• variously Showrunner, Series Producer, Producer, Supervising Producer or Executive Producer of over 140 hours of factual primetime television
• clients include nearly every factual content provider on earth
• prestigious awards for science, history and wildlife films
• proven success with character-based factual entertainment that rarely wins awards
• creator of occu-soaps, docu-soaps and critter-soaps
• a demonstrable fondness for lifestyle as well
• complete mastery of the extraordinarily narrow niche known as canoeing films
• likes writing without pronouns
• scores of satisfied collaborators
• dozens of satisfied networks
• untold legions of satisfied viewers
• a handful of very satisfied production companies
The company
BIO
Kip Spidell Factual Inc is a television production company that creates entertaining programs for primetime audiences in a variety of factual genres: heavily formatted factual entertainment, character-based docu-soaps, blue chip natural history, friendly and informative lifestyle and, even sometimes, straight documentary. Dedicated to the hands-on crafting of compelling and informative stories at (almost) any budget level.
Kip Spidell Factual Inc has established relationships with teams of highly respected writers, directors, shooters, editors, craftspeople and production support personnel in Canada, the United States, Australia and Europe.
Kip Spidell Factual Inc has expertise in producing programs while collaborating with multiple broadcasters in multiple territories and in multiple languages – and wields a proven track record with factual programmers and commissioning editors around the world.
Kip Spidell Factual Inc boasts of successful collaborations with individuals and production companies from Canada, the United States, Australia, Ireland, England and Russia.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
PRESIDENT, 2010 - 2012
BFS Film & Television Productions Inc.
BFS Film & Television Productions Inc is an independent production company specializing in factual television in multiple genres, including adventure, science, wildlife, history, factual entertainment and lifestyle
head of production, 1999 - 2007
Ellis Vision Incorporated
Responsibilities: full creative, logistic and financial oversight of all Ellis Vision productions; oversight of the development of new projects; pitching projects to broadcasters and negotiating terms of sale; attendance at all major international television markets and festivals; developing and managing relationships with international broadcast and co-production partners; the oversight of projects co-produced with other partners, and; acting as the point-of-contact with broadcast partners during production. During this period I was able to successfully expand the company's output from its long-time expertise in wildlife films to include award-winning science, history and lifestyle productions.
CREDITS
CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
RIP Current Rescue - for online and broadcast release 2021
1 x 60 science / caught-on-camera documentary produced in cooperation with NOAA and the US Lifesaving Association
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Reptilia - The Reptile Kingdom’s YouTube Channel 2019
50 short form videos for the channel's fall 2019 relaunch
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / SERIES PRODUCER
The Stats of Life - Series 2 for Frantic Films 2018
8 x 30 highly rated primetime factual series for CBC Television - main network
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / SERIES PRODUCER
The Stats of Life - Series 1 for Frantic Films 2017
4 x 30 highly rated primetime factual series for CBC Television - main network
SERIES PRODUCER
Mighty Trains for Exploration Production / Discovery Channel - 2015 / 2016
6 x 60 documentary series for Discovery Canada, ProSieben Germany, Seven Network Australia
STORY EDITOR
Power & Ice for Tricon Films - 2015
10 x 60 factual series following Alaskan power line workers for History Channel US
SHOWRUNNER
7 Days in Hell for Proper Television - 2014 / 2015
