Denis McGrath
Encyclopedia
Denis McGrath' is a dual-citizen Canadian–American
screenwriter
and producer
. Born in New York City
, he currently resides and works in Toronto
.
McGrath started his career as a TV producer at the educational network TVOntario
. In 1993, he was hired by Moses Znaimer
and went to work at Toronto's groundbreaking Citytv
station. As a producer on the Gemini Award
-winning mediatelevision
, McGrath made the program on the intersection of digital culture and marketing one of the first in Canada to maintain an email address. Between 1993 and 1997, he did over five hundred stories on the first wave of dot.com entrepreneurs and visionaries, interviewing new media luminaries such as John Perry Barlow
, Bruce Sterling
, Peter Gabriel
, and Nicholas Negroponte
, as well as authors and TV types from P. J. O'Rourke
to Chris Carter
.
In 1997, McGrath signed on as the first producer for Space: The Imagination Station
, Canada's Sci-Fi channel. There, he pioneered several of the station's early program segments, including a recurring comedy segment called "Conspiracy Guy". He also created and hosted the show's late-night movie show, Spacebar.
In late 2000, McGrath left Space: The Imagination Station to become a resident of the Canadian Film Centre
's Prime Time TV program.
A graduate of Ryerson Polytechnic University, McGrath taught writing part time at his alma mater
between 1994–2006.
He is currently a regular contributor to the CBC Radio
program Q
and was elected to the Writers Guild of Canada
Governing Council in April 2008.
.
On August 26, 2008, Across the River to Motor City received seven Gemini Award
nominations. McGrath was nominated for Best Dramatic Writing in a Miniseries, along with Bob Wertheimer and Jocelyn Cornforth.
McGrath briefly worked as a story editor on the CTV
series Flashpoint
, but left due to creative differences with the producers.
. Top Gun! The Musical became the highest grossing show in the history of the Toronto Fringe Festival. It was remounted in a successful commercial production at the Factory Theatre
in June 2003, and was nominated for two Dora Mavor Moore Award
for Best Musical and Best Leading Performance Male, Dmitry Chepovetsky
.
Top Gun! The Musical has received several productions, in Texas
and Halifax, N.S. In 2004, the original cast and creative team, led by Director Colin Viebrock, producer Derrick Chua, and writers Denis McGrath and Scott White took the show to the inaugural New York Musical Festival.
McGrath has also written several other plays, including Press'd, American Without Tears, and Pavlov's Brother (based on a New Yorker
article by Andy Borowitz
), co-written with Flashpoint creator Mark Ellis
.
XIII: The Series
(2011)
Stargate Universe (2010)
The Border
(2007–2008)
Blood Ties
(2007)
Across the River to Motor City
(2006)
Rent-A-Goalie
(2006)
Skyland
(2005)
Charlie Jade
(2004)
's Gillian Flynn
, Bill Carter of the New York Times, and John Doyle
, Television Critic for the Globe & Mail.
In 2007, in an article criticizing the lack of discerning Canadian TV criticism, Doyle wrote that "McGrath's site is thoughtful, learned and provocative about creating Canadian TV."
"Dead Things on Sticks" ceased regular updating in June, 2010. The archive, including McGrath's most popular craft posts, remain online.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
. Born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he currently resides and works in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
McGrath started his career as a TV producer at the educational network TVOntario
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
. In 1993, he was hired by Moses Znaimer
Moses Znaimer
Moses Znaimer, M.A., O.Ont is a co-founder and former head of Citytv, the first independent television station in Toronto, Canada, and the current head of ZoomerMedia.-Early life and career:...
and went to work at Toronto's groundbreaking Citytv
Citytv
Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
station. As a producer on the Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
-winning mediatelevision
MediaTelevision
Media Television was a Canadian television newsmagazine series, which aired weekly on Citytv from 1991 to 2004. It was also syndicated internationally, airing in over 100 countries around the world at some point during its run....
, McGrath made the program on the intersection of digital culture and marketing one of the first in Canada to maintain an email address. Between 1993 and 1997, he did over five hundred stories on the first wave of dot.com entrepreneurs and visionaries, interviewing new media luminaries such as John Perry Barlow
John Perry Barlow
John Perry Barlow is an American poet and essayist, a retired Wyoming cattle rancher, and a cyberlibertarian political activist who has been associated with both the Democratic and Republican parties. He is also a former lyricist for the Grateful Dead and a founding member of the Electronic...
