It takes a village to turn me into an actor. A heritage village, in fact, such as Westfield Heritage Village just outside Hamilton, Ontario. It was there last September where I shot a scene opposite Jonny Harris and Charles Vandervaart on Canada’s top-rated drama series, Murdoch Mysteries. The episode, “Annabella Cinderella,” airs (and streams) tonight
Two weeks ago in Cannes I had the pleasure of catching up with Lauren Lee Smith, star of the CBC historical drama Frankie Drake Mysteries. She even sat for a breezy, two-and-a-half minute video chat (above). The Vancouver native was in the south of France to promote international sales of Frankie at MIPCOM. The CBC
CANNES — Canada’s two major TV and film funding agencies — to whom, full disclosure, I have to thank for my trip to MIPCOM this year — always try to showcase the country as a perfect international partner for buying, selling and making television. On Tuesday, Telefilm and The Canada Media Fund showcased three very
The third week of September is still when stuff gets real in any new TV season. Several shows launch this very week, including the new version of Magnum,P.I. and the Lost-in-reverse drama Manifest (Monday), FBI and the hospital drama New Amsterdam (Tuesday), the This is Us/”Big Chill” wannabee A Million Little Things (Wednesday), the Murphy
Wendy Crewson chews the scenery to bits in Monday night’s opening episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries. Trust a TV veteran to get the tone just right. Crewson guests as a gold digger with a secret that links her to the main character, flirty, flapper-era detective Frankie Drake (played by Lauren Lee Smith). The series premieres
CANNES — You didn’t need Detective Murdoch to solve this mystery — Christina Jennings was just honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. It happened Sunday night at the Content Innovation Awards, held each year as part of the international television marketplace MIPCOM. The Shaftesbury chairman and CEO was recognized for staying out front in the increasingly disruptive
OTTAWA – Many politicians say they don’t have time to watch TV. They do, however, through various funding agencies, help to pay for it. One of the top agencies, The Canada Media Fund, brought TV stars and politicians together earlier this month in a talent showcase held directly across from Parliament Hill. Gathered inside the beautifully restored
GUELPH, Ont. — I took a step back in time this week as I visited the set of the upcoming CBC historical drama Frankie Drake. The 11-episode, first season order is set in the roaring twenties. Lauren Lee Smith (The Listener) stars as Drake, a kick-ass lady detective patrolling the mean streets of muddy York. By