Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Gerber, Sig
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Description area
Dates of existence
History
Sig Gerber, television executive, earned a Radio and Television Arts Diploma in 1964 and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in 1974 from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. His career in journalism began, however, while working as a news reporter-writer for CHUM Radio in Toronto between 1961 and 1964.
In 1964, he started his career with CBC as an assistant film editor. He went on to direct live CBC television information programs, talk shows and multi-camera remotes. From 1967 to 1968, he was the producer of "Luncheon date with Elwood Glover," a live daily television talk show. In 1970, Gerber became a member of the production team for the CBC program "Man alive" in its formative years. He conceived, produced, directed and wrote more than fifty documentary programs that explored faith, religion and spirituality between 1970 and 1976. Gerber became the executive producer for the weekly documentary series, from 1976 to 1977, and assumed responsibility for the editorial, creative and financial controls of "Man alive." His work won several awards, particularly for the episode "I am not what you see."
Gerber continued his work with the CBC from 1977 to 1982 as the executive producer of "Take 30," before becoming the executive producer of the popular CBC television drama "For the record" in 1982. Gerber commissioned, supervised and closely guided the script writing and production of the "For the record," a topical anthology drama series that explored personal stories behind social issues affecting the daily lives of Canadians. His work on "For the record" won several awards and nominations, including a Rocky Award for "Ready for slaughter" (Best TV Drama, 1983) and a Gemini Award for "Oakmount High" (Best Short Drama, 1986). Gerber also won Red Ribbon (1985) and Prix Anik (1986) awards for his production of "Turning to stone," a two-hour CBC television movie that depicted the life of a young first-time offender sentenced to Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario. With the conclusion of the "For the record" series, Gerber continued his work as an executive producer with the CBC's "Marketplace," an investigative reporting information series. He then became the Area Head of CBC English Television current affairs department. Between 1996 and 1999, Gerber directed and managed the editorial content and production of nine weekly series, including "the fifth estate," "Witness," "Life and times" and "Venture." Gerber returned to "Man alive" as a creative program consultant for its 2000-2001 season for thirteen half-hour documentaries.
Gerber worked for the CBC as an instructor teaching investigative reporting and television production skills from 1995 until his retirement in 1999, and has continued to be involved in broadcasting as a freelance media consultant, journalism teacher, and trainer.