Former Nickelodeon star Avan Jogia reflects on the dark side of being a teen actor
As a former Nickelodeon star, Avan Jogia had to grow up fast. The Canadian actor got his breakthrough role playing Beck Oliver on the teen sitcom Victorious, which thrust him into the spotlight and turned him into a heartthrob.
Now, he's released a new book of poetry, Autopsy (of an Ex-Teen Heartthrob), which takes aim at the artifice of Hollywood and the crushing pressures that young actors face.
"I've been writing poetry since I was 15 years old," Jogia tells Q 's Tom Power in an interview over Zoom. "A lot of that poetry was about my frustrations about being on a show that I don't think really represented me creatively."
During his time on Victorious, Jogia says he felt like he was simply performing "adolescence and purity," while not actually experiencing much of an adolescence himself. Not only that, but he felt more like a product or a brand than a real person.
"Part of being a teen idol is being sort of shapeless as a person and not really having that strong an identity," he says. "There's really a desire for the 'hot guy' to just be a non-person…. You represent a comfort and a perfect thing."
Jogia's poem I am on set getting yelled at is about his experience being chastised while filming a Season 2 episode of Victorious. Last year, a five-part documentary series, Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, revealed how Nickelodeon failed to protect its child actors from abuse and misconduct.
"I think that there's sort of a mock sympathy, especially around documentaries like Quiet on Set," Jogia says. "It's ambulance chasing and tragedy porn masquerading as sympathy. I'm very distrustful of public interest about this subject because I think it's clickbait-y and it's for media outlets and studios to make money. I don't think the sympathy that they're getting from the audience is real."
The reason Jogia turned to poetry as a creative outlet to unpack his feelings and observations about the sinister side of fame is because it's very personal, immediate and independent.
"Directing a film takes a lot of time and a lot of money and a lot of people," he explains. "Acting requires a gig. It's cathartic, but you're also saying other people's words…. Painting is messy, a lot of paint. But writing is one of the most immediate impulses that I have."
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Japan Forward
3 hours ago
- Japan Forward
Exclusive: Retired Star Satoko Miyahara Still Seeking Future Path
Satoko Miyahara took time from her busy tour schedule to discuss her illustrious career, current work, and thoughts about the future in an exclusive interview. Satoko Miyahara dazzles during her performance in one of the 2025 Rock Stars on Ice tour stops. (©TRI NGUYEN) SAN JOSE, California ― Three years removed from her competitive career, Satoko Miyahara is just entering the prime of her life and the possibilities going forward are limitless. The 27-year-old Miyahara recently completed a grueling month-long tour of Canada and the United States with "Rock Stars on Ice." This marked the fourth year that the four-time Japan champion has skated with the group, which included the likes of two-time world champion Ilia Malinin and fellow world titlist Alysa Liu. Miyahara took time out from the busy tour schedule for an exclusive interview with Ice Time, where she discussed her illustrious career, current work, and thoughts about the future. Ice Time asked the two-time world medalist how she came to be the only Japanese skater with the Stars on Ice troupe. "When I retired from competition, I really wanted to do shows overseas," Miyahara stated in a quiet room inside the SAP Center before a Sunday afternoon show. "I was skating as a guest skater in Stars on Ice Japan. That was the very first connection. My agent contacted the producer of SOI and asked if I could join the Canadian tour, and the answer was positive." Satoko Miyahara in a recent file photo. (SATOKO MIYAHARA/via INSTAGRAM) Renowned for her beautiful line and edge on the ice, I wondered whether she enjoyed competitions or show skating more. "I think I like shows better, but I really like the training process toward competitions," Miyahara commented. "So it's hard to decide which. Just talking about the actual performance, I like to perform in shows. "I think at competitions I pressure myself too much and I never thought that I did my best programs at competitions. But when it comes to shows, it is more about how you perform, and you can do the programs you really want to do." Satoko Miyahara (JACK GALLAGHER) Her successful career has brought her a legion of fans in various parts of the globe, and along the way she has earned several nicknames. Ice Time wanted to know which one was her favorite. "I adore them all," Miyahara remarked. " 'Satopi' is from (former training partner) Ayaka Hosoda and it's my oldest nickname. 