E1 Entertainment, 990 Multi Media Entertainment Company and Jonsworth Productions Inc. Announce Start of Production on CTV/CBS Original Canadian drama series, THE BRIDGE

- Guest Directors include Helen Shaver and Stuart Margolin -
- Five-time Gemini Award winner Alan Di Fiore heads writing team - /

Toronto, ON (April 24, 2009) -- E1 Entertainment, 990 Multi Media Entertainment Company and Jonsworth Productions, in association with CTV and CBS Paramount Network Television announce that principal photography is underway on the original Canadian drama series, The Bridge.

Originally commissioned as a two-hour movie of the week and back-door pilot by CTV, 11 episodes will be shot on location in and around Toronto until August 12 to round out the first season. This start of production follows February's (2009) joint announcement by CTV and CBS of the deal to broadcast The Bridge in the United States. The Bridge is the third series from E1 Entertainment to be picked up by a high-profile U.S. network in the last 18 months, and the first for 990 Multi Media Entertainment Company. The CBS deal also marks the third Canadian drama series from CTV to be picked up by a major U.S. network in the last 20 months.

Informed by the insights of veteran insider and outspoken former Toronto police union head Craig Bromell, The Bridge reveals the struggle of street cops who not only battle criminals, but also their own bosses in order to protect society and, ultimately, themselves. The series will take viewers beyond the blue line, offering a glimpse of the police, power and politics that unfold behind the scenes.

The Bridge follows fictional character Frank Leo (played by Aaron Douglas, Battlestar Galactica) and his climb from street cop to union head where he begins his quest to clean up the force. But the old boys network running the police force, and the city's self-serving politicians, won't sit idly by while a former street cop makes up his own rules.

The Bridge stars Aaron Douglas (Battlestar Galactica; Smallville) as outspoken union head Frank Leo; Paul Popowich (Angela's Eyes; I Me Wed) as Frank's partner and confidante Tommy Dunn; Gemini Award nominee Inga Cadranel (Rent-a-Goalie; M.V.P.) as Jill, the free-spirited detective on the force; Genadijs Dolganovs (Max Payne; Jeff Ltd.) as Jill's partner, Alex Volkolev; Frank Cassini (Vice; Intelligence) as Staff Sergeant Bernie Kantor; Theresa Joy (All the Good Ones are Married; Sixty Days) as the feisty tomboy Police Constable, Billy; Ona Grauer (Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis) as the beautiful, passionate prosecutor, Abby St. James; Michael Murphy (Away From Her; X-Men:The Last Stand) as Chief of Police and political animal, Ed Wycoff, and two-time Emmy Award Winner Stuart Margolin (The Rockford Files, Tom Stone) as Frank's father, Vic Leo.

Slated to direct the series are Gemini Award winners John Fawcett (Da Vinci's Inquest) and Holly Dale (Durham County); Daytime Emmy Award winner Paul Kaufman (Run the Wild Fields); Genie and Gemini Award winner Helen Shaver (We All Fall Down/Just Cause) and two-time Emmy Award winner Stuart Margolin (Rockford Files). Heading up the writing team is five-time Gemini Award winner and six-time nominee, Alan Di Fiore (Da Vinci's Inquest, The Life).

The Bridge is produced by E1 Entertainment, 990 Multi Media Company and Jonsworth Productions, in association with CTV and CBS Paramount Network Television. Executive Producers are Craig Bromell, Laszlo Barna, Adam J. Shully, Alan Di Fiore and Robert Wertheimer. Wendy Grean is producer. CTV's Production Executive is Brett Burlock. Susanne Boyce is President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.

The Bridge is produced with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund created by the Government of Canada and the Canadian cable industry, and with the assistance of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit Program. Distributed worldwide by E1 Entertainment.