Packaging Department.

Glenn also acted as Executive Producer on the feature film, YOUNG PEOPLE FUCKING, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2007 and became one of the most successful and highest grossing Canadian comedies of all time.

Glenn’s other professional activities include teaching the course, The Business of Film and Television, at Sheridan College as well as being a board member for the Humber Comedy program.

Glenn has a B.F.A. Honours in Film and Television Production, from York University and a M.B.A. from the Ivey School of Business.

Glenn is also the founder of the Toronto Screenwriting Conference.

Alejandro Alcoba has been called many things, but for some reason “Handsome Alejandro” hasn’t stuck.  Alejandro is a CSA-winning writer and supervising producer on DEGRASSI: NEXT CLASS.  He has written on THE NEXT STEP, THE CARMILLA MOVIE, and upcoming series ANOTHER LIFE and ENDLINGS.  He’s also on the Advisory Committee for the Toronto Screenwriting Conference, a mentor for the Magee TV Diverse Screenwriters Mentorship Award, and on the WGC’s Diversity Committee.  He drinks a lot of coffee… maybe too much?

Larry Bambrick has worked in the television industry for more than 20 years. He began his career at the CBC as a news writer and field producer for shows including Sunday Report and The National. Moving to the Discovery Channel he helped create and run the channel’s flagship science news show (Daily Planet) which was on the air for an incredible 23 years. While at the Discovery Channel he also wrote / produced / directed documentaries on sharks, bears, elephants and any other animal he could get close to.  

At Cineflix, he was the series producer and then executive producer (and writer of as many episodes as he could fit in) of MAYDAY – a docu-drama series about plane crash investigation that still airs on Discovery Channel and National Geographic.

But writing was always his passion. Nine years ago he left the factual world to join the Canadian series FLASHPOINT as a writer, and he’s been focused on drama ever since. After FLASHPOINT ended he’s worked on ARCTIC AIR, PLAYED, BITTEN, SHOOT THE MESSENGER, and is now a writer and co-executive producer on CARTER.

He lives in Toronto with his wife, two daughters and his chocolate labrador, Finn.

Amy Cameron is an award-winning journalist, author, TV series creator, broadcast executive and executive producer. She is the co-founder of Cameron Pictures Inc., an independent production company she runs with her sister Tassie Cameron.

She is an executive producer on Cameron Pictures’ first two productions, the six-part dramatic series Mary Kills People for Global (Canada) and Lifetime (US), and the new CBC comedy Little Dog. Mary Kills People has been greenlit for a third season, and Little Dog goes into production on its second season in July 2018.

Prior to creating her own company, Cameron was the Executive in Charge of Production at CBC TV Drama for the critically acclaimed The Book of Negroes (which won nine Canadian Screen Awards and an NAACP award in 2016.) She also oversaw the ratings giant and award-winning series Heartland and shepherded the eight-part limited series Shoot The Messenger through development and production.

In addition to her previous work as a comedy production executive at CBC (Little Mosque on the Prairie, InSecurity, Gavin Crawford’s Wild Wild West), Cameron worked as the Head of Development at Vérité Films and was also the co-creator and writer on CBC’s Wild Roses. Cameron is an award-winning journalist (Maclean’s, Owl Magazine, The New Brunswick Telegraph Journal) and author of Playing with Matches: Misadventures in Dating (2005).

A graduate of the Canadian Film Centre, Cameron also has a BFA from Concordia University and a diploma from a very fancy fashion design school in Paris, France.

A graduate of the CFC’s Television Program, Ian was the first winner of the Global Television Emerging Writer Award. TV writing credits include: Executive Producer, Showrunner of season three of Netflix’s SLASHER, CBC’s FRANKIE DRAKE (Consulting Producer), two seasons of BEING ERICA as Co-Producer,11 CAMERAS, WILD ROSES and development on GIRL IN THE BOYS ROOM, THE MEN, the series finale of APTN’s BLACKSTONE; CTV’s PLAYED (Co-producer); THE LA COMPLEX, Global’s THE BEST YEARS, History’s OUTLAW BIKERS, TMN/Showcase’s REGENESIS. Feature writing credits: BRACE FOR IMPACT and SOMETIMES THE GOOD KILL for Incendo (TMN/HBO), ASSASSYIUN for Babak Payami, Mark Amin (FRIDA) and Francesco Melzi D’Eril (HOTEL RWANDA).

Before working in TV Ian founded Theatre Viscera and wrote and directed theatre for ten years. His work has toured to Singapore and Spain, three of his plays have been in year-end top ten lists and in 1997 he was chosen as one of NOW’s top ten theatre artists of the year. Ian completed a Ph.D. in Film at the University of Toronto. After graduation he left to run the development arm of a large charity in the slums in Bangkok. He volunteers teaching streetkids writing at the Yonge Street Mission and at the POV program for disadvantaged youths and mentors for the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture. His postcard play for the art zine Abe’s Penny is now part of the permanent collections of both the Museum of Modern Art and the Brooklyn Museum.

