ABOUT
SOAPBOX PRODUCTIONS
Soapbox Productions was formed in January 1990 when Nick Orchard returned from the UK after five years as Associate Producer for the popular serials “Eastenders” (BBC) and “Brookside” (Channel 4). Nick brought to Soapbox an extensive background in drama and TV series production, and the company’s first project was four seasons of the acclaimed teen drama “Northwood”, an international co-production with the CBC and Sweden’s Sveriges Television. “Northwood” won numerous awards including the Silver Medal from the New York Festivals and the award of excellence from the Alliance for Children and Television.
In 1993, while retaining drama as its mainstay, Nick diversified the company into documentary and comedy production, producing and directing two seasons of the popular astronomy series “Cosmic Highway” for the Discovery Channel. In 1997 the company began three seasons of “Double Exposure” for CTV and the Comedy Network. This series was a multiple Gemini Award nominee and winner of the Golden Sheaf Award and the Gold Camera Award from the International Film and Television Festival. This was followed by “Shadow Warrior; The David McTaggart Story” for CBC, “Happy Birthday Blues; John Baldry in Concert” for CHUM/Bravo, “Cosmic Odyssey”, a documentary series for Discovery Channel narrated by William Shatner, and “The Great Race”, a reality series for CTV. MOW’s “The New Beachcombers” (2002) and “A Beachcombers Christmas” (2004) were produced as back-door pilots for the CBC, followed by the TV drama “Tales of an Urban Indian” for APTN.
Soapbox Productions most recent series and specials include “Shakin’ All Over”, a history of Canadian rock for CBC, and the sequels “This Beat Goes On”, “Rise Up” and “Life is a Highway”, along with three seasons of “Head’s Up!” a children’s astronomy series for TVO featuring Bob McDonald. For CBC’s “Life and Times” Soapbox delivered a 3-hour history of the comedy group Second City, while producing three seasons of the series “On Screen”, for CHUM/Bravo, the travel series “Island Escapes”, “The Great Race” and “What Were They Thinking” for CTV, “In the Shadow of the Blues”, a biography of Long John Baldry for CHUM/CTV and the BBC. Most recently the company delivered “Magical Mystery Cures” and “Having Our Baby” for the CBC and the series “Notorious Women of the Bible” for Vision and in production is the documentary “Chubby Cree” for Telus Originals.
In development is The McLean Boys” from acclaimed writer and director Marie Clements, and an animated Beachcombers series with veteran animation executive Blair Peters (Yvon of the Yokon, Being Ian, Kid Vs. Kat.
Nick Orchard
Nick Orchard started his career as a child actor on stage, radio and television. A degree in theatre and film from the University of British Columbia led first to work in radio; as a documentary producer for the CBC, Production Manager for CFUN and
CHQM and part-time disc jockey.
In 50 years of television production, Nick has worked for CTVCTV, CBC, Mersey Television and the BBC in London. He went to England after a stint as Production Manager on the long-running CBC drama series “The Beachcombers”. That experience led to work as Associate Producer on “Eastenders”, the most highly rated series ever produced for British television, following that with various BBC mini-series and the popular serial “Brookside” for Channel 4. In 1990 Nick formed Soapbox Productions and produced 4 seasons of the multiple award-winning teen drama “Northwood” for the CBC and Sweden’s Sveriges Television. In the early 90’s he produced and directed two seasons of “Cosmic Highway” for the Discovery Channel, produced “Life on the Vertical”, also for Discovery and “Shadow Warrior”, "Life and Times" of David McTaggart for CBC.
In 1997 Nick began three seasons producing and directing “Double Exposure” for CTV and the Comedy Network. This series was a multiple Gemini Award nominee and winner of the Golden Sheaf Award and the Gold Camera Award from the International Film and Television Festival. This was followed by “The Great Race” for CTV and “Cosmic Odyssey”, narrated by William Shatner for Discovery.
Other recent programs include two “New Beachcombers” MOWs for CBC, “Shakin’ All Over”, “This Beat Goes On”, “Rise Up” and “Life is a Highway”, chronicling the history of Canadian Rock for the CBC, three seasons of “Heads Up!” for TVO and Knowledge Network, “O.com” for CBC’s “Passionate Eye”, a 3 hour history of the comedy group Second City (SCTV) for CBC's “Life and Times”, three seasons of “On Screen” forCHUM/Bravo, ten episodes of “Island Escapes”, six episodes of “What Were They Thinking?” for CTV, a biography of Long John Baldry for CHUM and the BBC, “Magical Mystery Cures”, a documentary for CBC’s “Doc Zone” and the series “Notorious Women of the Bible” for Vision TV. Having Our Baby; the Surrogacy Boom” recently premiered on CBC, and the documentary “Chubby Cree; Journey” is in production for Telus Originals with director Jules Arita Koostachin.
In development is The McLean Boys” from acclaimed writer and director Marie Clements, and an animated Beachcombers series with veteran animation executive Blair Peters (Yvon of the Yokon, Being Ian, Kid Vs. Kat.