Link to this - it's cool!!

http://www.quillandquire.com/blog/

From WERNER PATELS — THE ALBERTA PUNDIT:Murdoch Mysteries: Great Canadian TV

If you were to believe every word that John Doyle writes about Canadian content, you could be forgiven for thinking that Canadian broadcasters produced the biggest dreck in TV land out there. Sometimes his observations are quite spot-on, but not for the reasons he cites.

Most times Canadian TV productions serve only one objective: to preach left-wing propaganda, rather than to entertain. We regularly see characters who are the scum of the earth (e.g., drug users), yet somehow the writers always find a way to glorify them – often in such ways that it is hard not to see some kind of hidden message: "You should try some of those fine drugs too. Don't listen to any of the right-wing nuts who keep telling you that drugs are bad for you."

To me, that kind of TV is not only real dreck; it is also highly irresponsible and reckless.

I liked, for example, DaVinci's Inquest, because overall it was a good show with a well-woven narrative. But that show, too, glorified the dregs of society in Vancouver – the ones I would have washed away in a Great Flood a long time ago if I had the necessary divine powers.

It is therefore so refreshing to see a Canadian production that is not only well-made and of professional quality, but also highly entertaining, funny and, most important of all, not preachy at all: The Murdoch Mysteries.

The series is based on the novels by Maureen Jennings, who also acts as creative consultant to the TV production. Season Two is currently in production and will air in early 2009.

If you're on Facebook, consider joining the Murdoch Mysteries Appreciation Society if you're a fan.

As a side note, it's good to see Tom Craig in that show. He's a "graduate" of Coronation Street, where he played the character of Tommy Harris. When Canadian TV productions start importing British talent, you know that we're finally on the right track.

Five shots from Crescent Park Moose Jaw

This is from 6:30 in the morning last Saturday and I was running around with my new Gitzo tripod with the Really Right Stuff ball head attached so that I could get "tack sharp images". Ever the photographer striving for perfection. I think my favourite is the view accross the bridge where the cross is waiting for me to photograph.
Kind of a yucky morning that day, but hey, you gotta make the best of it. I plan to put together and album of "Moose Jaw Images and put it up online as well as make some gigantic prints.
I'll let you know when I get that together.
I noticed they said "Spring 2009" for the broadcast. Not sure what that means as sometimes Spring can refer to February to May. Let's see.
The first two episodes are finished (11 to go) and I ran into Farhad, today our director for block one. He told me that Maureen would be very happy. I know we will, we love his work.
I also ran into Don Mcbrearty and if you remember he was the director of Let Loose the Dogs and Elementary My Dear Murdoch, two of our favourite episodes from last year. He's excited to be back on the show and his episodes will start shooting mid August. He is called The Director in Prep at the moment.
We're going to the set twice next week, Monday to see the rodeo stuff, and Wednesday to see Murdoch dancing.
No pics I'm afraid but I'll give you a full report, promise.
Okay maybe one or two pics of dancing shoes and horses hoofs.
More later

A Press release from today - I wrote "Yeah!" in the comment spot

Cameras Rolling on Second Season of Shaftesbury Films’ Murdoch Mysteries

From a media release:

Premieres in Spring 2009 on Citytv
Shaftesbury Films is pleased to announce that production has begun on season two of its successful one-hour drama series Murdoch Mysteries (13 X 60’). Filming runs until November 11 in Toronto and Hamilton, with days scheduled to shoot in Calgary and Vancouver. The second season of Murdoch Mysteries will air on Citytv in spring 2009.

Based on Maureen Jennings’s popular Detective Murdoch Mystery novels, Murdoch Mysteries is set in 1895 Toronto, and explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a handsome young detective who uses radical forensic techniques to solve some of the city’s most gruesome murders. Murdoch’s small circle of confidantes includes pathologist Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy), a staunch ally who shares the detective’s fascination with forensic science, and Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris), Murdoch’s eager but inexperienced right-hand man. Though his unconventional approach elicits skepticism from his boss, Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig), Murdoch is often the only one who can crack the case.

Murdoch Mysteries is executive produced by Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie for Shaftesbury Films and Cal Coons. It is produced by Peter Meyboom and Laura Harbin for Shaftesbury Films and Shauna Jamison. Series directors include Paul Fox (Life with Derek), Farhad Mann (Painkiller Jane), and Don McBrearty (ReGenesis); and director of photography is Jim Jeffrey (Blue Murder). Production executives are Alain Strati and Diane Boehme for Citytv, Noel Hedges for Granada and Alexandra Finlay for UKTV.

Murdoch Mysteries is developed and produced by Shaftesbury Films, in association with Citytv, a division of Rogers Media Inc., Granada International and UKTV, and with the assistance of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit, the Canadian Television Fund and the Independent Production Fund. Granada International has worldwide distribution rights (excluding Canada and UK TV rights).