Michael Coutanche’s area of teaching and research expertise is in writing for Television, Film, Radio and emerging digital platforms. Michael is long-time supporter of screenwriting talent in Canada and many of his former students have written and produced for shows such as THE OFFICE, COMMUNITY, DEGRASSI, ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, ORPHAN BLACK and LOST GIRL. 

Michael is the lead author of The Report on Canadian Screenwriters, a project that communicates the results of a study of the Writers’ Guild of Canada membership and reveals the socio-economic conditions of the screenwriting occupation in Canada.

Prior to joining Ryerson, developed film and television projects at the CBC including COWBOYS AND INDIANS: THE J.J. HARPER STORY, FLOWER & GARNET, and HEMMINGWAY VS. CALLAGHAN. Michael began his career at Alliance Communications Corporation.

Michael is currently developing an inter-disciplinary graduate program in Dramatic Writing to be launched in the fall of 2019.

Jeff Detsky is a television writer/producer. His work has been broadcast on channels and platforms as varied as the Comedy Network, HBO Canada, CTV, City, CW, DirecTV, PBS, TVO, YTV, Teletoon, Netflix, and Comedy Central (Latinoamerica). He got his start as a Writer’s Assistant on the Dreamworks animated feature OVER THE HEDGE, and has written for award-winning series CALL ME FITZ, SEED, and ODD SQUAD, among others. He currently serves as head writer and showrunner on THE BEAVERTON for Bell Media and Pier 21. The hit satirical news series’ first two seasons have received 9 CSA nominations, zero wins, and countless attacks from Russian twitter-bots. Jeff is a graduate of Ryerson University and the Canadian Film Centre. But don’t hold that against him.

Marsha Greene has written for Global’s hit series PRIVATE EYES, ABC’s TEN DAYS IN THE VALLEY, and the critically acclaimed drama MARY KILLS PEOPLE, for which she earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination. Marsha is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre Prime Time Television program, holds an Honours BA in Creative Writing from York University, and has a graduate certificate from Humber College’s TV Writing and Producing program, where she was awarded the Brian Linehan Award for Outstanding Artistic Promise.

Steven Hoban is founder of the Toronto-based film and television production company Copperheart Entertainment.  He has produced numerous feature films, the Academy Award-winning animated short, RYAN, and the world’s first Imax 3D animated movie CYBERWORLD.

Some of Steve's past feature films include: WOLVES, starring Jason Momoa and Lucas Till, HAUNTER starring Abigail Breslin, SPLICE starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley, both directed by Vincenzo Natali, comedy YOUNG PEOPLE FUCKING, the Dimension Films remake of  BLACK CHRISTMAS and the cult success GINGER SNAPS trilogy.

Upcoming Copperheart films include the adaptation of the Stephen King/Joe Hill novella, IN THE TALL GRASS, to be directed to by Vincenzo, and the animated family feature comedy, NIGHT OF THE ZOOMBIES, based on a story by Clive Barker.

In television, along with Vincenzo, Steve created the limited anthology series, DARKNET, that launched on Netflix fall 2014.  Shows Steve is currently in development on include: the 1950s Hollywood set drama, SHAKEDOWN, with writer James Ellroy and David Fincher; the series adaptation of William Gibson's latest science fiction novel, The Peripheral, in partnership with Jonathan Nolan, Lisa Joy and Warner Bros.; and a series with the CBC based on Isaac Asimov's classic Tales of the Black Widowers mystery stories.

Gosia Kamela is Production Executive, Drama & Feature Film for Bell Media’s Original Programming team. In this capacity, she is on the team that oversees the development and production of original drama series across Bell Media’s family of channels, including: CTV, Space, Bravo, and TMN/HBO Canada. She is also on the team that that oversee the Canadian feature film pre-licensing for The Movie Network. Currently, the Executive on the critically acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK for Space and CTV’s new limited series THE DISAPPEARANCE. Previously, she was the Executive on DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION for MTV Canada, Bravo’s 19-2, and CTV’s FLASHPOINT. Prior to joining Bell Media, Gosia was a Producer at True West Films (IT’S ALL GONE PETE TONG, EVERYTHING’S GONE GREEN). She also sits on juries for BravoFACT, BravoFACTUAL and The Women in View initiative Five in Focus.

As Manager, Creative Affairs for Entertainment One Television, Andrew develops scripted, prime-time content for the Canadian and international marketplace. He has worked on both dramatic and comedic series, a number of which have been set-up and developed in partnership with ABC, CBC, CTV, CityTV, Global, Space, Starz, SyFy, TMN, and Movie Central. Andrew was also heavily involved in the current production of Space’s original hit series BITTEN. While building and developing an ever-evolving slate of over a dozen projects across various genres, Andrew continually scouts for new intellectual property from a wide array of sources – including published novels, unpublished manuscripts, articles, web-series, graphic novels, and features. He was instrumental in optioning and developing CAUGHT by Lisa Moore, for which eOne partnered with Take the Shot Productions and secured a production order from CBC. Andrew helps oversee the eOne / CFC Adaptation Lab – shepherding creators’ efforts to adapt their properties from other mediums to the screen. Andrew has also participated in panels and juries including All Access Manitoba, the Canadian Film Centre, Humber College, and Ryerson School of Radio and Television Arts. As part of eOne’s Creative Affairs team, Andrew helps cultivate, engage, and collaborate with both emerging and established Canadian screenwriting talent to deliver undeniable programming to platforms and audiences worldwide.

