• • viSion and Radio Artists (ACTRA) cast­ John Blanchard's everyone seemed to agree that the pro­ dUction had gone remarkably well. Pro­ dUction manager Andrea Shaw agreed Cod co that working on this production in­ volved quite a mind-shift for many in­ volved; both for the in-house members who worked with outsiders and vice versa. The greatest problems of the pro­ duction seem to have been technical ones. According to producer Michael Donovan, much of the in-house equip­ hey keep rolling out in Newfound­ ment which was available at CBe land like there's no tomorrow - that OJ studiOS in Halifax was 'State of the Ark' c Tspecial brand of dow n-home, rauc­ in vintage. This created certain difficul- ous, irreverent, .sometimes raunchy ties and some equipment, such as all the humour that never lets anyone or any­ broadcast Beta equipment, had to be thing off the hook. Like fish and brewis rented in central Canada. or seal flippers and cod's tongues it The producers did not eschew bring­ seems to be a special North Atlantic ing in people from outside when the elixir that the people of the rock can't .9 production values of the show dictated live without. Whether it's the wild an­ 2 it. The director of the show was John a. Blanchard from Vancouver. HIS past ex- tics of the Mummers, or Codco, or the • Andy Jones, Cathy Jones, Greg Malore, Tommy Sexton and Mary Walsh in Codco outrageous social parody of Faustus perience with SCTV gave him the kind Bidgood or Dolly Cake there seems to terms of future Maritime programming. mini-series turn into a full-fledged of comedy experience necessary to be no end in sight to the wellspring of According to Jack Kellum, the CBC pro­ series. It is scheduled for delivery to the bring out the humour of the_ script Newfoundland wit. ducer attached to the shoot, in this reg­ CBC on March 31 and will be broadcast which was jointly written by the Codco Celebrating this peculiar form of east ion of Canada, as well as in most others, in the fall. If it is well received, Salter members. The art director was former coast lunacy, Michael Donovan of regional variety programming has died Street will press its case. Maritimer Bruce McKenna who took Halifax-based Salter Street Films put to­ a quiet death. Gone are the heady days Given the current financial climate in time off from various aSSignments in To­ gether a package to bring some of the of Don Messer's Jubilee and the Won­ Canada, producing variety program­ ronto to come and work on the Codco humour of the Codco company to the derful Grand Band Show. These days ming in this fashion may be the only show. rest of Canada. I visited the set of this the regional CBC stations count them­ way in which regions will have an op­ One evening, in a departure from the production, which has the working title selves lucky if they can maintain their portunity to develop their ideas. Cer­ normal format, a studio audience was of Codco, in November as it was shoot­ news and current affairs programming tainly for the Atlantic area this produc­ brought in to see, amongst other things, ing in the studios of CBC, Halifax. It at present levels. The budgets for vari­ tion is an important step in this direc­ Andy Jones as a Johnny Carson style talk began production on October 14 and ety programming are simply not there. tion, both in terms of regional program­ show host interviewing Debbie Christ wrapped on November 8 and is a co­ Nor has there been, I suspect, the ad­ ming and in helping to support people (Kathy Jones) and Sheilagh O'Nazareth production of CBC and Salter Street ministrative will to undertake projects and groups which would like to devel- (Mary Walsh), two female authors who Films. Starring the lunatic crew of the of this nature. op such material. ' had just published their bestselling Codco Company - Andy Jones, Kathy Onto this comparatively dormant Despite the logistical difficulties of novel We Were There describing their Jones, Greg Malone, Tommy Sexton and scene stepped Salter Street which acted some 55 set-ups shot both in the studio experiences in the Holy Land during Mary Walsh - the production was an as a kind of broker to bring together and on location in various parts of the the-time of Christ. Although the Catho­ ambitious one. In over 20 shooting days CBC, Telefilm, and some private invest­ city - and despite the difficulties of co­ lic Church in Newfoundland may not be they produced 55 set-ups which are ul­ ment to make the project possible. ordinating a crew of over 30 which in­ amused, the studio audience was dou­ timately destined for a television series From talking with CBC personnel it's cluded both a CBC in-house crew of Ca­ bled over in laughter at the description of six half- hour shows. Each show will safe to say that they are quite excited nadian Union of Public Employees of the diSCiples as "they was party boys". consist of some 10 separate sketches about the project, hoping that private (CUPE) and National Association of Look forward to more of this madness under a general variety format. initiative combined with some Telefilm Broadcast Employees & Technicians when Codco takes to the airwaves next One of the most interesting aspects of funding will bring more projects of this (NABET) members, as well as freelancers fall. this production is how it was put to­ kind rolling up to their doorstep. Salter brought in for the production and gether and what it may represent in Street, in fact, would like to see this the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Tele- Christopher Majka • NUMBER ONE COMBO· TO-GOI Association of ., C Canadian F film ffi[E]<0( .. " c,c ..c -I Craftspeople 6 / Cinema Canada - February 1987 .