Aspiring Young Filmmakers Get a Taste of TIFF as The John Lennon Bus Visits CTV HQ, Sept. 4-9

Toronto, ON (September 4, 2008) - CTV today announced that it is hosting the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus during the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. The state-of-the-art, non-profit audio and video production facility, sponsored by Maxell, parks at CTV's iconic Queen Street headquarters in downtown Toronto, beginning today through September 9. Aspiring young filmmakers from Toronto's urban neighbourhoods get the unique opportunity to prepare short movies about their experiences at the Festival on the fully loaded bus.

Industry pros including Jason Reitman (Juno), Degrassi creator Linda Schuyler, Canadian Idol judge Farley Flex, JUNO winner Jully Black, hip-hop artists K'Naan and k-os, and choreographer and So You Think You Can Dance Canada judge Luther Brown mentor members of two Toronto youth programs. "Shoot with This" is a film mentorship project for kids from Toronto's Jane/Finch area. "The Remix Project" is a youth-led urban arts project in the Greater Toronto Area. The students have access to all CTV-hosted events and production areas at its Queen Street headquarters while they shoot their films. Sol Guy, creator and host of CTV and MTV's 4REAL, initiated the visit of the John Lennon Bus and will work with the students day-to-day.

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a non-profit, mobile audio and HD video recording and production facility. Since 1998, the Bus has provided free hands-on programs to hundreds of organizations across the continent. In the U.S., major recording stars have supported the high-tech bus and interacted with students, including Carlos Santana, Natasha Bedingfield, Wyclef Jean, Fergie, and will.i.am.

"This is precisely the kind of project John Lennon would have loved," said Yoko Ono Lennon.

"We're giving the students an all-access pass to our coverage of TIFF," said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. "Working with some of Canada's most notable artists, they'll have the experience of a lifetime and hopefully learn something along the way."

"The exciting thing about the Bus is that young people can work with state-of-the-art equipment while interviewing filmmakers at TIFF," said Guy. "More importantly, they'll be working on a project that's all about using art and culture to affect social change."

Tonight on eTalk, Sol Guy provides a tour of the Bus. The students' short film about the drama and dazzle of the Festival premieres on Canada AM on Tuesday, September 9 and online on the CTV Video Player at CTV.ca.

About the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus

Logging 60,000 miles a year since 1998, the non-profit facility has offered free hands-on programs to children in high schools, colleges and community outreach programs across the United States. The interior is divided into three separate studio environments that can be opened to create one large studio. The front studio is a cutting-edge audio and video production room. The rear studio offers pro-level recording and mixing at the highest possible resolution, as well as an isolation booth for acoustic recordings, and a chromate (green screen) booth. Powered by Apple computers, the studios feature traditional musical instruments and the latest Sony HD products and solutions. Also on-board is a Mackie P.A. system enabling performances on the side of the Bus.

The Bus travels across the U.S. and Canada year-round, providing free tours and workshops at schools, retailers, festivals, on tours with headlining artists, and at major industry conferences. Sponsors of the Bus include Maxell Corporation, Godin Guitars, Apple, NAMM, and Sony. The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is made possible by an agreement with Yoko Ono Lennon.

About CTV

CTV, Canada's largest private broadcaster, offers a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming. It has the number-one national newscast, CTV National News With Lloyd Robertson, and is the number-one choice for prime-time viewing. CTVglobemedia Inc. is Canada's premier multi-media company which owns CTV Inc. and The Globe and Mail. CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country, and leading national specialty channels. Other CTVglobemedia investments include an interest in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, and in Dome Productions, a North American leader in the provision of mobile high definition production facilities. More information about CTV may be found on the company website at www.ctv.ca.