'Satton' comes next because one of my friends who trained with me gave me that name. "It's so funny, to say our nicknames in Western Japan, it's a very Kansai nickname. The pronunciation is Sat-ton, but the people in Kanto cannot really pronounce it right. Even between skaters we always have fun talking about that." The final moniker is believed to have been originally bestowed upon her by foreign fans. " 'Tiny Queen' I love because my fans gave me that name and it always brings me the feeling that I should be honored about myself and be like a tiny queen. I tend to shrink and feel like I am not good enough. 'Tiny Queen' brings the feeling that I should be proud of myself and show my best." Satoko Miyahara Added Miyahara, "I don't know if it was foreign fans or Japanese fans who came up with the nickname, but everybody knows it means me." Satoko Miyahara competes in the women's short program at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. (©SANKEI) When one has had as decorated a career as Miyahara has, I was interested in hearing her memories of the Pyeongchang Olympics, where she came in fourth in 2018. "I was very, very, very happy with both the team event (Japan finished fifth) and my individual event," Miyahara proclaimed. "Both were a great result. For me, the Olympics were the biggest goal, so I was so happy that I was able to get that opportunity to participate in the competition. The whole event felt like I was in a wonderland. That is my biggest memory." Ice Time was in Pyeongchang and vividly remembers Miyahara's outstanding performance, where she finished behind Russians Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva, and Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond. From left, runner-up Satoko Miyahara, gold medalist Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and third-place finisher Elena Radionova in the women's singles competition at the 2015 World Figure Skating Championships in Shanghai. (DAVID W CARMICHAEL/CC BY-SA 3.0/via WIKIMEDIA COMMONS) Miyahara, a two-time Grand Prix Final medalist, considers the 2018 Games to have been the pinnacle of her career, but also cited a couple of other competitions as being high on her list of favorites. "The Pyeongchang Olympics was my highlight," Miyahara recalled. "Also, the very first worlds (2015), where I got the silver medal, those were my two highlights, thinking of the results. "But program-wise, the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona (where she placed second in 2016)," she continued. "I really felt like I was doing my programs without any doubts, [and] I felt really free. Program-wise, performance-wise, that was my best." Rock Stars on Ice performer Satoko Miyahara has participated in its shows in North America since 2022. (JAMES BENNETT) After addressing the glorious moments of a career that earned her seven medals at the Japan Championships, Ice Time wanted to know if she had any competitive regrets. "I don't have any competitions that I regret, but if I can say one, the very last season of my career," Miyahara remembered, referring to her fifth-place finish at the 2021 Japan Championships. "It was the selection competition for the Olympics. I fell on my [triple] lutz and, I don't know, but if I landed it, I might have been selected for the Beijing Olympics." Miyahara continued: "I still question if I had landed it, but it is what it is and I don't regret it at all. I'm so happy right now, so I have no regrets." Satoko Miyahara in 2018. (ⒸSANKEI) To call Miyahara's family successful is a bit of an understatement, as both of her parents are doctors. Ice Time asked for specifics on their fields of practice. "My mom is a hematologist and my father is a lung surgeon," Miyahara noted. Growing up around that high level of professional achievement, I wondered if she felt any anxiety about life after skating. "I don't feel any pressure, because my parents really respect my opinions," Miyahara commented. "They say, 'You should do whatever you want to do.' " She then said, "They support me a lot. Maybe a tiny bit they would like me to attend medical school. I don't know. This is my guess. They really respect me and I respect them." Miyahara, who won the Four Continents Championships in 2016, confessed that she does not have a firm plan about her future path at this time. "I actually do not know what I want to do," Miyahara remarked, adding, "I just want to experience whatever I can. Whatever comes along my path, I would like to try everything and see what I want to do and what I don't want to do. I am searching for what I want to do." Added Miyahara, "I just have to see what I want to do in the future. I think because I don't know what I want to do after skating, that is making me feel worried a little bit." Satoko Miyahara (front row, center) and other members of the 2025 Rock Stars on Ice tour. (SATOKO MIYAHARA/via INSTAGRAM) As she continues her career as a professional skater, Miyahara has begun to dabble in choreography, including creating a new exhibition program for three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto. Ice Time wanted to learn the origin of that arrangement. "I recently started to work with some kids and I did one show program with a senior girl, Miyabi Oba," Miyahara stated. "She's my great, great friend. Because I did that a lot of skaters thought, 'Oh, you do choreography?' Kaori was one of the skaters, and