As Vice President, Development and Production for First Generation Films’ television division, Mackenzie spearheads the acquisition, development, and production of new scripted series.

Previously serving as Director, Creative Affairs for leading global studio Entertainment One Television, Mackenzie has worked on numerous scripted half hours, one hours, and mini-series both within Canada and abroad. Most recently, she spearheaded development of CBC’s legal series BURDEN OF TRUTH starring Kristin Kreuk (SMALLVILLE) which has just been ordered for a second season, and CAUGHT for CBC, based on Lisa Moore’s critically-acclaimed novel, and adapted by and starring Allan Hawco (REPUBLIC OF DOYLE, FRONTIER).  She also collaborated in the acquisition, development, and production of the smash hit procedural PRIVATE EYES for Global Television starring Jason Priestley (CALL ME FITZ) and Global Television/Lifetime’s MARY KILLS PEOPLE created by Tara Armstrong and starring Caroline Dhavernas (HANNIBAL). She has served as Associate Producer on the CBC MOW, WISHING WELL from writer Sean Reycraft (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), and was involved in the development and production of several eOne series including BITTEN (Space/Syfy), MEN WITH BROOMS (CBC), and award-winning comedies CALL ME FITZ (TMN/Movie Central/Direct TV), and ALMOST HEROES (Showcase/Hulu).

In addition, Mackenzie has served on advisory committees, panels and juries across Canada including the imagineNATIVE Film & Media Festival, All Access Manitoba, the Vancouver International Film Festival Gatekeeper’s Panel, as well as the CSAs, the CFC, and many more.

Born and raised in suburbia Toronto, Ilana toiled between her love of theatre and her passion for film before deciding that it was the film and television industry that was her calling – who could resist 14 hr days. After seven years on the front lines in the unpredictable world of production, Ilana was happy to settle in to the comfort and success of the Jennifer Hollyer Agency first as an assistant, working her way up to Agent. As a literary agent, Ilana represents some of Canada’s top screenwriters and producers helping them turn their ideas into television series and feature films or placing them on staff in a writing room, among many other gratifying roles.

Al Magee is a producer, showrunner, writer and mentor with over thirty years of experience in all genres. With over 50 feature film credits, Magee grew up as a writer and story editor on independent Canadian feature film breakouts like ROADKILL and HIGHWAY 61, RUDE, CUBE and ECLIPSE. He has worked with many of Canada’s most influential filmmakers including Bruce McDonald, Clement Virgo, Deepa Mehta, Vincenzo Natalie and Jeremy Podeswa. As a television producer, creative consultant and showrunner he has over two thousand episodes of scripted, unscripted and documentary content on series like TRAILER PARK BOYS, SLINGS AND ARROWS, RENT-A-GOALIE, KINK, DESIGNER GUYS, INCOME PROPERTY, and INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM. As a showrunner he has won a CSA and been nominated for an Emmy. Digital Productions include the comedy cult hit THE WHOLE TRUTHS, The Webby winning narrative ANDY AND THE UPSIDE, and the award winning I KILL MONSTERS and NIGHT CHEF.

Honored numerous times for mentoring emerging talent, he has designed and delivered hundreds of writing and production workshops. He has won the Alex Barris Mentorship Award from the WGC, and the Banff World TV Festival’s Award for Innovative Producer of the Year, and founded the Magee TV Diverse Screenwriters Award. He is very proud of his 4.82 passenger rating on Uber.

Armed with semi-useful degrees in Anatomy and Education, Andrew Rosen did the smart thing and went into the film business. Starting in 1995 as director’s assistant on BRAIN CANDY, Andrew has since worked in many production roles, including four years as a feature film production executive at Alliance. He then produced award-winning short films, and graduated from the Canadian Film Centre’s Producer’s Lab. In 2005, Andrew co-founded Aircraft Pictures, producing film and television projects including the hit horror-comedy series TODD & THE BOOK OF PURE EVIL, tween series WHAT’S UP WARTHOGS, the web-feature CYBERGEDDON, a web series for Microsoft Xbox and short films for SESAME STREET.

Karen Tsang is Executive in Charge of Production, Comedy for CBC Scripted Content, overseeing the creative development and production of original half-hour television series, such as BARONESS VON SKETCH SHOW, MR. D, THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, as well as digital series, including MY 90-YEAR-OLD ROOMMATE, and HOW TO BUY A BABY.

In her previous role as Manager of Development, Comedy and Drama, Karen sought projects for CBC’s slate of programming with an eye to developing new voices and working with emerging filmmakers as the programmer of Canadian Reflections, Canada’s longest-running short film showcase. She started her career as a TV Packaging Assistant at Creative Artists Agency.

Twitter: @karenteezang