From Degrassi Street to Sunset Boulevard: CTV Summer Movie Event
PARADISE CITY Heads to Hollywood, August 30

– DEGRASSI GOES HOLLYWOOD features celebrity guest stars including
Jason Mewes, Pete Wentz, Kevin Smith, Perez Hilton, Kelly Carlson,
Michael Seater and Vivica A. Fox as MTV’s Dan Levy makes acting debut –

– Art imitates life as real-life DEGRASSI actors continue to hit the
big-time –

– Directed by DEGRASSI alum Stefan Brogren and featuring original musical
performances by Jake Epstein and Cassie Steele –

– Official Soundtrack “Degrassi Goes Hollywood” featuring original songs
available now online and in stores on August 25 –

– Additional PARADISE CITY content available online at CTV.ca –
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TORONTO, Aug. 4 /CNW/ – It’s a southward migration that happens every
year: droves of aspiring actors and musicians from across Canada head to
Hollywood in hopes of making it big. Now, as real-life DEGRASSI actors become
hotter than ever in Tinseltown, CTV presents the two-hour CTV Summer Movie
event PARADISE CITY: DEGRASSI GOES HOLLYWOOD, premiering Sunday, August 30 at
8 p.m. ET. Featuring all-new original musical performances, the CTV Original
Movie stars VAMPIRE DIARIES’ Nina Dobrev, Spring Awakening’s Jake Epstein,
Cassie Steele, Lauren Collins, Adamo Ruggiero and Stacey Farber.

(xx) Media Note (xx) Download photos from PARADISE CITY: DEGRASSI GOES
HOLLYWOOD at http://www.ctvmedia.ca.

In the first-ever DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION movie event, art imitates
life following the enormous success of real-life DEGRASSI actors. As Paige and
Manny seek the Hollywood spotlight in PARADISE CITY, DEGRASSI actors continue
to hit the big time in reality:

Aubrey Graham (Jimmy Brooks), has taken the music scene by storm as
rapper Drake; Nina Dobrev (Mia Jones) sees her fame factor multiply this fall
as the star of the new CTV/CW big buzz drama THE VAMPIRE DIARIES; Shenae
Grimes (Darcy Edwards) begins her second season of 90210; while Jake Epstein
(Craig Manning), continues to tour North America as the lead in the Tony
Award-winning musical Spring Awakening.

In PARADISE CITY, hopes are realized, dreams are dashed and relationships
are changed forever. Manny (Cassie Steele) and the Degrassi gang including Mia
(Nina Dobrev), Sav (Raymond Ablack), Danny (Dalmar Abuzeid) and Peter (Jamie
Johnston) venture to L.A. on a cross-continent road trip with Manny’s past
love Jay (Mike Lobel) at the wheel. Everyone is hoping to score parts in
Mewesical High, a big-budget movie musical directed by Jason Mewes under the
mentorship of Kevin Smith. But, it’s not all limo rides and personal
assistants. The Hollywood experience leads to the rekindling of old flings, a
lot of heartache and deep soul searching as the aspiring stars are reminded
that the rise to the top isn’t always smooth sailing.

Meanwhile, as personal assistant to reality television star Hailey Montel
(DAN FOR MAYOR’s Mary Ashton), Paige (Lauren Collins) is reluctantly accepting
that in life you work from the ground up. So when Hollywood hands Paige a
shortcut to fame and fortune, she jumps at the opportunity and takes Marco
(Adamo Ruggiero) and Ellie (Stacey Farber) along for the ride.

Back in Toronto, Manny (Cassie Steele) has immersed herself in her
university theatre program and is committed to becoming an “actor of
substance.” Already the star of Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh?, Manny
blows an opportunity to star in Mewes’ newest feature before she decides to
follow her dream and head on a road trip to L.A. to win the back the role.

“PARADISE CITY: DEGRASSI GOES HOLLYWOOD is DEGRASSI like you have never
seen it before,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and
Channels, CTV Inc. “With a stunning Hollywood backdrop, favourite DEGRASSI
cast members and unbelievable guest stars, this movie is a great way to say
goodbye to summer.”

PARADISE CITY: DEGRASSI GOES HOLLYWOOD will air on Saturday, September 5
at 9 p.m. ET and 12 a.m. ET on MuchMusic. An encore will air on Sunday,
September 6 at 4 p.m. ET on MuchMusic.

Following the television broadcast of PARADISE CITY, the movie will be
available on demand on The CTV Video Player at CTV.ca. The movie will be
complemented at CTV.ca with two original music videos featuring favourite
DEGRASSI cast members, and the behind-the-scenes featurette “Hooray For
Hollywood”.

PARADISE CITY: DEGRASSI GOES HOLLYWOOD features musical numbers performed
by cast members and guest stars, including “Crash My Party” and “Life is a
Show” performed by Cassie Steele. Dance sequences in the movie are
choreographed by SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA choreographer Amy Wright.
The songs, including “Rescue You” and “Swan Song” performed by Jake Epstein,
are featured on the PARADISE CITY: DEGRASSI GOES HOLLYWOOD official
soundtrack, “Degrassi Goes Hollywood,” available for sale now online and in
retailers across the country on August 25.