, Bruce Sterling
Bruce Sterling
Michael Bruce Sterling is an American science fiction author, best known for his novels and his work on the Mirrorshades anthology, which helped define the cyberpunk genre.-Writings:...
, Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, and Nicholas Negroponte
Nicholas Negroponte
Nicholas Negroponte is an American architect best known as the founder and Chairman Emeritus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab, and also known as the founder of the One Laptop per Child Association ....
, as well as authors and TV types from P. J. O'Rourke
P. J. O'Rourke
Patrick Jake "P. J." O'Rourke is an American political satirist, journalist, writer, and author. O'Rourke is the H. L. Mencken Research Fellow at the Cato Institute and is a regular correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly, The American Spectator, and The Weekly Standard, and frequent panelist on...
to Chris Carter
Chris Carter (screenwriter)
Christopher Carl Carter is an American screenwriter, film director and producer. He is the creator of The X-Files and Millennium.- Ten Thirteen Productions :...
.
In 1997, McGrath signed on as the first producer for Space: The Imagination Station
Space: The Imagination Station
Space is a Canadian Category A specialty channel owned and operated by Bell Media. It features science fiction, fantasy, horror, and paranormal programming including films, documentaries, scripted television series and more...
, Canada's Sci-Fi channel. There, he pioneered several of the station's early program segments, including a recurring comedy segment called "Conspiracy Guy". He also created and hosted the show's late-night movie show, Spacebar.
In late 2000, McGrath left Space: The Imagination Station to become a resident of the Canadian Film Centre
Canadian Film Centre
The Canadian Film Centre is an advanced training institution for film, television and new media. Based in Toronto, Canada, CFC offers residents education, industry partnerships and production experience...
's Prime Time TV program.
A graduate of Ryerson Polytechnic University, McGrath taught writing part time at his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
between 1994–2006.
He is currently a regular contributor to the CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
program Q
Q (radio show)
Q is a Canadian radio show, which airs on CBC Radio One. Hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, the program is a national arts magazine show. The program is also now syndicated to public radio stations in the United States through Public Radio International....
and was elected to the Writers Guild of Canada
Writers Guild of Canada
The Writers Guild of Canada represents more than 1,800 professional writers working in film, television, radio, and multimedia production in Canada...
Governing Council in April 2008.
Television
In April 2008, McGrath won a Canadian Screenwriting Award for Best Dramatic Writing for the series he co-created, Across the River to Motor CityAcross the River to Motor City
Across The River To Motor City is a Canadian television drama series, that aired on Citytv stations. It debuted November 22, 2007. The series is about an insurance investigator named Ben Ford who works the border in both Detroit and Windsor...
.
On August 26, 2008, Across the River to Motor City received seven Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
nominations. McGrath was nominated for Best Dramatic Writing in a Miniseries, along with Bob Wertheimer and Jocelyn Cornforth.
McGrath briefly worked as a story editor on the CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
series Flashpoint
Flashpoint (TV series)
Flashpoint is a Canadian police drama television series that debuted on July 11, 2008, on CTV in Canada and ran on CBS in the United States for its first three and a half seasons. In 2011, Ion Television began airing new episodes of the series in the United States...
, but left due to creative differences with the producers.
Theatre
In 2002, on a lark, McGrath wrote the book and lyrics for a satirical musical based on the movie Top GunTop Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
. Top Gun! The Musical became the highest grossing show in the history of the Toronto Fringe Festival. It was remounted in a successful commercial production at the Factory Theatre
Factory Theatre
Factory Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, founded as Factory Theatre Lab in 1970 by Ken Gass and Frank Trotz.Factory was the first theatre to announce that it would exclusively produce Canadian plays, but it soon became a widely emulated policy by other theatre companies...
in June 2003, and was nominated for two Dora Mavor Moore Award
Dora Mavor Moore Award
The Dora Mavor Moore Award is an award presented annually by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts which honours theatre, dance, and opera productions in Toronto. Named after Dora Mavor Moore, who helped establish Canadian professional theatre, the award was established on December 13, 1978...
for Best Musical and Best Leading Performance Male, Dmitry Chepovetsky
Dmitry Chepovetsky
Dmitry Chepovetsky is a Gemini Award nominated Canadian-Ukrainian actor, best known for his role of Bob Melnikov in the TV series ReGenesis.-Personal life:...
