Canada Russia 1972 wraps in New Brunswick

Fredericton – Hockey history is making history in New Brunswick, where the last days of principal photography are underway on the CBC miniseries Canada Russia 1972 (working title).

The $7.8-million mini, about the legendary 1972 Summit Series, is the second-largest English-Canadian production to shoot in the province, after the $22 million series Star Hunter in 2001. Rick LeGuerrier (Bound for Carnegie) of Moncton’s Dream Street Pictures and partner Timothy M. Hogan (Open Heart) coproduce with Nova Scotia producers Barrie Dunn (Trailer Park Boys) and Mike Volpe (Rideau Hall) of Halifax-based Summit Films.

Summit and Dream Street came together on the project at Banff 2004, although Dunn has been working on it for more than three years. In addition to producing, Dunn shares a writing credit with Malcolm MacRury (Lives of the Saints).

Like many Canadians, Dunn takes Canada’s victory over Russia in ’72 very seriously, something LeGuerrier says is helping to add to the authenticity of the final product.

‘This is an icon among Canadian stories,’ says LeGuerrier from the Aitken Centre arena at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, where the bulk of on-ice shooting takes place. ‘The story is so well known by hockey fans that there is a lot of responsibility on our shoulders to get it right.’

He explains that with the help of admitted Summit Series nut Dunn and former NHL draft pick Volpe, the production team has taken great pains to recreate the ’72 game down to the last detail. Equipment, for example, has changed a lot over the last three decades, and LeGuerrier says it was no small task for wardrobe to find enough old-style tube skates to fit as many as 18 skating actors on the ice at any one time.

Finding actors who could also skate was not as difficult as originally thought, says LeGuerrier, explaining that so many children grow up playing hockey in Canada that finding some who were also good actors wasn’t a struggle.

Team Canada stars are played by David Berni (Phil Esposito), Gabriel Hogan (Ken Dryden), David Miller (Paul Henderson), John Bregar (Bobby Clarke), Gerry Dee (Wayne Cashman), Mike Dopud (Vic Hadfield), Hugh Thompson (Gary Bergman) and Jeff Roop and Chris Szarka as Frank and Peter Mahovlich. Booth Savage plays Team Canada head coach Harry Sinden and Mark Owen is assistant coach John Ferguson.

For one hockey-skilled cast member, however, this miniseries marks his acting debut. Soon after the project was announced, the producers were contacted by Marc Savard, son of Canadian Summit Series defenseman Serge Savard. The young Savard signed on to play his father, who has 10 Stanley Cup wins to his credit.

The story covers all aspects of the series, from Henderson’s winning goal in the last minute of the final game to the players’ reactions when Canadian fans booed them when the team was down early on in the series.

Directed by TW Peacocke (Made in Canada), the two-camera, Super 16 shoot attempts to capture a documentary look. From the viewer’s perspective, explains LeGuerrier, ‘it feels like you’re peeking around the corner and witnessing moments you shouldn’t be allowed to see.’

The four-hour miniseries started shooting March 14 and wraps May 10, with post-production to be done at Halifax’s PowerPost Productions. Most of the eight-and-a-half-week shoot took place in Fredericton, with the remainder in Saint John. Canada Russia 1972 receives funds from New Brunswick Film, the CBC, the Canadian Television Fund, Lions Gate Films (Canadian DVD/video distrib) and provincial tax credits. Laura Bracken

The Negotiator deals in B.C.

Vancouver – Three weeks of production wrapped May 8 on The Negotiator, which is produced by Vancouver’s Legacy Filmworks in partnership with L.A.-based Nasser Entertainment.

A low-budget Canadian independent MOW that will eventually air on Lifetime in the U.S., Negotiator stars Elisabeth Rohm (Law & Order) and Chandra West (White Noise).

In the storyline, a distraught mother of an ill child holds a hospital hostage by demanding treatment, and her best friend, an FBI negotiator, has to talk her down.

Local producer Deboragh Gabler is in charge, while Nick Kendall (Danger Bay) is the director and Danny Nowak (The Love Crimes of Gillian Guess) is the DOP. Ian Edwards

Putting a face to Cop #3

Vancouver – Post-production is expected to wrap in May on the spec comedy pilot Daingerfield, an Office- or Curb Your Enthusiasm-style comedy. Inspired by creator Michael Daingerfield’s own life as a struggling actor, Daingerfield follows an actor stuck in bit parts like Cop #3. In the pilot episode, the lead is auditioning for a commercial.

According to coproducer and production manager Remy Kozak, the low-budget, half-hour pilot will go to Global and CBC for consideration. The production used two video cameras for most of the shooting, which combined field and studio locations.

Daingerfield costars include Gina Chiarelli (See Grace Fly), Peter Kelamis (Suddenly Naked), Bill Marchant (Everyone), Lisa Caulder (Mile Zero) and Reg Tupper (Scary Movie).

Daingerfield, himself, has appeared in Cat Woman as ‘Forensic Cop.’

Jason Bourque (Maximum Surge Movie) directed, while Ken Frith (Gold Star Productions) is the producer.

The 11-day shoot wrapped April 25. Ian Edwards