Swine flu has suspended the production of a CBC Television series in St. John's.
Two cases of H1N1 influenza have been confirmed in people working on The Republic of Doyle and shooting has been put on hold.
My thoughts and concern, of course, are with the hardworking crewmembers and my colleagues who have taken sick. It's a nasty bit of business, and I hope everyone's hale and hearty in short order.(CBC has the story but is trailing in the numbers; but perhaps that's a function of 'official' and 'confirmed.')
Did you know the H1N1 test took two days to come back?
I didn't.
So...here's the part where I tack on and bury the footnote in the lead of the much bigger story:
In the first few weeks of Production, I saw a crew who worked flat out no matter what. From the A.D.'s to the Art Department, to Locations and Props -- some of the nicest, most hardworking people I've ever had the pleasure to work with. But, after three months that were alternatively thrilling, tiring, and frustrating, I left the employ of Republic of Doyle about 10 days ago, (weirdly, just before all of this started. And no, ReGenesis fans -- all thirty-eight of you -- there's no connection.)
So...here's the part where I tack on and bury the footnote in the lead of the much bigger story:
In the first few weeks of Production, I saw a crew who worked flat out no matter what. From the A.D.'s to the Art Department, to Locations and Props -- some of the nicest, most hardworking people I've ever had the pleasure to work with. But, after three months that were alternatively thrilling, tiring, and frustrating, I left the employ of Republic of Doyle about 10 days ago, (weirdly, just before all of this started. And no, ReGenesis fans -- all thirty-eight of you -- there's no connection.)
In my time in St. John's, I oversaw the breaking of about ten stories. I also kept the promise I made to have drafts of six scripts done before we started production, so I feel pretty good about that. And I've got one more script to write from here, from my home in Toronto.
I've had friends say to me for awhile now that even when we don't talk, they feel they're caught up by reading the blog, and suffice to say this is one of those situations that put the imperfections to that little theory.
There's no dirt, nothing really to say, except for perhaps the larger truth made self-evident to me in the last few months. In the USA -- the system that still produces 85% failures for 15% worth of successes -- the Showrunner is the Quarterback of the creative vision of the show. It just doesn't work as well any other way. And there simply wasn't the time or the inclination or the creative trust that would allow me to do the job effectively.
The worst thing you can do in series TV is to get into a disagreement about how variant and competing processes would lead to a final product. So I got out of the way. And now, the task of Showrunning falls to the Co-Creator/Lead Actor/Executive Producer of Doyle. I wish Allan Hawco and his Producing team the best, and wish them all creative success -- just as soon as they get through the really important task of getting their team well, and back up and running.
Fingers crossed, and all good wishes to my Newfoundland friends and colleagues. I enjoyed your company so much, and I hope you all get well, stay well, pace yourselves, rally, and pull together to make great TV in the months ahead. I'll be rooting for you.
Get well soon!