she just texted me, 'Is it OK if I ask you to make my exhibition program?' "I was like, 'It is such an honor, but are you sure that you want me to make your exhibition program?' Miyahara recalled. "And she was like, 'I would love you to.' " Miyahara admitted she had some trepidation about the task. "I was a bit nervous, but I wanted to take on that challenge," Miyahara said, adding, "I really love Kaori, so I accepted it." While she enjoys doing choreography, Miyahara isn't considering it as a primary vocation looking ahead. "I don't see myself doing choreography as a main job in the future. But as a life experience and to bring it to my next career," Miyahara stated. "I think it is going to be a great opportunity and experience. For now, I really enjoy working on choreography and studying about it. It could be a side job in the future." The 152-cm Miyahara was coached by Mie Hamada for her entire career. Ice Time asked for her thoughts on the legendary mentor, who is still going strong. Mie Hamada (KYODO) "She started coaching me when I was seven and a half," and "basically brought me to the Olympics. Baby to the Olympics. She taught me all the basic skills and skating skills, and how to practice, how to train, how to train off ice." Satoko Miyahara on mentor Mie Hamada Added Miyahara, "She brought me to all the amazing choreographers overseas, jump coaches, spin coaches. [And] she took me everywhere that we could go. I think that made me a good skater. I really appreciate her." Having learned under a prominent coach for so many years, the question of whether Miyahara would someday like to coach herself was broached. "Not for now," Miyahara stated. "I have been thinking about if I really want to coach after finishing competing. But so far, I never felt that I wanted to be a coach. It is very difficult." One new assignment that Miyahara has taken on is that of a director for the Japan Skating Federation, which she assumed in September 2024. I asked how that opportunity came about and what it entails. "Ito-san (JSF chief Hidehito Ito) called me and he asked me if I would like to try or not," Miyahara recalled. "He asked if it was OK if he selected me as a director. I had no idea at that time what I could do. [And] I thought it might be a good chance to contribute to the skating world. So I thought I would like to try it." Miyahara then gave a brief description of what her role with the JSF is. "There are a few faculties in the JSF," she noted. "I am in the headquarters. There are meetings and I attend those meetings. We talk about events and how the event went. We discuss how we can make things better. That is what I am doing now. I am still learning about how it all works. We meet once a month, in Tokyo or online." Miyahara's popularity among the skating public and her fellow skaters is well known. Her sublime skating skills, dedication to her craft, and ability to interact with her fellow competitors through the years have made her a highly respected figure in the sport. Kaori Sakamoto (left) and Satoko Miyahara are seen at the Fantasy on Ice show at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on May 31. (KYODO) Ice Time queried Miyahara on who she considered her best friends in skating after all these years. "That is such a hard question," Miyahara replied. "In Japan, probably Kaori, Wakaba [Higuchi] and Rika Hongo. Those three are the closest. Of the boys, Kazuki [Tomono] and Koshiro [Shimada]. I am pretty close to them." Miyahara then said, "I grew up competing with Shoma [Uno], so I know a lot about him. I am very close with [coach and choreographer] Stephane Lambiel, [and] I am also close with the Stars on Ice family members." From left, Japanese skaters Yuzuru Hanyu, Satoko Miyahara, Akiko Suzuki and Takahito Mura are seen in this commemorative photo at a Noto Peninsula reconstruction charity performance in September 2024 in Kanazawa. (©Toru Yaguchi/via SANKEI) Miyahara said she has enjoyed the annual multi-city tours of Canada and the United States with the SOI team. "It's really fun because I like to travel and see the city," Miyahara commented before adding, "it's very interesting to see all the places. I don't really know exactly on the map which city is where, but it's so amazing that I can see all the places and skate there. It's hard to say which city is the best." Miyahara mentioned that the evening performances give her a chance to explore the different stops on the tours. "It's amazing because I get to see all the different venues and rinks," she noted. "We have the shows. Usually Sundays are matinees. Weekdays it is from 7 PM, so I have time during the mornings to walk around." Having spent so much time outside Japan for training, competitions, and shows in her career, Ice Time wanted to know if she was interested in living abroad at some point in the future. "I would like to have the chance to live overseas someday," Miyahara replied with a smile. Author: Jack Gallagher The author is a veteran sports journalist and one of the world's foremost figure skating experts. Find articles and podcasts by Jack on his author page , and find him on X (formerly Twitter) @sportsjapan .
