CBC paid for the development of a script for a sixth--and final--"North of 60" movie. But that's only half the battle! We now need CBC to fund the actual production of the movie.
Nof60 writer/producer Peter Lauterman told me, "I think what has to happen needs to come from the fan base, not the producers." That means:
We, the fans of Nof60, must convince CBC to fund Movie 6!
Because you're a "North of 60" fan, I don't have to convince you how important this project is. It would give the writers a chance to bring the remarkable history of this series to a well-thought-out closing. Even better, as I mentioned in my original note about the project, series co-creator Wayne Grigsby has agreed to edit the script. This is an opportunity we cannot let pass.
So what can you do? Simple: Tell CBC why you want them to fund Movie 6. Send letters, make phone calls, do whatever you can. And ask your family, friends, and any other Nof60 fans you know to do the same.
The next section of this message gives you some tips on what to say in your letters. If you prefer, just skip ahead to the "Whom should I contact?" section and start typing up those envelopes!
"What should I say?"You know best why you want to see a final "North of 60" movie. What has the series meant to you? What have you learned from it? Has it given you a view into another culture? Or, if you're Native or of Native ancestry, has it strengthened your understanding of your own culture? I know from the comments I've seen on the Nof60 Yahoo Group and the email I've received from my website visitors that this show affects many people very deeply. Tell CBC in your own words why the series is important to you, and why you think it's important for CBC to let the residents of Lynx River tell their story one last time. Here are some topics and quotes you might want to incorporate into your letter:DiversityCBC has a mandate to showcase the diverse cultures of Canada. Yet most of their series and movies take place in Toronto or Vancouver, and Native characters are infrequent. "North of 60" is unique because its characters are almost all Native, it takes place in a rural area, and it's set in the Northwest Territories. On a website for independent television producers, the CBC said: "We place a high value on programs from and about communities currently under-represented on television...Some highlights of that history, which began with the casting of Jesse Jim in The Beachcombers, include North of 60, Drop The Beat, Ekhaya: A Family Chronicle, Jinnah On Crime, This Is Wonderland, Human Cargo, and Whiskey Echo..." "As costs of production rise, we are accepting fewer projects in development, and are limiting our acceptance to proposals that are brilliant creatively, serve an important public broadcasting initiative and show clear promise of audience success." We all know that Nof60 has a brilliant creative staff; that it serves the initiative of diversity by showcasing Native, rural characters; and that it has a proven record of bringing in an audience. Let's make sure that CBC remembers all that, too.Canadian StoriesIn February, 2005, CBC Television executive vice president Richard Stursberg gave a speech entitled "Television Drama: English Canada's Most Important Cultural Challenge." Here are some quotes from his speech that you might find useful: "The 'drama' I'm referring to is English-language televised dramatic programming. To us at CBC, that means dramatic series, comedy and entertainment programming. It means the kind of shows that are not only produced in Canada, but that are made for Canadians and reflect our unique sensibility." "With a few notable exceptions, we have yet to make a real breakthrough in terms of drawing large audiences on a consistent basis to see our own stories brought to life on the small screen." "Some people contend that the audiences for English TV drama are small because Canadians don't want to watch Canadian programming. We think this is untrue. What Canadians don't want to watch is bad Canadian programming. But when they are offered great shows--shows like H20, Shattered City, Corner Gas, Rick Mercer's Monday Report, Trudeau, or Canada, A People's History--they respond with enthusiasm and in large numbers. They respond well when they are offered beautifully made, engaging programming that is designed for them, that is rooted in their sense of humour, their values, their lives and their history." "...CBC also has the mandate, the skill, the DNA and the vision to significantly increase and sustain the level of English dramatic programming. It is our job. It is precisely what our shareholders want us to do." "We will have to foster a culture that celebrates greatness and success." In August, 2005, Stursberg was interviewed for Maclean's magazine. (You can see the full interview on the Maclean's website.) During the interview, he said, "One of the things we're working on is to see if it's possible to create great entertainment that will really deeply resonate with Canadians. We think that's a profoundly important cultural objective." In your letters, point out that "North of 60" is perfectly aligned with CBC's goals of producing truly Canadian stories that bring in solid audiences. You can use some of Mr. Stursberg's quotes if you think they'll help."Whom should I contact?"There are several key people at CBC who could influence--or even make--the decision to fund Movie 6. They are: Richard Stursberg, Executive Vice President, CBC TelevisionKirstine Layfield, Executive Director, Network Programming Fred Fuchs, Executive Director, Arts and Entertainment Programming Susan Morgan, Creative Head, Drama You can reach them all at: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation P.O. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON M5W 1E6 Please, please, please consider writing and mailing these people real letters, using the above address. Because they take more effort, letters carry more weight than phone calls, email messages, or web response forms. I'm going to give additional contact information, but again, I urge you to send a letter instead. Use the following methods only if you absolutely cannot write a letter. Email addresses: richard_stursberg@cbc.ca kirstine_layfield@cbc.ca fred_fuchs@cbc.ca susan_morgan@cbc.ca CBC main phone (to reach those people's offices): 416-205-3311 CBC Audience Relations phone (toll-free; works only within Canada): 1-866-306-4636 (1-866-306-INFO) CBC Audience Relations email: cbcinput@cbc.ca CBC Audience Relations website: www.cbc.ca/input Final thoughtsThank you for reading this far! I have just a few final comments.Thank you, everyone. Now, off to your computers/writing desks/whatever! |