.
Top Gun! The Musical has received several productions, in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Halifax, N.S. In 2004, the original cast and creative team, led by Director Colin Viebrock, producer Derrick Chua, and writers Denis McGrath and Scott White took the show to the inaugural New York Musical Festival.
McGrath has also written several other plays, including Press'd, American Without Tears, and Pavlov's Brother (based on a New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
article by Andy Borowitz
Andy Borowitz
Andy Borowitz is a comedian and New York Times bestselling author who won the first National Press Club award for humor. He is best known for creating the satirical website , which has an audience in the millions...
), co-written with Flashpoint creator Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis (actor)
Mark Ellis is a Canadian actor and screenwriter. He is the co-creator and co-executive producer of the television series Flashpoint which airs on CTV, ION Television and networks around the world. The series garnered a record-breaking 19 nominations in 2009. Ellis received a writing nomination for...
.
Selected TVography
Flight of the Storks (2012)XIII: The Series
XIII: The Series
XIII: The Series is a Franco-Canadian TV series that premiered in April 2011 in France and Canada which is based on the Belgian comic book series, originally by Jean Van Hamme and William Vance, and the game of the same title. The series revolves around an amnesiac protagonist who seeks to discover...
(2011)
Stargate Universe (2010)
The Border
The Border (TV series)
The Border is a Canadian drama airing on CBC Television and 20 other TV networks worldwide. It was created by Peter Raymont, Lindalee Tracey, Janet MacLean and Jeremy Hole of White Pine Pictures. The Executive in Charge of Production is Janice Dawe. Episodes in the first season were directed by...
(2007–2008)
Blood Ties
Blood Ties (TV series)
Blood Ties is a Canadian television series based on the Blood Books by Tanya Huff; the show was created by Peter Mohan. It is set in Toronto, Canada and has a similar premise to an earlier series also set in Toronto, Forever Knight, in which a Vampire assists Police in dealing with crime...
(2007)
Across the River to Motor City
Across the River to Motor City
Across The River To Motor City is a Canadian television drama series, that aired on Citytv stations. It debuted November 22, 2007. The series is about an insurance investigator named Ben Ford who works the border in both Detroit and Windsor...
(2006)
Rent-A-Goalie
Rent-a-Goalie
Rent-a-Goalie is a half-hour comedy television series from Canada that aired on Showcase from 2006 - 2008. Its third season premiered 20 October 2008. The first season was nominated for three Gemini Awards, including Best Comedy Series...
(2006)
Skyland
Skyland
Skyland , is a CGI animated television series developed in France in partnership with Canada and Luxembourg for television channels, France 2, Teletoon, NickToons Network, ABC and CITV.A 60-minute, worldwide preview was aired on November 26, 2005 at multiple times during the day and the following day...
(2005)
Charlie Jade
Charlie Jade
Charlie Jade is a science fiction television program filmed mainly in Cape Town, South Africa. It stars Jeffrey Pierce in the title role, as a detective from a parallel universe who finds himself trapped in our universe. This is a Canadian and South African co-production filmed in conjunction with...
(2004)
Blog
In August 2005, McGrath started a blog called "Dead Things on Sticks." Initially a personal screenwriting blog, the site soon morphed into a much-read daily discussion covering the Canadian Television industry. McGrath appeared on a TV critics' panel at the 2007 Banff Television Festival along with Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
's Gillian Flynn
Gillian Flynn
Gillian Flynn is an American author and former television critic for Entertainment Weekly. As of 2009, she has published two novels: Sharp Objects and Dark Places .-Biography:...
, Bill Carter of the New York Times, and John Doyle
John Doyle (critic)
John Doyle is one of the two television critics with Canada's The Globe and Mail newspaper. Doyle also covers major football events for the paper....
, Television Critic for the Globe & Mail.
In 2007, in an article criticizing the lack of discerning Canadian TV criticism, Doyle wrote that "McGrath's site is thoughtful, learned and provocative about creating Canadian TV."
"Dead Things on Sticks" ceased regular updating in June, 2010. The archive, including McGrath's most popular craft posts, remain online.
External links
- Dead things ON Sticks, Denis' blog on screenwriting and the Canadian television industry
- Blog T.O. profle, interview, July 2007