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Shooting For Change

Canadian Documentary Premiere on OMNI.2

Bengali language version ?Sunday, March 16th at 7PM ET on OMNI.2
Encore presentation - at 10PM
English Language Version: COMING SOON!

March 6, 2008 - Toronto, ON - Rogers OMNI Television is proud to present the world television premiere of Shooting For Change as part of its Language Documentary Specials. The 60 minute documentary launches to Bengali speaking audiences on OMNI.2, Sunday, March 16th at 7:00 p.m. with an encore presentation later that same evening at 10:00 p.m.

Another hard-hitting production from the award-winning team at Third Element Productions, Shooting For Change documents a unique media program called Regent Park Focus, and shows how participants in the program been able to take control of their lives and redefine themselves and their place in the world.

The youth of Toronto’s infamous Regent Park – a downtown neighbourhood known for violent gangs, poverty and drugs -- are accustomed to being labeled and to having others make their decisions for them.

Enter Adonis Huggins, a man with a vision, and director of Regent Park Focus; Adonis and his team know that the camera is mightier than the sword. With Regent Park Focus and Adonis in their corner, now local kids not only have a creative outlet, but also a powerful weapon against a world that is only too happy to slot them into negative categories.

Among the young adults who are Shooting For Change with Regent Park Focus:

Josneara - felt pressured by her peers regarding her Muslim heritage – now she’s developed a strong sense of identity;
Nicholas – faced the crushing effects of bullying at school – now he’s the neighbourhood superhero in the film called Bikeman;
Tyrone - watched his friends die from gun violence as a teen – now he’s working with Regent Park Focus as a mentor to younger kids.

In addition to Bengali, Shooting For Change has been produced for English language audiences to maximize its reach across diverse audiences; this version will air on OMNI.2, Monday, April 14th at 11:00 p.m. ET.

Shooting For Change was exclusively funded through OMNI's Independent Producers Initiative, a $32.5 million independent production fund that to date has supported over 200 new documentary programmes. Interested producers can access funding criteria at OMNI Television’s web site http://www.omnitv.ca/ontario/info/funds .

About Rogers OMNI Television
Rogers OMNI Television is a free over-the-air regional broadcasting system operated by Rogers Communications in the Rogers Media division. The OMNI stations have the collective mandate to reflect Canada’s diversity through the airing of inclusive and accessible multilingual/multicultural programming. Rogers OMNI.1 and OMNI.2 are currently available across Canada to subscribers of Starchoice and ExpressVu satellite systems.

About Third Element Productions
Third Element Productions was established by Toronto-based producer-director Lalita Krishna and ethnic media specialist producer Ben Viccari. Ms. Krishna is internationally renowned for her work, including such honours as: Audience Choice Award (Features) at the Sprockets Toronto 2006; Best Canadian Documentary Award at the Reel World Film Festival 2005, and Bronze Plaque - Columbus International Film and Video Festival, 2005. Further information is available @ http://www.insyncvideo.ca .

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OMNI-TV Media Contact:

Sandy Zwyer – Programme Information Coordinator, 416-260-3590 sandy.zwyer@rci.rogers.com

Third Element Productions Media Contact:

Karen Suzuki – Production Coordinator, 416-367-0330 insyncvideo@insyncvideo.ca
Ben Viccari – Co-producer, 416-944-8175 canscene@rogers.com