Leader and experienced in startups in media from concept, funding strategy to CRTC license application to original content programming, project development and corporate strategy/governance. Over 20 years in licensing, film, television and insurance. Executive Producer of award-winning broadcast drama and documentary projects.
Founder and President: Schafer/Thurling Productions Ltd dba The Red Car Producers 1990 to present.
We are an independent award-winning Toronto-based boutique film and TV Company specializing in creating programming that reflects social issues. Actra and Gemini Awards.
Producer: Eye of The Hurricane 2018 - a feature documentary on Rubin Hurricane Carter as the most celebrated wrongly convicted case in America. In progress.
Producer: This Can Happen To You (2009) The Red Car Producers and CBC. A TV half-hour pilot for a series on wrongly convicted.
Senior Vice-President Sales Motion Picture Bond 1998-2004
MPB - a global film and television company offering completion bonds (insurance for film and television) with offices in New York, Melbourne, Los Angeles, Toronto. During my term, we doubled business in two years.
Executive Producer/Producer - Citytv 1972-78
I directed and produced multiple programs for this startup - lifestyle, news, and public affairs. Citytv won acclaim from the first years as an original channel specializing in local news in Toronto. (Now owned by CTV).
First Choice - Pay TV 1980-1984
Original founder in winning the first national Pay TV license. We created the application and raised some $19 million in equity financing. We beat the largest field of applicants ever in front of the C.R.T.C – Canada’s regulatory commission for use of public airwaves.
We launched in 10 months - the only 24/7 national TV license in English and French. I was the Senior Vice-President of original programming. First Choice exists today as TMN – The Movie Network.
HOLLYWOOD
Production - Art Department -1996-1998
Tremors 2 with designer Ivo Cristante. The Horse Whisperer with Robert Redford and designer Jon Hutman. Halloween H2O starring Jamie Lee Curtis.
CONSULTANT:
Advised Western International Communications (WIC) Edmonton
Charles Allard’s company Allarcom. Now owner of Super Channel.
Cogeco – a digital cable company in Montreal -
Senator Jerry S. Grafstein – proposed a new TV Channel
Mentor to young emerging talent in Film and TV
EDUCATION
Graduate Honors BA, University of Toronto; philosophy, economics.
Dalhousie University, Halifax, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Producer: Canadian Film Centre with director Norman Jewison (1990) IATSE Scholarship.
GIVING BACK
Founder/Co-chair (since 2003) The Don Haig Foundation and The Don Haig Award. Raised money and created the scholarship with William Schultz, Michael Hirsh, Clive Smith and Patrick Loubert.
Every year we award scholarships of $10,000 to $20,000 a year for emerging independent filmmakers across Canada. In partnership with Hot Docs.
Co-founder: Women in Film, Toronto (WIFT-T) 1984.
Member - Women in Film, Los Angeles
Member - Democrats Abroad