Two happy campers and images from Moose Jaw

Does it get any better than this? Just got home from one of the best writers conferences we have ever attended.
I did so much photography on the river yesterday, my wife wanted to throw me overboard.
Ah we had a great time and now back to hard work.
Be back later with more stuff for you.
PS Saskatchewan and Moose Jaw is one of the nicest places to visit. The spa is fantastic and the people are so friendly.
We want to convince the writers and the producers of Murdoch to set part of an episode there next year. There is a tremendous amount of history related to the Chinese community set in Moose Jaw during the late 1800's and early 1900's. It breaks your heart. But our show is also about telling Canadian stories through the eyes of history, crime stories, and we are creating a national audience, we hope to sell the idea of shooting in Moose Jaw for a few days next year. Maureen has a great story idea.

The second day was a big one

Well I shot this car on top of a building here in sunny Moose Jaw, and I felt it needed a tweek and a look.
In the meantime my wife was getting ready to do this big panel hosted by the books editor from the Globe and Mail, Martin Levin. Packed house for these authors.
I of course needed to preoccupy myself with my camera which has sensor dust all over it and needs to be cleaned. Don't ask, I am frustrated, but you cannot see the spots as I got rid of them.
The big GOH at this fest is Giller winner Elizabeth Hay who won Canada's version of it's own Booker Prize this year. Funnily enough Shaftesbury has the option on her book and Maureen and I of course sang the praises of Christina and the whole gang at Shaftesbury.
Hey, next week they start shooting a big "western" episode of Murdoch, and here we are out in the wild wild west of Canada in Saskatchewan. The weather is quite mild. Ahh that would be a cool title for a show eh?
The Murdoch Mysteries, episode X, Murder in The Mighty Wild West. Wait and see!

Moose Jaw is infrared and we love it

Maureen has arrived. I say arrived in the sense that this is a "literary festival" and she is the sole invited mystery author amongst some of the hoiti toiti of the Canadian Lit world.
Elizabeth Hay is here, this years Giller winner, Frances Itani, Donna Morrisey, Martin Levin, the Globe and Mail book review editor, and many more.
So it was with low expectations we had for her talk and reading at ten this morning.
Well, . . . it was standing room only and Maureen read from A Journeyman to Grief and did a demo with a volunteer, of the "Spanish Stoop". If you have read the book, you will understand what that is and if you have not, go out and read it, "Journeyman" has been touted as her best, I like to think of it as the last link the current chain of Murdoch's life, more will come later on in his life, down the road.
Anyway it was a great talk and there were lots of questions and great discussion.
She has a panel tomorrow morning followed by a reading she will do of The K Handshape.
I took this shot of the main street of Moose Jaw at about 6:45 this morning. The light was great, but I still decided to do this black and white conversion.
The series shifts to north of Toronto for about 7 days starting next week and then back down to the city.
We plan to go to the set the day that Murdoch and Ogden are going to dance together again. That is happening the last week of July, and I am trying to convince Maureen to let us be background, dancing along with Murdoch. But she is reluctant and shy.
She should do it!! But she has other ideas about a cameo which is Sherlockian in nature and disguise oriented, similar to Holmes when he visits an opium den.
More about that later.
Talk soon

We're off to Moose Jaw tomorrow at 7 am

For the Festival of Words, an annual literary festival in the middle of Saskatchewan. This is a paid gig for Maureen and they pay for the travel, meals, and the resort.
We'll be there til Monday am and apparently the resort is a "spa".
I am looking forward to taking lots of photos of the area, and will post and report on how things are going.
The series is about to shift gears. They are close to wrapping the first block of (two) episodes, and the production moves straight into block two which shoots for three weeks.
They go on location for a number of days next week north of the city and I sure hope they get a slight cooling effect. There is a heat alert here in Toronto for the next few days.
As long as they're in the studio they can run air conditioning, but outside is another matter.
But hey, it's Summer so it comes with the territory.
We have some big name stars coming in for the second block to go along with our stars, and you will be thrilled because the next block features lots of interesting action with horses and guns.
That's ALL I am going to tell you, sorry. Horses and guns.
In fact there is so much excitement about the content of season two, you are going to be surprised lots.
Okay I already told you about Enid and that's giving something away, so I cannot give anything away because I will be pounced upon.
Seriously, it is a different playing field now that there is a second season and I won't be as forthcoming with info until it is announced officially.
But Murdoch does get to ride a horse again like he did in season one, with some very very interesting characters who you already have met in history.
And we are going out west for a few days so my next report will be from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Ride on!!!!!!! whip whip, bang bang shoot shoot!!!!!!!!!!!!