3 x 60 history-based survival series for History Television
PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
Canada Undiscovered for Blue Ant Media Solutions - 2014
12 x 2 min branded content campaign for Infiniti.ca and Oasis: Love Nature
WRITER / STORY EDITOR
7 Days in Hell for Proper Television - 2013 / 2014
1 x 60 pilot of a history-based survival series for History Television / also wrote series development package
DIRECTOR
Factual Sizzle Reels for Proper Television - 2013
SENIOR STORY PRODUCER
Timber Kings for Paperny Films - 2013
10 x 60 factual series for HGTV / History Television
SHOWRUNNER
Loaded - 2013
6 x 30 formatted factual series about long haul truckers for Weather Channel US
SHOWRUNNER
Canadian Pickers lll - 2012
6 x 60 go-into-a-barn-and-find-something-undervalued series for History Television
PRODUCER
Picked Off - 2012
6 x 60 competition series for History Channel US
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / WRITER
Sharks In The City - 2011
1 x 60 documentary on urban shark attacks for Nat Geo Wild US / Nat Geo Channels Int’l
PRODUCER / DIRECTOR
Health & Wellness – Naturally- 2009
2 x 60 live-to-tape health lectures destined as PBS pledge-drive specials
PRODUCER / WRITER
Via Ferrata-2009
1 x 60 mountain climbing documentary – in post-production
SERIES PRODUCER
Urban Legends II- 2008
13 x 30 re-enactment series for Biography US & History Channel Canada
PRODUCER / DIRECTOR
Quetico Park - 2008
1 x 60 sponsored documentary for the wilderness park’s 100th anniversary
DIRECTOR
Sarah’s Cottage- 2008
6 x 30 renovation series featuring Sarah Richardson for HGTV Canada / HGTV US
SERIES PRODUCER / WRITER
Divine Restoration III - 2007/2008
16 x 30 renovation / documentary series from VTVI for VisionTV / TV One U.S.
SUPERVISING PRODUCER
Something About Mary Magdalene - 2007
1 x 60 history documentary from VTVI for VisionTV, ITV (UK), History Channel U.S., SBS Australia
SUPERVISING PRODUCER / WRITER
Hello Goodbye - 2007
1 x 30 documentary pilot for Lifetime U.S.
SUPERVISING PRODUCER / WRITER
Divine Restoration II - 2006
13 x 30 renovation / documentary series from VTVI for VisionTV / TV One U.S.
SUPERVISING PRODUCER
Battle Ready - 2006
4 x 60 HD engineering / history series for History Television / Military Channel US
SUPERVISING PRODUCER
Sideshow Stars: The True Story- 2005 - (see awards)
1 x 60 science/history documentary for Discovery Channel / Discovery Health U.S.
VTVI HEAD OF PRODUCTION
The Lost Gods - 2005
6 x 30 HD history series co-produced with Tile Films, Dublin for S4C, TG4 & VisionTV
an Ireland / Canada treaty co-production
SUPERVISING PRODUCER
Divine Restoration - 2005 - (see awards)
26 x 30 renovation / documentary series from VTVI for VisionTV / TV One U.S.
SUPERVISING PRODUCER
Craftiest Animals - 2005 - (see awards)
2 x 60 natural history series for Discovery Channel U.S.
PRODUCER
Leave it to the Real Beavers- 2005
1 x 60 HD natural history special for Animal Planet U.S.
PRODUCER
Profiles of Nature Specials – Series XII - 2004
6 x 60 HD natural history series for Discovery Channel / Animal Planet U.S.
PRODUCER
The Baby Human II - 2004 - (see awards)
3 x 60 HD series on infant behaviour for Discovery Health / Discovery Health U.S.
PRODUCER
Day of the Groundhog - 2003 - (see awards)
1 x 60 HD natural history special for Animal Planet U.S.
WRITER (DISCOVERY US VERSION)
Amazing Creatures - 2003
1 x 60 natural history special from ORF for Discovery US / Discovery Canada
PRODUCER
Profiles of Nature Specials – Series XI- 2002
9 x 60 natural history series for Discovery Channel / Animal Planet U.S.
PRODUCER
The Baby Human - 2002 - (see awards)
3 x 60 HD series on infant behaviour for Discovery Health / Discovery Health U.S.
PRODUCER / DIRECTOR
Beastly Countdowns - 2002
5 x 60 wildlife comedy series for Animal Planet U.S.
PRODUCER / DIRECTOR / WRITER
Wild Sites - 2002
3 x 60 natural history travel series for Travel Channel U.S.
PRODUCER
Profiles of Nature Specials – Series X - 2001 - (see awards)
9 x 60 natural history series for Discovery Channel / Animal Planet U.S.
