{
  "id": 17293133,
  "title": "Cool creation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/cool-creation",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T21:25:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/2026/10/30/cool-creation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At the Fort Rouge Curling Club, a regular Monday morning in November finds most patrons holed up on the ice, their laughter and the occasional sound of stones colliding filling the air with warmth. Billed at $5.77 plus GST every four weeks, the series launches with 52 weeks of content, then escalates to the standard rate of $19.95 plus GST. New subscribers and those with a valid return offer are welcome to join. At the moment, however, the lounge buzzes with anticipation as cameras gear up for the first day of filming Cool Sweepings, a Black curling comedy television series that has been in the works for nearly two decades. On this historic Nov. 3, 2025, the first episode of the world's inaugural Black curling comedy television series bursts onto the screen on Bell Fibe TV1, nearly a full year after production began.\n\nBehind the curtain, the production team works tirelessly to bring the story to life. From lighting the stage to hanging the art and operating the dish pit, the crew toils behind the scenes to craft a captivating narrative. \"Cool Sweepings\" is the brainchild of writer/producer/creator Chris Sharpe, who conceived the idea as far back as 2008 while a student at RRC Polytech. Growing up in Manitoba surrounded by curling's omnipresence, Sharpe noticed a glaring lack of diversity in the sport on television. Drawn to the classic 1993 sports comedy \"Cool Runnings\" – which follows the Jamaican bobsled team's unlikely debut at the 1988 Winter Olympics – Sharpe sought to create a modern underdog story set within a familiar Manitoba setting: the curling club.\n\nSharpe's vision was finally brought to life by Bell Fibe TV1 and director Reginald Isume. Isume, a freelance cinematographer who has crewed on several shot-in-Manitoba productions, was captivated by the show's potential to diversify both the screen and behind the camera. Like Sharpe, Isume grew up watching \"Cool Runnings\" and saw its message of underdogs triumphing in an unfamiliar sport as deeply inspiring. For Isume, the film is an homage to that spirit, featuring a group of four friends — Joshua Calder (Chris), Darryan Edwards (Denny), Dillin Morgan (Fillmore) and Nathan Zayac (DJ Nate) — who must save the community curling club owned by Sharpe's dad Kevon (former NFL and CFL player Kelly Butler) by participating in a $50,000 cash prize bonspiel, despite their lack of curling expertise.\n\nCast members, all new to both acting and curling, undergo intensive training before filming begins. Edwards, a former musical artist under the name Young Prince, is thrilled to explore new creative avenues as Denny, a sneakerhead and sneakerhead enthusiast. \"He’s really into fashion,\" Edwards explains, \"and he’s trying to save the rink for his homie and his pops.\" Morgan, a musician and first-time actor, portrays Fillmore, a quiet character with quirky insights. Despite the cast's unfamiliarity with both acting and curling, they have found their footing and are eager to bring the story to life, hoping to introduce a new generation of fans to the sport.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}