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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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