WRITER / EDITOR
Echoes of the North - 2001 - (see awards)
1 x 60 wildlife film for Discovery Channel / TVO / TFO
PRODUCER / DIRECTOR / WRITER
Stinkers: The Ten Smelliest Animals on Earth - 2000
1 x 60 wildlife comedy for Discovery Channel U.S.
DIRECTOR / WRITER / EDITOR
The Bear Attack Trilogy - 1998-2000 - (see awards)
3 x 60 wildlife series for Discovery Channel U.S.
PRODUCER / WRITER / EDITOR
Profiles of Nature Specials – Series IX - 1999-2000
10 x 60 natural history series for Discovery Channel U.S.
WRITER / EDITOR
Polar Bears: Life on the Field of Bones - 2000 - (see awards)
1 x 60 wildlife film for Discovery Channel U.S.
AWARDS
SIDESHOW STARS: THE TRUE STORY
GOLD REMI Science & Technology
WORDFEST HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, 2006
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DIVINE RESTORATION
GEMINI NOMINEE
Best Lifestyle Series
ACADEMY OF CANADIAN CINEMA & TELEVISION, GEMINI AWARDS, 2006
_
CRAFTIEST ANIMALS
GOLD PLAQUE, Documentary: Science / Nature
TVFest, THE CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION COMPETITION, 2005
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THE BABY HUMAN 2
GOLD PLAQUE, Documentary: Science / Nature
TVFest, THE CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION COMPETITION, 2005
PLATINUM REMI Science & Technology
WORDFEST HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, 2005
THE CHRIS AWARD
COLUMBUS INTERNATIONAL FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL, 2005
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DAY OF THE GROUNDHOG
BRONZE REMI Nature & Wildlife
WORDFEST HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, 2005
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THE BABY HUMAN
GEMINI NOMINEE
Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program
ACADEMY OF CANADIAN CINEMA & TELEVISION, GEMINI AWARDS, 2003
GOLD CAMERA, Sciences, Research, Exploration
US INTERNATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL, 2004
BRONZE AWARD Science & Technology
WORDFEST HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, 2004
GOLD PLAQUE, Documentary: Science / Nature
TVFest, THE CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION COMPETITION, 2003
-
ECHOES OF THE NORTH
GEMINI NOMINEE
Best Editing in a Documentary Program or Series
ACADEMY OF CANADIAN CINEMA & TELEVISION, GEMINI AWARDS, 2001
GEMINI NOMINEE
Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program
ACADEMY OF CANADIAN CINEMA & TELEVISION, GEMINI AWARDS, 2001
SILVER PLAQUE, Documentary: Science & Nature
TVFest, THE CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION COMPETITION, 2002
-
POLAR BEARS: LIFE ON THE FIELD OF BONES (Profiles of Nature Series IX)
SILVER HUGO, Documentary: Science/Nature
TVFest, THE CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION COMPETITION, 2001
THIRD PLACE, CERTIFICATE FOR CREATIVE EXCELLENCE, Nature & Wildlife
US INTERNATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL, 2001
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BEAR ATTACK: POLAR BEARS
GOLD PLAQUE: Documentary - Science & Nature Category
TVFest - CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION COMPETITION, 1999
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BEAR ATTACK: ENCOUNTERING GRIZZLIES
SILVER SCREEN AWARD: Nature & Wildlife
U.S. INTERNATIONAL FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL, 2000
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BEAR ATTACK: THE PREDATORY BLACK BEAR
BRONZE PLAQUE AWARD: Nature & Wildlife Category
46th COLUMBUS INTERNATIONAL FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL, 1998
MERIT AWARD FOR EDUCATIONAL VALUE & FINALIST AWARD
INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE FILM FESTIVAL, Missoula, Montana ,1998
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BUCK STAGHORN’S ANIMAL BITES
GOLD AWARD: Best Television Series – Comedy
WORDFEST CHARLESTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, 1997
GOLD WORLD MEDAL: Best Variety Series
NEW YORK FESTIVALS, 1996
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