Cision Canada
7 hours ago
- Cision Canada
Bell Media to Make Strategic Investment in Blink49 Studios
– The two companies strike a production and distribution partnership on a slate of Blink49 projects – – The investment, made through Bell Ventures, is set to close this Fall – BANFF, AB, June 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Bell Media announced today that it is making a strategic investment in independent production company, Blink49 Studios. Based in Toronto, Vancouver, and Los Angeles, Blink49 is known for its robust production pipeline and partnership capabilities within Canada, U.S., and Europe. The investment, which sees Bell Media strike, alongside FIFTH SEASON, a production and global distribution partnership with Blink49, further enhances Blink49's capabilities as it continues to grow its slate of scripted and unscripted content. The deal is set to close this Fall. "This investment is another significant step in our continued efforts to enhance the reach of Canadian creatives and deliver impactful storytelling that resonates at home and abroad," said Sean Cohan, President, Bell Media. "John Morayniss and his team have a proven track record of bringing compelling content to the global market, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration with them." "We're incredibly proud of what we've built at Blink49 in just a few short years, and this strategic investment from Bell Media marks an exciting new chapter in our growth," said John Morayniss, CEO, Blink49 Studios. "Under Sean Cohan's leadership and with the support of the talented team at Bell Media who share our commitment to compelling and entertaining storytelling, we're well positioned to significantly expand our slate across both scripted and unscripted content, strengthen our reach in Canada and internationally, and continue building meaningful partnerships that bring bold, creative visions to life." Founded in the fall of 2021, Blink49 Studios is a world-class full-service indie studio focused on the development, production, and distribution of scripted and unscripted television and made-for-TV movies. Bell Media and Blink49 Studios have recently partnered on docuseries QUEEN OF THE CASTLE, and scripted series including DON'T EVEN, LATE BLOOMER, SIGHT UNSEEN, and THE TRADES in addition to two newly announced projects, the upcoming reality series BLUE COLLAR and scripted drama YAGA. Other series produced by Blink49 include drama series WILD CARDS and international reality series BEAST GAMES, among others. Bell Media joins global entertainment leader, FIFTH SEASON, in making a strategic investment in Blink49. Bell Media's investment is made through Bell Ventures which supports Canadian entrepreneurship, helping to drive innovation and accelerate growth for its partners. About Bell Media Bell Media is Canada's leading media and entertainment company with a portfolio of assets in premium video, audio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. This includes Canada's most-watched television network, CTV; the largest Canadian-owned video streamer, Crave, with a premium add-on to include STARZ; a powerful suite of specialty channels; the most-trusted news brand, CTV News; Canada's cross-platform sports leaders, TSN and RDS; leading out-of-home advertising network, Astral; Québec's fast-growing conventional French-language network, Noovo; the country's leading radio and podcast app, iHeartRadio Canada; and a range of award-winning original productions, brands, and services. As a content leader and partner in Sphere Media, Montréal's Grande Studios, and Dome Productions, one of North America's leading production facilities providers, Bell Media is committed to keeping Canadians entertained and informed. Bell Media also offers best-in-class technology, marketing, and analytics support through Bell Marketing Platform, an omnichannel self-serve platform which includes Bell Analytics, Strategic Audience Management (SAM), and Bell DSP, in addition to advanced advertising solutions, including Linear Addressable TV, Addressable Audio, and ads on Crave. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. 1 Learn more at 1 Based on total revenue and total combined customer connections.
