TORONTO, March 16, 2006 – CHUM Television has ordered three new original dramas – The Murdoch Mysteries, a 13-episode spin off of the hugely-successful made-for-television movie franchise, Blood Ties, based on the popular Tanya Huff vampire novels and the mystery series Across the River to Motor City.With this announcement, genre fans get something new in Blood Ties. I've read a couple of early scripts for this show, and they're good fun. I don't know about the Murdoch Mysteries, but it sounds intriguing.
“CHUM has a long history of support for homegrown production and these series will see us continue and grow our commitment to Canadian drama that connects with our viewers,” said Roma Khanna, Senior Vice President, Content, CHUM Television. “We will be bringing our audiences three exciting new programs that are set in Canada and feature strong, dynamic, original storylines that combine universal appeal with a uniquely Canadian perspective.”
“We are very excited about these productions”, said Diane Boehme, Senior Director, Independent Production, CHUM Television. “Blood Ties will appeal to anyone with a thirst for romance and vampire lore while Across the River to Motor City offers engaging characters and a unique perspective that has not previously been explored on television. The Murdoch Mysteries were so well received as MOWs, that we felt obligated to satisfy our audiences’ very clear desire for more.”
The Murdoch Mysteries, from Shaftesbury Films, builds on the success of the highly-rated Detective Murdoch Mysteries made-for-television movies adapted from Maureen Jennings’ best-selling mystery novels. The series, set in 1895 Toronto, combines compelling Victorian tales of murder with the fast-paced, visually-intriguing styles of today’s leading crime series. Casting and pre-production for the series is expected to begin this summer. (13 x 60’)
Blood Ties is based on Tanya Huff’s internationally popular “Blood” novels. When her latest love interest turns out to be a 450-year-old vampire and the caseload of her fledgling P.I. agency shifts from fraud artists and cheating spouses to battles with ghosts, ghouls, zombies and demons, ex-police detective Vicki Nelson realizes that her life will never be the same. The series will be produced by Kaleidoscope Entertainment and goes into production later this summer. (22 X 60’)
Across the River to Motor City is a mystery series spanning two eras, two countries and two unforgettable characters. As an insurance investigator in 1960s Windsor and Detroit, Ben Ford weathered the storms of those tumultuous years. Four decades later, a long-buried tragedy leads his daughter Kathleen to unravel the secrets and lies at the heart of her troubled relationship with her father – secrets Ben will risk everything to keep. The series is being produced by Jonsworth Productions in association with Devine Entertainment and will begin shooting in the fall. (6 x 60’)
Canadian TV is changing, and with the CRTC's increased demand on drawing ratings, a lot of hard choices are going to need to start being made about ongoing programs. CHUM reflects this in the release, too, with the revelation that their current series Godiva's and The Collector are not being renewed.
And now we come to the part of the story where I reveal how I've buried the lead:
I'm the co-creator of Across the River To Motor City, with a man named Bob Wertheimer, who was also the co-creator and Executive Producer (and my boss!) of the show I wrote in South Africa, in 2004, Charlie Jade.
Looks like I have a busy summer ahead. I'm going to have to rethink what and how much I'll be able to write about the process here on this blog. As we've talked about before, the writing room is a place of trust, and production is a fragile and stressful experience. I have partners now. And making television, well, it's a bit like making law and sausages...you don't really want to see the process up close -- even if you think you do.
For a guy with a big mouth, I've always prided myself on being fairly circumspect and professional in my dealings in this business. I like being enthusiastic, and I like working with people, and being able to trust people. And I like it when they trust me. And that's going to be even more important now.
But...don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled.
This is a big step forward for me. Huge, actually, as I've only been a hired gun up to now. I'm sure I'll be able to talk about the process obliquely here and there. But if occasionally you don''t see my normal fist to the groin level of candor about my day-to-day projects, I hope you'll understand.
This blog has always been a procrastination enabler and focuser and a work in progress -- and I hope both those things can continue. Hell, if the Scary Movie guy can keep writing, I should be able to handle blogging and a six pack!
Though... I'm not sure I'll be doing a lot of procrastinating over the next few months. Eep.
Anyway. Yay!
18 comments:
Nicely done. Wish I lived in Canada (for many reasons). It's always nice to see a link on my blogroll make good. Kind of ups the reflected glare of glory.
And don't worry about not blogging about the inner workings of your show. You can bog about ANYTHING if you are a TV hotshot. (Case in point: although I hang on every word of writing wisdom that Jane Espenson posts, I actually dial in the feed every day to find out what she had for lunch.)
Congratulations.
Congratulations!!!!!
Con-fuckin-gratulations!
Top drawer, sir! Top drawer!
No, you should keep right on blogging. “Place of trust” my arse. The Room isn’t a jury lockup. There was no way, in previous generations, to write about the Room. Now there is. You’re confusing a historical (“an” historical) inability to cover one’s own work in near–real time with a responsibility not to do it.
Among other options, I don’t see why you can’t just give your cowriters pseudonyms. Or just start a group blog. The Writers’ Room must accept that the century in which it operates is the 21st.
Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. In fact, I'm going to go have some celebratory drinks. For you. Yeah.
Definitely YAY! I'll refrain from breaking into song, unless you know... you like when people do that.
Congrats!
Congratulations! We got ourselves here a Made Man!
Knock it out of the park!
Mazel tov.
Fucker.
Just when I get your blog linked to my daily read list, after clearing out all the old shit, you have to go and start producing a show, which means this blog will get short shrift.
Man, success fucking sucks, at least for those of us not sharing in it. We have to wait around until you can spare a few moments for those of us who were here for you when the glitterati had better things to do.
BTW, is there such a thing as Canadian glitterati? Now that you're part of it you'd know, right? I mean, I know a few famous Canadians and they don't glitter so much. More like a slight shimmer.
So I guess congrats are in order.
Fucker.
Felicitations!
Look forward to seeing it.
To your excellent news, I raise a glass of 12 year old Balvenie Doublewood scotch on the rocks.
I'll miss the daily updates on the blog, but it is more than worth it! Congrats.
Well, I knew the big announcement was coming. I didn't know the details, of course. Just that you were working on getting your own series on CHUM and things were looking good. Really good.
I'm really happy for you, Denis. I say this with a twinge of bittersweet regret, knowing that my friend Jon's show got the shaft so the money could be spent producing these new shows for CHUM, instead. It's a rough business, very cruel and unfair to even the most hard-working and deserving of showbiz folk.
Mucho congrats, my dear. I only hope that CHUM doesn't fuck you over the way they've done to Jon.
KJC
PS: say, is there a role available for my chocolate snuggle-bunny, Ty B?)
Congrats Denis! Amazing news. Still working with Bob, huh? Hopefully you're not allergic to cigar smoke.
Nice one, geezer.
If the blog goes, the blog goes, but try and keep in touch somehow, yeah?
Wa-hey!
That's brilliant news.
Understand that you can't get into the nitty-gritty of the room. That's right and good.
But anything you can give us about the writing experience from the inside would be uber-double-helpful.
And if you can't - hell, the blog's good as it is.
Piers
You dead sexy bitch!
Seriously, that's fabulous... you've been teased so much in the last while, it's great to hear that was you working your way up and not just the insane machinations of a demented child-god who delights in tormenting the righteous.
Can revenge over your invisible enemies be far off? Gawd I hope not!
Well, that explains the "Reccy to Detroit and Windsor"
from a little while ago...
Congratulations!!
Congrats!
Now, if you don't want to chatter about the process of The Room, just tell us who is sleeping with whom. Ahhh show biz.
Post a Comment