PARADISE CITY is a new milestone in the storied DEGRASSI franchise which
continues to not only produce stars in front of the camera, but behind the
scenes as well. DEGRASSI has had a tremendous impact on the Canadian Film and
Television Industry, as writers and producers who started out working under
the mentorship of executive producer Linda Schuyler are now some of the most
sought-after production executives in the industry. Virginia Thompson, who
started out as a junior production assistant on DEGRASSI JUNIOR HIGH, became
the executive producer of the hit comedy series CORNER GAS. Sean Reycraft, a
story editor on DEGRASSI: TNG, is now a producer on 90210, and Sudz
Sutherland, a story coordinator on DEGRASSI, became the director of the
award-winning movie DOOMSTOWN and also the series WILD ROSES. Most recently,
Stefan Brogren, who played Archie “Snake” Simpson on the original series and
the current incarnation, has added producer and director to his credit list,
including PARADISE CITY.

“The DEGRASSI franchise has had such longevity as a result of continuing
to break barriers, foster innovative ideas and develop stars in the Canadian
production community, both behind and in front of the camera,” said Boyce.

“Being part of the DEGRASSI evolution for over half my life has been
nothing short of amazing,” said Stefan Brogren, director of PARADISE CITY:
DEGRASSI GOES HOLLYWOOD. “Adding producing and directing to my acting credits
in the series has been a remarkable experience for me. All the DEGRASSI cast
and crew gave me tons of support as I stepped up as director of the movie.”

Returning to the screen for this special Hollywood instalment are
DEGRASSI alumni Adamo Ruggiero (Marco), Jake Epstein (Craig), Lauren Collins
(Paige), and Stacey Farber (Ellie). Also starring in the movie are DEGRASSI
cast members Cassie Steele (Manny), Mike Lobel (Jay), Nina Dobrev (Mia),
Raymond Ablack (Sav), Dalmar Abuzeid (Danny) and Jamie Johnston (Peter).

Joining the DEGRASSI cast in PARADISE CITY are acclaimed
Director/Producer/Actor Kevin Smith (Clerks, Dogma) and Jason Mewes (Zack and
Miri Make a Porno, Clerks), who play themselves, while scouting talent for and
directing the film Mewesical High. The movie also features guest cameos by
actresses Kelly Carlson (NIP/TUCK) and Vivica A. Fox (CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM),
celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, and Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz. Also, making
his dramatic television debut is MTV’s THE AFTER SHOW co-host Dan Levy who
plays Robbie, a young Hollywood producer.

“I have only the warmest of thoughts for Canada, and DEGRASSI is an
institution there,” said Perez Hilton, PerezHilton.com. “So, now, I hope this
officially makes me an honorary Canadian! I had the best time filming my cameo
and I can’t wait to watch the movie, like everyone else!”

“I had so much fun shooting Degrassi Goes Hollywood!” said Dan Levy, Host
of MTV’s THE AFTERSHOW. “It was my very first acting gig, and I couldn’t have
asked to spend it with a better group of people!”

DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION airs Sundays at 7:30 p.m. ET on CTV and
Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET on MuchMusic and returns for a ninth
season in 2009/2010 on CTV.

Episodes of DEGRASSI are available online on The CTV Video Player and
from popular online download stores. Also check out Degrassi’s award-winning
Website at http://www.degrassi.ctv.ca, winner of the 2003 Gemini for Most Popular
Website and Best Interactive Award in 2003 and 2002.

DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION is produced by Epitome Pictures in
association with CTV. The series was co-created by Linda Schuyler, co-producer
of the original Degrassi series and Yan Moore. Schuyler and Stephen Stohn
serve as Executive Producers. Sara Snow executive produces. Distribution
company Program Partners launched the series into U.S. syndication in
September 2007. Trish Williams is the CTV production executive working with
the series. Brett Burlock is Director, Program Development for CTV. Susanne
Boyce is President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc.

CTV, Canada’s Olympic Network, is also Canada’s largest private
broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and
entertainment programming, CTV is Canada’s most-watched television network.
CTV Inc. also owns radio stations across the country and owns or has interests
in leading national specialty channels, featuring news, sports, factual, arts,
entertainment, music, youth and fashion programming. CTV Inc. is owned by
CTVglobemedia Inc., Canada’s premier multi-media company, which also owns
Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail. CTV is the official
broadcaster of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and
London 2012 Games of the Olympiad. More information about CTV may be found on
the company website at http://www.ctv.ca.

For further information: Amanda Rinaldo, CTV Inc., (416) 384-5325 or
amanda.rinaldo@ctv.ca; Jim Quan, CTV Inc., (416) 384-5311 or jim.quan@ctv.ca