Wednesday, October 13, 1993 — North Shore News - 23 ies in Northwood TV producer Nick Orchard JERE Evelyn Jacob SPOTLIGHT FEATURE ICK ORCHARD shudders at the word. ‘The word is “gritty,” and for the fast three years critics have us- ed it to describe his CBC teen series Northwood. _ “That word has been used far too much,” says Orchard, the show's executive producer. ‘J _ don’t like it anymore. We're not trying to be gritty, we're trying to ~ be realistic.” If anything, the characters have lost their tough edge and become lighter, sofier, over the past three . ‘seasons, he says. It’s just one of the many changes that has made : Norihwood, at least in Orchard’s ’ mind, the truest-to-life teen series being broadcast today. :. A press release promoting the show even goes so far as to call it “the voice of today’s.youth.”’ It’s obvious, however, that Or- chard is uncomfortable with th hyperbole. . ; “That's a bit of a slogan, isn’t it?” he replies, squinting into the midday sun. “Obviously the - issues we deal with don’t happen to everyone, but they do happen. .. What we try to dois show life the "way it is.’’ fo Now in its fourth season, . Northwood, which follows the trials and tribulations of a grouo of - teens and which has dealt with - |... such hard-hitting issues as date rape, incest, and suicide, is on its " way to wrapping up 16 new episodes. Orchard, a North Vancouver resident, has seen the series through from its infancy, and he is happy with both the critical and audience response the show has garnered. That's despite criticism from one member of the cast — Halona Donaghy (Sheena) — who, in a “ recent Vancouver Sun article, questioned the legitimacy of peo- ple twice her age writing sup- posedly realistic scenes for young people. © ; Orchard replies that Norinwood is not only a teen series Lut a show about relationships, ‘‘so it doesn’t matter how, cld you are.” “i'd love to have a teenager write and produce the show but you have ' have a certain amount Sg NEWS photo Pais! Mc rath NICK ORCHARD is back with another season of CBC’s popular teen drama series Northwood. of experience,” he says. ‘The other thing is, we do research our shows, visit high schools and ask our actors for their input. We do everything we possibly can.” in the early days, critics grumbl- ed that the series was too dark, too gloomy — too gritty. But what they were complaining about, he says, was that the show was too realistic.. . Of course there will always be viewers who wish the characters - were cooler, hipper and better looking like the rich kids on Bev- erly Hills 90210, and sure, some parents still won't let their kids watch the series for fear it isn’t providing them with the proper role models. But, overall, the feedback has been positive, he says. . And that’s after the sudden switch from its regular 8:30 time slot to 7 p.m. this season, a move that can spell disaster for any show. “Of course, initially | wasn’t too happy about the change because our largest audience is the 18 to 35 group and my concern was, would they watch it at that time?”" says Orchard. “Alter the first episode | got a call from CBC Toronto con- gratulating me on the ratings. They were close ta one million, which is unusual for a show at thal time. So, there must be a few addicis out there who want to see the show.” Orchard, creator of the hugely popular British soap Eastenders, has had discussions with American networks about re-vorking the show into a twentysomething-style production, but says he has no in- tention of letting Northwood deteriorate into a Hollywood “NEW" CORAL COURT SZECHUAN CUISINE (Recently Remodeled) When 3 or more dishes from menu are ordered. With this ad only! Expires Oct. 31/93. Wednesday through Sunday. | e Bine-in only ticensed « Ar Conditioned © Free Delive 220 Lonsdale Ave. N. Van. 987-2303 soap-style fantesy — a challenge for someone working in a business that is often accused of trivializing important issues. This season the show continues to tackle pressing issues such as AIDS. Northwocd producers will also present a fictionalized version of Abbotsford playwright Katherine Lanteigne’s controversial play, If Men Had Periods. What attracted Orchard to Lanteigne’s play is the way it deals openly with sexual politics in high schools.’ "There have been times when people accuse us on Northwood that if you put the show out, Ml ique you're encouraging people to take drugs or whatever,” he says. “4 say if kids have been brought up right | don’t honestly think we'll corrupt them with 30 minutes a week, “Like Katherine, we're saying people are already doing these things, and if you don’t talk about them you're just burying your head in the sand.” One area Orchard has been working hard to develop is giving the women cast members mere of a life — actors who were previously mere appendages to some of the male characters. Brigitta Dau, who plays Maria, says she’s been fighting for some time to get her character more of a © storyline. “f'm really hagpy with what Nick has done,’’ says Dau. “Maria is on her own this year (she broke up with Jason last season) and she’s claiming her life back in a really positive way.” Although most of the characters will graduate this year, Orchard is ‘ hopeful Northwood will have a life beyond high schcol. But in his line of work he has to de more than just hope. Over the fast year he and partner Rick Dreve have been deveioping a new light character comedy called Forever. Suramer, for which Universal TV has already put up $250,000. If all goes according to plan, the series will begin shooting next Apriland will feature Canadian actors, directors and camera crews. 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