MAY.19.2020 // WEBBY AWARDS
SHOPIFY STUDIOS WITH THREE WEBBY AWARD HONORS
MAR.06.2019 // GLOSSY
SHOPIFY CONTINUES TO COURT THE BEAUTY SET WITH NEW SERIES ‘BEAUTY MARK’
Created by the recently formed Shopify Studios, a full-service film and television production house that follows a Netflix-like model of cultivating content in house, “Beauty Mark” debuts exclusively on YouTube on Wednesday. Shopify has 132,000 subscribers on YouTube, and some videos, like a short clip featuring watch brand MVMT’s origin story has over 1.4 million views and counting.
https://www.glossy.co/beauty/shopify-continues-to-court-the-beauty-set-with-new-series-beauty-mark
MAR.06.2019 // REALSCREEN
SHOPIFY STUDIOS READIES ‘UNPACKING BUSINESS’, ‘BEAUTY MARK’
In Unpacking Business with Shay Mitchell (pictured), the one-off short features Pretty Little Liars actor and entrepreneur Shay Mitchell as she meets with the women leading three different local ventures in Los Angeles. Mitchell interviews each owner at her place of work where the actor learns about their profession, their journey to build their brands and the challenges they’ve encountered.
Jason Badal and Jason Ford serve as executive producers, with Tammi Downey serving as senior supervising producer on the program.
http://realscreen.com/2019/03/06/shopify-studios-readies-unpacking-business-beauty-mark/
JAN.23.2019 // FAST COMPANY
SHOPIFY OPENS IT’S OWN STUDIO TO CREATE INSPIRATIONAL CONTENT FOR WANNABE ENTREPRENEURS
The new division launches with deals in place with Anonymous Content (True Detective, Mr. Robot, Spotlight, The Revenant, Outlaw King), Spoke Studios (Pawn Stars, Real Housewives, Queer Eye), and Saville Productions (Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World) to develop entrepreneur-focused, feature-length documentaries and docu-series.
JAN.23.2019 // HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
COMMERCE PLATFORM SHOPIFY LAUNCHES FILM AND TV STUDIO
Popular commerce platform Shopify is taking advantage of its growing reach, venturing into content with a full-service film and TV production house — Shopify Studios. The venture will leverage strategic partnerships with internationally known creators and production partners to develop, produce and finance projects for streaming platforms and traditional networks — setting its first deals with Anonymous Content, Wheelhouse Entertainment's Spoke Studios and Saville Productions.
MAR.08.2017 // MEDIA IN CANADA
MUCH DIGITAL STUDIOS LAUNCHES FIRST ORIGINAL SERIES
Bell Media-owned MCN Much Digital Studios will debut its first-ever original series Dan For a Week this spring. The series, which features Much creator Dan James (known to fans as TheDanocracy) attempting to live a normal life while adapting to bizarre limitations and extreme situations...Production for the series is currently underway in Toronto. Much’s Jason Ford will serve as executive producer with Ryan Kalinka working as a producer.
http://mediaincanada.com/2017/03/08/much-digital-studios-launches-first-original-series/
DEC.20.2016 // EXCLAIM!
HERE ARE THE 16 BEST NEW TV SHOWS OF 2016
Thanks to McCrank's empathetic hosting skills and the show's solid production value, Abandoned is a sobering look at the wreckage left behind from boom-and-bust capitalism. And while it's ostensibly a show about abandoned spaces, it's really a show about people — the people who wants lived in those spaces, and the people who are now reclaiming them to revitalize their communities. The resilience of the human spirit is on display in full here.
http://exclaim.ca/film/article/here_are_the_16_best_new_tv_shows_of_2016-2016_in_lists/page/2
SEP.01.2016 // THRASHER MAGAZINE
RICK McCRANK'S "ABANDONED" EPISODE ONE AND INTERVIEW
"We went to these places and met people that were affected by the loss of these places and we gave them the opportunity to talk abut how they felt. I hope it’s clear that we’re the opposite of that. We took a lot of care to treat these places with respect, the respect they deserve. We didn’t act like tourists. These episodes are their stories, not mine."
http://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/rick-mccrank-s-abandoned-interview/
MAY.13.2016 // VARIETY
VICELAND RENEWS FIVE SHOWS, INCLUDING ELLEN PAGE'S 'GAYCATION', PICKS UP FIVE MORE
New shows debuting this year include three with summer premiere dates yet to be announced: "Abandoned", in which pro skater Rick McCrank explores abandoned landmarks and architectural remains around North America with the people who once held these places dear...
http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/viceland-renews-gaycation-noisey-orders-black-market-abandoned-cyber-war-1201773845/
MAY.13.2016 // THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
VICELAND RENEWS FIVE NEW SHOWS
The network is also announcing five new programs that will premiere this summer. They include Abandoned, in which pro skater Rick McCrank explores old landmarks and architectural remains...
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/viceland-renews-five-shows-including-891396
APRIL.14.2016 // MEDIA IN CANADA
BELL MEDIA HIRES JASON FORD
The former VICE exec is heading a new team that will create digital video and branded content for the broadcasters properties.
http://mediaincanada.com/2016/04/14/bell-media-hires-jason-ford/
FEB.12.2016 // MACLEAN'S MAGAZINE (CANADA)
SPIKE JONZE ON THE AMBITIONS OF VICELAND
One of the shows on VICELAND, Abandoned, is done by "a friend of mine, Rick McCrank, who's a pro skater. We made skate videos together for a long time, and he skated for our skateboard company." Producing is a way of spending time with people he likes: "a lot of things come out of people I want to hang out with and make things with."
http://www.macleans.ca/culture/television/spike-jonze-on-viceland-tv-tech-and-working-with-friends/
MARCH.23.2015 // PLAYBACK MAGAZINE (CANADA)
VICE CANADA UNVEILS SENIOR PRODUCTION HIRES
Ford joins VICE Canada as VP Production from his post as Executive Producer Moving Pictures at Red Bull Media House...
http://playbackonline.ca/2015/03/23/vice-canada-unveils-senior-production-team/
JULY.18.2013 // PLAYBACK MAGAZINE (CANADA)
MTV CANADA BUYS PRO SNOWBOARDING REALITY TV SERIES
http://playbackonline.ca/2013/07/18/mtv-canada-buys-pro-snowboarding-reality-tv-series/