Cision Canada
7 hours ago
- Cision Canada
PARAMOUNT+ IN CANADA ANNOUNCES THE PINK PILL, AN ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE FIGHT FOR A FEMALE VIAGRA
BANFF, AB and TORONTO, June 9, 2025 /CNW/ -- Paramount+ in Canada today announced it will be the exclusive Canadian home of THE PINK PILL, the untold story of the fight for a female Viagra and equal access to sexual medicine. Billed by producers as "a wildly entertaining romp into the world of sex and science," the original documentary feature is set to debut on Paramount+ in Canada in fall 2025. Created by Abby Greensfelder's Everywoman Studios, THE PINK PILL explores the taboo subject of women's sexual health through the lens of the trailblazers — and opponents — who have fought relentlessly against the male-focused medical establishment to make female pleasure a priority. The film reveals the many ways women have been sidelined when it comes to their enjoyment of sex, including the story of a libido-boosting solution, or a 'little pink pill', for women facing endless roadblocks in a market saturated with FDA-approved drugs for men's sexual pleasure — but almost nothing for women. THE PINK PILL is directed by award-winning Montreal-based filmmaker Aisling Chin-Yee (No Ordinary Man, The Rest of Us, Plan B) who brings her astute creative vision to this first project from Docs for Change, a collaboration between Catalyst, the Toronto-based studio for woman-identifying creators, and Knix Fund, a philanthropic arm of the game-changing intimates brand Knix. Launched at the 2023 Banff World Media Festival, the initiative supports the development and production of women-centric feature documentaries that embody the principles at the core of both the Knix and Catalyst brands: to create more opportunities for women by amplifying their voices and inspiring change. Vanessa Case, VP, Content, Paramount+ and Pluto TV in Canada, said: " THE PINK PILL doesn't just tell a story — it challenges perspectives, sparks conversation, and puts a spotlight on the challenges women face within the healthcare sector. We are proud to be the home of the first project from Docs for Change and to bring this bold film to screens across Canada, introducing viewers to a powerful story that sheds light on the deep-rooted inequities in women's health." Julie Bristow, Founder of Catalyst, said: "We launched the Docs for Change initiative two years ago at Banff and are excited to bring this inaugural film to Canadian audiences on Paramount+ Canada. It shows what can be accomplished when you bring together a group of women dedicated to financing and producing commercially-driven stories that otherwise might not get told." Abby Greensfelder, Founder and CEO of Everywoman Studios, said: "With THE PINK PILL, we set out to pull back the curtain on a story that's as outrageous as it is overdue — a story about power, stigma, and the systemic silence around women's sexual health. We're proud to partner with Catalyst and Knix through Docs for Change to bring this story to light, and thrilled to work with Paramount+ Canada to make sure it's seen, heard, and talked about." Joanna Griffiths, Founder and President of Knix, said: "At Knix, we've always believed that women's health stories deserve to be heard — loudly, unapologetically, and without shame. THE PINK PILL is a bold, necessary step toward dismantling the stigma around female sexual health and demanding better from a system that has overlooked women for far too long. We're incredibly proud to support this project through the Knix Fund and help bring these conversations to the forefront." THE PINK PILL is produced by Catalyst and Everywoman Studios, with Sphere Media providing production services and Sphere Abacus handling global distribution. Executive producers are Julie Bristow, Abby Greensfelder, Vibika Bianchi, Joanna Griffiths and Aisling Chin-Yee. About Paramount+: Paramount+ is a global digital subscription video streaming service from Paramount that features a mountain of premium entertainment for audiences of all ages. Internationally, the streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including SHOWTIME®, BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel™, in addition to a robust offering of premier local content. The service is currently live in Australia, Austria, Canada, the Caribbean, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latin America, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S. For more information about Paramount+, please visit and follow @ParamountPlusCA on social media. About Catalyst: Catalyst is a mission-driven, for-profit business dedicated to catalysing the creation of commercially viable content for an underserved global market by powering women creators and investing in their ideas. Catalyst partners with women creators and producers to advance their projects from inception through to the full monetisation of content. The company invests strategic, business and creative power in the best ideas, with the aim of ensuring they are realised. For more information about Catalyst, please visit About Knix: Founded by Joanna Griffiths in 2013, Knix is an industry leader in redefining intimates through innovation, inclusivity, and a commitment to breaking boundaries. From pioneering Leakproof underwear to revolutionizing wireless and underwire support, Knix challenges convention with thoughtfully engineered designs that blend function, comfort, and style. With a product range spanning bras, period-proof activewear, customizable shapewear, and everyday essentials available in an extensive size range, Knix continues to set new standards for how intimates should look, feel, and perform. For more information at Knix, please visit or follow @knix and @ktbyknix on social media. About Everywoman Studios: Everywoman Studios is a full-service media company, dedicated to women-fueled content that can create positive cultural impact. Founded in 2019 by veteran producer Abby Greensfelder – creator of global hits such as "Say Yes to the Dress" and "The Last Alaskans," among others – Everywoman Studios currently has a range of non-fiction series and features in development and production across multiple networks and streamers. The company's first feature documentary, LFG – which chronicles the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team's fight for equal pay – premiered in 2021 at The Tribeca Film Festival before launching on HBO Max. The Emmy-nominated film is credited with helping the players achieve equal pay. Greensfelder and Everywoman also founded "Propelle," a content accelerator program for women producers and filmmakers. The first year's winning project, "Prisoner of the Prophet," is streaming now on Discovery+.
