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WEST Vancouver writer Michael Thoma: “not many development deals are made in Vancouver — most of the work comes out of L.A.”

West Vancouver writer Michael Thoma wants to put 3.C. in the picture

MICHAEL Thoma is a hard man to read.

The West Vancouver writer says he wants to produce B.C.
stories, thus far, however, he's done just about everything but.
While he works in a variety of genres his bread and butter has
been writing for the American film and television industry.

Thoma spent four years on Maurice Sendak’s animated
series Little Bear and has just joined the team of a second
children’s show George and Martha. He's also involved in
writing for two other new ‘TV series —- Welcome to
Paradox (which debuted in September) and Total Reeall
2070 (rentatively set to start airing in February 1999 on
BCTV locally) — plus film seriprs, plays and novels on
the side.

Thoma’s film credits include sereenplays for The Ser Up

and The Wrong Man, and he’s just published his first novel Gilson 's
Landing. Vhe latter work is the first inkling of B.C, content in the

VYhoma canon.

He couldn't wait to finish high school and get out of town,

Joun Goopman
THIS WEEK EDITOR

“E graduated carly, went to work and then went to Europe. |
ended up travelling quite 2 bit.”

Thoma lived in Los Angeles for several years.

“Tt is such an industry town, You're cither writing for film or
you're writing for television. U P, here it’s less restrictive — of
course, there's fess opportunity.

“The thing abour writers is they don’t develop here as much.
Most of the development is in L.A. And you aced deep pock-
ers for development. You need lots of money,” savs Thoma.
“Vancouver is production, Lots of production, lots of service,
not that much development. Ir]! change as the industry gets
more depth.”

In southern California he gravitated to those of dike mind.
“There's a gang of us in LA. There’s about 10 writers and

we've been vetting together now for 10, 12 years. And it’s interesting
because we've all changed. When we first got together we were all

See Thome page 18

Campbell
the TV
coroner

NICHOLAS Campbell stars
as Dominic Da Vinci in the
new CBC series, Da Vinci's
Inquest.

The Vancouver coroner fas a
reput ation tor COnTPOVErsy, Not
unhike Campbell hintseit, She
Toronto born, Montreal-ntised actor
studied at the Roval Academy of?
Dramatic Arts in London, which led
him to roles
in, The
Onn, The
Lunle as
Landed and
A Bridae loa
Fur, He went
on to star in
over 40 films
and TV
shows that . oe
inchade, MARIA VERDICCHIO
Sereet Leni, —§ ————-—
and tarita Frum Reviews
Kiimury:

Treaster (nominated tora Gemini as
best supporting actor ina dranias ats
wells a rote as Bobbe Kennedy in
Hoover vs. [Le Kennedys with a
Gemini nonunaton tor best ator in
Aminiserics), Most recently, he was
awarded the Gemini tor best actor
in, Major Crise.

He's also directed ve projects of
his own: Baase Cad about Toronto's
nighilite in the °70s. and Srepprut
Rasor: Red X, a documentary about
the life and murder of Reggae singer
Peter Tosh, which received a Gente
nomination for Best Documentary.

Known as a hard fiving, risk-
taker, he’s taken chances thar many
veteran filmmakers would find dis-
concerting to say the feast. During
the fling of Boose Can in Toronto,
he “borrowed” a police uniform
trom the CBC, and donned it while
waving his arms ar pedestrians so his
crew could get the shots they need-
ed. Another time, he entered a club
posing as a location manager scout-
ing tor a film tor Paramount. He
knew it would normally cost him
nwo to three thousand dollars to tihn
there, so he convinced the manager
thar they needed to shoot some
“test” footage, and walked out with
all he needed.

Maria Verdicchio: You haven't done
mich work in Vancouver, have vou?

Nicholas Campbell: Very little
betore I did Da Vinei. Until Da
Vinei, Eo came out here for a few

See Campbell page 19

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