Counterfeit Pictures is a full-service production company based in
Toronto, Canada.
Counterfeit is known for comedy. We have a strong slate of scripted and stand up projects and between us, a long history of working with some of the biggest and funniest names in the business. From network comedies to dark cable half-hours, from absurdist sketch to warm-hearted mockumentary, from stand-up specials to comedic panel shows, we like to make you laugh.
Counterfeit: Because you
can’t fake quality.
Counterfeit also likes to make you cry, scream, or panic. We are developing big-ticket drama series. Serial killers. Terrorists. Anti-heroes. But we’re not opposed to a story about family. (I mean, aren’t they all in a way?)
We believe in finding and supporting unique voices–established or emerging–and helping realize the perfect vehicle for them. We invest in original ideas and original people. We think collaboration is the best path to excellence, and that you can achieve excellence without sacrificing playfulness. We want to make something great, and we’d like to have a great time doing it. If you aren’t proud of your work, then we haven’t done our job.
The Team
Anton Leo
Partner / Executive Producer
With a career that began in the previous millennia, Anton has developed, produced and commissioned an array of television as an independent producer and broadcaster. He has been a consultant and freelance producer for Just For Laughs Television, where he produced specials and series including the Amazon documentary series Inside Jokes and the Netflix series Comedians Of The World. As a broadcaster, Anton enjoyed eight years at CBC Television as the Creative Head of Comedy, a Production Executive, and an Executive Producer. That said, he still considers his greatest accomplishment to be his memorable performance as “waiter with tray” in a late 1970s beer commercial.
Shane Corkery
Partner / Executive Producer
Shane Corkery is a co-founder of Counterfeit Pictures, within which he is known as, “the excitable one.” Prior to Counterfeit, Shane was a producer on Little Mosque on the Prairie, Manager of Development at WestWind Pictures, an assistant director on Corner Gas, and played a dead body in Graveyard Alive: A Zombie Nurse in Love. Shane is also an unrepentant film addict, graphic designer, and co-wrote a book that appeared on the Montreal Gazette best-seller list for a single week in 2000, under suspicious circumstances.
Dan Bennett
Partner / Executive Producer
Dan’s life-long passion for television began at the age of 8, when an episode of America’s Most Wanted filmed across the street from his childhood home and a kind producer allowed him to sneak into several scenes, (a true story!). Many years later, Dan joined WestWind Pictures where he eventually became the VP of Business Affairs, overseeing both production and distribution of a large slate of shows including the international hit Little Mosque on the Prairie. As a partner in Counterfeit, Dan is believer in creative deal making behind the scenes, and loves working to support the vision of creators in front of the camera.
Zoe Rabnett
Director of Talent – Television and Audio
Zoe knows and loves Canadian comedy. As a junior agent right out of school, she learned about representing comedians and producing live shows. Prior to Counterfeit, in her position as Director of Canadian & International Programming at Just For Laughs, Zoe was responsible for finding and booking the best comedy talents from across Canada and from around the world. Scouting talent year round, Zoe programmed countless festivals, tours, and TV productions. In the past two years, she assembled and worked with hundreds of comedians to create more than 25 audio albums under the Just For Laughs Originals label. She has been a producer on the Counterfeit / Just For Laughs co-productions of Roast Battle Canada (CTV Comedy), Comedy Night with Rick Mercer (CBC), The Stand Up Show (CTV Comedy) and a variety of stand up specials for Crave. Zoe’s passion and enthusiasm for Canadian comedy is her focus as she seeks out unique and funny voices to collaborate with. And yes, you’re right, she sure claims to know a lot about comedy for someone whose bio contains zero jokes.
Chris Kelley
Director of Scripted Television
Hailing from Carleton County, New Brunswick, Chris Kelley has worked in many facets of Canadian entertainment. From being a video store clerk to playing a video store clerk on TV, he’s done some of it. In his previous role as production executive for Bell Media, Chris was involved in the development and production of original comedies including Children Ruin Everything, Letterkenny, Shoresy, Late Bloomer, New Eden, Acting Good, Corner Gas Animated, The Indian Detective, Bria Mack Gets a Life, Shelved, Roast Battle Canada, Jann, Don’t Even, Super Team Canada and The Office Movers. He also oversaw comedy specials by Mark Forward, Aisha Brown, Robby Hoffman, Tom Henry, DJ Demers, Chris Locke, Sophie Buddle, Graham Kay, Chris Robinson, DeAnne Smith, Paul Rabliauskas, Kyle Brownrigg and Dave Merheje. I hear he also created the HBO series ‘The Sopranos.’
Sharla Sidon
Coordinator
Since entering the entertainment scene at the age of 13 and gaining viral recognition in a PSA (extra bonus points if you know), Sharla effortlessly navigates between on-screen and behind-the-scenes roles. Beyond the spotlight, she has worked with Stephanie Gorin in casting, interned in development at Marblemedia, and immersed herself in the magic of production, lending her skills to notable series like Jane (Apple TV+), Sort Of Season 2 (CBC), Run The Burbs Season 2 (CBC), and Davey and Jonesie’s Locker (Amazon Prime) before becoming an integral part of the Counterfeit team. With a passion for storytelling, Sharla enjoys bringing stories to life.