There were media reports last week noting that a new CBS Studios production, under the pseudonym ‘Dovercourt’, had been added to the Rumour section of the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) Ontario hotlist.
As of today, there is more confirming information, and a clear indication that this is the greenlit Star Trek Section 31 movie event starring Michelle Yeoh.
‘Dovercourt’ has moved into the firmer preproduction section of the list. It’s identified as a TV movie. Olantudne Osunsami is listed as the director, with the two other EPs based in Canada Frank Siracusa and John Weber also listed. These all line up with the previous S31 direct to streaming movie announcement in the spring.
Preproduction is listed as running from May 1 to October 22, 2023. This implies that production design and costume design are underway in the Greater Toronto Area.
Paul Henry Kirby is listed as Production Designer (PD). He seems to be new to Star Trek. I find listings that he was PD on Shazam! Fury of the Gods and several other cinematic releases. He was Art Director on Batman Begins. (His portfolio is listed on a personal website paulkirby.com.)
The production location is given as Toronto rather than Mississauga, which suggests that the big volume leased soundstages at Pinewood Toronto Studios may be getting one more redress for the movie rather than using CBS’ own stages.
The hotlist says it is compiled by the guild from “from deal memos, callsheets, crew lists and Members updating their availability.“
I guess if they already have a script, they’re past the WGA strike and can work on it till they hit the SAG strike. (I’m assuming the strikes impact Canadian productions on behalf of US studios?)
Yes, American productions in Canada have US writers and actors under WGA and SAG-AFTRA contracts.
Local Canadian actors belong to ACTRA, the Canadian guild. The production and art creatives are in another union IATSE.
DGC is a sister organization to the Directors Guild of America (DGA). Their accredited members can work in either country. DGC is likely now sanctioning the work since DGA has settled in the United States.
