Production Underway on New CBC Gem Original Youth Family Drama Near or Far; Streaming Spring 2024
TORONTO (October 19, 2023) - Harlow Creative, Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, and CBC announced today that production is currently underway in Toronto and Montreal on the new CBC Gem youth family drama Near or Far (8x12). Based on the original story by Wattpad author Emma Szalai (“Until I Met You,” “Maybe Perfect”), written and created by Duana Taha (SurrealEstate, Degrassi), and directed by Vanessa Magic (True Dating Stories, The Future Above Us) and Duana Taha, the original series will continue production until early November and is slated to launch Spring 2024 on CBC Gem.
L to R: Fanar Zak as Lauren and Chloe Avakian as Sadie in Near or Far. Photo credit: Jeff Chiu/CBC Gem.
Sisters Lauren (Fanar Zak, Rabbit Hole) and Sadie (Chloe Avakian, Locke & Key) Mostafa are closer than most siblings. Not only because they’re twins, but also because they belong to one of the only immigrant families in their bucolic lakefront Ontario town, necessitating a hive mind for code-switching, managing their high-strung parents, and keeping a lid on the details of their teenage lives. But for the first time in 18 years, the twins are going their separate ways, though vow to remain as close as ever as they venture down opposite paths. However, their time apart begins to reveal cracks in their family tree and realizations that their memories of shared moments bear no resemblance to one another, igniting a match that sees the twins keeping secrets, hiding truths, and careening towards an irreparable betrayal.
“As the daughter of Egyptian and Irish immigrants to Canada, I was keenly aware that my family’s dynamics were heightened by my parents’ isolation in a completely new culture. The only person who truly spoke the ‘mother tongue’ I was raised with was my younger sister, and at our best, we have an almost-psychic connection,” said Duana Taha, Series Creator. “But members of an immigrant family often only have each other so the ties that bind can be uncomfortably tight. The lengths Sadie and Lauren go to to detangle themselves from both each other and from their family’s narrative reflect how hard it can be to find your true self when your world has become, accidentally, stiflingly confining.”
“Harlow is thrilled to be working with our partners at Wattpad WEBTOON Studios and CBC to bring this groundbreaking, timely, and innovative story to a wider audience,” said Caitlin Brown, Executive Producer, Harlow Creative. “It has been a transformative creative process to work alongside Duana Taha and Vanessa Magic as their masterful storytelling and inspired vision bring Emma Szalai’s captivating story to life. We are especially thankful to the Bell Fund, Shaw Rocket Fund, and Canada Media Fund for their guidance and support.”
“With a fascinating story, settings, and characters, Emma Szalai’s Near or Far is the perfect foundation for a series adaptation,” said Sera Tabb, Head of Global Television at Wattpad WEBTOON Studios. “We’re thrilled to work with CBC and Harlow Creative to build out the next chapter in a larger story that reflects a complex and emotional milieu that we know will resonate with so many viewers.”
“We are so pleased to work with Duana Taha and the talented teams at Wattpad WEBTOON Studios and Harlow Creative on the adaptation of Emma Szalai’s intimate story, which will no doubt resonate with viewers across the country on CBC Gem,” said Zach Feldberg, Head of Scripted Gem Originals, CBC. “Our partnership with Wattpad WEBTOON Studios was the catalyst for this unique collaboration and with the production and upcoming release of Near or Far, we’re proud of the result and look forward to seeing it brought to life onscreen.”
Alongside Avakian and Zak, Near or Far boasts an all-Canadian cast of incredible emerging and established talent, including Brendon Kienhong Tremblay (Alert: Missing Persons Unit), Addison Holley (Annedroids), Christine Sahely (The Expanse), Soroush Saeidi (Transplant), Kalista Wilson (Transplant), and Tommie-Amber Pirie (Michael: Every Day).
Near or Far is produced by Harlow Creative as part of the CBC and Wattpad WEBTOON Studios partnership for emerging Canadian writers to create content for CBC Gem. The original story is published on Wattpad. Executive producers for Near or Far are Caitlin Brown (SkyMed, TallBoyz) and for Wattpad WEBTOON Studios are Aron Levitz, David Madden, and Sera Tabb. Duana Taha serves as executive producer, showrunner, writer, and director, and Vanessa Magic serves as creative producer and director. Michael Bawcutt (Degrassi: The Next Generation) is co-executive producer and Angelica Mendizibal (Moonshine) is co-producer. The series is distributed by Piazza Entertainment Limited with Vanessa Piazza also serving as executive producer.
For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports, Trish Williams is Executive Director, Scripted Content, Zach Feldberg is Head of Scripted Gem Originals, and Rebecca DiPasquale and Kathleen Meek are Executives in Charge of Production, Comedy and Scripted Gem Originals.
A CBC Gem original series, Near or Far went to camera with the support of the Bell Fund, Shaw Rocket Fund, and the Canada Media Fund.
About Harlow Creative
Harlow Creative was founded with the goal of developing and producing a ground-breaking slate of innovative television and digital content. Led by Executive Producer and President Caitlin Brown, Harlow champions innovative and diverse content and creators. In addition to the upcoming production of Near or Far, Harlow recently produced the critically acclaimed heritage minute on the singer Jackie Shange for Historica Canada. Previously Harlow produced the popular and groundbreaking Queens for CBC Gem, starring some of Canada’s most popular drag queens. In addition to her own productions at Harlow Entertainment, over the last 15 years, Caitlin has served as a producer on several recent television productions including, SkyMed, Tallboyz, Dark Matter, and Lost Girl.
About Wattpad WEBTOON Studios
Wattpad WEBTOON Studios brings together technology, a diverse new generation of creators, and passionate global fandoms to create data-backed, audience-driven TV shows, films, and books. Leveraging incredible stories and insights from WEBTOON and Wattpad’s combined audience of more than 170 million people, Wattpad WEBTOON Studios has pioneered a bold, global, fan-first approach to entertainment. Wattpad WEBTOON Studios has worked with Netflix, Sony Pictures Television, The Jim Henson Company, Vertigo Entertainment, Constantin Film, Penguin Random House, and many other leaders in entertainment and publishing.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About CBC Gem
CBC Gem is Canada’s streaming service, offering more than 6500 hours of live and on-demand Canadian programming and a curated selection of acclaimed, best-in-class content from around the world, including more than 800 documentaries, 500 hours of ad-free content for kids and tweens, and a collection of over 200 Canadian feature films. CBC Gem is available free as an app for iOS and Android devices and online at CBCGem.ca, and on TV screens via Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Xbox.
Media Contacts
Steph Perron, BAE Communications
steph@baecommunications.ca
Tanya Koivusalo, CBC PR
tanya.koivusalo@cbc.ca